Our Absolute Beginners Pick ‘n’ Mix is a series of 6 short courses that run on Fridays throughout the academic year. Students can pick and mix from what’s on offer or choose to do the whole 6. We start off with an introduction to Drawing, then move on to Colour, Watercolour, Acrylics, Oils and Mixed Media.
Each subject lasts for 5 weeks and is designed for those who have never even picked up a pencil before but who would love to draw and paint! All materials are provided so all you need to bring is yourself. See below for further details on each short course.

Fee: £110 per 5 week course (pro rata if you join once term has commenced)

Introduction to Drawing; Grant Waters 17th September – 15th October 2021

This 5-week course looks at giving you a basic knowledge of drawing materials, what they do, and how to use them. You will learn the difference between a 2B and a 6B pencil, what a graphite stick does and the difference between a conte crayon and willow charcoal. Drawing from observation, you can learn about line tone and form to produce some great first drawings!

Introduction to Colour – Grant Waters 22nd October – 26th November 2021 (no class on Friday 29th October)

Using colour to get what you need in a drawing or painting requires knowledge and colour theory is essential. Here you will study the basics, the colour wheel, complementary colours, colour mixing and colour application using a variety of media such as pastel, oil pastel and paint.

Introduction to Watercolour – George Boyter – 21st January – 18th February 2022

Over these 5 weeks you can study fundamental techniques in the watercolour medium. Students follow clear instructions in step-by-step paint-along sessions and all questions regarding materials, equipment and technique are answered. The result is understanding, exploiting, directing and controlling the medium in a sensitive and informed manner.

Introduction to Acrylics – Jane Strother – 4th March – 1st April 2022

Acrylics are fast drying paints and one of the most accessible mediums for the beginner. Here you can pull together skills in drawing, painting and colour mixing in an experimental way. It’s about finding out what the paint does and how to get the best from it.

Introduction to Oils – Laura Degenhardt – 29th April – 27th May 2022

Each of these sessions will have a technical focus to build knowledge about the way that oil paint works, and confidence in using oil paint in an individual way. We will use still life as the subject, allowing for experimentation with colour, tone, composition, and mark making to build a finished painting.

Introduction to Mixed Media – TBC – 10th June – 8th July 2022

During this course, anything goes! You will be mixing your media from collage to thread, wool, paints, inks and anything else that can go into composing an image. A great chance to understand how to manage different media together within the same work.