This course has been created to be both practical and discussion led, the aim is for us to learn ways of looking, speaking and making. The central focus is to question our conditioning; how historical, political, social, gendered and other factors have influenced our relation to the visual world around us, and therefore our relation to visual art. The general daily structure of this course will be as follows: every day we will begin with an introduction to visual and theoretical references. Then we will then paint until mid-afternoon, at which point we will have a discussion about each participant's work. The last day of the course the participants will make a self-directed painting for half of the day, after lunch we will do a crit on the work, in which everyone will receive comments from the group and have a chance to respond.

This is a structured opportunity to gain fundamental drawing and painting skills, whilst blurring the boundary between drawing and painting by using both wet and dry materials together. Students will explore various ways of seeing, increasing their understanding and confidence to draw and paint. Topics include linear drawing, tonal drawing, composition,  expressive drawing/painting, study of natural forms and personal project. A fun and intensive course that will leave students with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own artworks. Please be aware that on Friday the class finishes at 4.30pm.