Take your large paintings to a new level and explore scale and surface and tools. Using mixed media, you will take a fresh look at composition, paint application, colour and surface to enable you to take your work bigger and bolder on a range of supports from paper to canvas and canvas board.

Painting on a big or oversized canvas has its delights and challenges. Sometimes it's the appeal of working on a large scale in a loose style. Sometimes a subject simply demands to be painted on a large canvas, not squeezed into your usual size painting. Sometimes it's the ambition to paint a truly impressive and big work. Your tutor will push you to be bold and take risks and not be afraid to change your work. She will introduce you to a wide range of painting processes, often encouraging experimentation with acrylic, household emulsion and blackboard paints.

• Looking to find the narrative in your work?
• Want to find your own style?
• What makes the meaning true?
• What makes the invisible visible?

You will be working from photos and printouts of your own work that you will bring along to upscale and project from. This energetic course is open to all levels of experience from near beginners through to practising artists. The course includes a one-hour creative immersion workshop focusing on colour, texture, light and music, both indoors and outdoors.

If you are a developing artist and have a yearning to paint, then come and unleash your imagination and explore a bigger sense of expression. Come and find the edge of who you are and engage with the language of you and your practice.

Please meet on the first morning at the Rothko Room at the Tate Modern Art Gallery.

Included

On this course the College will supply most of the materials, including a roll of Fabriano 10m x 1.5m, A1 cartridge paper, brown paper packing tape, acrylic paint in various colours and household paint in various colours to share amongst the group.

What students need to bring

• Please bring a large square canvas either 80 x 80cm or 1m x 1m. You will need to bring this on the second day of the course as you have the Tate Modern visit on the first day
• Take good quality photographs of your work and print them out to upscale and work on during the course
• Notebook and reference to artists you like
• Sketchbooks
• 4 jam jars
• Basic tool kit, including pencils, charcoal, 4-inch-wide wallpaper brush, range of 6 decorator’s brushes, assorted wide flat brushes, assorted round paintbrushes
• Coloured chalk pastels or crayons (optional)

Additional information

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

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