Although I already have some students continuing on from the the previous introductory class, if you would like to join us, please get in touch - it may be possible to fit in and continue the course alongside people who have already started, if not you can go on the waiting list for the next set of workshops.
Come and learn the ancient techniques of egg tempera and gilding to create your own painting on a small gesso panel. The image can be like a traditional icon or something more free and contemporary.
The introductory course comprises of a series of 6 one day workshops - each day comprising of two sessions 10.00 am until 12- 30pm and 1.30pm until 4.00 pm, (with an hour for lunch in between). Please note that 6 sessions will only give a very basic understanding ot the techniques involved, you will then be in a position to decide whether you wish to continue. Should you wish to continue learning more and developing your style and technique, you can attend classes which tend to run on Sunday every two or three weeks.
Venue:
Commercial Square Studios,
2nd Floor Block C,
Leigh Street,
High Wycombe, HP11 2RH.
CLASSES FULL AT PRESENT
Costs:
I will provide a small gessoed panel for you to work on at a cost of between £12 and £16 depending on size. Larger panels are available from about £20. Panels can also be purchased readymade from vatious suppliers in London, but they tend to be very expensive!
The current fee for the day will be £40.00 for tuition and materials including the use of egg medium/pure pigments, gilding materials (bole), drawing paper, tracing paper and sand paper. Please note real 24 ct gold leaf is available at the additional cost of 64p per sheet.
CANCELLATION POLICY: IF CANCELLATION IS MADE WITHIN THE TWO WEEK PERIOD PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP THEN THE FULL COST OF THE WORKSHOP WILL BE CHARGED. THIS IS BECAUSE I NEED SUFFICIENT NOTICE TO GET A REPLACEMENT FOR YOUR PLACE IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO COME.
What you should bring along with you:
An apron
Sketchbook/postcards/pictures containing ideas of images you would like to use
Any fine watercolour brushes you may have
A small notebook to take notes on techniques and keeping a log of colour mixing etc – this is very important!
A packed lunch (tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided)
Course Outline
Outline of the first 4 weeks of the course : (this is just a rough idea of what I hope we will cover but it will very much depend on building on previous skills and ability and the pace at which students work). It is important to realise that these techniques are NOT quick fix, the introductory course just stratches the surface of these ancient techniques and the work requires patience and attention. It is possible to continue on from the 6 week course to complete your piece of work, if you have not managed to finish within the 6 workshops which constitute the introductory course.
Week one: Each person will work on the gesso panel provided – first of all we will create the surface on which we will paint and gild by carefully sanding the panel down and burnishing it. I will explain about making gesso panels. We will then prepare the image we wish to transfer onto the panel. Once this is done we will look at some examples of egg tempera painting to determine the approach which best suits your individual style and the image you have chosen.
Week two: Gilding Demonstration using both transfer gold and loose leaf gold, if you are incorporating gilding into your image – the gilding will have to be done first. before painting (this is because the gold leave sticks to the painted tempera surface). Application of Armenian bole in layers and sanding in readiness for the application of gold leaf. Tooling into the bole surface before gilding. Discussion and demonstration of painting techniques.
Week three: Developing painting techniques, with demonstrations of ‘glazing’ and ‘pooling’, together with scratching into the gesso surface to make other marks. Students to progress their images further.
Week Four: Working on producing the finished images - if for any reason you are are a very quick worker – I do have more panels which can be purchased to start another piece.