‘Letting go of Certainties’ with jacqui mair

DATES 20 - 25th June 2024

Letting go of  Certainties

Suitable for all - beginners to experienced artists wanting to develop their technique

 “Things take the time they take. Don’t worry” - MARY OLIVER

Letting go of certainties is a starting point to compose our own set of still life objects imagined or otherwise and to consider what might also be seen beyond the window. We are residing in the warm and inviting Court House Farm which is steeped in history and set in a beautiful landscape The huge barn and courtyard, outbuildings, and stables all sit within a four-acre site with its decorative gardens which all will feed the creative juices.  Discover a new world of artistic possibility when you combine collage and paint with printing techniques. Our very own collage papers will become the starting point to produce either a series of large collage pieces and /or a concertina book that take us beyond the expected.  

The Event

This event is an opportunity to let things happen, having the time to pursue mark-making whether by brush or pen or printing techniques, will give us a surfeit of surfaces to collage with, often we forget our personal lines and painterly gestures, our scribbles, that are all our personal artistic fingerprints. These can be added to your collages to add uniqueness. Mixing medias, breaking down boundaries, losing the fear of what is right and wrong can produce exciting possibilities to set you on your personal journey. Create work that speaks to the personal and leave with the permission that everything is possible!

Itinerary

Day I: Arrival

Day 2: Introduction to Jacqui and the workshop participants.  Discussion and presentation of Jacqui’s collage work with discussions on how the project will unfold. Discussion of personal project featuring the idea of inside / outside and what we are intuitively drawn to as a still life and beyond. Lecture / Introduction to collage techniques and inspiration from other artists.

Small introductory exercise.

Day 3: Making printed collage papers and experimentation through simple printmaking techniques using gelli plates, mono printing, simple relief and planographic mark-making on a variety of surfaces. These methods often create unpredictable results, encouraging experimentation and unexpected new directions.

Film: Collaging from start to finish showing Jacqui’s’ process.

Day 4: Discussion of made papers and potential outcomes for collage.  Demonstration of concertina book possibility and /or collage surface preparation for finished piece.

Development of ideas through sketchbook process, composition techniques.

Plan and develop ideas

Development of collage / book

Day 5: Finishing projects in the Studio with final Show and Tell of participants work

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• Accommodation in a stunning medieval manor (1300sAD) or adjoining Tudor Manor house (1500sAD)….. the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere in a renovated country house, steeped in history.

• Fully catered, chef prepared meals, breakfast, ‘elevensies’, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner with selected wines and all refreshments.

• local cultural trips to Clevedon Pier- ‘the prettiest in England’ and to Brunels historic suspension Bridge….with a local gallery exhibition.

• Daily guided mindfulness sessions or low key yoga! (optional)

• Inspiring and engaging talks about relevant History of Art and Architecture

• Flower Picking and Arranging in our beautiful flower garden

• Fulfilling conversations with like-minded individuals

• plenty of opportunity for pottering to the high St, Marina and beautiful local walks by the stunning severn estuary to see the sunsets.

A little about Court House Farm…

Which isn’t really a working farm at all! It’s more of a lovely cluster of charming historic buildings, the site originally dating from pre doomsday. The remaining Manor and smaller Manor are medieval and Tudor, dating from 1350, with some characterful outbuildings. (you may be making things in the cowshed- but no cows and clean!) We have 4 acres of land around the buildings with a little flower farm, and we are right in the heart of a small estuary sea-side town of Portishead in Somerset ( with a lovely little high street, Marina and stunning coastal walks and the most fabulous setting suns ). Do look at more information on the website and for photographs of the interiors and exteriors. During your stay, we will have some additional fun interludes and entertainment ( we must show you our neighbouring little seaside town called Clevedon- with the prettiest Pier in England ) and of course plenty of flowers!

Further Details

• This is a 5-night residential retreat. The dates are from the 20th to the 25th June. (5 nights accommodation and full board).

• The price is £2550 for single occupancy, own room with ensuite, £2350 for single occupancy own room sharing a bathroom, £2150 shared room (both attending the retreat booked together. Contact us if you would like a non-participating partner to attend).

• If you are local and would like to attend the retreat on a day-only basis the cost is £1,250. This includes all materials, delicious chef-cooked lunch and early evening meal, plus wine, talks and visits. Please contact Helen for further details or to book at: at.courthousefarm@gmail.com

• Please get in touch for the option to pay in instalments.

• The booking deposit is £500. ( please get in touch for other currency )

• The balance will be due 8 weeks prior to the retreat. Payments can be made by Paypal or Bank Transfer, (although we do charge for the PayPal fee)

• The Course Fees are non-refundable once paid, but of course, if we cancel for any reason all payments will be refunded, or mutually agreeable alternative dates offered.

• If you are coming from abroad or feel you may want to spend a day on either side of the retreat for rest and relaxation, do, please discuss this with us.

If you have a question or need further details please contact us using the button below.

More About Jacqui Mair

Jacqueline Mair studied Fine Art at Bristol Polytechnic UK and gained a first class with honours in printmaking. She went on to take her M.A. in print at the Royal College of Art London. U.K.  Jacqueline (Jacqui) was also awarded a French Scholarship to study for three months in Europe and this award started a long working relationship with Marseille, that still continues today. Over the past thirty five years she has combined lecturing at various institutions with her work as an artist. She has exhibited on three continents and has established an international career as an Illustrator and Artist.

Jacqui worked for the worldwide known card company Roger la Borde for over twenty years, and has illustrated numerous award winning children’s books on folk lore with Albion Press, Ebury Press and Cico Books. From 2005 -7 she concentrated on working abroad with Save the Children and UNICEF, running creative print workshops for children in fragile states in Africa, Liberia and Columbia.

Jacqui worked in the illustration department at the University of Portsmouth for over ten years raising the standard of professional practice and the international exchange programmes with Mexico City Universidad Iberoamericana and Maryland College of Art USA. She also taught as Senior Associate Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth UK in Fine Art, developing a drawing and print programme for new skills in the first year of the Course. As the Exhibitions Organiser for the School of Art and Design Gallery, Jacqui was recognised in 2008 with a Contribution Award, to acknowledge her inspiration in raising the profile of the Gallery and introducing an awareness of curation and exhibition in to the Illustration and Fine Art pathways.

Jacqui has been the External Examiner for the Illustration Department at Glasgow School of Art Scotland from 2010 – 2013 and Camberwell School of Art from 2016 -20 She taught as Professor of Illustration for Savannah College of Art and Design USA from 2011 – 16  and has also taught on Savannah’s study abroad programme in Lacoste France for five years, she continues to work part time on this programme in France. Jacqui now runs workshops on collage and works on commissions plus personal work from her studio in Southsea UK.