DAVID HOWELL RSMA
PAINTING COURSES
David is tutoring on 3 courses during 2008
ISLE DE RE 18th - 24th September and 24th - 30th September
ANGLES SUR L'ANGLIN 29th May - 5th June
Information is available on the Sainte Croix website www.saintecroix.com These courses are run by Nicole and John Landers who have many years of experience in making people feel at home, feeding them well, and handling all those details that make a painting holiday rewarding and fun.
The view from the hotel at Ile de Re -
Watercolour by David Howell
ISLE DE RE
Isle de Re is located near the port of La Rochelle on the west coast of France. It's well known at the height of the holiday season as an exclusive resort, but the courses are outside the peak season and presents the opportunity for painters to work in a stunning location without the pressures of having to cope with large numbers of tourists and holidaymakers. There is a great variety of subject matter in this marine environment, but as well as subjects associated with the sea, there is also plenty of townscape and landscape material to tackle.
ANGLES SUR L'ANGLIN
The course at Angles sur l'Anglin is in the heart of the French countryside east of Poitiers. Angles is a delightful village well off the normal tourist trail, but is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Located on the River Anglin, the village climbs up away from the river on both sides and has a very interesting selection of old buildings including a castle, water mills, and a lovely old church that sits at the top of the village close to the village square. From a painter's point of view the village offers a choice of typical French street scenes, landscape, river views, and again the opportunity to work without being bothered by tourists, and the local inhabitants are also very used to painters working in their midst.
TEACHING
First and foremost I am a painter and the studio is always busy with gallery demands and commissions and I view a week's tutoring as a pleasant change, and an opportunity to help others develop their ability and find some of the answers.
I'm passionate about my own work and the whole subject of painting, but I recognise that for many a painting week is about having an enjoyable holiday with good food and wine, good company, and having the opportunity to paint without the distractions of normal day to day life getting in the way, but there will be more experienced painters who will want to get into serious discussion, and of course there will also be beginners. I paint in oils, watercolour and pastels and therefore I'm also happy to cope with these different media as well as all levels of experience.
I'm not into the business of standing in front of the class and producing slick demonstrations. I prefer to work with students individually, or occasionally with a small group of like minded painters, and in these circumstances I'll happily demonstrate particular techniques where appropriate. This means that everyone can progress at their own speed and with their own choice of subject matter and medium. I've spent more than 50 years experiencing the highs and struggles associated with painting, and as the years go by I realise there isn't time to learn everything I still need to know. However my aim is that students have an enjoyable time and that as a teacher I can open doors, offer encouragement and challenges in equal measure, and above all that at the end of the week they feel that they have learned something.