But that is a good place to start
Apparently this weekend is known as Panic Weekend. Last minute purchases that may, or may not be what the receiver wants in their stocking. We all know the feeling.
I look at art classes a bit like puppies – love at first sight (!), frustrating, rewarding, life changing and life enhancing. The gift of an art course is not just for Christmas, it is for life. You can give yourself a course too, because you’re worth it (maybe overkill with the advertising strap lines?)
Below are courses, one day workshops, and beginners classes with Artdrawpaint. They have links to pages with more details. They don’t take much wrapping.
If you would like to give a voucher and let the recipient choose the course, please contact me:
Breakfast with Bonnard
Figures, Interiors with Michael Weller
In this course we will look at figures, people unselfconsciously getting on with life. Sometimes students are shy of sketching in public, among strangers. This is an opportunity to sketch figures without embarrassment. Michael is at hand to advise, suggest, and demonstrate how he approaches this work.
- Tutor, Michael Weller
- Tue 20-Wed 21 January, 2026
- 10.00 – 16.00
- £240/2 days
- Parking, tea, and coffee, and a light lunch provided
- Some experience of painting and drawing needed
This course will encourage you to record the day to day. It will help you to put life and figures in your painting, and to enjoy carrying a sketchbook.
Beginners Oil Painting, Winter 2026
with Kate Measham
If you are new to oil painting, this is the course for you. Whether you are a beginner, or a bit rusty, come and join in. This is the first step towards an engaging, thoughtful, enduring, life long pleasure.
Join Kate Measham, experienced artist and teacher at Art Draw Paint, to learn the basics on this Beginners Oil Painting course.
- Tutor, Kate Measham
- Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th January, 2026
- Mottisfont Village Hall, nr Stockbridge, Hampshire
- 10.00am – 1.00pm
- £195/2 classes
- Tea, coffee and lots of parking
- please bring your own lunch
Self Portrait in Oils with Sam Clayden
with Sam Clayden
From Rembrandt to Van Gogh, artists throughout history have confronted their own image to create some of the most striking works of art. Today, we snap a selfie with our phones, capture a moment but probably not the person. In this two-day course with talented painter and tutor Sam Clayden, you will followRembrandt and others by taking time to think about the image.
Working directly from the mirror, Sam Clayden will guide students in the composition and execution of their self-portrait. Sam will walk students through from initial sketches to finishing touches. He will demonstrate techniques and discuss historical examples and ideas. Sam will also provide one-on-one feedback to help students find their artistic voice.
- Tutor, Sam Clayden
- Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd February, 2026
- 10.00 – 4.00
- Mottisfont Village Hall
- £240/2 days, to include a light lunch
- Suitable for intermediate students, and those with more experience
- Sam will demonstrate with oil paints.
Painting Strategies
With Kate measham
Start the new year with a fresh take on painting. Kate Measham’s workshops are designed to shake things up a bit. We ALL get set in our ways.
These days will encourage you to take risks. They will inspire you to play and to enjoy the process instead of focusing on an answer. Doing a still life is not an easy way out, not “I’m just doing a still life”. This is not how we view it. We think it as a vehicle to explore composition and why we paint and draw. It is just the beginning.
On these three, one day workshops you will be given rules, and constraints, suggestions and directions. Kate Measham will guide you through what you are going to do. You will step outside your comfort zone, try something new, take a risk.
You will be working towards one, or many pieces of work via drawing. You can use acrylics, watercolour, oils, pastels, ink, charcoal, or pencil. All of these options will be fine. You can also mix whatever you fancy.
Below are three separate workshops. Please buy them individually. Materials lists are alike; your personal preferences are important.
Taking a Long View
- Tutor, Kate Measham
- 9th February, 2026
- 10.00- 4.00
- £90/day
- At Mottisfont Village Hall
- Suitable for intermediate students
- Please bring your own lunch
Please bring materials you are happy using. There must an element of colour (paint, ink, whatever) and drawing materials. You need a pad or sketchbook for taking notes, sketching and thinking. You should bring a few bits of large (A2) paper to draw on. Also, have a surface that can take colour, such as canvas or primed paper.
