A serious learning experience for all, from complete beginners to professional artists
THE PAINTING SCHOOL OF MONTMIRAL - 25TH SEASON
Drawing and painting workshops / courses in "un des plus beaux villages de France"
THE MONTMIRAL EXPERIENCE
"It was a very different and vastly more interesting type of artistic education than I have met before"
"I had an absolutely inspiring, eye opening and fun time"
The workshops / courses at The Painting School of Montmiral offer to students much of exceptional value that cannot be found elsewhere. Over 25 years it has been shown over and over again that the combination of fresh ideas and innovative practical suggestions made available in them can transform the working practice of almost anyone who is interested in drawing or painting, whatever the current level of their achievement and whatever their particular aims or problems. This remarkable outcome has been possible because the Course Director, the English artist and teacher, Francis Pratt, formerly Cottrell Fellow at the University of Stirling, Scotland took a number of years out of his life as an artist to do scientific research into drawing skills and the use of colour in painting. As a result he is able to explain an extensive range of universally experienced artists’ problems in terms of the processes that underpin visual perception and to develop practical solutions to them which are available to everybody. The research findings also provided fascinating new light on the strengths and weaknesses of a high proportion of widespread teaching practices and how to build on the strengths. Perhaps even more importantly, they suggested many penetrating and encouraging insights into the nature of creativity and self-expression that give a very high priority to personal ways of seeing and feeling.
"You have proved I have powers to see and to draw that I could scarcely have imagined"
"I had expected to come to Montmiral to learn a few tricks. In fact I have come back with a very new approach"
"You have undertaken a remarkable project and the best measure of its success is the sense of personal achievement we all felt when we left Montmiral"
In view of all the features outlined above, it is hardly to be wondered at that people of all levels of attainment from complete beginners to professional artists have been both surprised and delighted with what has been called "the Montmiral experience". Over the 25 years since the workshops / courses at the Painting School of Montmiral first began, there has been a remarkably large number of our students who have written just as enthusiastically of their learning experience as those who have provided the small selection of extracts from letters and emails quoted above and below on this page. They all emphasise how much they benefited from their time here, whether they came:
As beginners, wanting to start from scratch.
As professionals, seeking solutions to specific problems.
Intent upon either achieving greater accuracy when drawing or painting from observation or, alternatively, looking to explore the rich potentials of exaggeration, distortion or abstraction.
In search of a better understanding of the different ways in which colour can be used in paintings (dynamics, harmony, space and light, colour mixing).
Eager to develop their creativity or to find more personal ways of expression.
Experiencing an artist's block.
- Feeling the need for a time of reassessment in a sympathetic environment.
"Once again I found the course a renewing, enriching and unique experience; it is quite different every year"
"Your approach helped me to rekindle my enthusiasm in painting. I came home, quit my job and went straight to art school"
"You helped me to see and understand colours in ways I had not done before... I have found again the joy in painting and I think that my customers have noticed the difference"
For a host of additional short quotations from letters of appreciation written by students go to the Student Comments page. For lengthier passages accompanied by images try the Student Galleries section.
WHAT THE PRESS HAS TO SAY
Sunday Times: "A singular approach". The Artist: "The course director aims to help people free themselves from habits that are holding them back, to get in touch with their feelings and express their individuality; the personal attention and teaching are exceptional". The Independent: "The course is unique... Francis uses accuracy as a means of introducing ideas about artistic creativity and self expression... His theories on colour are persuasive". Leisure Painter: "The appeal of The Painting School of Montmiral is in the quality and substance of the learning experience". Artists and Illustrators Magazine: "An artist of formidable talent who has carried out research into how we perceive colour and how we draw". BDSA Magazine: "Takes endless trouble to help individuals. All who are serious about painting and drawing should think about going, whether complete beginners or professional artists". David Elliot, B.W.S., in British Watercolour Society Catalogue: "It gave me one hell of a stride forward." Sue Cook, Television presenter: "An experience I will certainly go for again."
LOCATION
Castelnau de Montmiral is a very special place. Founded in the 13th century and classified as "un des plus beaux villages de France", it is a hilltop town in the Tarn region, South West France. Within its encircling ramparts are many styles of ancient building constructed from varied materials (limestone blocks, oak timbers and ancient bricks), an historic central square, Place des Arcades, the medieval entrance gate, Porte des Garrics, and narrow streets trapping the sky.
The countryside around is exceptionally varied and eye pleasing, with vineyards, fields of sunflowers, cypress and poplar trees and soils of varying colours from white to red. The panoramic view from the studio window of The Painting School of Montmiral extends across the beautiful valley of the River Vere. In one direction rise the heights upon which are found the ancient forest of the Gresigne and, in the other, stretches a panoramic view of a fertile rolling landscape which extends beyond plain of the River Tarn, where lies the Cathedral city of Albi, and into the blue distance beyond.
REASONS FOR JOINING THE WORKSHOPS / COURSES
"You gave me the confidence to tackle things I wouldn't have dared to try out"
"You awakened many new lines of awareness in me. The progress I made was astonishing"
All who come to study at The Painting School of Montmiral will benefit from Francis' long experience as a caring and supportive teacher. They will find that he provides an informed and attentive ear capable of offering practical help in a wide range of situations. His unique approach is based on a distillation of ideas coming from his life as a practising artist, his work as a teacher and his research at the University of Stirling. As a result, he can provide fresh perspectives on all the better known teaching strategies, first, by pointing out their strengths and weaknesses and, then, by showing how they can be improved upon in variety of highly practical ways.
"You knew when to praise and when to criticise without destroying a shaky confidence"
"I would recommend this course to anyone who needs to refresh the spirit, find a new way, develop insight into ability, and share the journey in some of the most beautiful townscapes and landscapes in the world."
The essence of Francis' teaching method is to work with each student individually, starting with what they tell him about their needs and aspirations. More specifically:
He helps them to have confidence in their own feelings, build on existing aspirations and identify and solve problems.
He is able to call on his unique knowledge as it applies to: the use of colour in all its aspects; creating effects of space and light in paintings; using drawing as a tool for seeing in new ways; and enabling personal creativity.
His workshops/courses cater for all aspirations: Accurate representation, personal expression and abstract painting.
Students can work in all mediums: Watercolour, oil paint, acrylics, soft pastels, charcoal, graphite etc.
All levels of ability are welcome: Professional artists, experienced amateurs and complete beginners.
"The experience stands out as the most enriching of the past year"
"People get extremely good value for their money; even greater value if they come with intent to take advantage of all that is available. You are prepared to offer people knowledge about the difficult subject of colour, which is certainly not the case in most of our art schools. Your course makes heavy demands on concentration, but students with stamina will be amply rewarded. On both my visits I have received the greatest enjoyment from both the rich countryside and the ancient fabric of the village. The narrow streets seem to trap the sky and create a dynamic geometry with cast shadows... Space and surface are the twin problems of twentieth century art and Montmiral epitomises this timeless dialogue." (the late Adrian Heath, who came as an Invited Artist).
For more detail about what Francis has to offer see the page on teaching and the Course Director.
