THE PAINTING SCHOOL OF MONTMIRAL - 25TH SEASON

"You managed to share your knowledge with an adult beginner and encourage early efforts without patronising. You knew when to praise and when to criticise without destroying a shaky confidence." (Pat Naysmith, Primary School Course Director); "You have proved I have powers to see and to draw that I could scarcely have imagined. You went to prodigious efforts to find, encourage and bring forth such talent as is there." (Karl Bottigheimer, University Lecturer); "You awakened many new lines of awareness in me. The progress I made was astonishing" (Brenda Fielding, Primary School Course Director); "A superb fortnight in which we both learnt a huge amount not just about mixing colours or drawing lines but about how to look at the world." (David and Diana Gibson, GP and Counsellor); "An incredibly stimulating and absorbing holiday." (Victoria Rowsell, Musicians' Agent); "I would like to put on record the intellectual impact of your teaching and my appreciation of your very special knowledge of perspective." (Frank Esterkin, University Lecturer); "You made the whole experience very moving and meaningful. Your quiet presence made it possible to look and learn in an unpressurised way." (Carrie Gall, Housewife); "I have never had so much fun while learning - it was a real revelation and both Ewa and I are completely inspired. You have started me on another of life's paths." (Mary Scott, Housewife).

"I am writing to thank you for all your help and inspiration. Even after three visits you continue to surprise and delight me with your insights. You have revolutionized the way I feel about painting. I now feel free to go, and capable of going, in directions I never thought possible before, both with my figurative and my abstract paintings." (Phillip Stemp, Information Analyst); "You have developed your teaching very coherently and it will work with anyone who approaches the course with the right spirit of critical self-discovery. You have undertaken a remarkable project and the best measure of its success is the sense of personal acheivement we all felt when we left Montmiral." (Frances Meadows, Lawyer); "Once again I found the course a renewing, enriching and unique experience; it is quite different every year." (Donal Bannister, Musician); "For the first time I know I have the capability to do some of the things I have always wanted to do. If anyone is looking for a radical reappraisal or rebirth of their thinking about art, Montmiral is the place where it could happen." (Jane Brook, Research Officer); "Painting has become much more of an adventure." (Claire Laytem, Lecturer); "It was a very different and vastly more interesting type of artistic education than I have met before." (Yolande Hart, Retired Managing Director); "Montmiral had a very positive effect on my work, especially with respect to the depth of the painting and the subtlety of the colour." (Moyra Campbell, Research Scientist); "Montmiral remains a powerful and influential experience. I have been thinking about the honest statement that you value so highly and to which I aspire... you are a very special course director." (Mary Burke, Social Worker); "I had expected to come to Montmiral to learn a few tricks. In fact I have come back with a very new approach." (Sue Loder, Masseuse); "It has been life changing." (Matyelok Gibbs, Actress); "Your ability to bring your knowledge to bear on each and every one of our problems as they arose impressed us greatly, as did the evident depth of knowledge that lay behind your simple explanations. We will never again believe people who say that science and art are incompatible. Your science, certainly, liberated us as people and encouraged us to express ourselves in our paintings." (Ron Hurlock, Optician, and Ruth, his Wife); "I miss Montmiral and its air of peacefulness" (Michael Barsham, Accountant); "Thank you ... so much for a memorable and happy two weeks ... Thank you Francis for giving some order and direction to my painting thoughts... I now feel enthusiastic and positive." (Pauline Ramsay, Ambassador's Wife); "I have just completed a Master of Fine Art degree. Thanks for your part in giving me a kick start. Your approach helped me to rekindle my enthusiasm in painting, helping me to think more conceptually. I never looked back since then. I came home, quit my job and went straight to art school. You will be interested to know that Maureen Van Peski (a friend who was on a later course at Montmiral) came home full of enthusiasm. One of the works she did while at Montmiral won a National Art Award. She hasn't stopped talking about her experience with you all." (Heather Hourigan, now an artist).

