Class Description

In 1913, American artist Robert Henri (1865-1929) arrived in Ireland with the intention of painting the West Coast. His last major body of work was painted on Achill Island. His published art instruction manual The Art Spirit has inspired creatives such as Walt Disney, David Lynch, and more recently, Rick Rubin.

This workshop will consider Henri’s writing about art, creativity and process within the context of the natural surroundings. Set within the rural landscape of Mulranny, the workshop combines plein air painting, drawing, discussion, and reflective studio practice to explore Henri’s belief that art should emerge from direct experience, emotional sincerity, and active engagement with the world.

In the morning session, participants will learn about Robert Henri and his approach to the landscape in Ireland, his motivations, process and results. Through a series of landscape case studies participants will consider techniques used by landscape painters of the past to inform their practice and expand their understanding of art historical techniques.

In the afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to exercise their creative muscles and respond to the outdoor environment (weather permitting), at the end of the session the group will come together to discuss and share their experiences. Rather than focusing solely on technical instruction, the workshop encourages participants to deepen their relationship with observation and place. Henri’s emphasis on individuality, vitality, and the artist’s response to lived experience will form the conceptual framework for the afternoon drawing session.

Participants will:

• Explore observational drawing and painting techniques from art history

• Engage critically with Robert Henri’s ideas on art and perception

• Produce a response to a landscape in their preferred or available medium, ie. photograph, sketch, drawing, painting, whatever medium they choose

• Reflect on the relationship between place, observation, and expression in contemporary landscape practice.

Everyone welcome, no previous art training needed!

Please bring along your preferred drawing materials.

Outline of the Day

Morning Session

10.30am - 11am - Welcome and Introductions

11am to 12 Noon - Talk on The Art Spirit and the Landscape

12 Noon to 1pm - Practical Exercises: exploring the techniques.

1pm - Lunch

Afternoon Session

2.30pm to 3pm - Plein Air Painting Session

3.30pm to 5pm - Time to regroup, discuss and reflect