Summer Intensive: The Art of Painting Loose Landscapes

This two-day intensive course will teach you—whatever stage you are at—to paint loose, expressive landscapes using acrylics. It’s a focused journey to move away from overworking and perfectionism, and towards confident, instinctive mark-making.

You’ll learn how to simplify the landscape and translate it into paint in a lively, gestural way. Through fast-paced exercises and guided sessions, Aly will help you loosen your approach while still building strong structure in your work.

Inspired by semi-abstract landscape artists past and present, the course explores expressive mark-making, colour theory, and creating movement within your paintings. Using both charcoal and acrylic, you’ll develop practical skills that bring energy, atmosphere, and clarity to your landscapes.

Across the two days, you’ll work from selected references before developing your own personal response—creating a loose landscape that feels confident, dynamic, and worth framing.

Please note materials are not included in the price.

A list of the essential and recommended materials will be made available ahead of the course commencing.

About the tutor

Aly Harte is a Belfast based artist who sells and exhibits her paintings internationally. She teaches semi abstract painting on and offline with over 1.3 million hits on her Youtube channel. Aly  graduated from Belfast school of art with a degree in Fine art 2005 and MFA in 2007.

She has built her creative career around her three children and is passionate about sharing the healing joy of art having started drawing as a 7 year old the week after her Father died.

Aly’s most recent residency was to Arrialos in Portugal. She is also a live painter at events and artist in residence for Cricket Ireland.