ba hons painting handbook

7/27/2019 Ba Hons Painting Handbook

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Contents

Important note

Degree inormation

Degree aims and objectives

Degree structure

Unit summary: Level Four

Unit summary: Level Five

Unit summary: Level Six

Assessment

Teaching methods

Painting tutor proles

Reading list


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Degree Inormation

Course Title: BA (Hons) Painting

Course Code: OPAIPBAH

Degree Aims and Objectives

This degree is or those who wish to ocus on drawing and painting to become refective artists with the skills

necessary to eectively develop a personal artistic vision or voice. A range o options at Level Four provides

the opportunity to explore another visual art discipline to enrich and broaden the range.

What is painting?

That the nature o painting is subject o continual debate will be conronted throughout the BA painting

programme. While the programme asserts the importance o the development o traditional technical skills

in drawing and painting as the basis or your enquiry and practice, that development process may result in

your work growing in either traditional or more conceptual terms and you will be encouraged to pursue the

route you desire.

Course Aims

The main educational aims o the BA (Hons) Painting are to:

1. To widen access to education in painting at undergraduate level through.2. Open and Flexible Learning.

3. To ensure you gain the traditional skills associated with drawing and painting to orm a solid oundation

or urther development.

4. To provide an intellectually stimulating programme o study based on high quality study material and

tutor support.

5. To develop your creative capacities and their ability in the interpretation and application o imagery.

6. To develop your critical understanding o the theoretical and conceptual issues central to the practice o

painting and the social, historical and cultural context in which it is practiced.

7. To provide an environment in which you have the possibility o changing your view o the world and your

interaction with it both visually and intellectually.

8. To oster high-level ethical and proessional standards and an awareness o the possibilities oered by

existing and new developments in art and painting to expand their application areas.

9. To develop autonomous learners capable o applying intellectual and practical skills in a chosen area o

painting appropriate to employment, urther study or lie-long learning.

Course outcomes


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Upon successul completion o the course you are able to:

Knowledge and understanding

1. Demonstrate prociency in a comprehensive range o painting practices and techniques.

2. Manage the learning process resourceully and independently and make appropriate use primary sourcesand scholarly reviews.

3. Demonstrate by means o written work and oral presentations a critical understanding o the principles

o ne art and knowledge o emerging aspects o the discipline and those at the oreront o debate.

4. Evaluate their own work and that o others critically and objectively.

Application

1. Demonstrate a breadth o inventiveness, ideas generation and techniques in the creation o paintings.

2. Handle ambiguity and uncertainty eectively.

3. Produce a body o work demonstrating a high level o visual and technical nish.

4. Communicate inormation and justiy art work convincingly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

5. Demonstrate the development o a personal language as a painter.

6. Engage in appropriate proessional practices such as marketing, sel presentation and negotiation skills.


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Level Six Both units listed below (current units):

PT6ADV Painting 3: Advanced 60

PT6YOP Painting 3: Your Own Portolio 60

All three forthcoming units

PT6MPR Painting 3: Major Project 40

PT6CTS Painting 3: Contextual Studies 40

PT6PRO Painting 3: Proessional Practice 40

Deg

reeStructure

Painting

120 credits

BA Honours Degree in Painting Total Credits 360

Level Five Choose two units listed below:

PT5EXC Painting 2: Exploring Concepts 60

PT5MXM Painting 2: Mixed Media 60

DR5DRA Drawing 2: Investigating Drawing 60

Level Four Both units listed below:

DR4DRS Drawing 1: Drawing Skills 40

PT4POP Painting 1: The Practice o Painting 40

Plus one o the ollowing:

VC4KSI Illustration 1: Key Steps in Illustration 40

PT4WCP Painting 1: Watercolour Practice 40

PH4AOP Photography 1: The Art o Photography 40

PM4PMI Printmaking 1: Introduction to Printmaking 40

SC4SCL Sculpture 1: Starting out in 3D 40

TX4ACA Textiles 1: A Creative Approach 40

AH4WSA History o Art 1: Western Art 40

AH4UVC Visual Studies 1: Understanding Visual Culture 40

Start

120 credits

120 credits


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Programme summaryThe BA (Hons) Painting degree oers students the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding o

Painting as a creative, technical and intellectual activity.

Painting Practice - The content o the course is based on the understanding that studio practice is an ongoinglearning process which requires engagement with, and knowledge o historic and contemporary approaches

to painting. Each assignment provides the opportunity or students to engage with increasingly demanding

material and technical approaches underpinned by the study o relevant artists, art orms, movements and

methods.

