Painting and Drawing
A00003

Course Content

This course covers:
Theme Variety: Each term features different themes for you to explore, offering you the chance to practice and refine your skills while engaging with new subjects.
Primary Subjects: Still life, portraiture, and some landscape (weather permitting in the summer term).
Drawing from Observation: You will learn to "see" more effectively, using simple measuring techniques to build confidence and accuracy.
Composition Planning: You will practice using a viewfinder to plan compositions, creating dynamic layouts through preliminary studies.
Colour Theory and Mixing: Explore the basics of colour theory, palette management, and various painting techniques.
Mini Exhibitions: At the end of each session, there will be a mini exhibition where you can showcase your work, receive group feedback, and engage in relaxed discussions with peers and the tutor.
Artist Inspiration: You will study and respond to the works of contemporary artists, cultivating an appreciation for fine art and broadening your creative horizons.
Personal Exploration: Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to interpret subjects in your unique way, with the tutor offering guidance on different strategies and approaches to achieve your artistic goals.
Exploration of New Subjects: You will work with new, exciting, and sometimes unusual subjects, experimenting with various styles and techniques.
Summer Term: This term continues with some portraiture. If you are a newcomer or beginner to the subject or you would like to refresh your drawing and painting skills, as always, this terms course gives you the opportunity to begins with basics allowing you to learn observational skills through a range of fun portraiture exercises and then working from the clothed model for two or three-week sessions.
Summer Term for Beginners: For the beginner, the course is structured, so it covers a range of media, starting with the easiest and then working towards painting. For example, initially drawing the face with charcoal, a putty rubber and a plastic rubber will be the start of your exploration, while later you will investigate face colour by mastering drawing with chalk pastels (best suited to the stage between drawing and painting), before finally moving on to painting (oils or acrylics) where more organisation of materials is necessary. If you feel you are not ready for painting, you are very welcome to take this step in your development at a later stage or in a new term.
Summer Term for Intermediate/Advanced: If you are a returning student or you are an intermediate or advanced learner this course will allow you to master your skills in painting and develop and let you focus on your preferred individual style. You will continue where you left off, for example you will have the opportunity to interpret the subject in a more inventive way (for example the level of abstraction is up to you) and experiment with new media. For ideas and added inspiration poses are influenced by historical and contemporary artists where you can and learn from and try out an artist's technique, compositions or colours.
Summer Term Landscape: After the half term we will move to a new subject, Landscape and Cityscapes in the Richmond area (weather permitting, eventually meeting outdoors for lessons). The Summer term is the perfect time of the year to get out of the studio and a great opportunity to experience this subject close to the college or further away depending on students. Again, this subject begins with basic exercises first -perspective, trees and plants, the river, the sky and architectural settings before moving on to capturing more elaborate panoramic views for example. There will also be a power point presentation where you can study different landscape paintings.
Autumn Term: Drawing with Accuracy - simple objects and still life set ups and after half term an Introduction to Colour. Then elaborate still life arrangements inspired by historical and contemporary still life artists. Please see Autumn term course outline
Spring Term: More elaborate still life arrangements (inspired by historical and contemporary still life artists) and after half term fun portraiture exercises and The Clothed Model (two or three week poses inspired by historical and contemporary portraits artists).