Testimonial & Feedback for Nic Cowper re: 8th February 2025 PACS Workshop, Liss.
On the 8th February PACS organised a ‘Bring on Spring Now!’ with lead artist Nic Cowper. Before the day Nic suggested to all participants to bring a large sheet of paper. Unfortunately, some potential attendees were put off by this perceived expense.
Luckily, we had a full complement for the workshop and Nic explained very clearly how, with the large sheet of paper, to obtain a very economical painting sheet. Then, Nic gave us an excellent exercise with mixing colours to eventually produce a ‘perfect grey’ after making our own colour wheel.
Later in the morning Nic magically made us change our normal perspective about painting a tree, by focussing on the key ‘mark’ components. It was a fascinating prospect to see after a while how your collective marks actually created a tree on the paper. Hence, magic!
In the afternoon, after a shorter than normal lunch break, Nic took us step by step creating a ‘full painting’ using his supplied reference photo of a ‘crop’. Nic’s diligent process gave us time to take in each part of the process for producing our spring landscape. All participants at the end were encouraged to bring forward their final art outputs for us to all see. Which is an excellent way to see how we all performed: oil seed rape landscapes which all drew the eyes into the distance.
Thanks, Nic for your inspirational efforts on the day of the workshop and for bringing along the 2-page worksheet for us. Although I was very tired by the end of the day, I really did enjoy the session. I now realise I must focus more on using fewer colours for creating more…
Alan Horgan, PACS Workshop Coordinator. 9/2/2025.
“Hello Alan
Thanks so much for organising today – it was warm both in temperature and temperament!
The organisation was exemplary as usual and the most wonderful biscuits!
Nic delivered a great day with lots of hints and tips and lots of humility and humour – I am so glad I booked!
There were no bad points, it was just such a lovely way to catch up with PACS friends, meet new members and spend a cold, dark February day!All the best” L.T.
“Thank you for all your hard work enjoyed the day warm and pleasant surroundings wish we had such a place in Petersfield, Nic is a good teacher and he went round to everyone really happy day thanks again”
I.H.
“I wouldn’t bother coming to the workshops if the venue and organisation weren’t any good. It’s always worth the trip and I’ve never had any complaints.
Nic Cowper gives up lots of knowledge and information and though the subject (landscapes) wasn’t my thing, I got an awful lot from the workshop and enjoyed the day. I’d come to another one of Nic’s especially if he did a still life workshop.”E.H.
“It was lovely to meet you yesterday, thank you for organising the session, which I hugely enjoyed.
Feedback requested:
1) Oranisationally- no improvement required, it was very well organised.
2) Venue was perfect.
3) Subject and media were perfect for the event and more than met my expectations.
4) Nic Cowper was excellent, warm and engaging. He was very happy to chat during breaks too- just inspiring and well able to teach us all. Brilliant.
5) My only suggestion would be to allocate a little more time to the afternoon painting, it felt a little rushed. But I really enjoyed the morning experimental session painting trees.
As a newcomer, I was warmly welcomed and am looking forward to my next workshop!
Many thanks. “L.M.
“I very much enjoyed my first workshop with PACS as my apprehension was unfounded -everyone was very welcoming and supportive
I thought Nic was an excellent teacher for a novice like me with clear aims and objectives
I enjoyed all of the planned activities and the colour wheel was very informative for me
I would have liked more time to develop the final painting and perhaps more help/feedback from Nic, but I realise the time limitations and the large group size.
The workshop was very well organised and the room space was very good.
Thank you for your support with equipment etc”E.B.
“I really enjoyed Saturday’s workshop with Nic.
I’ve come away feeling inspired. I especially like the way he demonstrates in bite size pieces so we can paint our pictures in stages with support if needs be.
Here’s to the next one!”D.
“Briefly;
1, Good as ever and I don’t mind lots of emails
2. Warm all day thanks for speaking to Karen
3. Yes-what I signed up for and more. Pitched at my level Good blend of teaching technique and painting
4.Excellent
5. It would help if artist could stop and move to side occasionally during demonstrations. Another good day”C.
“1. The organisation was excellent
2. The venue is perfect, very good coffee and excellent tea and biscuits in the afternoon
3. The subject, spring, watercolour landscape was fine
4. Nic is a good teacher and the day was well structuredOverall it was a good day, thank you for organising everything!”
H.S.