Critical Studies - Practical projects or each assignment are set within relevant conceptual and contextual

rameworks, and throughout their studies students engage in refection-on-practice and the development o

a learning log or dedicated blog. The learning (b)log also contains the Critical Studies element; visual and

textual research into the eld involving written critiques, essays, project commentaries and sel-assessment.

Learning logs and sketchbooks are inter-related and support the practical work submitted or each assignment.

This disciplined approach to the planning and documentation o a students own learning is seen as a crucial

interplay between practice and theory and essential to ideas generation. As students progress through the

degree, practice and writing become mutually dependent; the creative work underpinned by their developing

knowledge and understanding, with new questions arising in and through painting, viewing, reading and

writing. The journey rom beginning to end o the degree culminates in comprehensive knowledge o the

mediums, techniques and contexts o Painting.

On completion, you will have gained:

A high level o skills and technical knowledge across a range o approaches to Painting

A breadth o knowledge and understanding o historic and contemporary contexts and concepts within

Fine Art/Painting practice

A wide range o transerable skills, including communication o ideas through visual, verbal and written

means, enabling them to operate successully in the complex and changing eld o Fine Art today.

The aim o the Open College o the Arts is to oer an environment that gives distance learners the ability to

ull their creative potential. This is achieved by providing a highly structured but fexible programme o study.

The distinctive nature o the BA (Hons) Painting degree is its emphasis on learning traditional technical skills

as well as arming you with the intellectual skills needed to urther your career in the arts, or to continue ontopost-graduate study.


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Level Four Units: Laying the foundationsLevel Four units introduce key concepts and the contextual ramework or the study o painting. The study

ocuses on equipping you with the strategies, skills and condence to move onto the progressively independent

work expected at Level Five. You will learn to study independently, set goals, manage your own workload

eectively, and meet deadlines. You will develop an ability to identiy, present, interpret and research works

o art, artists and art techniques, to problem solve in relation to the processes and execution o painting

and communicate creative ideas eectively in a ormat appropriate to painting. It is an essential element o

the course that you keep a continuous sel-refective record o your work to arm yoursel with the disciplines

needed at Levels Five and Six. You will be encouraged to experiment, explore and take risks. You will be able

to use the tools, materials and equipment associated with painting eectively, and be aware o their dangers.

These units oster the habit o planning your personal development, and recording and logging inormation in

a proessional manner. You will begin to accumulate the skills that are transerable to employment including

working independently, decision making, the communication o ideas, and writing skills.

Assessment at Level 4: Coursework (80%) and Learning Logs (20%).

On successul completion o three units at this level, you will gain 120 credits. I you choose to exit at this

point, you will be awarded a Certicate in Higher Education in Painting.


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DR4DRS

Drawing 1: Drawing Skills

40 credits

The unit provides a structured introduction to the skills o drawing using a wide range o media and methods

and enables you to see in a selective way and record your observations.

The unit introduces you to exploring a range o drawing media, as well as dierent approaches to mark making

and drawing. You are required to look at objects in dierent ways and translate what you see into drawings.

A range o dierent subjects are introduced including subjects to be drawn outdoors, perspective and other

drawing systems - the gure, drawing and photography, plans, elevations and axonometric projection and

drawing with collage.

The unit also requires written work ollowing-up reerences to artists and drawings mentioned in the teaching

materials, and visits to museums and galleries. You will refect on your discoveries and observations in alearning log.

Indicative syllabus content

Mark making and tone

The human gure

Observation in nature

Drawing outdoors

Draw and experiment (choose one o our options related to the preceding assignments)

Learning Outcomes

On successul completion o the unit, you will be able to:

Experiment with a wide range o drawing media to produce a range o eects.

Demonstrate use o tone and colour to represent three dimensions in creative outcomes.

Explain the application o linear perspective and composition in a single drawing or series o drawings.

Refect on your own learning experience.


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PT4POP

Painting 1: The Practice o Painting

40 credits

This unit enables you to see in a selective way, developing your own visual ideas and means o expression.

You will explore given subject matter systematically, experiencing dierent approaches to painting and will be

introduced to some o the major artists and movements, including those in C20 and C21 painting.

You will learn to paint by being encouraged to analyse and select rom the visual world what seems to

be important and discover ways in which this visual experience can be translated into painting. Working

rom direct observation, the importance o drawing is emphasized. There are projects on tone values, colour

theory, perspective, pictorial composition, use o studies and photographs, an introduction to gure painting,

emotional aspects o painting and painting outdoors. You are required, through a series o theoretical studies,

to investigate artists and visit galleries and museums. You will record your discoveries and observations in a

learning log.


Painting materials and techniques.

Understanding and using colour.

Perspective and the third dimension.

Picture composition.

