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: Self-Directed Practice: Sustaining a Focus (LLLA08005)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course enables students with an existing and developing specialised contemporary painting and mixed media practice to sustain a focus on a self-initiated studio project.
Course description Academic Description: This course will allow students to develop their painting and mixed media practices to rigorously explore and sustain a focus for their own studio work, based upon a body of personal research, and underpinned by one-to-one and group critiques. Processes, materials and techniques will be determined by personal concerns, to evolve an independent visual language, and body of work, underpinned by a contextual awareness for historical and contemporary art practices.

Outline of Content: The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly class sessions of around 3 hours each and totaling 60 hours. Alternatively, the course can be delivered more intensely or as a block if required.

Over the class sessions the course will cover:
Introduction to independent art practice in contemporary context.
Suggested points of reference and short project.
Multiples in miniature
Self-directed projects start
Artist studio visit
Mini Critique
Working larger and longer
Developing larger work
Developing work together
Finishing work and group critique

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, student 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. In addition to the learning and teaching resources and content, this fee also includes:

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicate tools, materials and equipment:
A4/A3 sketchbook
Charcoal, pencils, eraser, coloured chalk pastels
Masking tape, one sided card, Cartridge paper
Acrylic paints ( or Oil paints), acrylic or oil brushes, sponge, roller, rags
Appropriate surfaces to work on and paint with will depend on each individual.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  0
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 60, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 136 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Formative Assessment (Occurs around week 13 or 14 of the 20 week course):

A formative assessment session will occur around halfway through the taught element of the course. Each student will undertake a 10 minute verbally presentation with their practical work in progress to other members of the class group followed by a 10 minute group critique supported by the course tutor. Each student will also electronically submit their work in progress digital journal to the course tutor.

Indicative and supportive feedback will be summarised in written form on the digital journal which will give an indication of what areas requires to be address in order to meet the published learning outcomes. This will comprise of short written summary of action points.

Summative Assessment: Two weeks after the end of the class teaching, this course will be assessed by the submission of:

A digital journal documenting a summary of the learning journey as evidenced in the portfolio (40 hours)
This will include a summary of idea development, media exploration, contextual research, critical reflection and outcomes through notes, annotation, illustration and photography.

A portfolio of visual art/design works (160 hours)
This will include a selection of resolved design works, sketchbook works, preparatory studies, visual research and evidence of a contextual awareness.

The Digital Journal and Portfolio must be presented in a clear and professional manner appropriate to the discipline. The submission should include work undertaken within the class as well as directed and independent study out with the class.

The combined Digital Journal and Portfolio submission will be assessed against the three learning outcomes for this course. These are equally weighted (33.3% each) and each will be given a percentage grade. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 30% in each learning outcome and an overall combined mark of 40% minimum.
Feedback Formative Assessment: This will comprise of short written summary of action points of areas requiring addressing to meet the learning outcomes - but no indicative grades will be given.

Summative Assessment: On completion the assessment, each student will receive a % mark for each learning outcome along with written feedback putting in context the % mark and outlines areas for development.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Research, context and ideas (33.3%): Demonstrate a sustained and enquiring work ethic within a contemporary art context, employing independent strategies to document a range of visual ideas and research.
  2. Practice, skills and techniques (33.3%): Demonstrate an inventive and exploratory use of a range of materials, methods and processes that is appropriate to developing a coherent and personal, visual vocabulary.
  3. Selection, presentation and reflection (33.3%): Evidence independent judgment to present a coherent, individual and focused body of research studies and resolved works, demonstrating discernment to document select and edit artwork to reveal its value.
Reading List
Suggested Reading:

ELKIN, J.2000. What is Painting Routledge.
LUCIE-SMITH, E. 1984. Movements In Art Since 1945. London: Thames and Hudson. Print.
DAVEY, R. & SCHAMA, S. 2014 Anselm Kiefer. Royal Academy of Arts, London
FOSTER, R.K.H., BENJAMIN H.D. YVE-Alain BOIS, D.J. 2012. Art Since 1900: Modernism · Antimodernism · Postmodernism. Thames & Hudson Ltd.
BUTIN, H. 2014. Gerhard Richter. Editions 1965-2013. Hatje Cantz.
RAEDECKER, M. 2009. Michael Raedecker. London: Camden Arts Centre. Print.
DUMAS, M. 2014. The Image as Burden, Tate.
DEXTER, E. 2010. Vitamin D: New Perspectives in Drawing. Phaidon Press.
HOLZWARTH. H.W. 2008. Art Now. Koln: Taschen. Print.
WATT, A. and PATERSON, D. 2011. Hiding in Full View, Ingleby Gallery. Print
POSNER, H., SMITH, K. LYON, C. 2005. Kiki Smith. New York, N.Y.: Monacelli Press. Print.

Journal and Periodicals:
Modern Painters
Frieze
Turps

Web Sources:
www.tate.org
www.saatchigallery.com
www.victoria-miro.com
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Ability to undertake research and apply this in the context of landscape painting.
Use Independent judgment and critical evaluation.
Employ resourceful research tactics to further develop imagery.
Investigate appropriate techniques and materials.
Develop a personal visual language.
Self directed study in contemporary art practice.
KeywordsPersonal development,painting,focus developing processes,drawing,research,composition
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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