Painting and drawing dialogues: material properties of the medium
Gain an understanding of the interdependent nature of drawing and painting. Focus on the qualities of each medium working with and against their inherent properties to enhance your performance with...
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Giving yourself over to a medium can lead you to unexpected and fertile creative territory. By exploring the essential qualities of drawing and painting materials and how to work between these to maximise their effect, you will create depictions that are influenced as much by the medium, as the world you observe.
What will we cover?
• Use direct and indirect observation to explore abstract marks, gesture and composition. • Create an open-ended working dialogue between each medium. • Reflect on the medium of light in relation to visual perception. • Establish a tool kit to progress from group workshops to explorations of more individual subject matter.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Expand the possibilities of each medium by utilising the contrasts in the material qualities and processes. • Utilise each medium to “think through making.” • Use drawing as a means of decision-making and problem-solving. • Make use of possible affinities and distinctions between painted and drawn marks, how this offers a different perspective on each practice. • Discuss and evaluate the progress of your work.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an intermediate level course, intended for those with some painting or drawing experience (e.g. Painting 2, Drawing 2) or those who wish to explore the relationship between the two disciplines.
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. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Each session workshops a distinct aspect of the dialogue between painting and drawing, creating an atmosphere to support shared experimentation and discussion. The individual strands of thought arising, will be increasingly drawn together, but you will also be encouraged to make your own links between workshops. The course offers: • Practical structured projects • Group discussion and evaluations • One to one guidance • Presentations on the work of selected artists
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment, where 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 materials required are provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This is one of a suite of Painting and Drawing Dialogues courses. Taking further modules will expand your experience and confidence with cross-disciplinary working and prepare you for higher level study in the City Lit’s Advanced Practice area.
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.
Monika KitaSee moreSee less
Monika Kita is an artist and filmmaker with over 25 years of experience in the art world. Her works have been presented at festivals and exhibitions across the UK, Europe, and South America, including the Museum of Contemporary Art of Oaxaca, BBC Shorts, East End Film Festival, and the Venice Biennale. Teaching is an integral part of her practice. She fosters a flexible and open approach that encourages connections between concept, process, and material – recognising spontaneity and liberation as the beating heart of artistic practice. Monika designed and leads the City Lit expanded experimental film course at City Lit. She also teaches a range of short courses in experimental filmmaking, DSLR for video, and shooting for short films, alongside contributing to the City Lit dialogues course, City Lit fine art, and other related courses that situate moving image and animation practice within a broader fine art context.
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.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/painting-and-drawing-dialogues-material-properties-of-the-medium2629740Painting and drawing dialogues: material properties of the mediumhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/d/pd-dialogues-properties-medium-vh949-1080.jpg449449GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Painting/Courses/Art & design/Painting/Painting techniques & processes22851132191619191228511321916Gain an understanding of the interdependent nature of drawing and painting. Focus on the qualities of each medium working with and against their inherent properties to enhance your performance with both.002545636Painting and drawing dialogues: material properties of the medium449449https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/d/pd-dialogues-properties-medium-vh949-1080_1.jpgInStockEveningTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-01-13T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceJan 2026Art & designVM007449449Painting and drawing dialogues: material properties of the medium359292449Tony Hull, Monika Kitapainting-and-drawing-dialogues-material-properties-of-the-medium/vm007-2526Gain an understanding of the interdependent nature of drawing and painting. Focus on the qualities of each medium working with and against their inherent properties to enhance your performance with both.0000-Available|2026-01-13 00:00:00Giving yourself over to a medium can lead you to unexpected and fertile creative territory. By exploring the essential qualities of drawing and painting materials and how to work between these to maximise their effect, you will create depictions that are influenced as much by the medium, as the world you observe.Gain an understanding of the interdependent nature of drawing and painting. Focus on the qualities of each medium working with and against their inherent properties to enhance your performance with both.• Use direct and indirect observation to explore abstract marks, gesture and composition. <br/>• Create an open-ended working dialogue between each medium.<br/>• Reflect on the medium of light in relation to visual perception.<br/>• Establish a tool kit to progress from group workshops to explorations of more individual subject matter.• Expand the possibilities of each medium by utilising the contrasts in the material qualities and processes.<br/>• Utilise each medium to “think through making.”<br/>• Use drawing as a means of decision-making and problem-solving.<br/>• Make use of possible affinities and distinctions between painted and drawn marks, how this offers a different perspective on each practice.<br/>• Discuss and evaluate the progress of your work.This is an intermediate level course, intended for those with some painting or drawing experience (e.g. Painting 2, Drawing 2) or those who wish to explore the relationship between the two disciplines.<br/><br/>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. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.Each session workshops a distinct aspect of the dialogue between painting and drawing, creating an atmosphere to support shared experimentation and discussion. The individual strands of thought arising, will be increasingly drawn together, but you will also be encouraged to make your own links between workshops. <br/>The course offers:<br/>• Practical structured projects<br/>• Group discussion and evaluations<br/>• One to one guidance<br/>• Presentations on the work of selected artists<br/><br/>This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment, where you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc.All materials required are provided.This is one of a suite of Painting and Drawing Dialogues courses. Taking further modules will expand your experience and confidence with cross-disciplinary working and prepare you for higher level study in the City Lit’s Advanced Practice area.PaintingPainting techniques & processesvirtual359449292VM007NONETue13/01/26 - 24/03/2618:00 - 21:0018:0021:0010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksEveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetTony Hull, Monika KitaSome experienceAvailable courses2026-01-13T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2026Art & design449449Painting and drawing dialogues: material properties of the mediumpainting-and-drawing-dialogues-material-properties-of-the-medium/vm007-2526Gain an understanding of the interdependent nature of drawing and painting. Focus on the qualities of each medium working with and against their inherent properties to enhance your performance with both.0000-Available|2026-01-13 00:00:00Giving yourself over to a medium can lead you to unexpected and fertile creative territory. By exploring the essential qualities of drawing and painting materials and how to work between these to maximise their effect, you will create depictions that are influenced as much by the medium, as the world you observe.Gain an understanding of the interdependent nature of drawing and painting. Focus on the qualities of each medium working with and against their inherent properties to enhance your performance with both.• Use direct and indirect observation to explore abstract marks, gesture and composition. <br/>• Create an open-ended working dialogue between each medium.<br/>• Reflect on the medium of light in relation to visual perception.<br/>• Establish a tool kit to progress from group workshops to explorations of more individual subject matter.• Expand the possibilities of each medium by utilising the contrasts in the material qualities and processes.<br/>• Utilise each medium to “think through making.”<br/>• Use drawing as a means of decision-making and problem-solving.<br/>• Make use of possible affinities and distinctions between painted and drawn marks, how this offers a different perspective on each practice.<br/>• Discuss and evaluate the progress of your work.This is an intermediate level course, intended for those with some painting or drawing experience (e.g. Painting 2, Drawing 2) or those who wish to explore the relationship between the two disciplines.<br/><br/>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. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.Each session workshops a distinct aspect of the dialogue between painting and drawing, creating an atmosphere to support shared experimentation and discussion. The individual strands of thought arising, will be increasingly drawn together, but you will also be encouraged to make your own links between workshops. <br/>The course offers:<br/>• Practical structured projects<br/>• Group discussion and evaluations<br/>• One to one guidance<br/>• Presentations on the work of selected artists<br/><br/>This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment, where you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc.All materials required are provided.This is one of a suite of Painting and Drawing Dialogues courses. Taking further modules will expand your experience and confidence with cross-disciplinary working and prepare you for higher level study in the City Lit’s Advanced Practice area.PaintingPainting techniques & processesconfigurable
