GET CREATIVE - MAY 10-11TH

Some weekends are great - some weekends are EXTRA GREAT!

Of course, the glorious weather helped and the personality of a lady with very red hair! (Which she said was a mistake - but it suited her and her very vivacious personality). PLAY HARD - WORK HARD is our motto and the students, all very keen to learn, absorbed all of Caroline's exceptional teaching and created great paintings.

Red hair - pink flowers - great first painting!

We've had a lot of enquiries this week - May 6th

People are concerned because the course they want is full! But remember we can always accommodate you in the week - you just tell us what days you want and Caroline will usually be able to fit you in - and also EVERY course is dedicated to YOU. So even if the name of the course is wrong(!) you can always book on it. Caroline will always work to your level and individuality.

Caroline is in the Studio every day (apart from corporate site meetings - or something similar) At the moment, she is inundated with work from Offices, Hotels and Restaurants - so she is painting like crazy! We've got a new web site running www.paintings-forsale.com - click - it's currently under development but if you want to buy a painting at bargain prices. This is the time - so visit the web site if you have time.

WATERCOLOUR WEEKEND - MAY 3RD

Watercolour is quite a difficult medium and some people want to try it but find it is not giving them the 'expressiveness' they are looking for.

This great lady - to the left - had never painted before and joined the watercolour course but did not enjoy it. So Caroline taught her acrylics - which just goes to prove that Caroline DOES work to your requirements. She saw the lady was struggling and offered her to paint in acrylics instead and the lady was delighted and very relieved. She said after the course

I wanted to get in touch because I feel on Sunday I was too dazed by the amount you had taught me and the unbelievable sense of achievement. I look now at my efforts, particularly the acrylic, and still can't believe they were made by me. The rational part of myself shut down my creativitity at 17 and I really feared I'd lost it forever. You've given it back to me and there are no words to say how much that means to me.

ACRYLIC AND OIL PAINTING - April 26/27th

This is a new course

A lot of beginners want to see if they prefer oils to acrylics or acrylics to oils - so this new course is a chance to experiment with both mediums.

The students decided(!) that you can be much more expressive with acrylics (it's a much more 'forgiving' medium) whereas oils has to be very carefully controlled when you are using them ' wet on wet' or 'alla prima' method. But come on the course and see what YOU think! click A great weekend with some excellent results!

Lovely Val joined us again - this time experimenting with texture and paint - unfortunately you really need to see this - the photo does it no justice whatsoever!

GIVE US A PHOTO OF CAROLINE !

We've had loads of emails asking us what does Caroline look like and to put on a photo of her on the web site! (Funny!)

Why? She's very modest and like most people who are no longer in their teens(!) she's not keen on her photo being taken! We've put on a self portrait she made in the 80's - I (webmaster) don't think it's much like her now - yes perhaps when she painted it (great painting). Yes, she has amazing eyes but her hair is longer. I hope she doesn't make me take this down! Annabel is plotting to take a photo when she's not looking. So watch this space! (We'll definitely get her when she's in France on the overseas painting week!)

BEGINNERS WEEKEND 19-20TH APRIL

I know we always say it but what a fantastic group!!

Two men, three ladies and a fantastic girl of 13 with bags of personality and sense of fun - plus oodles of artistic talent.

Everyone was talented and capable and had such fantastic personalities. It was great!

We spent a lot of time laughing, a lot of time painting, a lot of time learning and what great results! More are on the Students page - click

This lady had such a wonderful character and fantastic painting 'vision'

A NUMBER OF STUDENTS STATED THEY NEARLY DIDN'T BOOK BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE QUALITY OF PAINTINGS on the Some Students page - SO GOOD THAT THEY WOULD BE 'SHOWN UP' BY NOT PAINTING AS WELL!! HONESTLY - TRUST ME!! I PROMISE YOU - YOU WILL!! CAROLINE TAKES YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING AND SHE WILL ENSURE YOU CREATE FANTASTIC PAINTINGS! By the way - she NEVER touches your paintings - or does anything for you - so it really is ALL YOUR OWN WORK!!

THE GOOD NEWS!!

We have had to move over to Ara & Amsterdam acrylic paints. Ara & Amsterdam are 100% lightfast pigment and 100% binder - so the quality is professional. It's just the packaging that looks like 'school' paint!

