Getting Started with Painting & Drawing

In autumn 25 Chandlers Ford Art Group offered members an art course entitled ‘Getting Started with Painting & Drawing’.

The course was a huge success, even with some last minute changes of dates. We eventually completed the course in January, and the class of Jan 26 proudly displayed their final artwork! Thank you to Mandy Axtell and all who made this venture such a success, especially the participants.

For 2026 we have persuaded Amanda to do two more courses for us.

Sketching needn’t be scary 

Building Confidence in Outdoor Sketching 

A friendly and supportive course designed for absolute beginners, inexperienced sketchers, and anyone who feels nervous about trying outdoor sketching at all..

The aim of the course is to help participants gain the confidence and practical skills needed to sketch outdoors enjoyably, comfortably and without fear of “getting it wrong”. The emphasis will be on learning gradually, practising as you go, and discovering that sketching outdoors can be both relaxing and rewarding.

There will be three taught sessions, each lasting 2.5 hours, giving beginners the chance to absorb the information a little at a time and build confidence steadily through practice. A fourth, more informal follow-on session will provide an opportunity to consolidate what has been learned and continue sketching with Mandy on hand for encouragement and support.

Maximum number of delegates: 7
Course fee: £40

Sessions will run from 10.15am to 12.45pm on:

  • Monday 8 June
  • Monday 22 June
  • Monday 29 June
  • Monday 6 July

Venue – St Cross, Winchester

The course will take place in the area around St Cross Church and the Hospital of St Cross, on the outskirts of Winchester. It is an excellent location for sketching, with a wide variety of subjects within a relatively compact area, including trees, meadowland, pathways, historic buildings and architectural details. Most of the sketching will take place in the Home Park and surrounding meadows.

There is also a tearoom on site – the Hundred Men’s Hall Tearoom – with the option for participants to gather for lunch afterwards at approximately 1pm. Please note that lunch costs are not included in the course fee.

As with all outdoor sketching, the weather always has to be taken into account. A go/no-go decision will normally be made the day before, based on the forecast. If conditions deteriorate once a session has started, there are indoor sketching opportunities available within the church buildings. Entry to “The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouses” is currently £7.50 per person, £5 concessions. Outdoor sketching does require a degree of flexibility, so arrangements may occasionally need to change at short notice depending on the weather.

Outline of the taught sessions

  • Session 1 – Getting Started
    • An introductory session covering equipment, choosing a sketching spot, composing a sketch, pencilling in the main elements, building up the drawing and understanding tone. This session will work mainly in monochrome.
  • Session 2 – Introducing Colour
    • Using pen alongside coloured materials, including coloured pencils and other drawing media. This session will also look at working on a coloured ground.
  • Session 3 – Mixed Media Sketching
    • Combining watercolour with pencil and pen work to create more developed outdoor sketches.
  • Session 4 – Putting It Into Practice
    • A relaxed sketching morning giving participants the chance to use and develop the skills learned during the course, with Mandy available for guidance and encouragement.

Painting the Human Head Course

A friendly and supportive four-week course exploring the structure, drawing and painting of the human head and portrait.

Suitable for beginners, improvers and anyone wishing to develop their portrait painting skills, the course will gradually build understanding and confidence through a mixture of demonstration, guided exercises and practical work. Sessions will include working from reference material and a live model.

The course will be led by Mandy Axtell and will run as a progressive course, with each session building on the previous one. Applications are for the complete course and not for individual sessions.

Maximum number of delegates: 10

Course fee: TBC

Sessions will run from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on:

  • Saturday 1 August
  • Saturday 8 August
  • Saturday 15 August
  • Saturday 22 August

Venue – MR3, Dovetail Centre

A materials list and joining instructions will be provided nearer the start of the course.

Outline of the sessions

  • Session 1 – Understanding Structure
    • Looking at the basic structure of the skull and the construction and placement of facial features, learning to observe carefully rather than relying on what we think we already know. Initial studies will be in pencil.
  • Session 2 – Drawing the Head from Life
    • Using charcoal, chalk and pencil to draw from life, with particular attention to tone, light and shadow, and the underlying planes of the face.
  • Session 3 – Introducing Colour
    • An introduction to colour and the use of acrylic paint and brushes, including simple painted studies and acrylic sketching techniques.
  • Session 4 – Developing a Portrait
    • Participants will work more independently from the model, developing a more complete portrait painting with guidance and support from Mandy throughout the session.

Header picture is a watercolour by Amanda Axtell from the FairOak Art and Craft Society website.