Bedales students learn from artist in residence Bill Pullen

Bedales students learn from artist in residence Bill Pullen

01/07/2011

Bedales students have been given the rare opportunity over the past fortnight to benefit from in-depth workshops with artist Bill Pullen. Bill specialises in painting with egg tempera, a unique and fascinating technique that requires the paint to be made from raw pigment and applied in layers to create an amazingly detailed three dimensional effect that captures light contrast beautifully. Students learnt about about paint creation and art history, as paint was created in this way long before Constable’s time when tubes of ready-made paint were first introduced.

Under Bill’s guidance, the students began to practise using egg tempera, which is very different to oil or acrylic as it has to be built up using several layers rather than simply applied with one stroke of the brush. It requires the artist to be very thoughtful in application, as Bill says, “the more effort you put into it the more you get out of it”. The paintings created by 6.1 students in egg tempera will hopefully contribute to their final year’s portfolio of work so this exercise was a great opportunity to try different techniques.

Bill lives in Petersfield and has known Head of Art George Hatton for many years having exhibited at Bedales twice, first in 1991 and later in 2007. His most recent exhibitions featured at the Russell Gallery, London. He was also taught English by Graham Banks when Graham was at Midhurst Grammar School.

Bill has been Bedales' official artist in residence for the past two weeks He has very much enjoyed painting at Bedales and appreciates the tranquil environment overlooking the Orchard and horse sculptures.

Bill began his career after graduating from a five year course at Edinburgh University’s College of Art but his use of egg tempera was self-taught as there was no-one who taught it at the time – our students were very lucky, therefore, to have had time learning from Bill who has carved a career from the adoption of a technique that generates truly captivating results. To view Bill’s work visit www.williampullen.co.uk.

Find out more about Bedales Art here.

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