Transformation: Painting through Form, Colour & the Imagination

About this course

The course uses drawing and painting to investigate form beyond literal representation. Participants begin with imaginative drawing, experimenting with mark-making, tonality and rhythm through reed and quill pens, Chinese brushes, ink, charcoal, Conté red crayon and pencils. Tonal work then leads into colour harmony studies, considering relationships between colours, atmosphere and light. These studies inform paintings developed around themes including the head, sky and sea, landscape, flowers and the temenos, or sacred enclosure. The work moves between observed and imagined forms, culminating in a painting that brings together the course’s explorations.

What you'll learn

• Explore mark-making, tonality and rhythm through imaginative drawing.
• Use traditional drawing media to suggest movement, atmosphere, weight and form without literal description.
• Develop colour harmony studies based on relationships between colour, light and atmosphere.
• Transform human, natural and landscape forms into symbolic or imaginative painted compositions.
• Combine drawing and colour investigations in a final painting.

Is this course right for you?

The course is labelled as suitable for all levels and centres on open-ended exploration through drawing and painting. Participants work with imaginative, symbolic interpretations rather than focusing solely on copying visible subjects.

• The approach emphasises imaginative and symbolic transformation over literal representation.