Experiment with natural pigments, try out botanical drawing and make your own bugs!
Painter Nina Royle will be in the Walled Garden at Penrose, where she’ll be sharing some of the many different ways to make pigments and paint from a range of seasonal roots, bulbs, barks, berries, beans and husks. She’ll be joined by botanical artist Dominica Williamson for Pick, Pop, Peek, Pin and Paint Plants, an introduction to botanical art for families. Dominica will explain how you can use simulated UV light to study the shape of a plant and detect what guiding lights a bee might be using. She will also offer advice on how to draw or paint plants and flowers to show what makes each one special and different. If making and make-believe is more your thing, Lucy Grant will be on hand with materials and ideas for creating wild bugs or wings so you can fly off around the garden.
Artist Simon Bayliss will also be at Penrose, running a ‘Landscape Painters Anonymous’ roving watercolour workshop. All experience levels are welcome, including anyone who hasn’t painted before. Participation is free and participants will be provided with paints, brushes and paper, although you’re welcome to bring your own. Booking is essential; more information here.
Artist Ben Sanderson is re-creating his popular Den, this year in a spot that’s closer to the town. You’ll find him under a painted canopy in a dell in the woodland near the Bulwark estate, where there’ll be den making and rope knotting, as well as activities using natural materials. Follow signs from the Fairground car park along Whitehill Terrace (A394) to find the path.
There’s more to come every Tuesday and Saturday, including sessions on kite making, clay, cyanotypes and granite bashing.
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We won’t be put off by a bit of drizzle and hope you won’t either, but please check this listing or the CASTCornwall facebook page on the day in case of extreme weather or last-minute changes. Tuesday and Saturday sessions will run from 10am to 12 noon and 2 to 4pm.
The map, sketchbook packs and artist-led activities are all offered free of charge, but we should be very grateful for donations to support this programme and future activities for children and young people. Online donations can be made via our Charities Aid Foundation page and there will be donation jars in the walled garden.
The CAST-Off programme is supported by the Garcia Family Foundation, with generous assistance from Helston Town Council, Little Parc Owles Trust, FEAST and Falmouth University.