Drawing and painting from the imagination

About this course

The course explores how drawing and painting can be developed from imagination, using everyday life, landscape, colour, visionary experience and artists’ work as sources. Participants will experiment with structured approaches to generating subject matter and sustaining an imaginative process, with skills input covering colour, creative methods and painting techniques. Teaching combines demonstrations, practical exercises, one-to-one tutoring, pair and group discussion, personal research tasks, slideshows and hand-outs. The painting work refers to acrylic rather than oil or watercolour.

What you'll learn

• Apply structured methods for stimulating imagination through drawing and painting
• Generate subject matter from personal experience, everyday sources and artists’ work
• Develop drawings and paintings in response to selected sources of inspiration
• Use varied approaches to support and sustain an imaginative drawing and painting process
• Build a body of work from imaginative responses

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for enthusiastic beginners in drawing and painting, as well as learners with existing experience who want to refresh their practice or extend their skills. Participation combines individual drawing and painting exercises with one-to-one guidance, pair and group discussion, and personal research tasks. An open, experimental approach is encouraged.

• Painting activities refer to acrylic paint rather than oil or watercolour
• Personal research tasks form part of the course alongside in-class exercises

Before you go

• All materials are supplied for in-person courses at the City Lit studios.