Drawing and painting from the imagination

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Cultivate a range of methods for stimulating and connecting to what inspires you, and develop ways to express your imagination freely using a variety of media and approaches. In person (City Lit studios) OR on-line; please check your selection before enrolling.

Choose a starting date

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.

  • Start Date: 05 Nov 2026
    End Date: 10 Dec 2026
    Thu (Evening): 18:00 - 21:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
    Course Code: VM098
    Tutors:  Sisetta Zappone
    Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00
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  • Start Date: 14 Jan 2027
    End Date: 18 Feb 2027
    Thu (Evening): 18:00 - 21:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
    Course Code: VH340
    Tutors:  Sisetta Zappone
    Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00
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  • Start Date: 04 May 2027
    End Date: 01 Jun 2027
    Tue (Daytime): 14:00 - 17:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
    Course Code: VM076
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
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  • Start Date: 01 Jun 2027
    End Date: 29 Jun 2027
    Tue (Evening): 18:00 - 21:00
    Online
    Location: Online
    Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
    Course Code: VO791
    Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00
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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.

Book your place
In stock
SKU
246613
Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00

What is the course about?

Through a range of guided drawing and painting approaches discover how to access the imagination and find enrichment within it. You will work from a variety of sources of inspiration to help you access, develop and sustain your imaginative engagement and express yourself with increased freedom and confidence. Suitable for enthusiastic beginners to drawing and painting as well as those with experience who wish to refresh their practice or expand their skills.

What will we cover?

  • Explore ways of accessing the imagination directly through the medium of drawing and painting.
  • You will be introduced to a range of artists work and their sources of inspiration ranging from everyday life, to landscape, colour and visionary experience.
  • Each session will offer some skills input e.g. on colour, creative process, painting methods, and ways of developing your own subject matter. 
  • A toolkit of methods and approaches that will inform your work and aid concentration in your imaginative drawing and painting practice.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

  • Apply a range of structured methods to stimulate imagination in your drawing and painting practice
  • Generate inspiration from a variety of personal and everyday sources, including artists' work and their experiences
  • Draw and paint from your imagination with increased freedom and confidence
  • Develop a body of work in response to sources that inspire you
  • Employ a toolkit of resources to access, free-up and sustain your imaginative engagement 

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Suitable for enthusiastic beginners to drawing and painting as well as those with experience who wish to refresh their practice or expand their skills in this subject area. Bring an open mind and be prepared to let go, play and experiment. Please note that this course will be taught with reference to acrylic paint (not oil or watercolour).  
 

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

  • Through demonstration of drawing and painting methods
  • Practical drawing and painting exercises
  • One to one tutoring
  • Pair and group discussion
  • Personal research tasks 
  • Slideshows, hand-outs and other practical learning resources

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

IN-PERSON: All materials supplied for in-person courses at our City Lit studios.

ON-LINE: VO782 & VO791: you will need a range of drawing and painting materials:  

  • Pencil, paper, eraser, pencil sharpener
  • 20 sheets cartridge paper e.g. 120gms A4 or A3
  • Brushes of a few different sizes that you’d like to use
  • 2 clean jars or yoghurt pots for water
  • a range of acrylic paint colours – suggested colours: zinc/mixing white, titanium white, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium red, alizarin crimson or crimson, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, brown, black. A basic set is also fine.

Additional/Optional materials:

  • Charcoal, coloured pastels or pencils
  • Water-soluble graphite.
  • Approx. 10 sheets of thicker paper e.g. 300gms A2 or A3

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Drawing and mindfulness: the art of seeingDrawing and mindfulness: morning meditationWays into abstract painting, Large-scale drawing and mixed-media.

Sisetta Zappone See more See less
Rolina Elsje Blok Tutor Website See more See less
Clare Barton-Harvey See more See less

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.