Bradness Gallery
Spithurst Road, Barcombe, East Sussex, BN8 5EB, UK. Tel: 01273 400606
General Course Information
For full course information and materials please click HERE
1,2 and 3 day courses
Classes have a maximum of 5 people.
Arrive at 9.30am for coffee before a 10am start. Finish at 4.30pm.
1 and 2 day courses are suitable for complete beginners or those who would like to brush up on basic techniques. We learn in watercolour as it is a good teaching medium.
3 day courses are suitable for those with some experience or who have attended a 1 or 2 day course. You can paint in any medium and this is ideal for those who would like to get to grips with oil painting.
All courses include coffee, home made cake and delicious lunch with wine. Special diets are catered for. Plenty of free parking.
Follow up Sessions
These are only available to people who have already attended a course.
Students bring their own project, materials and lunch. Coffee and cake are provided when at Bradness.
'En plein air' View in a Day sessions on location around Sussex
These run like the follow up sessions but will be out and about in Sussex where Michael regularly paints. Please just get in touch and Mike will keep you informed.
Landscape Painting Courses
All 1 and 2 day courses for 2018 are now fully booked
Landscapes in watercolour -1 day course - £135 - 2019
Tuesday 23rd April 2019
Saturday 27th April 2019
Thursday 11th July 2019
Tuesday 6th August 2019
Tuesday 24th September 2019
Designed for complete beginners and those who have painted before and wish to re-kindle their desire to paint again and brush up on the basic techniques.
Michael will break down the essential elements of landscape painting into a series of exercises. Each of these will be demonstrated first and then you will then have a go yourself. Topics covered will include
> stretching paper
> picture construction
> painting skies and clouds
> how to create a sense of depth and distance using tone and colour
> painting foliage and reflections in water
Landscapes in Watercolour - 2 day course - £270 - 2019
Wednesday and Thursday the 24th and 25th April 2019
Tuesday and Wednesday the 9th and 10th July 2019
Wednesday and Thursday the 7th and 8th August 2019
Saturday and Sunday the 10th and 11th August 2019
Wednesday and Thursday the 25th and 26th September 2019
Designed for complete beginners and those who have painted before and wish to re-kindle their desire to paint again and brush up on the basic techniques.
The 2 day course covers all topics in the 1 day course but allows more time to cover each subject so that all you learn settles well in the brain! On the second day you will then consolidate all that you have learnt by painting your own picture from start to finish, revisiting and reinforcing what you have learnt and working on any aspects that you find difficult. You can bring your own sketches and photos to work from or Michael can provide you with inspiration.
> You should go home with a completed painting from this course.
Topics covered will include
> stretching paper,
> picture construction,
> painting skies and clouds,
> how to create a sense of depth and distance using tone and colour,
> painting foliage and reflections in water.
Painting in Any Medium - 3 day course - £395
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the 14th, 15th and 16th August 2018
Will be based at Bradness, in the garden and studio.
This course is designed for people who have some painting experience or who have attended a 1 or 2 day course with Mike. It is also suitable for those who would like to get to grips with oil painting.
Michael will be there to give help and guidance every step of the way. If it is raining we will be studio based and you can work from your own reference material.
One to one Mentoring Sessions - £75 per hour
Invaluable for people who are stuck with certain aspects in their painting journey to enable them to progress forward. Coffee and cake included.
A little taster of our courses
Landscape painting courses and one day follow up sessions with Michael Cruickshank
Learn how to paint skies and clouds and to create a sense of depth and distance
Creating a landscape painting outdoors on the 3 day courses ........
Set up your easel
Map in the view on a canvas or board that you have already put a softening background colour on
Start blocking in the tonal colours
Continue adding more detail working from the background towards the foreground
Your picture can then be finished in the studio, or come back again. Make notes in a sketchbook or use a dictaphone to remind you of the atmosphere and detail that you want to capture.
Monet used to work on a series of different paintings that each covered a different time of day
All the courses will cover how to create
reflections in water
The art studio at Bradness Gallery
Learn how to paint trees and foliage
First select your view
In this case, the dewpond above Glynde
Some photos from our painting courses.
Click on one and then it will enlarge and you can scroll through.