"The days in Montmiral were quite marvellous. For years I have seemed unable to express what I wanted, and felt that my painting was stale and unsatisfactory. Your help and guidance have shown me a completely new world. Your ideas on colour have quite transformed my ability to observe and interpret. Painting has become a much more joyous experience." (Gillian Rix, Book Designer); "A simply splendid fortnight. I am particularly indebted for a new view of my own choice of colour and the seeing and looking philosophy has really made me look and look again... I am now at least looking in the direction of abstract painting." (Don Joyce, Architect); "The expreience stands out as the most enriching of the past year." (Susi Kirkwood and Rob Harris, Video Productions); "Thank you for a stimulating and fascinating fortnight which has opened up the potential of my painting and given me something more personal to work towards." (Geoff Huntingford, Town Planner and Artist); "The whole experience of Montmiral has meant a great deal to me." (Mary Bordeau, Photographer); "I had an absolutely inspiring, eye opening and fun time." (Charlotte Ambrose, Architect); "This course completely redefines and resolves the anomlies of what we see. The reference to the latest researches in both colour and line psychology and the patient explanations of how the brain receives and interprets information provide a fundamentally sound approach commonly lacking in other courses and literature." (Iain McCowan, Architect).

"Montmiral is an idyllic place... I found the freedom that your colour theory gave me allowed me much more confidence in my painting." (Sarah Thomas); "Your help on the use of colour and the process of drawing has been useful both in my personal work and in my teaching." (Sharon Trotter); "I saw considerable progress both in my drawing and my understanding of colour. Your teaching was excellent." (Mark Aldridge). "I had a wonderful time and hope to see you next year, when I shall start straight in on the drawing." (Carol Logan).

"A magical place, good company, intensely stimulating ideas and teaching... I came to Montmiral to have my eyes stretched and I do not think I have ever looked so hard." (Unity Couzens); "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 my customers have noticed the difference." (Charles Summers); "I couldn't have found a better place anywhere. I wanted to acheive that experience of liberation and getting completely outside myself... The release or, rather, the rediscovery of that experience, coupled with your teaching on colour, which had a revolutionary effect on my thinking and on my palette, added up to a new feeling about myself as a painter." (Margaret Parker); "I feel I grew a great deal in a small space of time." (Ann Haggarty); "A most wonderful experience." (Bill and Helen Bishop); "I am beginning to make decisions I never even thought of before." (Jill Lane); "Although I paint for a living, I have always had reservations about whether I am an artist. I left your school feeling that there was a strong possibility that I might become one soon." (Gordon Frickers); "You managed to create a fine working atmosphere while still retaining a sense of fun." (John Kendall); "You really helped me to adjust my ideas so that the block I had last year - and longer - has been completely removed... my pictures have much more feeling of life and movement and space. I am enjoying the work so much. I can't wait to get into the studio in the morning." (Gillian Shilson); "As well as discovering exciting new information on drawing, colour, light and space, I lost at least some of the blocks between myself and my creativity and now feel I have reached a clear and exciting new starting point." (Frances Mullarky);

"Francis excelle par un abord facile et chaleureux et par une attention respecteuse à l'égard du stagiaire. Son défi est de communiquer suffisamment d'éléments théoriques et practiques pour concourir à l'épanouissement de chacun sans toutefois altérer sa personnalité artistique." (Roger Ranaivojaona, Vétérinaire); "J'ai apprécié l'aide précieuse d'un tuteur attentif au but que je m'était fixé. J'ai brisé la réserve dans laquelle je me maintenais et j'ai découvert une expression plus forte, plus contrastée." (Danièlle Hurel, Professeur); "Le site, les groupes toujours formés de personnes d'horizons différents, les échanges avec les artistes invités, et surtout les interventions de Francis Pratt ont constitué pour moi l'environnement idéal à l'aventure qu'est la création artistique." (Marie-Thérèse Rouffignac, Professeur).