Please make sure you have relevant brushes, solvent, erasers, jam jars, apron, rubbish bag, newspaper.
I will provide still life materials.
What To Expect, Still Life, Taking a Long View
The day will start with drawing exercises followed by a brief discussion about still live.
What is ‘a long view’? Is it distance through time, or space? There will be exercises to explore different ideas about ‘a long view’. You will create a plan for the day. Decide on what you are going to explore. Determine how you are going to start. Kate will help, discuss your plans with you and make suggestions where appropriate
You will be drawing and planning in the morning, and working with colour (or not colour) into the afternoon. The end results may not be finished entirely. However, you will have taken a playful step into a new way to approach all your work. This approach applies not just to still life but all creative endeavours.
This is a leap of faith. It will be different, risky (not really) and occasionally tricky. Others have taken this step and find the burden to do something ‘good’ is lifted. The aim is to be interested and interesting.
Starting Somewhere Else
- Tutor, Kate Measham
- 9th March, 2026
- 10.00- 4.00
- £90/day
- At Mottisfont Village Hall
- Suitable for intermediate students
- Please bring your own lunch
Please bring materials you are happy using. There must be an element of colour (paint, ink, whatever) and drawing materials. You need a pad or sketchbook for taking notes, sketching and thinking. Bring a few bits of large (A2) paper to draw on. Also bring a surface that can take colour, such as canvas or primed paper.
Please make sure you have relevant brushes, solvent, erasers, jam jars, apron, rubbish bag, newspaper.
I will provide still life, and inspirational materials.
What to Expect on Starting Somewhere Else
The day will start with drawing exercises followed by a brief discussion about still live. The name of the workshop is based on the old joke:
- How do I get to the seaside?
- Well, I wouldn’t start from here.
How to start somewhere else involves looking elsewhere. Inspiration might come from other artists, poets, or films. It might be found while walking down the street or in junk shops. Alternatively, it could come from somewhere entirely different. It might be changing your palette, your methods, or all sorts of other options. This is looking for help, and research.
On this course you will be thinking about other artists and how they have interpreted still lifes.
Why is Still Life so Square?
- Tutor, Kate Measham
- 20th April, 2026
- 10.00- 4.00
- £90/day
- At Mottisfont Village Hall
- Suitable for intermediate students
- Please bring your own lunch
Please bring materials you are happy using. There must an element of colour (paint, ink, whatever) and drawing materials. You need a pad or sketchbook for taking notes, sketching and thinking. Bring a few bits of large (A2) paper to draw on. Ensure you have a surface that can take colour, such as canvas or primed paper.
Please make sure you have relevant brushes, solvent, erasers, jam jars, apron, rubbish bag, newspaper.
I will provide still life and other materials.
What to Expect on Why is Still Life so Square?
The day will start with drawing exercises. This will be followed by a brief discussion about still life. We will also discuss the use of the word square.
How to not be square is the aim. You will be encouraged to be neither square (nor rectangular) of shape, nor square of ambition. This could be as straight forward as painting a still life on a circular support. Alternatively, it could be extravagantly wild.
We all buy canvases, pads, boards in regular shapes and sizes, pre-determined by someone else. If you turn up at an art class someone else has chosen the bits and pieces in the still life. If you want to enter an open competition there are often rules about size, framing, a theme etc. that you might not necessarily have chosen. Sometimes these constraints are good. Sometimes you should try doing what you want.
“I am here to live out loud.”
― Émile Zola
What to Expect on these Painting Strategy Workshops
Do not worry if it has been a while since you used a pencil creatively. The same goes for picking up a brush or a stick of glue. If you have been painting for ages these sessions are also for you.These workshops are going to re-introduce the fun, the pleasure, occasional frustrations and delights that painting and drawing can bring. Kate Measham will support and encourage you to explore, experiment and enjoy the process.
If you have any questions email Kate Measham