Q&A: "Colours look very different in real life"

Sunday 24 July 2022

Perspective, weather, the changing light, interested onlookers, and colours that "look very different in real life"... There's a lot to consider when painting al fresco.

Starting next week, teacher of 20 years Michelle Le Cornu will be leading an outdoor landscape painting course as part of Highlands College Adult and Community Education offering.

She will guide students through painting techniques as they immerse themselves in various scenic locations such as Archirondel, Ouaisné Bay, the Central Market and one of Michelle’s favourites, Samarès Manor.

Michelle’s course runs on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 12:00 from 26 July to 30 August. Ahead of the first lesson, we asked her to paint the picture of her career and lessons...

When did you start painting?

I was always a creative person, having done a little writing and a lot of craftwork over the years. 

Pictured: Michelle completed a Fine Art honours degree through Plymouth University.

I discovered painting in 1999 when I embarked on a Foundation Course at Highlands College. I knew straight away I'd found my vocation and went on to complete a Fine Art honours degree through Plymouth University.

What is your favourite subject to paint?

My work is figurative, and I use drawing and painting to explore how we humans behave, especially around abuse of power. I find manipulating oil paint, and other materials, on the surface of a canvas much more exciting than striving to achieve a predetermined outcome.

I rarely have any idea how a painting will look when it’s finished, and I spend a lot of time scraping paint off as well as painting over some of the work. The safety and well-being of women living in a culture mainly controlled by the interests of men is a concern that underlies my current work.

 How long have you been teaching?

I’ve been in the profession since 2002 and I feel quite privileged to be earning my living doing something I really enjoy. I believe I learn as much from my students as they do from me and, as well as teaching for Highlands College, I run my own Life Drawing and Portrait Painting classes.

 Pictured: Michelle Le Cornu has been teaching since 2002.

 I also teach a class for Jersey Mencap on their Taking Part Making Art programme.

How is your course structured?

 It takes place outdoors over six weeks. It’s a lovely opportunity for anyone wanting to paint the countryside. They’ll learn how to deal with perspective, weather, the changing light and interested onlookers. Colours look very different in real life and students can make their work much more real and exciting than when working only from photographs. The class is a mix of complete beginners and those with experience, which is a great way for students to learn and make new friends as well as receiving the guidance they need from me to create a lovely painting. 

Pictured: Michelle's course will take place outdoors over six weeks.

Each Tuesday morning, we meet at one of three different locations, making two visits to each site. Hopefully, the weather will be kind to us but, if it’s really bad, we’ll work indoors at Philip Mourant Centre, from photographs and studies.

This column first appeared in Connect Magazine, which you can read HERE.