City Lit fine art: year 1
Time: 10:00 - 17:00
Location: Keeley Street
The Year 1 course will give you experience in combining different studio processes relevant to current art practice. It will introduce new ideas and contexts, and help you identify your own personal creative responses. Group discussions and tutorials will support the development of your thinking and help you adopt an independent and open-minded approach to making artwork. This course can be taken for personal creative development and progression on to Year 2 of the CLFA course, or to help you prepare for application to Fine Art study at HE.level.
Some basic studio materials are provided, and you will need to supplement these with specific items.
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- Course Code: VM551
- Dates: 07/10/24 - 23/06/25
- Time: 10:00 - 17:00
- Taught: Mon, Daytime
- Duration: 30 sessions (over 38 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
Course Code: VM551
Choose a start date
Duration: 30 sessions (over 38 weeks)
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.
What is the course about?
This course introduces practical studio methods relevant to contemporary fine art at an advanced level. This involves the development of existing creative skills and an initial understanding of the relationship between studio production and some contextual and theoretical ideas.
Core-teaching is delivered Mondays in the City Lit art studios between 10 and 5pm. (Some sessions in the form of gallery visits may run on Tuesdays and will be negotiated in advance.).
What will we cover?
The course will introduce various approaches to studio activities centred around drawing, painting, 3D, Sculpture, print, digital art, moving image and mixed media. Specialist artist/tutors will provide practical experience and information about various methods and approaches to contemporary fine art practice. This will be supported by introductions to contextual ideas and processes designed to complement the practical exercises. The year 1 course is designed to explore contemporary studio practice and debate. As such you can expect to be stimulated and challenged by some of the ideas, methods and artwork discussed.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- apply your creative skills at an advanced level, in a variety of fine art disciplines
- effectively utilise different combinations of fine art disciplines
- recognise relationships between your studio work and contemporary contexts
- discuss and reflect critically upon the work you produce
- develop a personal sketchbook/notebook and recognise the importance of visual research methods.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The VM551 course can function as a standalone 1-year course, or as the first part of the 2, or 3-year CLFA programme designed for those who wish to explore contemporary fine art in a structured and supportive environment and develop or enhance a personal artistic practice over a sustained period. You will have the opportunity to extend and refine your existing studio skills and you will be able to consider ideas, themes, and subject matter in relation to the work you produce. A willingness to work in a self-motivated matter will become necessary as the course progresses, resulting in an independent, confident and reflective approach to producing your artwork.
We welcome applications from candidates with some experience in one or more area such as drawing, painting, sculpture, print, photography, moving image and digital media. You may have studied various short courses in visual art, a Foundation in Art and Design, or perhaps studied a Fine Art BA in the past and want to enhance or re-establish contact with your skills and creative thinking.
You can apply for CLFA online now, and will be asked to attend a short, informal online interview. For this please choose 5 pieces of recent visual work and be prepared to discuss your creative interests with the Course Leader, Steven Scott.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
On this Year 1 course you will develop creative responses to a series of interrelated, studio exercises in different media areas. These involve tutor-led workshops and personal explorations of different media. There will be practical demonstrations, individual creative experiments, the development of artwork in various media combinations, some contextual research, group seminars, individual tutorials, collaborative projects, plus museum and gallery visits.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
A basic materials list will be provided in each studio session and listed in the course handbook. You should bring a notebook/sketchbook and range of drawing implements from day one. It is possible that some personal costs will be incurred as your creative ambitions grow.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The VM551 course prepares you for year 2 of the City Lit Fine Art course (VM552) and provides you with the necessary basic studio skills and contexts, and an understanding of yourself as a creative individual. You will have developed an awareness of ideas relevant to contemporary art practice and an initial understanding of your options for future study and what you want to do next.
Progress to Year 2 will be by discussion and involve a review of your creative work and your engagement with structure and content of the Year 1 CLFA course.