Experience and enjoy a highly evocative painting course which sets a figurative response within the unique West Dean atmosphere, combining the grounds and gardens as a backdrop to drawing and painting the human form.

During the Summer School, you will work from both female and male models in the studio and on location, using props to evolve a portfolio of studies which culminates in a final finished composition of allegorical odyssey.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, you will gain a range of responses from the clothed human form within an imagined theatrical context. Your tutor will make a strong critical and contextual reference to history painting, leading a contemporary connection to the inspiration of Rococo Art and the technical aspects of setting, designing and accomplishing the final painting. Your tutor will instruct and demonstrate using both oil and acrylic painting techniques and use of mediums.

Summer School Highlights
The Summer School week is an immersive learning experience with more time to develop your creativity and embrace opportunities for creative development beyond your chosen course. A detailed timetable for your Summer School week will be given to you on arrival. This will include:

• Short inspirational talks by tutors and displays of their work
• A short creative experience session in another discipline/media or course
• An optional evening at the Chichester Festival Theatre (discounted if pre-booked through West Dean)
• An optional lunchtime tour of West Dean Gardens, the historic rooms at West Dean College, or West Dean Tapestry Studio
• A celebration dinner on the last evening themed on ‘Fantasy and Myth’. Feel free to respond to the theme if you wish
• Informal end-of-course group reviews and displays of students' work in studios

All lunches and evening meals are provided for residential and non-residential students during summer school due to planned activities/events in the early evenings.

Included

The model who will sit for the course. Some introductory drawing paper and charcoal. Clean odourless solvent (Zest it) for students working in oil paint.

What students need to bring

This Summer School can be approached through both oil and/or acrylic paints (both welcome and applicable). As a guide to which colours to have ready for the course your tutor recommends the following: ‘The Magnificent Seven’

• 2 x yellows – one must be a primary colour such as Lemon Yellow – you may choose an additional yellow of your preference
• 2 x reds – one must be a primary colour such as Scarlet or Vermillion – you may choose another red of your preference
• 2 x blues – one must be primary colour such as Cobalt – you may choose another blue of your preference
• 1 x green such as Viridian or Emerald.
• Not forgetting white paint – Titanium White
• Your own particular selection of additional colours will form an interesting shared class discussion as part of the course
• Painting support such as canvases or prepared boards no smaller than A2 no larger than A1
• Applicable painting mediums for example: Oil colour – Zest it, pure turpentine, refined linseed oil
• Acrylic/polymer colours – acrylic/ polymer medium (gloss)
• A variety of applicable brushes
• Palette knife/knives
• Sketchbook (A4) minimum
• Drawing media

All of the above media should be available for purchase at the College shop

• Painting apron

Available to buy

Available from shop: See ‘what students need to bring’ list.

Available from tutor:

• Prepared gessoed panels as required
• Oil painting mediums as required
• Acrylic painting medium as required

Additional information

Please bring a painting apron or equivalent. Your tutor will instruct and demonstrate using both oil and acrylic painting techniques and use of mediums.

Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration  
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm  
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break  
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)  
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break  
Teaching finishes: 5pm    
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.  

Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)  
Teaching finishes: 3pm  

All lunches and evening meals are provided for residential and non-residential students during Summer School due to planned activities/events in the early evenings.  
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.  
Several evening events are planned throughout the week, a detailed timetable for your Summer School will be given to you on arrival.

Terms & Conditions