Mixed Media: The Figure, Still-Life and Location (10 credit points)

Special Information

This course will include a limited supply of basic papers and cards. However please do acquire the materials recommended for this course.

Materials you will need to bring to the first class:

• Small hard backed notebook,

• A4or A5 hard backed sketchbook,

• Paper,

• 4in x 6in cardboard viewfinder,

• Charcoal,

• Erasure,

• Drawing ink and pen,

• Watercolour paints,

• Gum Arabic.

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicative tools, materials and equipment:

• Basic drawing medium including coloured pastels and coloured oil pastels and watercolour, gouache or acrylic paint,

• Glue or acrylic medium matt, gum Arabic watercolour medium,

• Collage paper (wallpapers, newspaper cuttings, fragments of old paintings, drawings and collages, rice paper, tissue paper, baking parchment),

• Fabric off cuts – any kind of woven cloth (opaque as well as transparent), canvas (raw as well as primed and tinted),

• Plastic sheet A3 (for mono-printing and drawing support),

• Toolsfor scraping, rolling, rubbing, scratching, dripping, splashing, spraying, cutting, painting, and drawing (scraper, roller, craft knife, palette knife,  plastic pipette, squeegie)

Content of Course

Over the class sessions the student will:

1. Learn different mixed media drawing techniques through tutor-led exercises.

2. Practice and employ techniques learned in sketchbook research.

3. Develop skills to consider the role of structure and form and tactile surfaces and how to employ them to construct images with complex layers and pictorial depth.

4. Prepare surfaces and evaluate impact of using different grounds in mixed media drawing.

5. Explore compositional elements of light, line, form, colour and texture.

6. Use collage to appropriate new meanings and direction.

7. Try additive and subtractive mono print techniques.

8. Document work in progress in photograph to explore the potential of photo montage.

9. Explore the intersection between drawing and photography – draw on, fold, tear photographs and use as source for new viewpoint.

10. Explore creative strategies for reformatting work.

11. Participate in group discussion and critiques.

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:

• Employ various approaches and techniques that explore a range of mediums, investigated and evaluated through the sketchbook and developed studies.

• Demonstrate a practical knowledge of drawing, painting and mixed media approaches for developing visual studies and ideas

• Demonstrate an awareness of how to document, select and edit artwork for presentation.

Sources

Core Readings

• KANTOR, J. & ZABEL, I. 2007. Vitamin D, A New perspective in drawing, Phaidon Press Ltd

• CADENHEAD William C.M, 2009, A Philosophy of Drawing based on the human figure, Scotprint , Haddington

• DAWSON B and Harrison M, 2009, Francis Bacon A Terrible Beauty, Göttingen : Steidl

• MASLEM, M. and SOUTHERN, J, 2011, Drawing projects : an exploration of the language of drawing,  London: Black Dog Publishing Berger, J. and Savage, J

• RUIT, O: Cantze, 1997,Sigmar Polke : the three lies of painting, Berlin,Cantze Verlag

• SOLOMON,D,1997, Utopia Parkway : the life and work of Joseph Cornell, London, London:Jonathon CapePhotographers’ Gallery: PhotoWorks, 2008, Dryden Goodwin : Cast, London, Thames& Hudson

• BRADFORD,M,2013,Through Darkest America by Truck and Tank,London,Whitecube

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.