Programme content includes self-paced online workshops, slide presentations and PDFs with clear guidance given on the tasks and dates. Each self-paced course subject is then followed by a day of live teaching on Zoom with an expert tutor and fellow students. You will also be able to share discussion and work with other students throughout the course in the student community hub, Padlet. Tutors will refer to this work during live study days to inform feedback and discussion.

Modules are released throughout the year, after each release date students have three weeks to complete the self-study tasks before the two live study days, one for each course topic. These are an extension of what you have been learning, students are encouraged to attend as many study days as possible, it is not a requirement to attend all live study days to complete the programme. The teaching takes place during the day on Zoom, it is not recorded.

Skills development

Learn skills in a broad range of subjects and mediums through seven skills development modules, each will take an estimated four days to complete, we recommend you allow additional time to apply what you learn in your sketchbooks:

Module 1 – Sketchbooks & Learning Journals / Introduction to drawing
Module 2 – Portrait drawing  /  Expressive figure drawing
Module 3 – Painting watercolour / Painting oils
Module 4 – Relief printmaking /  Hybrid Printmaking
Module 5 – Mark-making / Mixed-media landscape painting
Module 6 – Colour / Abstraction
Module 7 – Introduction to sculpture  /  Sculpture from the land using found materials
Module 8 – Personal project

Contextual and critical studies

You will develop reflective practice skills by making use of a learning journal, reviewing artwork that is interesting and relevant to you, from a broad range of sources. This will expand your knowledge and understanding of art frameworks that underpin development of your own work. Students can also join the Foundation Art Discussion Forum, each month artworks and themes are introduced to initiate discussion with students from across the foundation art programmes.

Module 8 - Personal project
Working to a set brief, you will develop visual and contextual research skills to identify a personal response to a subject. This module provides a structured approach to achieve this through drawing, mapping, use primary and secondary sources, experimentation, reflective practice, and review to make final artwork. You will be given guidance on how to present the work and complete a written summary statement. This one module includes two group tutorials and one individual tutorial*.

Tutorials

In addition to the tutorials in Module 8, each student will receive two individual tutorials. The first tutorial after Module 2 and second tutorial after Module 5. Tutorials last 30 minutes and provide opportunity for you to discuss you work, progress and aims with a course tutor. You are required to prepare your coursework, sketchbooks, and key points from your learning journal in advance for discussion.

Tutorial dates cannot be changed, times will be confirmed at the start of the programme.