Mixed Media: Exploring Materials and Processes (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:

• A4 or A5 hard backed sketchbook,

• black drawing ink,

• old wax candle,

• rags,

• marker pen (any colour),

• thick cheap wax crayons,

• old 1 in household paint brush,

• craft knife,

• old newspapers and masking tape.

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, 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),

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

Content of Course

Over the class sessions the student will:

1. Explore structure and form of  the studio environment in a series of drawings.

2. Make a series of test pieces investigating personal response to colour, tone and tactile surfaces.

3. Explore ways to create a sense of mood in mixed media drawing.

4. Employ analytical and expressive drawing techniques in sketchbook to develop a series of compositional ideas based on a set brief based on the city by day and city at night.

5. Develop ideas from city work and explore mixed media approach to restate in different yet interconnected ways.

6. Experiment with scale.

7. Work in series to explore the concept of revealing and concealing.

8. Evaluate and reflect  in Learning Journal.

9. Participate in group discussion and critiques.

10. Sketchbook content – increasingly student-led as ideas develop.

11. Drawing Project – bridging the gap between painting and sculpture.

12. Sketch out ideas about how to address both sides of paper and explore ways to extend the drawing from the surface of the paper.

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:

• Demonstrate a range of research practices and strategies for recording and developing visual information, supported by contextual references.

• Show a confident and enquiring use of materials and processes to create a range of visual studies and resolved artworks.

• Demonstrate appropriate judgment to document select, edit and present artwork to reveal its value.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

• BEN TUFNELL; Prunella Clough 1919-1999.; Tate Britain (Gallery) London: Tate Publishing; 2007

• WALKER ART CENTRE; Photomontage of Hannah Hoch

• ALBERTO GIACOMETTI, 1994, Alberto Giacomett : sculpture, paintings, drawings, Munich ; New York, N.Y. : Prest

• CAMERON, D, 1999,William Kentridge 1995-: Christov-Bakargiev :J. M. Coetzee 1940, London, Phaidon

• RUIT,O:,CANTZ.H, 2001. Kiki Smith: small sculptures and large drawings, New York, Arts Publishers.

• DIETRICH, D, 1993, The Collages of Kurt Schwitters. Cambridge University Press

• SZE S, 2007, Sarah Sze,1969-Criticism and Interpretation : Installation(Art)

Web Sources

http://www.textileartist.org/stef-kreymborg-to-play-and-discover/

http://www.nancykoenigsberg.com/

http://www.gelahpenn.com/

http://www.losq.co.uk/page9.htm

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.