The Christmas Show 340 Kings Road, London SW3 5UR
Tuesday 20th to Sunday 25th November
Selected still lifes alongside GrandyArt's artists

A testimonial

Derek Bernstein to John Vestbirk

I looked at Michael Weller's site. I quite like his work but of course that doesn't mean he's a great teacher but I do think his heart is in the right place. I think he might be a good person for you to study with. His work is very much about the experience of landscape. I like the way he looks for the essential qualities of a place and paints fast to grasp the big things and avoid the noodling around. He seems to trust his intuition.
Despite their fast appearance these paintings seem to have a slow meditative feeling. I don't see too much of that. I hope his course works out well for you.
Regarding colour pallets, I think a limited range of carefully selected colour gives you great freedom in understanding how colour can have a profound effect when one has to search to find colour that might not be your palette. I like to use Alizarin as the only red and depending on the other colours you might select there's so much potential for accidentally discovering the potential of Alizarin. I feel that way about some light pale yellows. I find making a decision not to use too much white can help make more of colour. But that also says why not use zinc white and say Naples yellow with viridian and see what happens.
More pictures one after the other, all kinds of fascinating combos out there. I have never been one for colour wheels. Teachers might find them useful to teach but at this point you're already on your own journey.
I have noticed in my work that I am the worst judge and if only I could calm down I would have done a lot more good paintings but I grew up thinking I have to push everything till it's gone.
So my own message to myself is get it down and move on to the next. It's not time to judge. Maybe later or maybe never. I would love to make paintings like Michael. He knows to keep it simple and move on. I respect that.

Introduction to oil painting on Monday evenings
The Colour Factory Studios, The Lodge, Gordon Road, Winchester SO23 7DD
October 29th, November 12th, 19th, 26th, December 3rd, 10th.
The cost for six evening classes is £175.

My oil-painting class is based in the Colour Factory garden studio, tucked away behind the River Park Leisure Centre. Three evenings of still life, followed by three evenings of portrait-painting, from life, not photographs. Classes are limited to eight, to enable time for individual teaching. Tea and coffee is provided. I’ll supply a list of basic art materials needed before the class begins. Classes are on Mondays, 6 till 9pm.

People are at different levels. So the class is less structured overall - there's a short demonstration at the start and then I go around talking to people one to one.

It helps to have some experience of drawing. The aim isn't so much a finished painting. It’s a series of colour studies in oil, and people come away with a few approaches to managing an oil painting. I encourage slowing down, working big to small, finding the big colour shapes. It's a slightly abstract way in to the painting. It's how I work.

Broad-brush oil painting at The Mill Studio, Arundel

A painting course concentrating on still life and landscape.
We work from the object, massing in the big colour shapes.
Tuesdays from 1pm-4pm, 18th September - 27th November (half term 23rd October)
Course fee £445 for ten weeks

New House Farm Barns
Ford Lane
Arundel
West Sussex
BN18 0EF

Introduction to oil painting on Sunday mornings
The Colour Factory Studios, The Lodge, Gordon Road, Winchester SO23 7DD
November 11th, 18th, 25th, December 2nd, 9th, 16th
The cost for six morning classes is £150.

My oil-painting class is based in the Colour Factory garden studio, tucked away behind the River Park Leisure Centre. Three mornings of a local landscape, followed by three mornings of still life. Classes are limited to eight, to enable time for individual teaching. Tea and coffee is provided. I’ll supply a list of basic art materials needed before the class begins. Classes are on Sundays, 10am till 1pm.

People are at different levels. So the class is less structured overall - there's a short demonstration at the start, and then I go around talking to people one to one.

It helps if people have some experience of drawing. The aim isn't so much a finished painting. This is more like a series of colour studies so that people come away with a few approaches to managing an oil painting. I encourage slowing down, working big to small, finding the big colour shapes. It's a slightly abstract way in to the painting. It's how I work.

Under A Grand
340 King's Road, London SW3 5UR
Tuesday 13th - Sunday 18th November
GrandyArt's emerging British artists

The Minster Gallery
3A Great Minster Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9HA
Three Winchester landscapes, available to view