Painting 1
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VM511
- Dates: 12/05/25 - 16/06/25
- Time: 10:00 - 17:00
- Taught: Mon, Daytime
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Tony Hull
Course Code: VM511
Choose a start date
Duration: 5 sessions (over 6 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?
You will learn the basic skills needed to paint from observation and develop confidence in using acrylic paint.
What will we cover?
Focusing on how to work with paint in relation to tone, colour, method, and technique, this course is ideal for the beginner. The course incorporates basic colour mixing and develops experience in paint handling when working from observation. You will be encouraged to try a variety of techniques used by different artists, whose work will be used as examples.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Use paint to describe the basics of tonal structure.
• Explore composition in painting.
• Mix colours using basic colour theory.
• Use a range of painting techniques such as 'impasto', 'scumble' and 'glaze'.
• Identify the work of artists and other practitioners.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a course for beginners. Some drawing experience is helpful but not essential.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
• Practical work in the studio
• Demonstrations
• Presentations and handouts
• Individual and group tutoring
• Group discussion
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All basic materials and resources required for the course are provided.
You will need to bring with you the following materials:
Rags or kitchen roll
Old clothes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Painting 1 naturally leads on to Painting 2, which prepares you for the technical approaches necessary for oil or acrylic painting on higher level painting courses such as Oil Painting Projects. You are encouraged to attend both Painting 1 and Painting 2 for maximum benefit. You may also go onto other painting courses such as Ways into Abstract Painting or Ways into Landscape Painting or Painting: acrylics techniques and mediums.
I am an artist living and working in London, trained at Chelsea School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art (University College London). I have shown in solo and group exhibitions around the UK and in Europe (including the Whitechapel Open and Threadneedle Painting Prize) with work in numerous private collections and featured in Drawing and Painting by Kate Wilson (Thames and Hudson, 2015) For over 30 years I have taught in a wide variety of contexts, lecturing in many British art schools, including Manchester (MA), Cheltenham (BA), Central St Martins, UAL. I have run drawing workshops for Microsoft Seattle, Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing, Electronic Arts UK, Vanguard Animation, Tell Me in Mountain View, CA and Kaos Studios (THQ) in New York amongst others. I have also taught renowned opera, television and film directors how to draw (NDAs duly signed) From 2021-22 I was the recipient of an Arts Council England Project Award to conduct research into drawing and the processing of trauma. I have tenure at City Lit where I deliver drawing and painting courses exploring how these activities alter visual perception, with a strong emphasis on thinking through doing.
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.