Life painting: expressionist approaches

About this course

The course uses guided exercises to examine expressive mark-making, composition, colour, imagination and varied approaches to painting the figure from life. Participants will consider how spontaneity, perception and empathy affect the painting process, with examples drawn from artists’ work. Teaching combines practical demonstrations, individual tuition, group discussion and feedback. Learners will also explore ways to evaluate their own paintings and make informed decisions about their development, balancing analytical and intuitive methods.

What you'll learn

• Apply varied methods and approaches to refresh and sustain a life painting practice
• Combine analytical and intuitive approaches when developing paintings from the life model
• Evaluate personal work and artists’ work to inform decisions about future development
• Use expressive mark-making, composition, colour and imagination in figure painting

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners with some life drawing experience who want to develop experimental approaches to painting from the life model. The Improver level indicates a course for participants developing beyond fundamental techniques. Teaching includes practical activity, individual tuition and group discussion and feedback.

• Suitable as a companion to more traditional life drawing and painting courses
• Designed for learners who want to refresh an existing life painting practice or explore new ways of working

Before you go

• Basic drawing and painting materials and paper are provided.
• Advice on materials is available.