The regular newsletter started by accident when Janet Shearer decided to keep in touch with people who had shown an interest in coming on her courses in Cornwall. If you want to have a look at the various projects completed recently – see the dropdown menu above for the newsletter archive. It’s quite entertaining to look back at the various things that have happened in 2005 especially the Tristan and Iseult mural which ‘Art of England’ magazine featured in their January edition in the form of a visual diary.
If you would like to be included in the mailing list for the newsletter, just email Janet on janetshearer@muralart.demon.co.uk
or ring her on +44 (0) 1208 831926

Hi Everyone!

Plans are afoot for changing things a bit here in Cornwall! If you’ve been thinking of joining one of my courses for years but haven’t yet done it – now is your last chance!
After many years painting scenery for the film industry and murals for hotels, restaurants, airports – you name it – Country Living Magazine ran a feature in July 1994 about a group of muralists, including myself. They illustrated the piece about me with this picture of a painting I had done for the wall of a dining room in London:

.....and underneath the picture they wrote that I offered tuition from my farm in Cornwall.

To my absolute amazement I had literally hundreds of enquiries about the tuition and felt inspired to put together a short practical course with the aim of giving people guidance on design, perspective, scale drawing and painting technique. Many of the techniques I explained were learnt during my time working in all the major film studios in the UK. Since 1994 many other magazines have written articles about the tuition and so more and more people have visited this lovely valley in the depths of the countryside.

I’ve been running the ‘Learn How to Tackle a Mural Course’ ever since, taught nearly twelve hundred people here at my studio and written two books based on what I teach: ‘The Art of Illusion' – (now called Janet Shearer’s Trompe L’Oeil Painting Course and published in three languages) and the ‘Artists Guide to Perspective’ which explains simply all that you need to know about basic perspective problems particularly for mural painters.

I have loved sharing the beauty of my farm with all who have visited.

Here are one or two images from the courses:

Realising that people also needed to improve their painting technique to achieve realism in their work, I offered a second course –
Level Two – or a ‘Trompe L’Oeil Detail Painting Course’. My plan is to write a third book outlining what I believe to be some helpful suggestions for gaining confidence in your observation, drawing and colour-mixing skills.

Here’s some of my own small still-life paintings of the type I use to practice this sort of painting.

I believe any subject will do – a glass of wine, a piece of wood, a flower – from every subject you can learn to observe, to ask yourself to trust your eyes, to paint what you see and not what you think you see. It is this principle that I pass on to my students, many of whom have produced wonderful paintings, had exhibitions and kept in touch to report their progress for which I am extremely grateful.

Here’s someone painting silky fabric in this style:

....... and here’s a group painting a pair of old boots

This second course has now evolved into something different. People come to Grogley to stay with me - or locally, to enjoy Cornwall and to have some time away from home. Being away from whatever you usually do, just concentrating on painting (with my help),lets you to unwind and shed some of your cares and woes. Every week I start someone off on a new path – often complete beginners, sometimes people who think they have lost their skill, lost their confidence or just lost the time to do it. This ‘open house/studio’ situation works very well for me because I can also paint and I will be continuing to do this for the foreseeable future. I offer two hours minimum per day intense tuition, but you can work in the studio all day (and all night if you want) or just do a spell and then go off and paint on the coast or walk the amazing Camel Trail.

All the local B&Bs will be delighted to have you as their season will be finished soon and they love having my students to stay because they usually stay for quite a few days! They all have quiet, warm and cosy self-catering cottages too for those wanting to bring other non-painting members of the family who can amuse themselves with other things to do in Cornwall. The weather can be unpredictable at this time of year but we won’t care in the studio where we can make our own sunshine. For non-painters, there’s the Eden Project, golf on some spectacular local courses, Padstow and St Ives to be explored, a marvellous coastline to be walked or just firesides to be sat by with a good book!
With regret, I must tell you that the last ‘Learn How to Tackle a Mural Course’ will be held in October 2006 – October 23rd-27th followed closely by a ‘Trompe L’Oeil Detail Painting Course’ from October 30th – November 10th.
As it’s the last one for a while, I’ve decided to do a special rate for the tuition - £375.00 per person instead of the usual fee and the second course has been reduced as well to £600.00 for two weeks in the studio (ten painting days although you are welcome to work over the weekend on your own should you wish to.

Places are limited so if you want to come, please contact me soon either by email or phone 0044 (0)1208 831926.
Materials are available for the courses, or you can bring your own – these will be listed when you book your place but don’t worry, the cost is minimal!
Just a couple more images to make you think about trompe l’oeil as a bit of fun : this painting in a local Cornish rectory kitchen causes much amusement. She is, after all, a true trompe l’oeil painting!

........ and why not have a peacock on your door frame?