This course will start at the National Gallery. Please meet for a prompt start at 11am inside the Portico entrance at the National Gallery. From there, you will work with pencil in a sketchbook (please bring along) in Gallery C for an hour, then progress to Level 2, Gallery 43 for the second hour. You will then take lunch and meet back at West Dean, Bloomsbury, 1 Malet Street for a 2pm start. Please bring along a small sketchbook and dry art materials, including a few coloured pencils. Please see advice for drawing and sketching in the National Gallery below in the additional information section.

This course starts in the National Gallery and continues at the Bloomsbury Campus in the afternoon. It brings together three elements of painting: colour, composition and tonal values.

Progressing awareness and understanding of the three-dimensional world captured on a two-dimensional surface, with analysis of colour theory and temperature, will effect your own individualistic, personal, unique voice and style, making your landscape paintings stronger.

You will learn through smart studio practice, experimental mark-making and investigative drawing, and you will also learn how best to organise yourself and set up to be your most productive and effective. All will be inspired by a variety of Masters’ proven methods that support your pictorial objectives – whatever your favoured style of art.

You will increase your capability and ability to think critically and understand just what it is that makes a great work of art work. Realised by looking at great masterpieces throughout art history from the beginnings of Western Art Renaissance to today’s Contemporary masters, is to learn from the best art mentors.

And to transcribe, not necessarily copy, an image best equips you with the knowledge to invent your very own creative process. This will inspire and challenge the artist within you to explore, and imaginatively learn how to ‘see’, all the time evolving your own, individualistic, personal artistic style, helping you grow and develop your practice, elevating the quality of your artwork to make it the best it can be.

Helping you apply the important things that make a work of art better, you will gain skills in the knowledge and application of colour that will best suit your ways of working, so that your artwork doesn’t look like a poor copy of someone else’s…the art world doesn’t need another Picasso, it needs You!

Included

On this course the College will supply some of the materials, including cartridge paper, acrylic paints, charcoal, plastic rubber, putty rubber.

What students need to bring

Dry art materials, brushes in a variety of sizes, water pots and mediums

If you wish to work in oil paint, please bring your own paints and studio safe solvent such as Sansodor or Zest-it.

You are encouraged to bring in a work-in-progress artwork for your tutor to offer expert guidance and insights to elevate your artistic journey.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Please see advice for drawing and sketching in the National Gallery: Visitors are welcome to sketch and draw in the Gallery and take inspiration from the collection with the following guidance: a. Please be conscious of other people and move aside if someone wants to view the painting you are sketching; b. Sketchbooks or notepaper should be no larger than A3 size; and c. Use only graphite pencils and coloured pencils.

You may be asked to move along to another painting or room if the Gallery is particularly busy. No sketching is permitted in doorways or access routes. Painting and use of materials other than pencils is only permitted under the Copyist Scheme.

Daily Timetable

Course teaching: 11am–5.15pm
Students arrive: 10.30am-11am (coffee optional)  
Morning teaching: 11am-1pm
Lunch break: 1pm-2pm (lunch is not included)
Afternoon teaching: 2pm-5.15pm (15 minute break, 3.30pm–3.45pm)
Teaching finishes: 5.15pm  
 

Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over. The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments

Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are also plenty of other local venues to purchase food.

Access

If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: [email protected] This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety

Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Refunds and cancellations

Please refer to our terms & conditions below.

Disclaimer

The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.

Terms & Conditions