About Caroline Johnson
I’m an official ‘Urban Sketcher’ for Manchester and go out regularly with other sketchers. I’m also profiled in two international books on Urban Sketching- ‘The Art of Urban Sketching’ and ‘Sketch Your World’. My work has also been used in illustration and commissions have ranged from projects with interior designers to spending a week as a documentary artist in a Care Home. In April 2014 I was chosen to receive the first ‘Guardian Witness’ Human Interest Award for a drawing made of my mother in hospital. In recent years I’ve taken part in numerous joint exhibitions and I’ve had successful solo shows in Rossendale and Stockport Art Gallery.
As a professional artist my paintings and drawings are popular with both critics and collectors. Best known for my depictions of the urban scene, I’m equally passionate about portraiture, still life and landscape.
We don’t need to look far for inspiration because it is all around us. Everything has an inherent beauty if we know how to look and see. As a painting tutor I believe the key to learning is enjoyment and that motivation and support from a lively, informed and inspirational guide is crucial.
During your week with me at L’Age Baston there will be a workshop on offer in the mornings encouraging you to broaden and refine your methods, ways of seeing and also to experiment in the choice of materials, including mixed media, watercolour, acrylics, pen, ink and conté pastels. You’ll also be encouraged to use your sketchbook as a diary, as a tool for exploration and innovation, and as an aid to observation and draftsmanship.
The afternoons can be used as you wish – I’ll be on hand for further exploration of the morning’s themes or for your own projects. There will also be a few trips out to widen our subject matter and scope. At the end of the day we’ll have an uncritical look at what we’ve been doing and where we might go next.
My aim is that our time at the Château will be enjoyable and instructive and that you’ll be encouraged to find and build upon your own artistic strengths and potential. You’ll take away a unique visual record of your time here which no mere photographs can match! I hope too that you’ll be inspired to continue your progress after your stay.
I’ve found that L’Age Baston and surrounding area provide the perfect backdrop for an art course. The studio we’ll use is spacious and atmospheric yet intimate and the house and grounds are full of character and subject matter. The Pool, the wonderful meals and hospitable hosts all add to the enjoyment. The nearest town, La Rochefoucauld provides a touch of the urban French with a market, pavement cafés and a striking ‘with knobs on’ château!
Originally I studied at art school in Preston and Falmouth and then went on to gain my degree at Central St. Martins in London. I returned to my native Lancashire in 2012, after twenty years living in rural Brittany.
I can’t wait to be back at L’Age Baston and I hope you’ll join me in what will be a great art week together. In the meantime, why not follow me on Facebook
Gallery of Painting Tutor Caroline Johnson
Here is a small selection of Artist Caroline Johnson’s work. It should help give you an idea of her style and way of seeing things. Click on a painting to enlarge it and then click on the side arrows to see the next in sequence. If you want to know more about Caroline Johnson and her art then please read her Tutor Profile. You can also return to the Painting Course Home Page.
All images Copyright © Caroline Johnson.
Kit Guide
When you come on a Painting holiday with me at L’Age Baston I encourage all students to join me in keeping a sketchbook and exploring new ways of using colour, tone, collage and mixed media. The trick is to overcome that fear of ‘spoiling’ the pages and produce some nice loose, lively work. There is such a lot of subject matter that we are able to use different approaches and materials.
The more you look, the more you see and I tend to look for the more unusual subjects along the way to bring some fun into our happy week of drawing and painting. I will help you broaden your artistic horizons in absolute comfort and soak up the beauty and flavours of Chateau L’Age Baston in the process.
If you’ve never been on a painting course before or aren’t sure what exactly to bring, here’s my recommended kit list for guidance. I can hardly wait!
- Sketchbook
- 3b pencil
- Ruler
- Black Derwent Drawing Pencil
- Dip pen
- Waterproof Indian ink
- Conté crayon, one white, one black
- Set coloured pastels or Conté crayons
- Eraser
- Scissors
- Stick glue
- Set of watercolours
- Small tube white gouache
- 3 or 4 Brushes, good quality
- A2 heavy white cartridge paper x4
- A2 mid-tone coloured paper x3 (include one green)
- Any favourite materials and a bag for sketching