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Watercolour Skills and Techniques

Course Description

Experience and explore the many beautiful and translucent qualities of watercolour painting. Watercolour has an amazing range of qualities and has much potential to explore for the beginner, or even for the experienced artist. You will learn techniques such as: wash, layering of colour and brush handling. Using the wonderful medium of watercolour, you will learn to create still live and landscapes and develop your own work, whilst challenging your perception of what watercolour can do.

Location: Camden

Course Requirements

The course is structured in a flexible manner and can accommodate all skill levels, from absolute beginners to advanced students. It is aimed at anyone who is interested in learning about the beauty and various techniques of painting with watercolours. No previous knowledge/qualifications are required, but some drawing experience will be very useful.

Course Content

By the end of the course, you will be able to: plan and create a watercolour in terms of composition and tone; apply different washes (plain, gradated, varied, wet-in-wet); use a broad tonal range in watercolour painting; and mix a wide range of colours from the three primary colours. Throughout the course, we will look at how artists use and have used watercolour: from Turner and Sargent, through to present day artists such as Elizabeth Blackadder and Christopher Le Brun. You will also have an opportunity to work with guidance from still-life observation and your imagination. You will be shown methods and approaches through specifically set exercises that explore different aspects and qualities of watercolour painting. You will learn a variety of different watercolours skills and techniques from the conventional to the unconventional and experimental, with the opportunity to develop your own ideas and work supported with expert group and 1-1 tuition. There will also be the opportunity to socialise with like-minded people with a chance to share ideas and discuss your work.

Teaching and Learning Methods

There will be technical exercises and demonstrations, which will allow you to proceed with the task of the day set by the teacher. In the first session, the teacher will assess your skills and your personal goals for the course. You will be working at your own level in your own time. There will be plenty of 1:1 feedback throughout the lessons, and you will be given verbal and written feedback on your progress. There will be a group review at the end of each lesson. At the end of the course, the tutor will assess your progress and advise you on your next steps. Resources used within each lesson are available for students on our online learning platform, iLearn.

Assessment

There is no exam or formal assessment for this course. However, you will complete an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) which will outline the learning objectives for the course. You will also be invited to set your own goals. You will receive feedback against the achievement of these outcomes during the course from your tutor, and in written form at the end of the course.However, you will work with your tutor to identify your aims at the beginning of the session and will receive one to one feedback throughout as well as sharing outcomes at the end of the course.

Next Steps and Progression

Once you have completed the course, you may choose to enrol on a further term in this subject or another subject in the Creative Arts department. For Art and Design courses, once you have developed a portfolio of work, you could consider applying to the Accreditted courses including L1, L2 Fashion or Illustration, or L3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design as a pathway into higher education. Advice and Guidance for all further study is available from the Curriculum Manager by request.

Additional Information

For more information, please contact the Learner Services Team via Live Chat or on 020 7255 4700 or email LearnerServices@wmcollege.ac.uk.

Additional Learning Support

Teachers are supported to ensure their materials are inclusive to meet all learners needs. Provision of assistive equipment is available and access support can be provided through reasonable adjustments, subject to an assessment by the ALS team and/or the Disability Officer. Digital Learning support is available in the Learning Centre at our Camden site. Careers advice and guidance is also available to all learners.

Additional Costs

WM College is able to provide financial support with course fees and you may be eligible based on prior qualifications, if you are on a low income or on benefits. For more information and to find out if you are eligible, go to the Fees & Finance page on our website or contact the Learner Services team via Live Chat or on 020 7255 4700.

Our Student’s Work

CAMDEN
44 Crowndale Road
NW1 1TR
Tel: 020 7255 4700
Email: learnerservices@wmcollege.ac.uk
KENTISH TOWN
7 Leighton Place
NW5 2QL
Tel: 020 7241 8572
Email: learnerservices@wmcollege.ac.uk