Imagine Yourself Creative
The Colour Workshop
A One Day In-Person Workshop for All Skill Levels
£115.00
Including All Materials
Colour is the thing most painters tell me they struggle with. Mixes turn muddy; paintings feel flat; or the colours just don’t seem to sit happily together. The colour workshop is designed to change that. We’ll start with a relaxed, illustrated talk about how colour really works, a little look back at some very skilled artists, then move straight into hands-on painting so you can see it for yourself on the paper. You’ll go home with a set of colour studies, a clear understanding of your palette, and the confidence to make colour work for you.
This isn’t about memorising rules or learning complicated terms: it’s about learning to really look at colour and understand why some combinations sing and others fall flat. Once you can see what’s happening, you can make deliberate choices, and that’s when your paintings really begin to come together. This workshop is for suitable for all skill levels and particularly for anyone in the earlier stages of their painting journey, whether you work in oils, acrylics, watercolour, gouache or pastels.
What you’ll learn in the colour workshop:
- How colour behaves: a friendly, practical introduction to how colours relate to one another and why it matters
- Warm and cool: understanding colour temperature and using it to create light, space and atmosphere
- Light and dark: why tone matters more than colour, and how getting it right makes a painting read clearly
- Clean mixing: how to mix fresh, lively colour and avoid the mud
- Beautiful greys and neutrals: mixing rich, subtle colours that make your brights glow
- A simple palette: how to do more with fewer colours, and why a limited palette brings harmony
- Colour and composition: using colour to lead the eye, create a focal point and set the mood of a painting
The morning begins with an introduction to colour, with plenty of examples to look at and questions welcome along the way. A look at colour led painting and exploring superb examples of this. Then we’ll get painting with a series of enjoyable exercises: mixing charts, colour swatches and small studies. These build up through the day into a finished small painting, where you’ll put everything into practice and see how thoughtful colour choices transform your work.
Understanding colour is one of the most valuable things you can learn as a painter. It underpins everything, from a quick sketch to a finished painting, in any medium and any subject. I created this workshop because so many of my students have had that “lightbulb moment” with colour, and I wanted to give it a whole day of its own.
I aim for simplicity in all my creative work, and this includes my workshops. I keep numbers limited on my workshops as this allows me to offer detailed one to one instruction throughout the day. You may also be interested in my Oil Painting Workshop – Still Life
Included in the workshop are all the materials you’ll need for your exploration into colour for the day, and in addition
- Excellent, high-quality subject material and references to work from.
- Detailed structured teaching notes that accompany the workshop to take home.
- Refreshments, tea, coffee and homemade cake.
Please see the tab below What To Bring for more information.
Arrive at around 9.30 – 9.45 to get settled in, and after a quick run through of the what day promises we’ll get started at around 10.00.The morning begins with an introduction to colour, with plenty of examples to look at and questions welcome along the way. A look at colour led painting and exploring superb examples of this. Then we’ll get painting with a series of enjoyable exercises: mixing charts, colour swatches and small studies. These build up through the day into a finished small painting, where you’ll put everything into practice and see how thoughtful colour choices transform your work.We’ll wrap up somewhere around 3.30 with a casual “debrief” and chat about the revelations of the day – and there will be many, some of which can be quite magical.
This workshop is for everyone. All my Imagine Yourself Creative workshops are structured to cater for a wide range of abilities, and reflect my teaching style – one small imaginative step at a time.My own artwork is a blend of process and practise founded on a few simple rules, one of which is to keep things as simple as possible.
When you have a beginners mindset, you’re not worried about looking smart. You’re more interested in exploration, discovery, asking questions, trying new things, and perhaps above all you see opportunities instead of obstacles in your learning experience.
How to Practice the Beginner’s MindsetAsk more questions. Especially basic fundamental questions.Be open to feedback. This should feel like a conversation between you and your creative project.Let go of being right. Focus on being open, learning not winning.Try something completely new. We are numbed by comfort, push yourself into a new space.Stay curious. Imagine how a child would respond to what you see and feel.
You can read the full Imagine Yourself Creative post on my blog [here]
My purpose built studio is located in East Cowton, DL7 0DX (Noble Fine Art), which is about 6 miles north of Northallerton. It’s a creative space where in addition to running art workshops I offer picture framing, fine art reproduction, scanning and giclée printing, along with (my husband’s) lovely old vintage printing presses.
Please click the link Contact Me & Studio Location Map above to view more details on my location.
What to bring? All you need is suitable comfortable clothing and a packed lunch, the studio is well heated. There’s a small kitchen area with tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge, microwave and toaster in the studio which are all available for use. I recommend an apron or old shirt, and a beginners mindset, everything else is provided.
Read the Imagine Yourself Creative Beginners Mindset post on my blog [here].
The studio is a new building with good access which is suitable for wheelchairs, and all of my courses take place on the ground floor directly through the main double door access to the studio.We have a small kitchen area with tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge, microwave and toaster which are all available for student use. The kitchen is immediately accessible from the central ground floor area.
Click the Contact Me & Studio Location Map link in the top section of the page for more details.
Younger Students – 14 to 16 are always very welcome, though they will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Gift Vouchers – Being creative is one of the most therapeutic pursuits, and benefits us in so many ways, improving our mental health, concentration and focus, and in generating a sense of well-being.
You can purchase a gift voucher for £25 / £50 / £100 which you can use against any course / workshop & one to one tuition, or use against purchases for framing, prints and original fine art.
If you’d like any more information please just click on the link in the upper section of the page Contact Me & Studio Location Map.
Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and if you’re unable to attend a course you’ve paid for, and would like to cancel I will always try and accommodate any request as fairly as possible. In any case, please just get in touch.
More than 8 weeks notice – You’ll receive a refund of 80% of the cost of the course.
More than 4 weeks notice – I’ll transfer you to another workshop / course to the same value. If there isn’t a suitable one free, your credit will be maintained and you’ll get priority bookings as more courses are released. Or, as below I’m happy someone to take your place.
Less than 4 weeks – I’m happy for a family member or friend to take your place, just let me have there details to confirm the booking.
