Discover our Your own Choice of Medium Courses

Let your creativity be inspired by the natural world

Here at Field Studies Council we offer you the ability and freedom to create using your own choice of medium.

The creative process is unique to each individual. Depending on the practice you are studying, the ability to choose how you interpret your creative ideas can have a big impact on the result.

The variety of materials you can use on a 'your own choice of medium course.

Particularly when painting or drawing, there are more possibilities for changing things up. You could create a portrait in watercolour, or turn to pastels. You may prefer to use pen and ink or create a black-and-white drawing.

If you’re struggling to choose what medium is right for you, here’s some options you can choose on one of our ‘Your own Choice of Medium’ courses.

  • Watercolour – Some people use watercolour to paint in a very loose, free and expressive way. Others prefer a tight, detailed and realistic method. The paints tend to be transparent, yet vibrant depending on your water to paint ratio.
  • Chalk pastels – Soft pastels can create smooth and smudgy lines and are great for blending. You can create intense colour or soft colours through smudging techniques.
  • Pastel Pencils – Pastels are great for layering and blending. Colours are often vibrant and strong. Using Pastel pencils gives you the option of sharpening the tip, so you can create finer detail.
  • Acrylic Paints – Acrylic paints are fantastic for blending and layering yet keeping the vibrancy of the colour on the canvas. They are a great paint to experiment with and a popular choice for beginners before moving on to oils.

Opportunities for Choosing Your own Choice of Medium with Field Studies Council

Explore the options to expand your creative boundaries by joining our experts on one of our art workshops and holidays.

Our courses take inspiration from the beautiful natural surroundings of our centres, and local wildlife. The landscape is abundant with flora and fauna, so let the UK’s nature and wildlife inspire your creativity.

Field Studies Council’s creative courses range from day art courses to longer craft weekends and even week-long art and craft holidays.

They do feature some studio time, but getting outdoors and immersing yourself in the natural landscape can have a whole host of benefits, creatively, mentally and fantastic for all-round well-being.

Our craft courses are more than just a learning experience, they are a chance to meet like-minded people, a chance to unwind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and experience the UK’s glorious countryside, offering a relaxing backdrop to your time away.

Our courses offering the chance to use your own choice of medium take place at one of our most inspiring locations, Flatford Mill in Suffolk.