I know we could use other Professional acrylic paints - 'Liquitex' - but they only sell in tubes and not large pots - which is what we need! And I know we could use Golden - but then the courses would have to be three times their cost!

THE BAD NEWS

Tri-Art - the wonderful acrylic paint is no longer being sold in the UK - so we have had to move over to the new brands - Ara & Amsterdam - more expensive than Tri-Art and some students say they like it better. The Ara brand belongs to Old Holland - a Dutch company who make excellent paints and Amsterdam is made by Royal Talens - anither Dutch company.

APRIL 12/13TH WATERCOLOUR WEEKEND

What a great group! (They usually are!) two men and two women (one lady's husband was taken ill - so she couldn't attend on the Sunday) and one person cancelled three days before. So we were a group of four on Sunday.

They were so 'accomplished' and absorbed all the information on Saturday about technique, focal points, tonal values and composition that Caroline felt a bit 'superfluous' on Sunday! But she was able to make some good suggestions! Just look at the results!

Caroline gave them 'huge' pieces of paper to paint on and set up a still life - for two of them. The other two painted different inspirations.

This lady painted two pictures - on the Sunday - one in very thin layers of watercolour - the other was very bold and used different techniques

APRIL 10TH - PAINTING DAY

Caroline LOVES Painting Days in the week.

When everyone is at a completely different level and are so passionate about their art.

It's quite an achievement to create in one day but painting quickly, with passion and determination often shows a huge level of ability and mostly everyone is so inspired they come back again and again! And Caroline loves seeing people again and again and trying to develop them further. Once you have been on a painting day or weekend, you can come and use the Studio any time for just £25.00 per day. Which includes all you materials and a canvas. Fantastic value!

Painting Days are fun and there is something very special about them and this one was very special. Great students of all ages and abilities.

Another great painting on the painting day. Thanks Pam - for being an exceptional student

PHEW WHAT A WEEKEND!

Sunday April 6th it snowed!!

Caroline drove the few miles from her house to the Studio in a snowstorm at 7.30am. (after having built a couple of snowpeople, in her front garden) - artists are all mad!! p.s. she says her husband's ears are not THAT large! AND she doesn't have 'bouffant' hair! and they don't really look like some aliens from Dr Who! But snow is a very difficult medium and she only had half an hour!

Caroline's 'snow people' (Very weird!!)

The journey was very beautiful but very hairy! No longer having her Land Rover (which blew up!) but a sports car - which is not good on wet or snowy roads and her husband told her not to make the journey - but she went anyway! At that time in the morning - on a Sunday - she was the first on the roads. So it was thick, deep untouched snow. She said what was weird was that there was no noise. No birds singing. Nothing. All the animals must have gone into deep shock and hibernation!

The very beautiful countryside leading to the Studio - deep in snow. (Taken by Caroline on her journey!) April 6th - Spring? Global warming?

Two people (those staying at Greendene Farmhouse) made it back to the Studio. The rest are coming on another day.

Who is Alex?

We've had a few enquiries asking us who is Alex - they've obviously read some of our testimonials!

Alex is one of the Senior Partners but who very kindly helps out on the weekends. He buys the buffet lunch - fresh in the mornings and lays out lunch, makes tea and coffee and generally helps out. He's invaluable!! Sweet, funny and charming!

Two of our students are on exhibition in a very prestigious Office space.

Two outstanding students of 2007 are now exhibiting their paintings in the reception of the number one company of auditor's in the UK!

Caroline doesn't just want to teach you to paint but she can offer excellent opportunities to exhibit your paintings as part of the Studio's 'corporate art' arm of the Studio.

If you can supply the best art works, she can get them exhibited or rented or sold. So your painting course doesn't have to end there!

Caroline has a yearning to get back to her 'roots'!

Caroline used to be represented by a Gallery in Carmel, USA - so she's made some great working drawings of the area.

When Caroline started her art training, her concept was to create 'the perfect landscape'. see these here - click After creating landscapes for many years - she started developing her work into more of a 'story telling' narrative and became more interpretive and contemporary but recently(!) she has had a yearning to go back to her roots and is now working on more landscapes and a series of seascapes. Go to her web site - click to see her landscapes and contemporary work.

She really is extraordinary in her ability to create any sort of art work. She says it's her techniques, love for colour and paint and passion for art that enable her!

