Painting White Daisies with Leaves with Billy Showell
Course Description
***OPTION TO BOOK ONE DAY ONLY AVAILABLE!***
We are delighted to have multi-award-winning published artist and previous President of the Society of Botanical Artists Billy Showell joining us here in June.
Billy teaches botanical painting through demonstration, and whilst being mainly a botanical artist, Billy does like to explain the beauty of wet in wet painting which can provide a soft approach to this art form, and share her understanding and love of watercolour techniques. Some watercolour experience is preferable for this course. The subject will be painting white daisies with leaves and you will learn how to master some lovely ways to capture the beauty and detail of a plant through varied tone – the first day will mainly focus on capturing the intricacies of the flower. The following day will be spent adding leaves to compliment the daisy and the actual daisy stalk and leaf. We will endeavour to have fresh flowers and leaves but may also work from photographs if necessary.
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Course Information
Ability level
Some experience of watercolours needed
Medium
Useful Links
- A large water pot and a Dab pad (old flannel to dab the brush onto)
- Hot-pressed paper (please bring the best you can afford). 140lb or heavier.
- Brushes – I use brushes size 1, 2, 4 and 6 synthetic or similar (please use what you have and are used to but you will need at least a size 4 fine pointed brush in your set)
- Scrap paper to test colours on
- An old brush for mixing paint
- White kitchen towel
- Ceramic mixing plate (an old white plate will do)
- HB/F/H pencils, a set is useful
- A large water pot
- A HB and 2B pencil
- Mars plastic eraser, and blue/white tac..
- Polished stone for smoothing-optional (you can get polished stones from old costume jewellery or incense shops)
- Paints – please bring a selection of watercolours (if you can stretch to artist-quality paints, Billy highly recommends them over student quality – Winsor and Newton or Sennelier) to include the following or similar colours:
- Cadmium yellow pale
- Cadmium lemon
- French ultramarine
- Winsor Blue green shade
- Permanent rose
- Cadmium red
These are further colours that are handy to have but not essential: Quinacradone Magenta, Winsor violet dioxazine, Cobalt blue, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Indigo, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Red, Cadmium orange, Opera Rose
Provided by Cornwall School of Art if required
- Easels
- Drawing boards
- Water jars
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Clips
All art materials are available to purchase in the Truro Arts shop, 26 River Street Truro TR1 2SJ, and you will receive a 10% discount on all supplies for the course.
Billy Showell
Billy is an internationally known botanical painter and illustrator and tutor and is based in Kent in the UK. Originally Billy trained and worked in fashion design and illustration but she swiftly returned to her first love, painting and illustration. Her works are distinguishable by her striking, fluid and sometimes unusual compositions. She has won several botanical awards, an RHS SGM, Seven SBA Certificates of Botanical Merit and a Gold medal from the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society as well as numerous ‘People’s Choice’ awards. Billy’s work is held in the collections of Kew Botanic gardens, the Hunt Institute USA and in the Shirley Sherwood Collection; her work is also held in many private collectors worldwide. Billy has also created over 100 species illustrations for the International Fragrance Federation and has painted many illustrations for commercial food companies. Billy served as Co-President for The Society of Botanical Artists from 2018 -2021. Alongside Billy’s painting and illustrating, she is also a prolific teacher. Teaching at her studio and regularly across the UK as well as around the world. Passionate about sharing her tips and skills, Billy has produced four best-selling books on her painting style. ‘At the heart of my work is the love of plants, the love of watercolour and the desire to bring as many people to this art form as I possibly can. Over past the 27 years that I have been painting and teaching, I introduced the love of painting plants to huge numbers of budding students. Sharing what I do is my passion and ‘loving what you’ do is my mantra. ‘Botany brings enlightenment and painting helps celebrate its beauty.’
Find Out MoreOur courses usually begin at 10am and end at 4:30pm, with a half an hour lunch break at around 1pm. There will also be brief morning and afternoon breaks, with free tea and coffee available in the kitchen area. At Lunch time you can make things nice and easy by pre-ordering a freshly prepared Coach House Lunch. Alternatively, you’re very welcome to bring along a packed lunch and any other refreshments you like.
On sunny days students and tutors are invited to enjoy breaktimes outside in the leafy courtyard or gardens surrounded by birdsong.
Course Details
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Cancellations must be made in writing/email more than 4 weeks prior to the course start date to guarantee a refund. Read our full policy on the Course Terms & Conditions page.
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