ONLINE talks & lectures
The perfect chance to brush up on your art history and broaden your knowledge; learn about some of the world's most inspiring creative works, all from the comfort of your own home. Delivered live on Zoom, each of our talks is followed by an interactive Q&A. Those in our 'Discover' and 'In the Style Of' programmes go even further by including practical demonstrations to enhance your learning experience. For every talk you'll receive a copy of the slides (for your personal use only) and often a list of other helpful resources too. If the scheduled time doesn't work for you, choose to watch by recording only, with access available for at least sixty days.
ONLINE
ONLINE
£49.00
4 November | In the Style Of: Chinoiserie
Class Dates:
Wed 4th November
2pm - 2:45pm ArtTalk with Martin Beek
2:45pm - 3pm Q&A session and short comfort break
3pm - 4:30pm Live demonstration by Karen Carter
Tutor: Martin Beek & Karen Carter
Bookings Close: 4th November
Class Details
Our 'In the Style Of' classes bring together our ever popular ArtTalks with the joy of a traditional class. Join us for an engaging talk with our resident art history expert, Martin Beek, followed by a live demonstration by the wonderful Karen Carter. This fantastic collaborative ONLINE class is inspired by Chinoiserie and is open to students of all abilities.
ArtTalk
Chinoiserie can be described as a European Chinese aesthetic, derived from the French ‘chinois’. The style emerged in the eighteenth-century, inspiring European artists and designers to create exotic art and design inspired by the Far East.
Martin’s talk cites various aspects of art that are connected with China, and latterly with the art of Japan. Access to China’s interior was forbidden; as a result of trading through its ports there was a hunger for objects with its mysterious exotic motifs. Hand-painted Chinese style wallpapers, pottery, furniture and decoration became fashionable. William Chambers’ famous pagoda at Kew (1761) epitomised this cultural obsession. 90 years later the Great Exhibition of 1851 reignited the public’s taste for the curious designs and decor of China. Shortly after the opening up of trade with Japan (in 1856) and the eastern seaboard of China, the Oriental influence again reasserted itself.
Martin's talk will be illustrated where possible with original photographs and slides. He will also provide a list of helpful books and links to further explore on a PDF following the talk.
Demonstration
In the demo part of this session we will take our inspiration from the decorative traditions of Chinese Gongbi painting – a more controlled and layered form of Chinese brush painting. Popular in Europe during Victorian times, it is a very stylised form of artwork depicting trees, blossoms, birds and landscapes.
Chinoiserie encompassed many things including furniture and ceramics as well as art - which was often painted on a grand scale and used in much the same way as we would use wallpaper today. We will be working on a much smaller scale!
During the session we will complete a series of exercises exploring colour mixing, stylization of imagery, consistency of paint, layering and fine detail – plus a tiny bit of shimmer and shine! And there will be a few tips and tricks along the way.
We will then make a start on a simple composition using the techniques covered, for you to finish in your own time – or possibly scale up and paint a whole wall!
You can work along with Karen at a gentle pace if you wish – so grab yourselves a cuppa, turn off your phone and enjoy a peaceful afternoon playing with paint! This is a slow-paced detailed project so you may not get it finished within this session, but you will have all the techniques needed to continue at your own pace to create a beautiful picture.
Skills Covered
Working with a muted palette
Creating subtle backgrounds
Layering techniques for depth and detail
Simplifying and stylising your subject matter
Materials Required
Materials are not included in the cost of this class.
Click here to download the required materials list
We suggest that you do not buy any specialist materials more than one week in advance as, occasionally, a class may be cancelled due to low enrolment. For full terms and conditions, see our ONLINE terms of service.
Useful Information
Personal feedback from your tutor until 4 December 2026
Unlimited access to watch again until 3 January 2027
This class is designed to be enjoyed LIVE on Zoom, but you may join by 'recording only' if that is not possible
Choose to work-along or just watch & learn
You’ll need a printer for this class if you wish to print the template
The Q&A session will not be recorded, so please join live on Zoom if you wish to participate
All Ardington ONLINE classes and talks are accompanied by their own online class information page. Helpful and easy to use, these private pages enable students and tutors to share resources, ideas and photos with each other – before, during, and after class. The link to access the page will be shared via email in the days leading up to the class. For more details, click here.
