Exploring Painting and Drawing with Yvonne East

This course encourages students to develop their own individual style and expand their technical and creative skills in painting and drawing. Tailored to individual needs, the course introduces students to the fundamentals of painting and drawing such as composition, tone and form, gestural mark making, and colour theory. Students are encouraged to explore their own ideas and concepts while being supported with weekly provocations, such as painting and drawing exercises, to help hone and develop their skills. 

In addition to expanding your painting practice, this class will develop your observational drawing skills and give you the tools to translate the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface. Students will develop familiarity with a range of materials, techniques, and strategies to engage with drawing and painting as a means of creative expression.

Materials List

As this course offers a bespoke approach to the development of your painting and drawing practice, please bring along any materials that you have to the first lesson. During the first lesson we will discuss your preferred medium and what you may like to purchase for use during the rest of the term.

The minimum required for the first lesson is a sketchbook and pencils. For inspiration and discussion please bring images, books, magazines or journals that inspire you. It can help to also bring along images of previous works that you have completed.

Below is a list of some materials you may choose to work with. IMPORTANT NOTE - it is not necessary to purchase all these items below. You can pick and choose the mediums you would like to use for this course.

Painting supports, for example:

• Oil painting paper (available in a pad) for studies and tests.  
• Canvas, canvas board, or wood panel for your major work.

NOTE: You can work in either Acrylic or Oil, you do not need both for this workshop. This class offers the scope for individuals to include additional media such as watercolour or mixed media.

Drawing supports, for example:

• 20 – 25 sheets of A2 Cartridge paper (typically 110–220gsm). NOTE: Only cartridge paper is required for week 1, in our first class you will see additional paper options listed below and become familiarized with them so that you can find the best options to suit you.
• 3 – 4 sheets of Fabriano Tiziano Pastel paper or Canson ‘Mi-Teintes’ paper (55 x 75 cm, 160gsm), or other pastel drawing paper, in 'Tan' or another colour of preference (such as khaki, steel grey, sage, burgundy, etc).
• 10 sheets of A3 White/cream Drawing or Watercolour paper (300 gsm)

Drawing materials:

Media:

• Bring what you have!
• Graphite pencils (HB, 2B and/or 4B)
• Willow charcoal (thin, medium, and thick sized sticks)
• Compressed charcoal (2B or 4B)
• Charcoal-pencils (B, 2B or 4B - hard, medium, soft)
• Pigment/Drawing ink
• Conté crayons (square sticks) or Conté pencils in white, sanguine (reddish brown), and black/dark grey
• Fixative spray

Stationery:

• Flat and Pointed Brushes and/or Chinese calligraphy brushes
• Watercolour Palette, Water Container
• Kneadable eraser and Plastic eraser
• Masking tape
• Ruler
• Sharpener
• Optional: Paper Stumps

Other:

• Paper Towel/Rags
• Miscellaneous paper (test paper, protective sheets)
• Notebook

Acrylic Painting Materials:

• Paint - Bring what you have. You will need at least:
• Warm and cool blue (French ultramarine, Cerulean blue or Phthalo blue,)
• Warm and cool yellow (Spectrum/Winsdor yellow, Lemon yellow),
• Warm and cool red (Magenta, Spectrum/Winsdor red, Vermillion)
• Titanium white
• Raw umber
• Palette (Plastic or disposable)
• Water Container
• Acrylic Matt/Gloss Medium or Gel Medium
• Flow Improver or Drying Retarder (not essential but can be required for specific paint applications)
• Brushes (a range of sizes, make sure to include some ‘flat’ style brushes)
• Palette knife
• Red/brown pencil
• Art diary and pencil
• Paper Towel/Rags

Oil Painting Materials:

• Paint - Bring what you have. You will need at least:
• Warm and cool blue (French ultramarine, Cerulean blue or Phthalo blue)
• Warm and cool yellow (Spectrum/Winsdor yellow, Lemon yellow),
• Warm and cool red (Magenta, Spectrum/Winsdor red, Vermillion)
• Titanium white
• Raw umber
• Palette (disposable paper palette pads work well for transport)
• Glass container with lid for solvent
• Odourless solvent
• Classic medium or Windsor & Newton Liquin
• Brushes (a range of sizes, make sure to include some ‘flat’ type brushes)
• Palette knife
• Red/brown pencil
• Art diary and pencil
• Paper Towel/Rags
• Nitrile disposable gloves if you have a sensitivity to solvents.

Watercolour Materials:

• Watercolour paints – at least 1 warm and cool of each primary colour
• Warm red – e.g. Cadmium Red, Vermillion
• Cool red – e.g.  Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Red, Madder Red
• Warm yellow – e.g. Cadmium Yellow, Indian Yellow
• Cool yellow - e.g. Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Lemon
• Warm blue - e.g. French Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue
• Cool blue - e.g. Cerulean Blue, Prussian Blue, Phthalo (Green shade/turquoise)
• + Yellow Ochre and Payne’s Grey.
• 2H Graphite pencil
• A selection of round pointed brushes and a rigger brush
• A selection of flat brushes (some firm for dry brush techniques, some soft for applying washes such as hake brushes)
• Watercolour Palette (note: plastic palettes will need to be treated to avoid beading)
• Water Container
• Masking Tape
• Masking Fluid
• Plastic eraser and Crepe eraser
• Watercolour sponge set
• Crayons, clear wax candle
• Sticks / wooden skewers
• Ruler
• Sharpener

Terms & Conditions

Please choose carefully as fees are non-refundable. Refunds of course fees will only be given if the course is cancelled or a place is not available in the course.

Payment of course fees implies that you have read and agree to the WAC Terms & Conditions.