Your course includes:

• Access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) with course content 
• Approximately one hour of instructional videos to work through and repeat at your own pace
• Practical tasks to complete
• Helpful materials suppliers list
• Student online gallery where you can post images of your work for tutors to review and comment on
• Support from the College and tutors via email should you need it during the course
• Additional notes and ideas

Course Content:
• Introduction to West Dean College, your tutor Melanie Rose and workshop overview
• Getting started; Health and Safety, Materials, Tools and Equipment  

• Workshops: 
Exploring your materials
Landscape studies from video
Planning your final composition
Painting a series of final studies

• Ideas for going forward
Walking and drawing in the landscape
Enjoy your materials and making

What you need

Materials required:
Willow charcoal (a range of different thicknesses; thin, medium and thick)
Putty rubber
Soft Graphite stick, 6B and 9B
Charcoal pencil
Soft pastels, a selection of colours and at least 3-4
Water soluble graphite/charcoal
Powdered graphite
Five sheets of A2 and one x A3 pad of hot press smooth cartridge paper or watercolour paper
Fixative (or hairspray)
Drawing ink – soluble or permanent
Twigs, feathers, teasels, bamboo for drawing
Watercolour paint: pans or tubes, or gouache paints (whatever you prefer using)
Paint brushes including mop head brushes or large Chinese/watercolour brushes
Rags or kitchen towel
Masking tape (used to secure when working on sheets of paper)

Optional:
Fine liner pen 
Natural Pure pigments 
Gum Arabic
Oil paints
Low odour solvent such as Zest-it if using oil paints
Linseed oil 
Prepared board (painted in white emulsion/acrylic/gesso in advance of the course)
Canvas board

Tools and Equipment:
Water pot
A palette or plate to mix paints and pigments in
A table
An easel (if you have one)
Hairdryer (if you have one)

What skill level do I need to take a course?
Our online courses are each given a level of study to ensure you pick the right course for you;
Beginners - Suitable for those with little or no experience of the subject
or
Suitable for all - With content that can be engaged with on different levels

What format does the course take?
Our online courses have approximately one hour video content, with a minimum completion time of approximately two hours.

• VLE with course content including PDF
• A series of instructional videos
• Practical tasks to complete
• Materials and Suppliers list

Is the course taught live?
No, the course is self-paced and designed so that you can study it at a time you choose. This means you can dip in and out of the course as often as you wish during your access allowance (the access duration for each course is given under 'About this course' above).

How long will I have access to my course?
Your access to the course commences from your user account being generated and will be for the duration given under the 'About this course' section above.  

What technologies are used to deliver the course?
We use CANVAS, a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), for all your course materials. This is a system for delivering learning materials via the Internet. It offers you flexible access to all the course content, which is available to you for the duration of the course.

Do the course videos have subtitles for hearing impaired people?
Yes, all of our course videos have the option to display closed captions in English.

Will I receive any printed material for the tasks set?
As this is an online course all instructions are on your course pages online. They are also available as a PDF to download and print. The tutor will take you through each task so that by the end of the course, you can complete the whole project.

How do I sign up for a course?
Follow the online booking process to sign up for a course.

Can I use a College gift voucher for online courses?
Yes, simply enter the gift voucher code at the online checkout.

Can I buy an online course for as a gift for someone? 
Yes, you can buy an online course as a gift online. For self-paced courses (without craft/materials box) please put the recipients name in the ‘Student Details’ section when booking. Their log-in details will be emailed to you to pass on.

For online courses with a craft/materials box, if you would like the box sent directly to the recipient, please enter their address when prompted in the 'Student Details' section. Otherwise, the box will be posted to the address given as the billing address for you to pass onto the recipient. 

How do I access my course?
You will receive your login details by email, typically within 2 working days.

Can I buy a course on behalf of a group?
Each of the courses has been designed as a one-to-one lesson, allowing you to view it closely on your own screen and go back and forward through the lesson content, working on each section at your own pace. For this reason, courses are only available on an individual basis at this time. You are given access to a course via a designated email address.

What computer set-up will I need to take a course?
You can purchase and watch our courses on all computers and devices – Mac, PC, Mobile and Tablet – with an Internet connection and a modern internet browser (see "What Web Browser do you recommend" below). You will need an email account to sign up for a course and an up-to-date web browser. Some of the course resources are presented as PDF files, which will require a PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader.

Can I watch the course on my TV?
It may be possible to watch the courses on your TV, depending on the equipment you have at home. You can purchase and watch our courses on computers and devices with an internet connection. The online learning experience is entirely browser based and is not available in any TV app form. Many additional products, such as Chromecast for Android or Apple TV, allow you to cast or stream the content from your laptop or tablet to your TV. In addition, many TVs and connected devices also have their own internet browsers which should allow you to login to the site and access courses, just as you would from your laptop or tablet. Alternatively, your laptop or tablet may allow you to connect to your TV using an HDMI cable which would allow you to see the screen on your TV. Due to the various different technologies available, it is difficult for us to offer detailed customer service support for streaming to TV.

What web browser do you recommend?
PC users - Firefox ver. 54, Chrome ver. 58 or Edge ver. 14 or newer are recommended. Unfortunately, Internet Explorer 11 (or older) are not supported.
Mac users - Safari and Firefox are recommended.

We do not recommend using any Internet service provider's proprietary browser, as certain functions may be restricted. We regularly upgrade the site to add features and improve the quality of your experience. Please be sure to keep your browser updated. If you need to upgrade your browser, go to your browser manufacturer's website and download the most recent version.

Phones and tablets - All courses are built on a responsive platform, allowing for access on most smartphones and tablets.

What do I do if I experience technical issues?
If you have checked the technical requirements above and are using a suitable browser but the problem persists, email [email protected] with the details of your problem (including a screenshot if useful) for advice.

I’ve lost my login details, what do I do?
If you have deleted your login information please contact [email protected].

I’ve changed my mind and no longer want to do this course, what can I do?
Please contact [email protected] immediately if you have changed your mind, within 14 days of the day you receive course access, and without accessing the course material. Please also refer to our Terms and Conditions when booking. If you have booked an ‘online course with craft box’, you have an additional 14 days to notify us on receipt of your craft box, regardless of whether you have accessed the course.

For any other queries about online courses please contact [email protected].

FAQs if you are booking an 'online course with craft box': (this will be stated clearly in the course title above). Please only book this course online if you live on the UK mainland.  The costs included in the course fee do not cover areas outside of the UK mainland.  See note below.

Can I do this course if I live overseas?
If you live overseas (including Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and Islands, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Isle of Man), please email the Bookings Office [email protected] with your address and contact details, do not book the course online.  Our team will then ascertain whether we are able to post the materials to you and, if so, the additional cost.  We will then let you know and you can decide whether or not to go ahead with the booking.  Please note that delivery of the Craft Box to an overseas address may also take longer.

What is included in my craft box?
Included materials are listed in the ‘Course materials’ section above.

When should I expect to receive my craft box?
Orders are dispatched once a week. Depending on your purchase date you should receive your craft box within 2-9 days from dispatch. Craft boxes are posted to the address given as the billing address when you book. Boxes are larger than letterbox size and the courier may contact you via email with delivery information. Currently, these can only be posted to mainland UK addresses - please see note above if you live overseas.

Who do I contact if I haven’t received my materials pack or it is missing an item?
Please contact [email protected] if you have not received your craft box or it is missing items. If the original delivery is failed or refused and returned to the College, you will be responsible for paying any additional charges for re-delivery.