We are delighted that Sarah is returning again this year and that we can regularly offer a pastel tutor to our stable of professional artists. All our artists share their skills and knowledge with you, enabling you to advance your work in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Sarah has a huge amount of knowledge and skill and a fantastic process that results in powerful paintings. Her work has always been informed by nature
“I am constantly inspired by the visual commotion of the landscape, and in my paintings, I strive to capture this interplay of light, atmosphere and texture. The combined effect is sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic – and all too easy to miss if you don’t take time to really look. Ultimately, it’s the challenge of portraying the various juxtapositions of the natural world, which gets me into the studio each day; the scratchiness of undergrowth next to a flat expanse of sea, or the gnarly trunk of a tree against a brooding sky. Alongside acrylic painting, I developed a mixed media approach when I was introduced to soft pastels whilst painting with the Blockley group.I have found that a layered combination of materials – gesso, acrylic paint, and finally, pastel and charcoal – allows me to give my work depth, but also facilitates the kind of energetic, expressive mark making that I’ve always been drawn to. It’s a process that’s always evolving, and often challenging – but I hope to keep learning as long as I’m painting. I generally work in the studio from copious sketches and notes gleaned on location. I find this helps me to paint the essence of what I’ve seen and felt, without the distraction of extraneous information. Really, that’s what painting is for me. Capturing the heart of that moment of seeing – distilled, perhaps heightened, and above all, alive. ”
During this course Sarah will take students through her approach to mixed media and producing strong vibrant pastel paintings. As with all Coombe courses Sarah has a hands-on approach so she will demonstrate throughout the week and there will be an emphasis on individual tuition.
The group will paint in the studio after making sketches of the landscape in and around Coombe, do also bring any of your own existing sketchbooks if you have them to use as additional source material.
Sarah has a BA in Graphic Design worked as a graphic designer at the National Magazine Company later worked as a body painter and makeup artist for commercial photography and fil, and studied painting at the Heatherly School of Fine Art in London and painted with the Blockley Group. She was elected to the pastel society in 2005 and has won numerous awards including the 2019 Derwent Award, the 2019 Artists’s publishing company award, the 2019 unison colour award and the 2014 Caran d’Ache Award.
The course will run for four full days – Monday-Thursday with accommodation & dinner for residents from Sun-Thursday nights inclusive. Breakfast on Friday morning is also included with time after breakfast to clear your work and materials from the studio.
WHAT TO BRING
Sketchbook and pencil
White, untextured mountboard (2 or 3 sheets, any size, if they are large and you can transport them we can cut them down to different sizes when you are here, or if travelling by train do bring smaller pre-cut sheets if that is easier for you)
Acrylic paints to include PAYNES GREY’
Indian Ink (Black)
Paint palette with several deep wells
A selection of paint brushes…to include a 1-1.5 inch house decorating brush (the more ‘tired’ the better)
CLEAR gesso (Winsor & Newton)
Chalk Pastels… to include a selection of soft and also the smaller harder type (harder ones made by Conte a Paris or Caran d’Ache)
Charcoal (not compressed)
Large water vessel (these can be borrowed from Coombe Farm Studios)
Cotton rags (not towelling)
Spray fixative (not hairspray)
Overalls or apron
Masking tape (can be bought at Coombe at £2.20 if required)
A portable easel if you have one (if not you can borrow from us)
Any reference material you might like to work from in case of poor weather.
![Sarah Bee - Residential APRIL [£787 inc VAT]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8369cf32838066ecfc21b6/1696929063295-2XA83P35GD5XSOX2BG81/S+BEE+PS+Hawthorn+above+Elberry+Cove+pastel+with+acrylic+40x40cms+low+res++br.jpeg)
The total price for this residential course is £656 + VAT (£787) including food, accommodation and your tuition.
At the point of booking/adding to cart, you are asked to pay a non-refundable* deposit of £150.
The remaining balance (£637 is payable three weeks before the course starts (either by bank transfer, cheque or card over the phone).
*Non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please read our full Terms & Conditions including cancellations.
The total price for this course is £526 + VAT (£631) including your tuition and lunch each day.
At the point of booking/adding to cart, you are asked to pay a non-refundable* deposit of £150.
The remaining balance (£481) is payable three weeks before the course starts (either by bank transfer, cheque or card over the phone).
*Non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please read our full Terms & Conditions including cancellations.
