Artists eye painting projects: architecture in abstraction
Make a series of atmospheric paintings inspired by architecture and colour, learning from a diverse range of artists: their materials, methods and intentions. Eye-opening projects to inspire painters at all levels of experience. This is a live on-line practical course.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
In this module we will examine ways artists have generated atmosphere and a sense of place, including how to transform space into colour, through use of paint, mixed media, and mark making techniques. Each week we start a new architecture-inspired project with intriguing lines of enquiry:
Folding space: Tomma Abts
Composition and imagination: Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, Julie Mehretu
Architecture of the Imagination : Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Colour and space: Henri Matisse and Richard Diebenkorn
What will we cover?
Guided exercises enabling you to develop your understanding of abstract painting including:
Imaginative methods of conveying space and place.
Composition and atmospheric use of colour.
Painting techniques and the value of expressive mark-making.
You will find inspiration in a range of artists’ work, as references to the specific exercises.
You will be introduced to ways of evaluating your work and making informed decisions regarding its development.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Make four (or more) contrasting paintings, inspired by different artists and their varied explorations of architecture and the imagination.
Mix and apply colours to convey mood and feeling - a sense of 'space and place'.
Explore mark-making methods in the work of others; practise and introduce these in your own paintings.
Identify methods of visual story telling in the work of others, and adapt these to your own ideas.
Make informed decisions about the development of your paintings, based on your own reflections and discussions in class.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is designed for those progressing from beginner or intermediate level, and is also suitable for more experienced painters who would like to refresh their practice. Colour-mixing, composition planning, and paint application methods will be re-visited, to ensure all participants are at a strong level to move on from.
The Artist’s Eye live on-line painting courses consist of three modules: People and place, Architecture into abstraction, and The green world. The three modules can be taken separately, or in any order.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This is a live practical on-line course, where painting is learnt by working on a series of projects. Learners will be painting throughout all sessions, with some time being given to looking at contemporary and historic paintings. Details of these, and reminders and other resources will be available on google classroom. Students will have opportunities to make verbal contributions as part of the group. There will be optional homework, and learners will be encouraged to research artists.
You will need:
Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad if you don't have a computer.
Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need to be set up for painting for all sessions including session one.
You will need painting materials and equipment: a suitable space to work where you can prop your painting up, spread out your palette and paints, and be messy.
Please have a palette, which can be an A3 sized piece of plastic/Perspex/formica/board, a palette knife, a few basic bristle brushes (minimum 1 large, 1 medium, 1 small) cotton rags.
Water or PVA for mixing acrylic paint.
Please also have a colour magazine for collage, and some glue, instructions about how to make this from rice will be available on google classroom.
You will also need something to paint on each week. This can be thick cartridge paper or card, or a prepared canvas
You will need the following acrylic paint colours: Cadmium Red or Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, French Ultramarine, Cerulean Blue, Titanium White.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The Artist’s Eye live on-line painting courses consist of three modules: People and place, Architecture into abstraction, and The green world. The three modules can be taken separately, or in any order.