Her new series of works entitled 'Seascapes with a Wave' will be on her web site shortly.

Get Creative Weekend - March 8/9th

Caroline's not sure if her teaching just gets better and better and the Students are able to have greater vision and understanding or if the Students are much more able! But it seems that every weekend the artists achieve more and more.

As they say 'Talent is the ability to take risks' and Caroline is so enthusiastic and passionate about painting that she creates a really great atmosphere of teaching and dedication in the Studio every weekend - and every weekend the students just get more exciting and brave!

Starter Weekend - March 1/2nd

A glorious weekend - we went on location on Saturday and made some working drawings - which we then created on canvas.

On Sunday the 6 students (2 men - four women) created very different paintings of still life and original compositions.

All the students were an 'adventurous' bunch with original ideas and the student to the right created a very stunning background to her still life. Very accomplished in colour and brush strokes - especially for a beginner.

It was Mother's Day on Sunday, so Caroline's daughter came to give her a hug and a very beautiful hand made card, whilst her son gave her a good bottle of brandy and some chocolates(!) LOVELY!

Feb 24/25th Our First Oil Painting Course in this Studio click for programme

It's quite a challenge having an oil painting course over two days. But because many people asked us for this course, we decided to 'go for it'!

All the students said they had learnt loads and got from it exactly what they wanted to know - so it was as SUCCESS!

Caroline taught them many things they had not either read or knew about. As one student said -' Caroline taught us techniques and the basics, we've all interpreted to the best of our abilities'

Which is all anyone can do. Just try and remember it all guys - if not refer to the notes!!

Caroline said it was the most taxing course she had taken - oil painting is a precise medium and if you don't follow the rules - you get mud!

Feb 9/10th - Beginners Starter Weekend. click for programme

The weather was glorious and the group consisted of three men and three women.

The painting to the right was created in one day, after learning composition, tonal values, focal points, composition, paint techniques etc.

It's difficult to expect a 'masterpiece' in just two days but the group all managed to attain a high quality of painting, tonal values and composition etc. Look at some students - click to see more

Feb 2/3rd 2008 - JoeDaisy Weekend. - click for programme. These weekends are fantastic. Everyone helps everyone else and there is a wonderful atmosphere in the Studio - all that 'creative genuis' energy - Caroline said it was one of the most enjoyable weekends yet!

This student went to the same art school as Caroline - so
great training which is very evident in this painting. Not finished but pretty sensational paint work and composition.

Very clever techniques and wonderful brush control. There are many layers of under painting here - finished off with clever tone and strong brush work.

Jan 26/27th - The First 'GET CREATIVE' weekend of the year. click for programme

And what a weekend!

Two sets of couples, a business man and a young mum! All strangers to each other but they all bonded and made a great group.

And just look at this! The very first attempt at a nude by this lady. (Who said she couldn't draw!) but we think it's a pretty sensational first attempt. Very patient lady who kept working at it and the paint work is very very good - lots of layers and we're getting the feel of the 'Italian Fresco' which was the inspiration.

The others created the usual diversification of subjects, a seascape, an abstract with stencilled text, a painting from a photograph of a little boy, an abstract 'racing car - with motion(!) and a Kandinsky inspired abstract.

These paintings weren't finished, so they didn't want the images on the web site.

They said they will come back - so we'll see how they develop!

Jan 2nd 2008 - HI! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's great to be back and a Happy New Year. Hope you didn't get the 'flu' that seemed to affect everyone in the Studio.

Caroline said she really missed the courses over the Christmas break and can't wait to get started again on the weekends. The first one is this weekend. (Jan 5/6th).

We had a Painting Day on Jan 2nd - some great work but as they were all 'beginners' they felt they didn't want their 'masterpieces' on the web site until they come again in the Spring - when they felt they' would have improved even more!

The Studio is looking great. We've got masses of lovely canvases, all wrapped in cellophane - just crying out for some artistic hands!. The finest Tri-Art acrylic paints and new DaVinci brushes. So we're all fired up and READY TO GO!

Caroline even got some new 'Pantone' mugs for Christmas - so tea and coffee will taste even better!. The brand new Coffee machine has broken again though - so that's back to the drawing board. Can anyone recommend a RELIABLE coffee machine!?

