THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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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
Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  10
Course Start Lifelong Learning - Session 3
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 68 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Formative Assessment (required for all credit courses).
(Occurs in weeks 6 or 7 of the 10 week course)

A formative assessment session will occur in week 6 or 7 of the taught element of the course. Each student will undertake a 5 minute verbally presentation with their practical work in progress to other members of the class group followed by a 5 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
(Occurs at least 2 weeks after the last taught class)

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
(Indicate time spent: 20 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
(Indicate time spent: 80 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 (required for all credit courses).
(Occurs in weeks 6 or 7 of the 10 week course)

A formative assessment session will occur in week 6 or 7 of the taught element of the course. Each student will undertake a 5 minute verbally presentation with their practical work in progress to other members of the class group followed by a 5 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.

Formative Assessments
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 Assessments
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 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 secretaryMr John Ethcuit
Tel: (0131 6)50 3409
Email: jethcuit@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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