Contemporary Watercolour 1: An Introduction (10 credit points)

Special Information

This course requires you to bring their own art and design materials. Most of these can be sourced and purchased in advance from any good art material supplier such as the Art Shop at ECA Lauriston Place Campus. Essential items not readily available will be provided during classes and you will be invoiced at the end of the course for items used. Listed below are the materials and equipment requirements for this course and an estimated cost. You are advised not to purchase any materials until you have received confirmation the course is running – usually 7 days before the start of the course.  You will be guided by the tutor as to which materials you need to bring to classes each week.

 

Essential materials you will need to bring to the first class:

* An A3 watercolour pad (Hot Pressed around 300gsm)

* Paper: A range of papers as and when required from newsprint, printing paper such as South

Bank, Bread and Butter paper. Watercolour Paper 300gsm A2, NOT (cold pressed) and Hot Pressed

between 190-250gsm.

* Small set of drawing inks (either acrylic or shellac based)

* Indian Ink

* White ink

* Pencil 2b and 4b 

* A small set of gouache paints

* Set of Watercolour brushes.

* A size 2 or 4 Rigger brush.

* A sponge o Mixing palette, (flat and container) o A range of artist quality watercolours, (tubes) such as, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Lemon Yellow, Crimson, Cerulean blue, Burnet Umber Payne’s Grey. and as a suggestions additional watercolour Pans (for more select colours), such as, sap green, violet, yellow ochre, raw sienna, Prussian blue.

 

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

 

Materials and equipment available for purchase during the course:

 

Essentials materials and equipment students will need to provide themselves:

* A4 watercolour sketchbook (at least 140gsm paper)

* An A3 watercolour pad (Hot Pressed around 300gsm)

* Paper: A range of papers as and when required from newsprint, printing paper such as South Bank, Bread and Butter paper. Watercolour Paper A2, NOT (cold pressed) and Hot Pressed between 190-250gsm.

* Small set of drawing inks (either acrylic or shellac based)

* Black Quink ink 

* Indian Ink

* White ink

* Pencil 2b and 4b 

* A small set of gouache paints

* Set of Watercolour brushes.

* A size 2 or 4 Rigger brush.

* A sponge o Mixing palette, (flat and container)

* A range of artist quality watercolours, (tubes) such as, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Lemon Yellow, Crimson, Cerulean blue, Burnet Umber Payne’s Grey. and as a suggestions additional watercolour Pans (for more select colours), such as, sap green, violet, yellow ochre, raw sienna, Prussian blue.

* Chalk Pastels 

* Gum Arabic

* Wax candle and Cling film

* Masking Fluid o Gum Tape

* Clean 9mm-12mm A3 plywood board (for stretching paper)

* A camera

 

Additional recommended materials and equipment students can provide:

Content of Course

Over the class sessions the course will cover:

Introduction to the use of the sketchbook for recording, researching and evidencing work.

Exploring the possibilities of Gum Arabic.

Develop an understanding for colour and optical mixing.

Exploring approaches and techniques to create texture.

Introduction to working with ink, gouache and watercolours independently.

Explore working wet into dry and wet into wet painting techniques.

Introduction to working with resist techniques.

Introduction to fusing ink, gouache and watercolours.

Explore monochromatic tonal studies.

Make site-specific observational studies (as required).

Explore working with non-traditional drawing and painting tools.

Develop works through a series of studio, point of reference and personal references.

Introduction to composition and editing.

Exploration of work on various surfaces.

A series of demonstrations and discussion relating to each of the exercises.

Introduction to a range of relevant artists.

Keep a log/blog during the period of the course to record learning, achievements and challenges.

Teaching method(s)

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.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Research, context and ideas (33.3%) Demonstrate a range of watercolour based strategies to routinely record, research and to make visual enquiries through the use of the sketchbook.

Practice, skills and techniques (33.3%) Demonstrate a practical knowledge in employing a range of watercolour, ink and gouache techniques and approaches appropriate to developing personal ideas and resolved pieces.

Selection, presentation and reflection (33.3%) Demonstrate an awareness of how to document, reflect, select, edit and present a body of work for presentation.

Sources

Core Readings

Suggested Readings

BLOCKLEY, J. 1987. Watercolour Interpretations. Collins.

WILTON, A. 1982 Turner Abroad: France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. BCA.

HOCKNEY D. 2007. Hockney on Turner Watercolours. Tate.

Web Sources

http://www.tate.org.uk/about/projects/jmw-turner-sketchbooks-drawings-watercolours

Assessment

Details of the Art and Design assessment requirements can be found on the short course website. Please click on the following link for more information: Submission and Assessment Information

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.