We look forward to seeing you - it's going to be a really exciting 2008.

Jan 5/6th Weekend was EXCEPTIONAL!!

It was a Beginners Weekend so Caroline painted along with the Students on Saturday, showing them how to compose a landscape. Once again, although the students were working from the same image, with the same colours, everyone made a totally different painting.

On Sunday the students composed a still life. AGAIN(!) the still life was the same for everyone but just look at the interpretations.

Caroline said the work on this course was exceptional and asked the students why it was SO GOOD!! They said because they hadn't come with any previous knowledge or 'baggage' but had the advantage of starting from a completely Professional approach, learning proper preparation, professional techniques, focal points, composition & tonal values that it was bound to be good!

So we think, although Caroline wouldn't say so - because she is modest! That she must be giving fantastic teaching to complete beginners to achieve such great results - IN JUST TWO DAYS!!

A Total Beginner, with exceptional talent. Wonderful colour combinations, wonderful movement and just look at that really clever tonal brush work.
We created this painting with glazing (Stage Painting) and wet on wet acrylic methods. Sensational Painting. The Student said:

I would like to thank you very much for a
most fantastic week end. I really enjoyed the wk end
& learnt so much ! Your approach is so good  .
The time passed so quickly & although we were all
working so intensively for the two days,
I felt exhilarated , very uplifted & invigorated!.

OUR LAST PAINTING WEEKEND OF 2007 Was Great!! December 8-9th

It was a 'Get Creative' course

It was wet and dull weather. So on the Saturday instead of going out on location in the afternoon, we learnt 'tonal values' from drawing some sculptures in the Studio. We also used some landscape photographs.

As Corporate Art Suppliers, we have a lot of sculpture, paintings and photographs in the Studio. These wonderful wood sculptures by N J Garn are great to draw and to teach you to look for tones (dark, light and medium shades) in form.

We had our usual interesting mix of students. An Air Hostess, two psychologists, a prospective MEP, a History teacher and an acupuncturist.

And of course a lovely lady who was returning for a second time and working on her scene from Vietnam.

All the students admitted the quality of the paint (Tri-Art acrylic) was fantastic and quite different to anything they'd painted with before.

We managed to spill two pots (blue and portrait tone) - that's ok - contributes to the paint on Caroline's shoes and the Studio Floor!

Incidentally both happened because the top wasn't put on the pot properly.

It also echos the point, that when you come to the Studio, wear clothes and shoes you don't mind if paint gets on them. Paint accidents can happen!

Another huge variety of topics were painted by the students on the second day of the weekend.

A landscape which was wonderfully interpreted in colour and form.

An abstract, a portrait, the Mapledurham Watermill, a 'Chinese' style figure, some boats were also created on large canvases. 101x76cm and 100x100cm.

We had a bit of a rush at finishing time. One student had to catch the 4.03pm train from Reading Station and it takes a long time for people to say their goodbyes and thanks.

So inevitably a scarf, a bracelet and the notes were left behind (Annabel sent them by Recorded mail the next day to the owner) and Caroline?

She managed to drive the few miles to the Station (it's not far from the Studio but the traffic is heavy on a Sunday - especially so close to Christmas when everyone is on the roads going to and from the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading) getting the student on her train with 1 minute to spare! PHEW!!

We had another Two Day Painting Course on December 12th and 13th. This is definitely the last of the year.

We had crackers and party poppers and we'd decorated the Studio with tinsel and baubles - to celebrate Christmas.

Another great bunch of people. Three ladies and two men. One of whom was Derek - who comes every week for some of Caroline's help. He's fantastic at drawing and painting but thinks his colour balance and depth need help. Caroline says he is the messiest artist she's come across - except for herself!!

If anyone needs paint - it's usually on Derek's Painting table - he's exceptional at managing to have about 30 pots - all open, crammed on his table. He's a joy though and everything he creates is just stunning!

His paintings will soon be available on www.paintings-forsale.com and his prints on www.wallflower.co.uk

Life in the Studio goes on without classes.

Charlie (one of the Studio's artists) is creating the 'Italy Series' of paintings. Taking some time out from the inundation of commissions .

Charlie's paintings will be available on www.paintings-forsale.com in the New Year 2008 (crikey 2008 already! - sounds very futuristic!)

