You will start this course with an investigation into abstract mark making and colour. You will be guided through a warm up activity on paper, considering colour relationships and experimental paint application techniques. This will help build confidence with colour choices, composition, and your preferred painting tools.

These ideas will then be translated onto wood, where you can experiment with materiality, transfer, layering, and residual marks. You will use selective colour to create multiple outcomes on paper and handprinted plywood panels, each with their own distinctive surface qualities.

The course is designed for both beginners and for those who have some knowledge of printmaking and/or painting and would like to extend their visual language. It is particularly suited to those who are interested in expressive and abstract mark-making, colour relationships, and experimental print transfer without the need for a press.

By the end of the course, you will have gained confidence in your painting and printmaking skills through experimentation and you will take home with you several test prints, collage materials, and up to 3 outcomes on A4 wood panels.

Artist references: Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, Frank Bowling, Eileen Agar, Paul Klee, Per Kirkeby, Kurt Schwitters

Included

Water based acrylic paints in a variety of colours / household paints (tester pots), masking tape, unprimed sandpaper and acrylic matt medium, wet strength tissue paper to share amongst the group.

A sheet of A2 cartridge paper heavyweight (300gsm), 5 sheets A3 cartridge paper (140gsm) and 3 x A4 plywood boards per student

What students need to bring

Painting / mark making tools such as cotton buds, card offcuts, variety of brushes and scrapers, sponges etc. Biros/pencils.
Pastels / dry media (optional).

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials including acrylic paints, matt mediums for acrylic paint, gouache paint and paper are available should you need extra.

Additional information

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

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  

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.

Terms & Conditions