Art of the Landscape
Artists have been painting the landscape since ancient times to try and understand and celebrate the world around them. In this class for beginners and improvers, students will learn, through demonstration and practice, how to use composition, colour and texture to tackle a variety of landscape and urban scenes.
Whilst inspiration will be gained by informal discussion of artists and their environment, students will be encouraged to develop their own style using photographic reference and a variety of different mediums, including watercolour, acrylic and pastels.
No Session 29th May Bank Holiday
Event Information
Price: £190
Course Weeks: 10
Room: Cruse Studio
Campaign: Summer Term 2026
Customer Information: Art of the Landscape: Materials list
We will mainly be working in watercolour, acrylics and pastel – using a different medium each week to express a variety of landscape forms. We may at some point use other mediums such as ink or collage. There is no need to go out and buy expensive equipment! Buy brushes and paper pads from outlets such as The Range or Hobby Craft. The emphasis is on having a go and having fun!
PAINTS: A good starter pack of watercolour paints (tubes or pans) and acrylics.
Packs usually contain the following colours or similar – you may have to purchase one or two individually:
Titanium White (for acrylic)
Ultramarine Blue*
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow
Burnt Umber (not Raw Umber)
Burnt Sienna
Yellow Ochre
Mars black
You can mix your own green from the above, but a good ready-made version is Sap Green.
BRUSHES: A small selection of sizes and shapes is fine (filberts, flats and rounds)and sizes (1/4” to 1 ½”). These can come in ready- made packs from some outlets.
SUPPORTS:
Watercolour paper – Rough or NOT depending on your preference – 300gsm weight (140 lbs) or acrylic paper (which has a canvas effect), both of which are sold in pads – A4/ A3. This thickness avoids having to stretch the paper first.
When doing an acrylic painting you may wish to use a canvas. These can be
found in all the shops mentioned including The Works. You will only need a size around A4.
Pencils (HB to 3B in grade) or Charcoal. Rubber/ Putty rubber.
ALSO:
Plastic palette for mixing.
Water pot, beaker or jar.
Masking tape.
Apron or clothes you don’t mind splashing!
SOFT PASTELS:
We will use soft pastels occasionally, and if you are new to this medium, look for a ‘starter’ set in local art shops. Getting an exact match in colour is always difficult, so the larger the range of colours the better.
Your Tutor
Name: Mike Rollins
Bio: Mike Rollins BA(Hons) is an artist based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. His style of landscape painting is a mixture of traditional and expressive techniques in a variety of media, predominantly acrylic paint. Born in West Yorkshire, he grew up surrounded by the rugged moorland of the Brontës and Ted Hughes. Subconsciously, his eye has been coloured ever since by its legacy of grit- stone buildings and stark beauty. Mike originally studied theatre set design and went on to create themed visitor attractions and museum exhibitions, from ancient Egypt to Dickensian London.
He now works as a fine artist and tutor, demonstrating and holding workshops for art societies as well as teaching regular classes at The Letchworth Settlement. Mike has featured in publications including Leisure Painter & The Artist magazine, which he is a regular contributor of articles on how to paint in acrylics. In 2022, Mike was a finalist in the British Art Prize, run by Artists & Illustrators magazine. He has been chosen several times to exhibit his work as a finalist In the TALP Open Exhibition at the Patchings Arts Centre, Notts and in 2017 won its St Cuthbert’s Mill Award.
Mike exhibits throughout Hertfordshire and London, including Herts Open Studios, and is a member of Herts Visual Arts and the Society For All Artists.
Department: Arts & Crafts