Starting up plein air watercolour classes!

I'm really excited to have finally got outdoor classes up and running! Painting from life, teaching lovely people, being immersed in nature. It's the best! This has been something I've wanted to do for a long time but haven't quite figured out how it'd work.

These are some hurdles that I was coming up against and some solutions. Also some other questions that I haven't found the answers to:


What happens if it rains?


This was the biggest hurdle for me. I could just imaging the admin it would take to have to change people's tickets all of the time. But I think I was making it much bigger in my head than it actually was. All I do, is if it rains I automatically move everyone's ticket to the following week. If they can't make that week they let me know and we move it to another week. And if they can't make any other weeks at all, the ticket is refunded.


Where are the classes going to be?


I'm not too sure at the moment where are the best places to paint. I have a good list of a bunch that I think are good, but its also about distance and accessibility. So at the moment, on the Whatsapp group we vote each week for which place people want to go. The voting closes a few days before the event and I update the Eventbrite page with the new location every week. 


How can you justify charging for these classes when there are others that are free in Brighton?


When planning to set up these classes, I had a look at what else was around Brighton similar to this. There are a few sketching groups that are free, but they are not tutored. So I guess the thing I am offering in these classes is the fact that you will really learn something.


The other part is I feel the easels really make it feel more of a 'class'. Sometimes its quite physically uncomfortable to be hunched over a sketchbook with a million things in your lap, trying to balance them all. I want these classes to be a comfortable, relaxing experience where you don't have to be frustrated by everything blowing away or getting dropped. So I believe this makes the class more 'official'.


How are you going to carry everything to the site?


In all my classes so far I have always provided all of the materials because it makes it more beginner friendly. It also means people get to learn about good quality and cheap materials, as well as making it easier to teach as there won't be problems coming up due to materials, only because of understanding / technique - which are teachable and is what people are paying for.


With the plein air classes, I decided that I would provide the easels but not the materials because it's just too much to carry. A positive side to this, is that people can start to gather together their own set up, get used to using their own equipment and become more familiar with it. This may encourage students to feel more positive about the ease of accessing their equipment, and not being afraid of getting it out of the depths of the cupboard! I feel it enables people to start taking themselves out and make it THEIR thing.


Lastly speaking of 'depths of the cupboard', I found a perfect sized wheely suitcase left over from previous housemates that I now use to transport the easels around!


What are you going to charge people per class?


I've decided to charge a discounted price of £8 for a two hour workshop. This is because I know I have lots to learn about teaching observational painting. When I first started teaching beginner watercolours at the Sidewinder pub in Kemptown, I didn't really know what I was doing, so I charged £6. Which is crazy! I probably wasn't even earning anything at that point. But it was worth it so that I could get some experience. So now I am doing a similar thing with plein air. I am finding each class I am learning more and more about how to teach and its a really satisfying process remember everything I have previously learned in GSCE, A-Level and beyond. These were the times where I learned most about observational drawing and painting - after that it became more about concepts and composition.


How to join the Plein Air Watercolours:

Step 1 - Whatsapp groups

Join the Whatsapp Groups for either Tuesday or Friday or both. This will allow us to communicate easily about any changes due to weather 🌧️ and communicate about location📍each week!

Join the Tuesday Evening Whatsapp Join the Friday Afternoon Whatsapp

Step 2 - Location vote

Every week we will vote as to which location we want to paint at. Some examples are:


Step 3 - Book

Once we've chosen a location, or if you don't mind where we go, you can then book your ticket!


Tuesdays 18:30 - 20:30 Fridays 12:30 - 14:30

Mural Process - 'Sea Library'

by Ginger Green • 3 October 2023
Mural Process - Sea Library Mural commissioned by Woodingdean Primary School, Brighton & Hove Completed July 2021 This mural was painted in a the new library area of a primary school which was going to be sea themed. My idea was to create lots of different worlds that the children could walk through, from deep sea to coral reefs. The mural is in the corridor area, just down from where all the books and reading area is. So when coming into the library, or walking to their next class the kids and the staff get to walk through a collaboration between the mural and the fish that the children painted hanging from the ceiling.

Mural Process - 'Pearls of Bliss'

by Ginger Green • 2 October 2023
Mural commissioned by the School of Philosophy and Economic Science, London. Completed on the 30th of July 2023. When I was asked to create something in this space, the client was open to the exact placement of the mural. So we walked around the room looking at the different walls to see what best would brighten up the space. In the end we chose the spot under the stairs because it is a bit of a 'dead space' which in my head just means somewhere that collects dust or that's a bit dark. The other thing about it is the walls kind of frame it either side which means when a mural is painted inside, it will create a kind of tank that you can step inside of, like going into a new world.