You might also like to explore our live on-line courses in drawing and mindfulness:
Explore drawing and mindfulness
Drawing and mindfulness: modern and contemporary nature
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/artists-eye-painting-projects-architecture-in-abstraction2970320Artists eye painting projects: architecture in abstractionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/o/vo277-artists-eye-architecture.jpeg209209GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Painting/Courses/Art & design/Painting/Painting techniques & processes/Courses/Online courses228511321916191917311228511321916<p>Make a series of atmospheric paintings inspired by architecture and colour, learning from a diverse range of artists: their materials, methods and intentions. Eye-opening projects to inspire painters at all levels of experience. This is a live on-line practical course.</p>002970284Artists eye painting projects: architecture in abstraction209209https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/o/vo277-artists-eye-architecture_1.jpegInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-19T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceMay 2026Art & designVO277209209Artists eye painting projects: architecture in abstraction167136209Kate Hardyartists-eye-painting-projects-architecture-in-abstraction/vo277-2526<p>Make a series of atmospheric paintings inspired by architecture and colour, learning from a diverse range of artists: their materials, methods and intentions. Eye-opening projects to inspire painters at all levels of experience. This is a live on-line practical course.</p>0000-Available|2026-05-19 00:00:00<p>In this module we will examine ways artists have generated atmosphere and a sense of place, including how to transform space into colour, through use of paint, mixed media, and mark making techniques. Each week we start a new architecture-inspired project with intriguing lines of enquiry:</p><ul><li>Folding space: Tomma Abts</li><li>Composition and imagination: Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, Julie Mehretu</li><li>Architecture of the Imagination : Giovanni Battista Piranesi</li><li>Colour and space: Henri Matisse and Richard Diebenkorn </li></ul><p>Make a series of atmospheric paintings inspired by architecture and colour, learning from a diverse range of artists: their materials, methods and intentions. Eye-opening projects to inspire painters at all levels of experience. This is a live on-line practical course.</p><p>Guided exercises enabling you to develop your understanding of abstract painting including:</p><ul><li>Imaginative methods of conveying space and place.</li><li>Composition and atmospheric use of colour.</li><li>Painting techniques and the value of expressive mark-making.</li><li>You will find inspiration in a range of artists’ work, as references to the specific exercises.</li><li>You will be introduced to ways of evaluating your work and making informed decisions regarding its development.</li></ul><ul><li><p>Make four (or more) contrasting paintings, inspired by different artists and their varied explorations of architecture and the imagination.</p></li><li><p>Mix and apply colours to convey mood and feeling - a sense of 'space and place'.</p></li><li><p>Explore mark-making methods in the work of others; practise and introduce these in your own paintings.</p></li><li><p>Identify methods of visual story telling in the work of others, and adapt these to your own ideas.</p></li><li><p>Make informed decisions about the development of your paintings, based on your own reflections and discussions in class.</p></li></ul><p>The course is designed for those progressing from beginner or intermediate level, and is also suitable for more experienced painters who would like to refresh their practice. Colour-mixing, composition planning, and paint application methods will be re-visited, to ensure all participants are at a strong level to move on from. </p><p><em>The Artist’s Eye</em> live on-line painting courses consist of three modules: <em>People and place</em>, <em>Architecture into abstraction</em>, and <em>The green world</em>. The three modules can be taken separately, or in any order.</p><p>This is a <strong>live practical on-line course</strong>, where painting is learnt by working on a series of projects. Learners will be painting throughout all sessions, with some time being given to looking at contemporary and historic paintings. Details of these, and reminders and other resources will be available on google classroom. Students will have opportunities to make verbal contributions as part of the group. There will be optional homework, and learners will be encouraged to research artists.</p><p>You will need:</p><ul><li>Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.</li><li>A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad if you don't have a computer.</li><li>Earphones/headphones/speakers.</li></ul><p>We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</p><p><strong>You will need to be set up for painting for all sessions including session one.</strong></p><ul><li>You will need painting materials and equipment: a suitable space to work where you can prop your painting up, spread out your palette and paints, and be messy.</li><li>Please have a palette, which can be an A3 sized piece of plastic/Perspex/formica/board, a palette knife, a few basic bristle brushes (minimum 1 large, 1 medium, 1 small) cotton rags.</li><li>Water or PVA for mixing acrylic paint.</li><li>Please also have a colour magazine for collage, and some glue, instructions about how to make this from rice will be available on google classroom.</li><li>You will also need something to paint on each week. This can be thick cartridge paper or card, or a prepared canvas</li></ul><p>You will need the following acrylic paint colours: Cadmium Red or Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, French Ultramarine, Cerulean Blue, Titanium White.