Painting Retreats at Old Hall

 

Old Hall is a Creative Retreat Center and the home of Victoria and her partner, Musician, Author, and Meditation Instructor, Johnny David.

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The Hall itself is a Victorian modernization of the original Medieval Hall, which still boasts its original Medieval Moat now being a National Scheduled Monument. 

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With hoards of wildlife, natural springs and wells, woodland walks, private lawns and spectacular views, Old Hall delivers the peace and inspiration for any creative venture. 

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Set in its own grounds amidst the wilds of rural Staffordshire, Old Hall is just a few miles from the pretty Town of Eccleshall with its vibrant food and real ale scene. It offers year round residential and none residential creative retreats, with a camping, B&B, or residency at Eccleshall options.

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​Victoria offers three regular Art Retreats at Old Hall throughout the year, all based upon working with oils.

 

Each retreat is offered with the option to include materials and refreshments. 

 

Groups are kept small to offer the greatest benefits for each student with a maximum of 8 places offered, with both weekend (Friday to Sunday) and single day (Saturday) retreats on offer.​

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Guided walks, dedicated work areas and studio, creative inspirational activities, easels, continental breakfast, snacks, refreshments, and light lunches are all included for weekend residential places. 

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Studio space and work areas, easels, refreshments are included for single day retreats.​

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Materials available for beginners retreats.​

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1) Oil Painting for beginners

If you have never tried oils, or as many people, are afraid of them and have no idea where to begin, then this is the retreat for you. 

This is a tuition based retreat covering varied techniques and styles forming the beginning of your journey with oils. Materials supplied upon request at extra cost, or available to purchase.

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2) Mentoring Weekends

Designed for those with a little more experience in oils at the pallet, Victoria mentors students to embrace the delicate and dynamic skills needed to paint outdoors in the elements, 'Plein-Air' and ignite their creative spark.

 

Tackling the changing climate as it unfolds before you, this retreat pushes the boundaries and constraints that we find within the studio environment, embracing the beauty of the landscape as it unfolds. 

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You will need to bring your preferred oil paints, 2 or 3 canvases in a range of different sizes, suitable brushes, low odour paint thinners, sketchpad and preferred sketching tools (pencils, charcoal etc), palette and other studio sundries. Camera/iPad/tablet for taking photographs and to work from reference images should the weather be too challenging!

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3) Painting Ponies

As a revered Equine Artist, Victoria offers mentoring in painting one of the most noble and complex animal anatomies, that of the equine. 

 

During this retreat you will have the unique opportunity to work plein-air and study first hand with the Old Hall wild ponies as your subjects. Studying movement within the landscape, anatomy, texture, light, and the character of the animals.​​​​​​​