Painting Fundamentals: From Representation to Expression

This course offers a supportive and inspiring environment to explore techniques, methods and insights that build confidence and curiosity in your own paintings. Each week you will be encouraged to play, experiment, and find joy in the act of making. By approaching painting as an open-ended process rather than a fixed outcome, you will develop a stronger sense of personal expression and discover that every mark has potential. This program provides space for artists to reflect on their own practice and explore different methods of making a painting.

Art Materials

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

General materials

• Rags and/or paper towels

• Wet wipes for cleaning hands and palettes outdoors

• Plastic wrap for palette storage

• 1 or more palette knife for mixing and applying paint

• 1 x apron/protective clothing

• 1 x roll masking tape

• 1 - 3 x blocks of compressed charcoal or dark colour dry pastel

• 2 x plastic palette or disposable palettes

• 1 x 250ml-500ml black ink

• 3 x water jars

• 1 x glass container for solvent jar

• 1 x A4 printout of a favourite painting

• 1 x Scissors or cutting knife

• 1 x glue sticks

• 2 x bulldog clips

Paints

All colors are suggested only and are not all essential for this course. Please bring water-based paints to the first class (acrylic, gouache and/or watercolour) and the lecturer will discuss these with you in the first class.

• 1 x Titanium White

• 1 x Ivory Black

• 1 x Magenta

• 1 x Cadmium Red (warm red)

• 1 x Crimson (cool red)

• 1 x Cadmium Yellow Light or Lemon yellow (cool yellow)

• 1 x Cadmium Yellow Deep (warm yellow)

• 1 x Ultramarine Blue (warm blue)

• 1 x Cobalt Blue

• 1 x Indigo (cool blue)

For oil paints

• Odorless turpentine in sealable containers. Turps must be stored in either glass or metal containers, as plastic will dissolve.

• Hard soap for cleaning brushes.

• 250mls - 500ml acrylic gesso and wide cheap brush

• 250ml bottle of odourless solvent (GAMSOL recommended)

• 2 x glass jar and lid (for solvent and to clean brushes in)

For water-based paints, acrylic and gouache

• Plastic palette

• Water jar

• 250ml bottle of Liquitex or Matisse painting medium or your preferred brand

Brushes

• All brushes are welcome but you can choose cheaper alternatives. Brushes can be either synthetic or natural bristle, even if you are painting in oils.

• 6 or more paint brushes

• Including 3 brushes allocated for water-based paint and 3 brushes allocated for oil paint.

• Combination of soft and hard bristles & in small, medium and large sizes (between approximately 50mm(max), 20mm, 10mm to 5mm wide.)

• - Flat brushes

• - Filbert brushes

• - Round brushes

• Optional: 3 x Chinese brushes for gouache and ink (small, medium and large sizes)

Supports

• A1 oil sketch pad (12 sheets) suitable for oils and acrylic paint

• Or cheaper alternatives: A1 sheets brown paper and A1 cartridge paper pad

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.