Portfolio Preparation: Art (Developing a Portfolio)

Special Information

Essential materials and equipment students must provide themselves:

• Sketchbook A4 or A5

• Charcoal (Compressed & Willow)

• White chalk

• Eraser

• A range of pencils (2B-6B)

• Graphite stick (4B)

• Oil Bars (Clear)

• Masking tape

• Oil Pastels (small set)

• Quink Ink

• Ball point pen and a couple of coloured marker / highlighter pens

• Coloured pencils

• Range of drawing paper i.e. cartridge paper, newsprint and one-sided card

• Cartridge paper

• Newsprint

• Acrylic paint: Cadmium Red and Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Black Large pot of White (at least 250ml) 

• Bristle brushes - various sizes- e.g. square or round, size 2-10

• 1” and 2” household paint brush

• Rags or sponge

• Piece of white Formica, board or plastic to use as a palette.

• A digital camera to document work in the studio

Content of Course

Students will work on a series of mini-projects which will help them build a portfolio of work. These will include:

1. Exploring a range of drawing and painting materials, techniques and processes.

2. Developing observational drawing, in the studio and on location, focusing on space, negative space form, scale, line and tone.

3. Draw and paint from life, including draped life, in order to explore aspects of composition, form, proportion, context and mood.

4. Developing confidence with painting, by experimenting with compositional strategies and by using mixed media to fuse a range of drawing, painting and collage materials.

5. Translating and developing personal source material and sketches using a range of techniques such as collage, mono printing and digital manipulation.

6. Exploring the potential of small three-dimensional works, in simple materials such as cardboard, wire and textiles, either as models for drawing and painting, or as works in their own right.

7. Researching and developing a body of work on a given theme (either suggested by the tutor or identified by the student).

8. Visiting locations in the city and to the National Museum to gather images and ideas for further development in the studio. 

9. Visiting local exhibitions to gain an understanding of contemporary art practices

10. Understanding the potential of a sketchbook as a powerful research tool for recording images, developing ideas and evidencing work.

11. Developing an awareness of the work of contemporary artists working with similar or associated themes, materials or techniques.

Teaching method(s)

Students will be taught as a group (to begin with) introducing them to a series of prescriptive tasks and exercises, through either a themed based project or point of reference subject matter. The students will be introduced to employing a range of methods, processes and techniques for researching, recording and developing ideas, and at each stage the students will be introduced too, and become aware off, contemporary artists, working within similar or associated themes to develop a body of practice work. Students will also be supported through one-to-one discussions and group critiques at relevant stages of the course.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Create a body of research, which explores the potential of a range of personal ideas.

• Explore a range of relevant mediums, techniques and approaches.

• Create a distinctive body of work which demonstrates contextual awareness of at least one specialist Art discipline ready for F.E. or H.E. study.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

• BERGER, J., 1972, Ways of seeing, London: BBC Books

• DIEBENKORN,  R., 2016, The Sketchbooks Revealed, Stanford: Stanford University Press

• GODFREY, T., 2009, Painting Today, London; New York: Phaidon Press

• HEIT, L., 2013, Animation Sketchbooks, London: Thames and Hudson

• MASLEN, M., 2011, Drawing Projects: an exploration of the language of drawing, London: Black Dog Publishing

• PERRY, GRAYSON., 2016, Sketchbooks, London: Particular Books

• STOBART, JANE., 2011, Extraordinary Sketchbooks, London: A&C Black

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.