Bloomin Marvelous Bloomsbury Art Course Coming Soon.

Did you know that our Rosie Parmley lived in Bloomsbury in London most of her adult life?

Its an easy walk from Covent Garden and Leisure Square. Back in the 1980s when Rosie
had turned 21 it was run down and a bit dodgy – think the Specials video for Ghost Town!
Roll back to the Bloomsbury of the 1907-30, it wasn’t a respectable place then either, when the
Stephens sisters – Virginia Woolf and Vannessa Bell and their brother took up a house after
the death of their father. Their Aunt was very upset that they had taken a house in that part of
town! It wasn’t a respectable area for two young ladies to be living in and taking in guests,
and friends. They were slumming it. Rebelling and rejecting the morality and values of the
Victorian England, the Bloomsbury Group was a circle of like-minded friends who
championed sexual equality, the importance of personal relationships, rational debate and
the arts. The group was formed from the friendships of the writers and the artists of the day,
to support each other with discussions, debates, exhibitions. A bit like The Colour Factory!
And not a skirt in sight!

Rosie Parmley is running an artist retreat for four days to share her passion for the art of the
Bloomsbury Group. In her class, you will be fully immersed in the art, history and the
processes and paintings of key members of the group. There will be a morning in
Winchester’s very own Bloomsbury Café – Cabinet Room with coffee and croissants for a
mornings talk on the Bloomsbury Group story. The classes are based at the Colour Factory.

Day 1 Introduction and historical presentation at the Cabinet Rooms. Drawing skills and
exercises inspired by the art of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and Roger Bell.

Day 2 A demonstration in colour mixing and different paint applications. Painting.

Day 3 The importance of Cezanne and how to work from a landscape.

Day 4 A full day in the studio to create paintings with one-to-one guidance and support.

Come away with confident sketches, studies and paintings inspired by the group. Price
includes all materials, a sketch book and hot refreshments. It’s a class suitable for all
abilities. £400pp in a small, friendly class with lots of demonstrations. All you need to bring is
your lunch.

The course takes place over 4 days, from Saturday 3rd to Tuesday 6th August between 10am – 4pm.

You can find out more, or book your space by emailing Rosie at rosieparmley@yahoo.co.uk 

Rosie is a professional artist and teacher from Winchester whose practice draws upon
collage, drawing and painting. She appeared on Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year
Series 6, episode 4. The Colour Factory has been the home of her courses since 2016.