Creative Drawing Weekends for Artists
ELEMENTS 2024
5 day art courses with Gail Sagman & Christine Allison
‘Step out of everyday life for 5 days – create, share, breathe – return inspired and revived.’
Following our well received 5 day art courses in 2023 we are pleased to announce the dates of our 2024 art courses. They are …
Monday 17 – Friday 21 June
Monday 8 – Friday 12 July
Monday 5 – Friday 9 August
Monday 2 – Friday 6 September
There are 6 places for each course. Cost £500 per person.
Situated on the Dorset/Devon border amidst beautiful countryside, ancient woods and the Jurassic coast, we draw our inspiration from nature and the environment. We have an amazing resource right on our doorstep and would be crazy not to use it to the maximum. We also have a huge studio to work in, which is Gail’s studio, formally a jam factory it is an Aladdin’s cave of wonders!
We used the theme ‘ELEMENTS’ last year…earth, air, fire and water… to stimulate the work we did with participants. This year we will build on the same theme but with new ideas threaded into each day.
We will start by constructing a focal point for the week…an assemblage…constructed together by us all. This will stay in place throughout each course as a centrepiece in the studio. You will be asked to respond to the shapes, textures and lines created in this piece using all sorts of marks and a range of materials.
There will be one day spent scavenging along the shoreline of Lyme Regis, collecting ‘treasures’ eroded from the Victorian tip at Black Venn, then a walk West along the shore foraging for natural finds. We will stop off for lunch at Christine’s studio, then walk to the famous Cobb around the harbour taking ‘frottage’ rubbings from the ancient stones. We will start a workbook of ‘marks’ to be added to each day.
Back in the studio we will make smaller assemblages by connecting our finds from Lyme Regis into sculptures of juxtaposed curiosities, man-made and natural pieces mixed together. These sculptures will become artworks in their own right. We will make workbook drawings and large-scale drawings inspired by our sculptures.
Another day we will go off to the woods. Relaxing into the magic of the environment we will make studied details of the trees and plants and record the patterns made by the changing light. We will make marks in our workbooks, create further frottaged pieces and collect natural ‘finds’ to add to our sculptures.
Then 2 full days of creating artworks inspired by the collections you have made. We will include sculpture, painting, drawing, collage, ink, charcoal, graphite. The works will be abstracted with emphasis on the ‘elements’ of art…line, tone, texture, colour, composition, pattern, shape, form and consciousness of the ‘edge’. The frottages will be included in the artworks. All materials and a workbook will be provided.
A wholesome vegetarian lunch will be provided each day plus drinks and snacks. Transportation can also be provided as required to and from Axminster station and your accommodation.
We can advise on local accommodation. In addition, both Christine and Gail have AirB&B accommodation available to rent in Lyme Regis. Please enquire early for further details as we get booked up quickly.
Please email Gail for details of her accommodation at gailsagman@gmail.com (See link below, note prices vary)
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/49966126
Email Christine at christine@christineallison.com for general enquires or to secure your place on a course or to enquire about her accommodation at https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1039871754827107708.
A deposit of £100 is required at the time of booking on a course.
Check us out at www.gailsagman.co.uk and www.christineallison.com to see our art.
Without exception previous participants have expressed the value of the immersive experience of the 5day art courses on their confidence, creativity and mental and emotional well-being. All found the environment and quality of supportive teaching to be outstanding.
“Thank you both for your input and encouragement. I know I learnt a lot from both of you while also feeling that all the art came directly from me. In such an inspiring environment it just poured out. It was great to see how you both work and you were so generous, respectful and insightful in the help you gave.”
(Liz)
“There was a fabulous selection of materials … and an abundance of good advice and support, always with positivity.”
(Julia)
“As I reflect it is difficult to find anything negative. The energy and enthusiasm you both put into the course was amazing and you complimented each other very well. The food was delicious and one of you was always on hand to assist and give constructive advice, which is so important. The structure I felt made it all relevant with the walks – beach, woods and sketch book. As a complete novice to collage/ abstract it was a bit overwhelming for the first couple of days but the personal journey was important.” (Jane Ann)