Caroline's paintings are currently exhibiting in a very prestigious space in Bristol.

She is working on her 'Autobiography' series. You can visit her web site www.caroline.hulse.com to see some - although not many paintings are put on the web site - because they get copied.

We've sold lots of Vouchers in the last few days. We're offering 15% off a painting weekend until December 20th - as a Christmas present to you. click for the vouchers

So everyone, thanks for a really great 2007, with many promising artists and have a fantastic Christmas and we will see you in the New Year. Painting courses are booking up fast.

We've got our first painting day on January 2nd - come and join us!

The Oil Painting on 12/13th January is already full. We have one place left on the Get Creative Course 26/27th January.
The Get Creative course on February 16/17th is also Full!

So Book up Soon and we PROMISE the most exciting painting day, weekend or week!

This man was on his second visit

A lot of real talent from this lady

Our new web site www.paintings-forsale.com

One of the oil paintings at the April 26/27th weekend

One of the oil paintings at the April 26/27th weekend

Self portrait of Caroline 1980's

Difficult to believe that this girl is only 13 and this is her own composition - outstanding stuff!

Very very clever use of brush and tone - and she's calling this - 'JoeDaisies' - clever girl!

'Ara' Professional acrylic paint - just horrible packaging!

Watercolour is probably the most difficult medium 'to express yourself' but this man did brilliantly

Students are asked to write down - before they start painting - some words to describe how they expect their painting to look. This lady fulfilled her 'concept' to perfection. She wanted to attain that wonder 'translucency' of watercolour.

An 11 year old with great vision and exceptional talent. This 'Pop Art' painting is very clever and beautifully painted. Walkers - you need this painting for your marketing campaigns!

This lovely man came back to finish his stunning painting (at no extra charge) - after a weekend.

Arriving at the Studio - the 17th century almshouses on the left. Caroline's footprints leading to the Studio's Gates
(which have to be unlocked). Apart from the car and the scooter you could be back in the 1800s couldn't you!

The snow covered studio - poor Daisy - (JoeDaisy - get it?) the cow must have been cold!

Beautiful countryside on the journey to the studio (Taken by Caroline on her journey!) April 6th - Spring? Global warming?

The Studio (without snow!) In the shadow of the historic Mapledurham House

Exhibition of two Students work in a very prestigious space

Carmel Landscape - oils on canvas - by Caroline - March 2008

One of the students on the March 8/9th weekend

A Starter with a very accomplished first painting

This oil painting was created with brushes and painting knife

Excellent painting achieved by this starter

This lady is very talented and has an excellent eye for colour. All her own composition and look at that 'genius' assemblance of colour!

WOW! This artist is SO FANTASTIC with paint, tone and composition that she feels this is nowhere near finished yet! But this is sensationally painted!

The eventual painting

We supply Tri-Art The Finest acrylic paints
- included on your course

Da Vinci are the finest brushes
- we only use the best of everything

This student chose different elements of the Still Life and
introduced her own shape, creating a very solid composition
with elements of charm. Well balanced painting composed
with great thought and originality. EXCELLENT!

This is actually a great painting. Angle of photography is
not good but clever tonal values. This student wanted to
achieve a 'strong, vibrant, contemporary' composition
(we talk about your inspiration as well as your techniques).

And Bob who chose to have Caroline all to himself
for a couple of days said:

The course was outstandingly good. Intensive, yet somehow relaxed and inspirational. Course content just flowed from one subject to another with ease &, exceptional cleverness, so I was learning without being lectured! I'm sort of in shock as to what I acheived and after three days I'm still marvelling at how much I learnt in a casual but exceptional way.
Quite incredible! Bob Jan 2008

Bob didn't want his pictures on the web site.
He's fiercely ambitious to be a famous painter, so he's coming back again and again. WHEN he's created that masterpiece he's perfectly happy with - THEN we can put it on the web site.
CAN'T WAIT - WATCH THIS SPACE!

          
NJ Garn's Sculptures

Vietnam Scene

Caroline's working shoes! (Quite large feet - size 8!)

The Boats

One of Derek's Stunning paintings

Derek's paintings will soon be available on
www.paintings-forsale.com
and his prints on www.wallflower.co.uk

One of Charlie's 'Italy' Series
A diptych (two piece)

Caroline's paintings. Reception office space Bristol