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EMILY BALL AT SEAWHITE‍

CONTEMPORARY DRAWING AND PAINTING COURSES‍

A DAY ON THE BEACH

Join Simon Carter on the beach this September

Image: Goring Beach, SImon Carter

Dear  ‍Visitor ‍ ‍

 ‍

No two days at the beach are the same.  There’s always something new to appreciate whether its jewel-like pebbles in the rock pools, big skies, tumbling waves, or the shimmering quality of sunlight dancing on water.  It’s an endless source of inspiration and fascination.

Artist and tutor Simon Carter knows this better than most, as his painting practice is deeply connected to the coast. He makes countless studies out in the landscape -  on the seawalls, quays and marshes of the Essex coast - before returning to his studio to find ways of maintaining the raw freshness of those drawings in his studio paintings. 

Image: Work-in-progress paintings Simon Carter (image taken from his Instagram account)‍

So, this September why not join Simon for “ A Day on the Beach.”  This  four day practical course seeks to understand and unpack the energy and rawness of studies made on location and explore ways of using them to fuel work in the studio:

“Whether your usual drawings are loose notes in a sketchbook or are more complete and considered, it is often difficult to see how to use the drawings we make. Our initial drawings often have a life and spark that can easily be extinguished in the studio processes.” ~ Simon

 Read on to find out more about this course, or click on the button below to head to straight to our website and book:‍

A Day on the Beach

Simon Carter

Monday 15th - Thursday 18th September 2025

Course cost - £400‍

Day One‍

The first day will be spent drawing on the beach, finding ways of working on site that are clear and intentional, but that also both free and expressive.‍

Images: Goring Beach (Simon Carter)‍

 “Last year it was a perfect end of season day, the beach a vast sweep of pebbly sand sloping away from the promenade and the beach huts, and down to acres of shimmering mud and seaweed. The sun sparkled across the sea all day, the tide slowly returning through the afternoon. We all left the beach with an exhilarating shared experience of place, and a vivid sense of light and air moving across a seemingly endless south coast landscape. That shared experience guided and energised us in the studio through the following days.” ~ Simon‍

Day Two

Back at the studio, students will start to use the drawings from the previous day; unpacking them via a series of charcoal drawings that look for ways of maintaining the freshness of observation but also encourage risk and surprise in the work.‍‍

Images: Day Two of A Day on the Beach 202‍4 (Simon Carter)

Day Three

 Students will start to move the drawings into paint: exploring cutting, collaging, redrawing and adding colour. Simon will gently guide artists to make tough compositions, considering both depiction and the abstract qualities of composition.‍

Image: from studies to paintings -  A Day on the Beach 2024 (Simon Carter)‍

 “Moving to paint was the challenge I was expecting. Simon’s approach in starting by drawing with the paint and keeping colours limited was helpful.  It was great to see how everyone approached the theme and how different all the work was.” ~ Catherine Wiggett‍

Day Four

 The final day of the course is all about finding strategies that keep the paint surface energetic and alive:

“We will consider the kind of information contained in the drawings and how we can use this to guide the painting. We will look at the decision making process and how to approach the painting with freedom and attack.” ~ Simon‍

Image: Simon Carter's work station - A day on the Beach 2024‍

To find out more about the course and to book your place, please click on the button below:

 TAKING IT FURTHER

Join us for another creative adventure

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 If working from nature excites you and you’d like to experience drawing and painting in a different setting, then why not take a look at  the Autumn Trees  course led by Emily Ball & Katie Sollohub:‍

AUTUMNTREES

with Emily Ball and Katie Sollohub

9-13 November (Sun - Thurs) | £590

Two days on location at Leonardslee Gardens, followed by three days at the Seawhite Stidio: Autumn Trees is a hugely enjoyable course that not only serves to raise your confidence in working outside on location, but also helps you develop your personal language of paint back in the studio.‍

 If you enjoy  Simon’s approach to painting, take a look at his pre-recorded courses that he has devised exclusively for us.  These short course can be downloaded and are packed with ideas, tips and exercises that you can do at a time and place of your choosing.

Experiments in Watercolour

Pre-Recorded with Simon Carter

£120

Experiments in Watercolour is a three day practical course that aims to take a fresh look at the medium of watercolour and how it might be used in an expressive, experimental and contemporary way. ‍

The Geography of Paint

Pre-Recorded with Simon Carter

£130

The Geography of Paint is a three day practical painting course that provides ideas and guidance on how to maintain the ease and energy of initial drawings when creating landscape paintings. ‍

Image: Goring Beach (Simon Carter)‍

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