The Principles of Landscape with David Sawyer

Spring Term 2025

Thursday Mornings – 6 weeks
10.00am-1.00pm
9th January – 13th February 2025.

There are many ways of achieving excellence with your painting but coming near the top of any artists list will be working with an established master. So much can be gained by watching, practicing and talking about and having critiques of ones work. There are few artists who have not learnt this way,

David is one of the most popular landscape painters of his generation, his work hangs on the walls of  palaces and public buildings and in the collections of countless private collectors.

David is however without pretension, he’s very down to earth and relateable and generous with his advice and teaching. He gives plenty of demonstration, often the best way of picking things up and when he critiques your work will quietly help you to see ways forward.

Course Outline:

David will theme each week to include subjects such as

• Delve into the world of plein air painting with an introduction to essential materials.
• Explore various easels, pochade boxes, brushes, and more.
• Learn about color selection, palette layout, the importance of quality painting boards and canvases.
• Understand the significance of priming, using a toned ground, and the properties of thinners, solvents, and mediums.
• Begin your painting journey with guidance on starting a picture, planning design and composition.

With more specific sorties looking at

• Buildings and Architecture
• Painting Skies
• Painting Trees
• Reflections
• The Figure in the Landscape
• Tonal Value
• Reflections- Painting water

We will explore new topics:

• Painting ‘Contre Jour’ or against the light
• Foreground and Detail Painting
• Painting a Sunrise or Sunset
• Advanced Colour Mixing and Manipulation

Special Highlights:

• David Sawyer will reference influential artists such as Richard Schmid, Bernard Dunstan, Trevor Chamberlain, and John F Carlson, providing a rich context to the course.
• Enjoy personal insights and examples from David’s own painting adventures, from the picturesque scenes of Venice and Seville to the unexpected beauty of everyday locales.

This course is designed to offer both a solid foundation for beginners and new insights for seasoned painters. Embrace this opportunity to learn from one of the best, working from our well equipped studio with trips out as and when. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today and embark on a journey that promises to transform the way you see and paint the world around you.

About David

David Sawyer has been working as a fine artist since he left Canterbury College of Art in the eighties. During that time he’s won many awards and gained plenty of attention. His work often includes architectural motifs which he renders seemingly effortlessly in his impressionistic style. More recently he has been teaching, and students appreciate his uncomplicated and direct method and the generous way in which he shares his knowledge. As a seasoned professional he knows every angle of painting and most importantly he knows where to expend his time and energy in order to get his image.

His teaching style is gentle and patient. For beginners he will set them clear tasks with a progressive step by step approach. For the more experienced artist he will allow you to get on and then when the direction is clear, discuss your work with you and support you in your objectives. It’s these quiet chats with an expert that can make all the difference.

 

What students say about David’s courses:

“David is a terrific teacher, encouraging and very helpful.  I love the way that besides supporting the group in improving their work, he paints alongside them. I found it inspirational to watch his unique and wonderful skills and technique in action. When the weather is too bad to paint en plein air, he provides excellent material to paint from in the form of real-time videos of interesting scenes and the changing weather. ” Rosemary Clark

“David is an excellent teacher: sensitive, perceptive, detailed, always ready to comment on your personal methods and results rather than expecting you to adopt his way of seeing and painting.” John Knepler

“The more I paint with David the more value I get from it. Sometimes I learn from watching him and sometimes he says one or two words which drop like pebbles of wisdom into my pool of ignorance, enlightening as they go.” Recent student “I would like to say how much I enjoyed painting with David. He is such a good teacher and shares his secrets very well. The zoom sessions worked very well, better than l thought. The camera over his shoulder gave such a clear view, at times better than the studio.” Fred Czulowski