John Christian is one of Dartmoor's foremost watercolour landscape painters. He 'paints to feel love. And to become part of the landscape'. He is profoundly inspired, both emotionally and visually, by the landscape of Dartmoor, of which he has an intimate knowledge.
Join us for a day of gentle walking and sitting with invitations to sketch and paint along the way. John will teach and offer technique suggestions as much as you individually want or the group needs. We will stroll along the Taw River in Skaigh Woods, one of John's favourite painting locations, up past the weir, over Tarka bridge, what he calls 'the cathedral' canopy of trees, 'red gate', 'Impy's pool', and more secret spots. There are many places to choose to sketch and paint along the way so watercolour tuition will be for all levels - you will learn to enhance the artistic skills you already have or learn new techniques and media.
Painting has been running, like a thread, through John's life for over 60 years. Inspired by Wesson, Seago and Merriott among others, he is rooted in their distinct tradition. Like them, John is driven by an immediacy of response to a deeply felt sense of place which necessarily involves fast sketching. He works swiftly, with spontaneity and a sense of quiet passion, preferably out-of-doors and is known for his fast, wet-into-wet approach. He has contributed to 'Leisure Painter' and is a popular demonstrator. He organised his own residential courses for 16+ years and tutored too in Scotland, the South of France, Tuscany and Majorca. He has also exhibited with the Pure Watercolour Society.
