About this course

Always wanted to go bigger with your art but were afraid to or didn't know where to start? This course allows you room to breathe and open up. With focus on techniques, fun and taking risks.

Course Description

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.

You will be working from photos and print outs 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 practicing artists. The course includes a one-hour creative emersion 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.

Course Materials

Included

  • On this course the College will supply most of the materials including a 120cm x 120cm canvas (which should fit in your car), 80 x 80cm canvas and some thick cartridge paper (300gsm) per student plus some acrylic paint in various colours, household paint in various colours, blackboard paint and sandpaper to share amongst the group.

What students need to bring

  • Please 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
  • Sketch books
  • 4 jam jars
  • Basic tool kit including – pencils, charcoal, 4-inch-wide wallpaper brush, range of 6 decorators brushes, assorted wide flat brushes, assorted round paintbrushes
  • Coloured chalk pastels or crayons (optional)

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • A good selection of art materials including paints, inks, paper, brushes, canvases etc.

Additional information

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

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

General Information

Tutors

Louise Rainbow

Louise Rainbow has been teaching art for 25 years working in ceramics, drawing, painting and printmaking. She trained in contemporary arts at Bretton Hall, Leeds University and has experience teaching at all levels.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.