THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : Creative Arts

Undergraduate Course: Foundation Painting (LLLA07214)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course is designed to allow students the opportunity to extend and develop their painting skill base.
Course description Academic Description
This course is designed to allow students the opportunity to extend and develop their painting skill base. It is intended they gain a fundamental understanding and knowledge regarding the use of painting media, and materials to make an informed series of painted studies which explore through observational exercises and more personal use of images a range of traditional as well as experimental techniques.

Outline of Content
The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly class sessions of around 3 hours each and totaling 30 hours. Alternatively, the course can be delivered more intensely or as a block if required.
Over the class sessions the course will cover:
Familiarisation and exploration of paint media focusing on the representational and expressive qualities using various techniques and processes of mark making with brush and other tools. Colour mixing and basic theory. Exploring initial stages of painting.
Achromatic painting - tonal value and its relationship to three dimensions will be discussed and demonstrated. A look at how drawing can inform painting and vice versa. Negative space and its relationship to positive form will be explored.
An introduction to the basics of perspective and its importance in creating 'believable space' will be demonstrated. The use of limited colour in painting with attention on building form, creating distance, the play of light, interest and focus in a composition will be investigated.
Figure painting using skills gained in the course so far will be practised.
Colour theory will be discussed and its use to create mood and dynamic compositions explored in figure painting.
Familiarisation and exploration of painting techniques and media with discussion regarding researching creatively subjects personal to the student with the intention to develop individual composition.

The Learning Experience
The teaching will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Over the course, students' progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

For work required to be undertaken after the class hours are complete, the course tutor will set students a 'directed study plan' which can be undertaken without the need for specialist workshops or access to models.

Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness. Students are expected to demonstrate how their research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks, a visual digital journal and practical outcomes.
The Directed Study Plan will include preparing evidence of research and practical work to form an appropriate presentation for assessment.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Unless otherwise stated, all students on this short course pay a published course fee per enrolment.
Still life set ups
Life model set ups
Skeletons

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicate tools, materials and equipment:
Willow charcoal (medium)
Putty rubber (Daler Rowney recommended) and eraser
Spray fixative (a cheap hairspray is a good alternative)
Sketch pad A2/3
Pencils (HB, 2B, and /or 4B and/or 6B)
Soft pastels
Card (x 5 sheets of approx. A1)
Acrylic gesso primer
Basic acrylic paint set (could include - lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium red, crimson red, ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, burnt sienna, burnt umber, white)
Various paint brushes for acrylics (round paintbrush no. 6 size with smooth soft hair and good pointed tip and flat shape brushes)
Sponges, rags ,rollers
Paint pallet
Protective clothing
Compressed charcoal
Inks and dipping pen and soft round pointed brush (no.6)
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Research, context and ideas (33.3%) Demonstrate a range of personal painting approaches and techniques for recording and developing visual information, supported by contextual research.
  2. Practice, skills and techniques (33.3%) Show a series of paintings which investigate and demonstrate an informed understanding of the fundamental techniques, employing appropriate approaches in developing personal ideas.
  3. Selection, presentation and reflection (33.3%) Demonstrate an awareness to document, select and edit a body of coherent paintings for presentation.
Reading List
Suggested Readings
ARIKHA, A., 1988, Avigdor Arikha: paintings, pastels, and drawings, 1986-1988, New York: Marlborough Gallery
GORDON, L., 1998, Anatomy and Figure Drawing, London: Batsford.
STORR, R., 1998, Chuck Close, New York: Museum of modern art
CROWE, V., 2009, Victoria Crowe: painted insights, Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club.
David C. Levy, Barbara Rose, Jacquelyn Days Serwer, 2002, Larry Rivers: Art and the Artist, London: A Bullfinch Press Book, Little Brown and Company
SCHIELE, E., LEOPOLD, R. & LIEVEN, A., 1973, Egon Schiele: paintings, watercolours, drawings, London: Phaidon Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Ability to undertake research and reflective practice and apply these in the context of painting.
Observation and measurement from life/comparative analysis.
Understanding visual composition.
Participation in discussion.
Knowledge of the anatomy of the human body. Understanding of proportion and form.
KeywordsPainting,introduction,foundation,observational skills,pencil,line,colour,mark-making,form
Contacts
Course organiserMr Oliver Reed
Tel:
Email: Oliver.Reed@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk
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