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When & Where

Quick Facts

  • Availability Yes
  • Tutor Paul Dixon
  • Course Code W24PDGF03B
  • Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Watercolour has a simplicity of means; paint, brush, water, and paper makes it attractive to many artists. Turner, Cézanne, Klee as well as contemporary artists have used the medium both for highly finished works and as notations and explorations of things seen or imagined. The rich variety and specific possibilities from transparency, chance, glazing of colours, immediacy and control allow for many ways to use the medium. Gain experience and develop your painting skills within a group environment; either working from observation or other visual resources. The emphasis is on individual development and realising your own potential with watercolour. Beginners welcome.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Show an awareness in your work of observational strategies and the role of drawing
  • Generate and develop a range of watercolour approaches from observation and from reference materials
  • Have a resource of colour concepts and ways of manipulating paint to use creatively in your painting practice
  • Have a developing knowledge of some painters and their approaches to watercolour painting
  • Collaborate with your colleague students in the development of your own and their painting practice

Class format and activities

This is a practical class and beginners will be invited to follow a structured programme. The term will build on basic watercolour concepts and skills in relation to traditional and experimental approaches to still-life, figurative and landscape subject matter. Varied examples will be shown by other artists working with realism, abstraction and expressionism. If joining with some experience, you will have the opportunity to identify an individual project either using your own resources or painting from observation. All learners will be encouraged to meet the outcomes at a personal level and those with previous experience may be offered more challenging aspects to planned projects. There will be an emphasis on sharing knowledge, experience and supporting each other via group discussions and shows of work with group crits. The tutor will facilitate group discussions, give presentations, demonstrations and work with students one to one and in groups.

Entry requirements

The course is for all abilities. While it is helpful to come with some drawing experience, complete beginners are welcome.

What you need to know before you enrol

A smartphone or digital camera to take pictures of your work will be helpful.

What you need

It would be useful to have a sketchbook/paper, pencils, Pens [Fineliners if possible] and black fluid drawing ink or Indian ink. You will need to have your own Watercolour paints [tubes or pans as well as brushes: [Flats and Rounds, each approx size 6 and 12] as well as some tissues/paper towels. You will need watercolour paper or a watercolour pad and a palette of some kind to mix your watercolours. You can order these materials online from shops such as Cass art, Jacksons art supplies or Great Art supplies. Other materials needed will be advised during the course.

What you can do next

Course VPD033C and VPD033E are the follow-on modules giving more time for development of individual projects