Watercolour painting for beginners – 'en plein air'
Petworth offers the unique opportunity to explore the wonders of watercolour in this iconic location. From blank paper to finished work, your tutor will help and encourage you to learn and gain confidence.
- Booking essential
This course is for those new to watercolour who would like to learn to paint outdoors in the surroundings of Petworth House and Park. You will meet at Petworth House and spend the whole day discovering where JMW Turner was inspired. You will work in the grounds and in the studio at Petworth House.
The day will consist of demonstrations, explanations, guidance and encouragement. You will be shown how to use the materials supplied to produce a series of exercises that will enable you to move forward with this wonderful medium. You will use the small quick exercises to experiment and develop the options available and progress to complete at least one finished painting.
You will be encouraged to explore the flexibility of watercolour, mixing pigment on the palette and the paper's surface. You will be guided with subject selection, how to construct a painting using composition and collective areas to draw the viewers focus.
At the end of the course, you will have a selection of studies and at least one finished painting. Join your tutor to explore and learn.
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| All | £209.00 |
The basics
- Booking details
Call 01243 818300
- Suitability
Not suitable for children
- Meeting point
Please meet at Petworth House reception from 10am for a 10.15am start (the car park opens at 10am).
- What to bring and wear
Please see Course Materials section on the West Dean course information page.
- Accessibility
It is a 10 minute walk from the main visitor car park to the studio at Petworth. There is a mobility vehicle for those who might find this walk difficult.
- Other
Please be aware that in the event of extreme weather forecast, such as high winds, the site at Petworth may be closed. We will inform you the day before if a cancellation becomes necessary and refund the cost of the course in full.
Upcoming events
Turner's Vision at Petworth
For the first time in 20 years, a specially curated selection of JMW Turner’s artistic studies of Petworth will be exhibited in the very place that inspired him. These rarely seen works give a fascinating insight into Turner’s methods.
Heritage Open Days
Visit for free for Heritage Open Weekend on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September.
Expressive fibres – fine art textile feltwork
For artists and makers with an interest in textiles, wishing to explore material behaviours and the wet felting technique. This course is based at West Dean College.
Watercolour painting influenced by Turner
Paint with watercolour in the style of Turner at Petworth House. Learn how to capture the essence of light and atmosphere, tonal shape and composition. Learn how to explore the narrative, and how to draw the viewer in to engage their interest.