Drawing

This course is for anyone wanting to explore the art of drawing in all its variety. Suitable for all levels, including adventurous beginners. A perfect next step for those who attended the Absolute Beginners course. Students at whatever level should have an interest in visual phenomena, be prepared to take risks and experiment. Those with some experience will be able to use the course to consolidate and expand skills and approaches. The course is one year long but students can enter in terms 1, 2 and 3 as the basic structure (but not content) of term 1 will repeat

The course will cover a practical range of skills, techniques and approaches associated with drawing in art and design. Sources for work will be varied, e.g. from observation, from imagination, from other artists. Sketchbook development is an essential part of the course.
- Understand and apply basic principles of observation and understand the illusion of 3 dimensional space as drawn on a flat surface.
- Develop and or expand skills using different drawing techniques.
- Work with a variety of wet and dry media, e.g. ink and charcoal.
- Use drawing techniques in different ways, e.g. from observation, expressively, and towards abstraction.
- Discuss, appreciate and learn about approaches to drawing from your own and others work, including fellow students and artists from different periods and or cultures.

By the end of the course you should be able to:
You should have greater knowledge and confidence in the subject. Please note that the level you reach within any learning area will depend on your starting point, and whether you take the course for one, two or three terms.

Each session or project is structured round a particular skill, technique or theme. Teaching is on an individual as well as group basis. Students learn through practice, through group and individual discussion, and through looking at their own and others' work. Work produced is discussed by the group to develop analytical skills. Examples of artists' work will be shown as appropriate. Any online content will be power-point lectures/discussion, feedback of student work in development and group discussions as preparation for the work that continues at college. The course will be structured to allow students to develop an individual approach and self-reflection as they progress.


Teaching methods: Visual demonstration and verbal explanation. Written handouts with visual diagrams. One-to-one teaching. Group discussions
Learning methods: Hands-on practical activities, Reading handouts and following instructions.
One-to-one and group discussion.
How students are assessed: Questions and answers during group discussions and one-to-one teaching.
Record of students' progress and achievement on an assessment sheet as they achieve the course objectives. Practical work produced is evidence of learning.

Bring your sketch book and any homework to the college workshops.
N.B. Keeping a sketch/note/scrapbook is also extremely important for any student who wishes to develop independently.
You will need a basic artist tool kit:
Black and White media:
Range of drawing pencils including HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B
Drawing pen (a dip pen and a small bottle of black or sepia ink and or a Pilot drawing pen with suggested point size 0.25)
Putty rubber and plastic rubber
Graphite stick 2B, 4B, 6B
Charcoal - willow and compressed
Colour media:
Paint - watercolour/acrylic/gouache (which should include primary colours and black and white)
A selection of brushes - synthetic sizes small/medium/large
A palette or an old white plate
Pastels chalk -
Also masking tape, craft knife, steel rule. System 3 white acrylic paint (250ml bottle). Tin/paper plate/plastic food trays to also be use as palettes - Jars/tins for water - Apron/ old shirt for working in.

For health and safety reasons - materials and equipment cannot be shared between students during the workshop.
Paper can be purchased at college on the workshop days. (Limited range) You will be advised as to what you will need for each session at college. Estimated cost; you should not need to spend more than £40 - 50 depending on the quality of materials you wish to use. You should also collect as many other materials as possible e.g. wax pastels, markers and felt tips, colour pencils and coloured papers for collage, e.g. from glossy mags, tissue, wrapping etc.
Students are encouraged to visit exhibitions and develop an interest in other artists' work, as this is one of the most important ways to develop skills.

Many other courses at the Mary Ward Centre and other colleges would be suitable to progress graphic work e.g. painting, printmaking, textiles, collage, stained glass, design, graphics, fashion. The course is also suitable for those intending to apply for, or already taking certificated Mary Ward Courses (Pre-foundation in Art & Design, Foundation). It will assist in the development of individual visual language and subject matter, and in general portfolio preparation.
There is detailed information in Reception about all our courses at the Mary Ward Centre.
Information about other learning opportunities can be obtained from Learn Direct: www.learndirect.co.uk and from the following websites: www.floodlight.co.uk; www.hotcourses.com; www.citylit.ac.uk; www.wmcollege.ac.uk; www.morleycollege.ac.uk