</p><p><em>The Artist’s Eye</em> live on-line painting courses consist of three modules: <em>People and place</em>, <em>Architecture into abstraction</em>, and <em>The green world</em>. The three modules can be taken separately, or in any order.</p><p>You might also like to explore our live on-line courses in drawing and mindfulness:</p><ul><li>Explore drawing and mindfulness</li><li>Drawing and mindfulness: modern and contemporary nature</li><li>Drawing and mindfulness: into abstraction</li></ul>PaintingPainting techniques & processesvirtual167209136VO277NONETue19/05/26 - 16/06/2619:00 - 21:3019:0021:305 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineKate HardySome experienceAvailable courses2026-05-19T00:00:00+00:00EveningMay 2026Art & design209209Artists eye painting projects: architecture in abstractionartists-eye-painting-projects-architecture-in-abstraction/vo277-2526<p>Make a series of atmospheric paintings inspired by architecture and colour, learning from a diverse range of artists: their materials, methods and intentions. Eye-opening projects to inspire painters at all levels of experience. This is a live on-line practical course.</p>0000-Available|2026-05-19 00:00:00<p>In this module we will examine ways artists have generated atmosphere and a sense of place, including how to transform space into colour, through use of paint, mixed media, and mark making techniques. Each week we start a new architecture-inspired project with intriguing lines of enquiry:</p><ul><li>Folding space: Tomma Abts</li><li>Composition and imagination: Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, Julie Mehretu</li><li>Architecture of the Imagination : Giovanni Battista Piranesi</li><li>Colour and space: Henri Matisse and Richard Diebenkorn </li></ul><p>Make a series of atmospheric paintings inspired by architecture and colour, learning from a diverse range of artists: their materials, methods and intentions. Eye-opening projects to inspire painters at all levels of experience. This is a live on-line practical course.</p><p>Guided exercises enabling you to develop your understanding of abstract painting including:</p><ul><li>Imaginative methods of conveying space and place.</li><li>Composition and atmospheric use of colour.</li><li>Painting techniques and the value of expressive mark-making.</li><li>You will find inspiration in a range of artists’ work, as references to the specific exercises.</li><li>You will be introduced to ways of evaluating your work and making informed decisions regarding its development.</li></ul><ul><li><p>Make four (or more) contrasting paintings, inspired by different artists and their varied explorations of architecture and the imagination.</p></li><li><p>Mix and apply colours to convey mood and feeling - a sense of 'space and place'.</p></li><li><p>Explore mark-making methods in the work of others; practise and introduce these in your own paintings.</p></li><li><p>Identify methods of visual story telling in the work of others, and adapt these to your own ideas.</p></li><li><p>Make informed decisions about the development of your paintings, based on your own reflections and discussions in class.</p></li></ul><p>The course is designed for those progressing from beginner or intermediate level, and is also suitable for more experienced painters who would like to refresh their practice. Colour-mixing, composition planning, and paint application methods will be re-visited, to ensure all participants are at a strong level to move on from. </p><p><em>The Artist’s Eye</em> live on-line painting courses consist of three modules: <em>People and place</em>, <em>Architecture into abstraction</em>, and <em>The green world</em>. The three modules can be taken separately, or in any order.</p><p>This is a <strong>live practical on-line course</strong>, where painting is learnt by working on a series of projects. Learners will be painting throughout all sessions, with some time being given to looking at contemporary and historic paintings. Details of these, and reminders and other resources will be available on google classroom. Students will have opportunities to make verbal contributions as part of the group. There will be optional homework, and learners will be encouraged to research artists.</p><p>You will need:</p><ul><li>Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.</li><li>A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad if you don't have a computer.</li><li>Earphones/headphones/speakers.</li></ul><p>We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</p><p><strong>You will need to be set up for painting for all sessions including session one.</strong></p><ul><li>You will need painting materials and equipment: a suitable space to work where you can prop your painting up, spread out your palette and paints, and be messy.</li><li>Please have a palette, which can be an A3 sized piece of plastic/Perspex/formica/board, a palette knife, a few basic bristle brushes (minimum 1 large, 1 medium, 1 small) cotton rags.</li><li>Water or PVA for mixing acrylic paint.</li><li>Please also have a colour magazine for collage, and some glue, instructions about how to make this from rice will be available on google classroom.</li><li>You will also need something to paint on each week. This can be thick cartridge paper or card, or a prepared canvas</li></ul><p>You will need the following acrylic paint colours: Cadmium Red or Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, French Ultramarine, Cerulean Blue, Titanium White.</p><p><em>The Artist’s Eye</em> live on-line painting courses consist of three modules: <em>People and place</em>, <em>Architecture into abstraction</em>, and <em>The green world</em>. The three modules can be taken separately, or in any order.</p><p>You might also like to explore our live on-line courses in drawing and mindfulness:</p><ul><li>Explore drawing and mindfulness</li><li>Drawing and mindfulness: modern and contemporary nature</li><li>Drawing and mindfulness: into abstraction</li></ul>PaintingPainting techniques & processesconfigurable
