About Chris Forsey
As a painting tutor my first priority is to encourage the enjoyment of the process, from sketch to finished work. I always ask myself “why am I painting this” and hope the answer is “Because the colours or texture or form really inspire me”. I trust that it will be the same for you as it is for me. Painting should come from the heart and not just the head.
We start in the morning with a tutoring session and demo, then a discussion before the painting begins. I will then give individual attention to my painters, helping you and encouraging you to follow your own path, as I believe that each artist needs to have their own voice.
After lunch you can choose to paint on, rest up or go out sightseeing. At the end of the afternoon we have a short group evaluation to discuss the day’s painting; how things went, what could work better etc. which can be very helpful.
I believe in getting to know the painting subject through observation, sketching and photography and by planning composition and colour. I then work quickly and expressively back in the studio, making the work look spontaneous, lively and exciting. I like to exploit the happy accident, the unexpected and the unplanned. It makes painting so much fun, especially in water-based media on paper and board. I also work in acrylic and ink on canvas and use a variety of tools from roller and very large brush, rag, palette knife, card and fingers to create dynamic landscape paintings. It’s messy but can lead to interesting results.
As a professional, figurative painter I work in acrylics, watercolour, and mixed media. I like landscape and architectural subjects and capturing atmospheres; fleeting moments of changing light. I use dynamic composition, texture and expressive mark making while leaving some areas as vague abstraction, letting the viewer use their imagination.
I have now been tutoring and teaching for 16 years and enjoy giving lively and informative painting demonstrations. I have been featured in various British and European Art magazines and write on mixed media and acrylic painting regularly for ‘The Artist’ magazine. I have also made two DVD’s about my painting; ‘Beyond Watercolour’ and ‘Pushing the Boundaries of Watercolour’. Both were very enjoyable to make and have proved very popular. They cover a number of different approaches to watercolour, acrylic and mixed media.
Born in London, I lived in Chiswick but grew up mostly in the west of England. Studying Art and Graphics at Bristol was followed by a diploma Art and Design. I began my career as an illustrator in a publisher’s studio. I soon went freelance and worked on subjects as varied as dinosaurs, historic reconstructions, animals, buildings and children’s fiction. I developed an interest in painting watercolours and started to exhibit and selling with galleries, mostly landscape subjects in a loose style, a far cry from my realistic illustration.
My work is widely exhibited throughout the UK and I have won prizes for my work at the Mall Galleries, London. I am a member of the RI (Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours) and SGFA (Society of Graphic Fine Artists).
I am really looking forward to my second year teaching at L’Age Baston because it has everything you need for a great art holiday; big studio, lovely accommodation, good facilities, wonderful nature and scenery, delicious food, and of course great company and ambience. So if you would like to join me, click here to get booking.
Website: http://chrisforsey.com/
Small selection of Artist Chris Forsey’s work
Here is a small selection of Artist Chris Forsey’s work. It should help give you an idea of his 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.
All images Copyright © Chris Forsey.
Kit Guide
I’m often asked by students, “What painting materials should I take on a painting holiday?” Firstly you need to decide what media you are going to work in. Secondly, are you going to be sketching outside or is it all studio based? Thirdly, what is the weather likely to be? Last of all, how are you travelling?
At L’Age Baston guests either arrive by car, train or plane to get there. If flying weight is a consideration, my general rule of thumb is…less clothes, more art stuff! Or wear lots of your clothes during the flight!
Basic painting kit
- You will be sketching outside sometimes so I would suggest:
- Sketchbook, min size A5
- Mini watercolour box and a brush, crayons or colour pencils
- Soft pencils or graphite stick, felt tip pens are good too
(Suggested) Colours to bring
- Cad Red
- Aliz Crimson
- Cobalt Blue
- Prussian Blue
- Lemon yellow
- Cad yellow deep
- Yellow Ochre
- Paynes Grey
- Titanium white
- Orange purple
Other equipment you might like to bring
I paint in watercolour, mixed media and acrylic, but the choice is yours. A small selection of acrylics, watercolours and a bottle or 2 of FW acrylic inks is great. I like darks like Paynes Grey and Burnt Umber as these are good for drawing and embellishing a painting. I also use oil pastels with the other media but these are not essential if you don’t want to bring them as there are plenty of bits and pieces to try in the cupboards in the L’Age Baston art Studio. Please also note that boards, easels and stools etc are provided, so you won’t need to pack anything like that as are aprons and sunhats. It’s a great studio and even has sofas up one end and some wonderful art books to browse through over a morning coffee.