A serious learning experience for all, from complete beginners to professional artists
THE PAINTING SCHOOL OF MONTMIRAL
The Painting School of Montmiral has had much media mention - The Artist, The Artist's and Illustrator's Magazine, The Independent, The Sunday Times, Mensa Magazine, BDSA Magazine - and has been featured on television. In addition, Francis Pratt's writings have been widely published in The Artist, The Artist's and Illustrator's Magazine, Modern Painters, New Scientist and various academic journals and books. Below is a miscellany of items, starting with an explanation of our Caladrius Bird logo, followed by a slot for students, or artists who have been invited to work at the Painting School of Montmiral, to post information about their EXHIBITIONS, a section called FOR OLD TIME'S SAKE, which takes the form of STUDENT GALLERIES, in which images of the work of of students are accompanied by their photos and a letter of appreciation. This is followed, first, by links to to STUDENT WEBSITES and, finally, links to a couple of MAGAZINE ARTICLES about the Painting School of Montmiral.
MISCELLANEOUS
The rather strange looking bird pictured above and below is a Caladrius bird, a creation of the imagination, found in medieval bestiaries. It was said to have very special powers, including the ability to help people with eye-sight problems through the mediation of its droppings. More generally, it could restore people's sense of well-being by ingesting their troubles through its eye beams, flying up to the sun and regurgitating them into the all-consuming solar fire.
The picture below is the emblem of the Painting School of Montmiral and symbolises both seeing in new ways and the light and warmth of the South of France. The sunflower both symbolises the sun, which the Caladrius bird used to such good effect, and suggests the iris and pupil of the eye.
EXHIBITIONS
Francis Pratt
One person show : : Homage to Marian Bohusz-Szyszko - An exhibition of paintings made during the years 1965-1966, soon after Francis began career as an artist.
Bistro de Pays du Verdier.
Wednesday 30 July - Tuesday 30th Septmeber
81140 Le Verdier
Moira Macgregor
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2007
11 Jun—19 Aug 2007
(Her painting was chosen for a Royal Academy card and mini-print)
Penny Madden
Group Show : ‘Untitled Art’
Chelsea Town Hall
May 30 - June 1 2008
Mary Yorke
Currently has an exhibition touring China - Shanghai, Bejing and Hong Kong.
Sarah Elliott
One person show : "La Façade de la Boulangerie"
Bistrot de Pays du Verdier
Friday 9th May - Wednesday 9th July
81140 Le Verdier
June Emerson
Solo exhibition at the Helmsley Arts Centre as part of the Ryedale Festival.
It will run from July 11th - August 1st.
Helmsley Arts Centre, Bridge Street, Helmsley, North Yorkshire YO62 5DW
Belnda Gilbert-Scott
Group show at C.C.A Gallery (formely 3rd eye centre)
November 2008
Glasgow
Any student wishing to announce their exhibition please contact the Painting School.
2004 was the last full season of the Painting School of Montmiral. However many students reacted strongly, asking me to keep it open. In response I decided to offer two sessions a year for previous students and their friends. These have been running successfully ever since. During this time we have seen a few new faces and anyone else who stumbles upon this web site is also welcome to apply to attend the school.
Below, we include various features which go back to earlier days. These will bring back happy memories to the many students who have come to the Painting School of Montmiral during its twenty years of existence.
FOR OLD TIMES SAKE
In the year 2000, I started a feature showing work and extracts from letters of students who came during the season. Here are two examples:
STUDENT GALLERY 2000
The oldest ever, the youngest ever and a beginner's progress
STUDENT GALLERY 2001
The most faithful student and 6 younger visitors
INVITED ARTIST SCHEME
One of the features of the sessions up to 2004 was the “Invited Artists” scheme by which distinguished contemporary artists, many of them personal friends, came, usually for a month, to do their own work in the Painting School studio.
Click here to see a page of references to the invited artists:
STUDENT WEB SITES
PAINTERS
Louise Balaam Ruth Geldard Mark Gibbs Peter Hopker
Belinda Gilbert-Scott Heather Hourigan Mary MacCarthy
Alison Brett-Hopper June Emerson Cathy Layzell Mary Yorke
Gordon Frickers Nimmi Naidoo Rosemary Thomas Kathy Hirsh
DESIGNERS
Sara Simões Virginie Roufignac Edward Gooding
ARCHITECTS
John Tudor Jon Hughes John Osborn Paula Reason
MAGAZINE ARTICLES ABOUT THE PAINTING SCHOOL
Here are links to two articles about The Painting School of Montmiral:
