About
In most Indian miniature paintings, flowers and trees are integral to the composition. In this course, we will focus specifically on the structure of the Indian garden.
We will create a “Garden of Paradise,” designed in sections and filled with wondrous trees and fantastical flowers. Using traditional Indian miniature painting techniques, students will develop a garden rich in texture and vibrant colors, abundant with flowers and overflowing with imagined trees.
We will cover aspects such as composition, paper preparation, color mixing, and painting techniques. Emphasis will be placed on detail and texture to bring this Garden of Paradise to life.
Key Information
Who is this course for?
All levels of ability and experience welcome.
You must be aged 18 or over to participate in our online programmes.
What days do I attend?
Tuesdays, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 April and 6 May 2025, 17:30 – 20:00 British Summer Time
How do I attend?
This class will take place on Zoom, an online meeting platform. A link for joining the Zoom meeting will be sent before the start date.
What materials do I need?
- An H or HB pencil, eraser, and sharpener
- 1 x wooden board, approximately 15 x 12 inches
- 1 x roll of brown gum tape
- Ink, either Chinese ink or India ink
- A ruler
- A burnisher: You can use a wide gilders’ burnisher or a smooth, rounded agate stone, or even the back of a spoon. It must be perfectly smooth to prevent scratching your paper.
- Several A4 sheets of tracing paper
- Several A4 sheets of cartridge paper or photocopy paper for practice
- Several A4 sheets of hot pressed watercolour paper, 640 gsm (the tutor recommends Fabriano Artistico)
- Watercolour brushes, either sable or synthetic, in sizes 7, 5, 2, 0 and 000
- A clean palette with wells, either ceramic or plastic
- Chinese ink (either bottled or in a stick; you will need a grinding stone if using stick form)
- Walnut ink (this contains nuts; sepia coloured ink is an alternative)
- Tubes of gouache paints: black (any), white (any), burnt sienna, burnt umber, cadmium yellow (light or dark), Prussian blue (dark), ultramarine, cadmium red, orange (any), olive or sap green.
- A clean jam jar for water
Online Learning
What if I have questions during the workshop?
This will be a small workshop; Students will be able to ask questions via chat or unmuting themselves.
Students will also have access to our online learning platform, Thinkific, where we share supplementary content.
I live in a different timezone. Can I still attend?
We encourage you to attend the course in real time to really benefit from instruction; however, if you are unable to attend live due to the difference in time you can catch up via recordings on our online learning platform, Thinkific. These recordings are available for a limited time after the course.
Recordings cannot be purchased separately if the course is fully booked or if the course has already started.
FAQs
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, we offer concessions for full time students and Seniors/60+.
Concessions cannot be applied in retrospect. To receive a concession, please apply via our online form. We will then send you a discount code to use when booking your space.
What if I need to change or cancel my booking?
No refunds, unless cancelled by the School. If you cancel up to 1 week before the workshop starts, we can offer a transfer to another workshop of equivalent value, subject to availability.
Tutor Biography
Samantha Buckley is an Indian miniature painter who has designed work for The Highgrove Shop in Tetbury, and Traditional Arts in London. In 2010 Samantha contributed two painted elephant sculptures to Elephant Parade, an event in London raising money for the Asian Elephant. In 2011 she was invited by the renowned artist Dr Desmond Lazaro to undertake a one-year apprenticeship in India to extend her knowledge and technique of miniature painting, developing work for an exhibition in London at The Ben Brown Gallery. She completed her MA at The School in 2006, receiving a distinction for her studies in miniature painting.
