Contemporary Watercolours: An Introduction (Online) (10 credit points)

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This course will introduce students to a sequential series of watercolour exercises, through personal and point-of-reference projects. Explored through a range of approaches and techniques, relevant to each medium, students will develop an understanding for the potential for watercolours, inks and gouache, discovering the qualities of each and how they can be worked both independently and in harmony with one another.

Short 1:1 sessions with the tutor will be offered to students once a week within the times outlined below:

Wednesdays 3.30 pm -5.00 pm and Fridays 10.30 am -12 noon

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

This is a Level 7 course and as such is seen as an introductory course and no previous knowledge is assumed.

Special Information

Materials you will need to have at home for the first class:
A4 Sketchbook (at least 140gsm paper)
An A3 watercolour pad (Hot Pressed around 190gsm)
A range of artist quality watercolours, (tubes for larger studies) such as: Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Lemon Yellow, Crimson, Cerulean Blue.
Pencil 2b and 4b
A set of watercolour brushes
Gum Arabic and masking fluid
Wax candle and Cling film
Sponge
Mixing palette
Water pot
A camera
Masking tape and something to protect the surface you are working on (plastic sheet or similar)

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

Computer with internet access

For later classes, you should also have:

Small set of drawing inks (acrylic or shellac based) (two or three colours are sufficient for the first class)
Black Quink ink

You may wish to work with the following additional materials during the course. The tutor will advise as you work progresses and you will have at least one week's notice to purchase these materials:

Paper: newsprint, printing paper such as South Bank, Bread and Butter paper. Watercolour Paper A2, NOT (cold pressed) and Hot Pressed between 190-250gsm.

Indian Ink
White ink
Graphite pencil 4B
A small set of gouaches
Chalk Pastels (and oil pastels as required)
Gum Tape and masking tape

Content of Course

The course teaching is typically delivered over online weekly class sessions of around 1.25 hours with an additional 20 mins option per week to meet with your tutor, totalling approximately 16 hours of contact time.
Over the class sessions the course will cover:

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

2. Exploring the possibilities of Gum Arabic.

3. Develop an understanding for colour and optical mixing.

4. Exploring approaches and techniques to create texture.

5. Introduction to working with ink, gouache and watercolours independently.

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

7. Introduction to working with resist techniques.

8. Introduction to fusing ink, gouache and watercolours.

9. Explore monochromatic tonal studies.

10. Make site-specific observational studies (as required).

11. Explore working with non-traditional drawing and painting tools.

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

13. Introduction to composition and editing.

14. Exploration of work on various surfaces.

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

16. Introduction to a range of relevant artists.

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

Teaching method(s)

Ideally you should have;

• An up-to-date web browser (Google Chrome recommended)

• Microphone (ideally headset) and Webcam

• Strong Internet connection

Teaching will be fully online 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 students taking a course for credit you will be required to undertaken work outwith the class, which your tutor will outline, including practical directed study activities and by keeping a reflective Learning Journal. Directed study will include developing further practical work alongside 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 and reflections made within a digital learning journal.

Learning outcomes

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

Demonstrate a range of watercolour based strategies to routinely record, research and to make visual enquiries through the use of the sketchbook.
Demonstrate a practical knowledge in employing a range of watercolour, ink and gouache techniques and approaches appropriate to developing personal ideas and resolved pieces.
Demonstrate an awareness of how to document, reflect, select, edit and present a body of work for presentation.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

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.