Working rom studies and photographs.

Painting the gure.

Painting outdoors.

Learning outcomes

On successul completion o the unit you will be able to:

Generate ideas, record and select visual inormation and be able to explain key processes o drawing and

painting.

Use a range o media to create a skilul and eective series o paintings.

Demonstrate knowledge o signicant artists and movements in painting and apply this knowledge in

your work.



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PT4WCP

Painting 1: Watercolour Practice

40 credits

The unit aims to enable you to explore the dierent ways in which watercolours can be used and the eects

they can create. You will develop a visual awareness and the ability to analyse and translate observations and

ideas into paint. Additionally, you will be encouraged to increase your knowledge o the history o watercolour

painting and signicant artists who have used this medium.

This unit introduces you to the qualities and artistic potential o watercolour and the basic methods and

concepts governing the use o colour and tone, laying emphasis on the possibilities o dierent methods.

A variety o direct and indirect study methods are explored and the consideration o photography as a

creative research tool to encourage experimentation and development. You will be working thematically using

examples rom a range o contemporary artists with illustrations and interviews discussing their methods and

intentions. You will record your discoveries and observations in a learning log.


Using tone

Looking at colour

Working with mixed media

Finding your own style

History o watercolour

Learning outcomes


Demonstrate skill in the execution o a series o watercolour paintings.

Use colour theory and tone skilully and have a sound understanding o pictorial composition.

Demonstrate a developing knowledge o the history o drawing and painting, and demonstrate the

application o your research in your paintings.



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AH4WSA

History o Art 1: Western Art

40 Credits

The unit aim is to understand the cultural and historical context o art and develop observational skills using

drawing, annotation and photography and to be able to work with a systematic structure or analysing,

researching and recording inormation that can be applied to any art orm.

The unit enables you to observe acutely, appreciate and analyse works o art through the study o a written

text. The unit presents art history in chronological order, rom classical times to the 20th century. You are

encouraged to respond to works o art not just by essay-writing but by using any skills in drawing, photography

or painting that they may have. The unit leads you through annotation exercises. This activity helps you to get

into the habit o devoting considerable time and thought to particular works o art, rather than giving them

cursory attention.


The Classical tradition.

Gothic and Renaissance.

Baroque.

Romanticism to Impressionism.

The twentieth century.

Still-lie, portraits, the gure, interiors and landscapes.

Learning outcomes


Demonstrate a basic understanding o the history o Western art in chronological order, rom classical to

modern times.

Analyse and research a work o art.

Investigate art in a methodical way and research and record key points.

Refect upon your own learning experience.


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SC4SCL

Sculpture 1: Starting out in 3D

40 credits

This unit introduces you to three-dimensional art and helps develop your independence in working. It aims to

develop your understanding o the techniques and skills o sculpture; introduce use o construction techniques

involving a variety o media and tools; develop basic skills in drawing and the use o drawing to develop ideas;

develop the ability to think in the round; and look at and learn rom the work o other sculptors. You will also

use drawing or accumulating and rening ideas, and are encouraged to ollow up reerences in unit texts and

keep a log o refections on your work.

The unit includes work on construction relies, stacked construction, modelling in clay and plaster, casting

and carving.


Constructing relie sculpture

Constructing a head and gure

Modelling a head and gure

Casting in plaster

Wood carving

Stone carving.

Learning outcomes


Use a variety o media to investigate ideas and create solutions.

Use appropriate constructional techniques or various subjects/compositions.

Demonstrate the acquisition o basic skills in drawing and modelling and/or construction.

Demonstrate use o research techniques in study o the history o sculpture and its relevance to your own

work.



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PM4PMI

Printmaking 1

40 credits

This unit enables you to see in a selective way, develop your own visual ideas and means o expression. It

enables you to gain experience and explore dierent printmaking techniques and media including monoprint,

relie printing and collatype printmaking and introduces and builds awareness o the work o historic and

contemporary printmakers and the history o printmaking.

You will learn a variety o printmaking processes through a series o projects and experiments. Preparatory

work includes analysis and selection rom visual sources and carrying out observed and expressive drawing.

Design, composition and colour projects are designed to extend yous ideas into printed images. Exploration

and experimentation o printmaking media and techniques urther extend creative developments.

Throughout the unit you are required to record discoveries and observations concerning printmaking in alearning log, together with your sketchbook work, sel-assessment and development which are recorded.


Monoprinting, positive and negative masking, coloured masks, textured and combination monoprinting.

Relie printing: linocuts, single colour, multi-block.

Collatype collage prints.

Combined processes, including chine colle and other experiments.

Learning outcomes


Use drawing or investigation, generating ideas, and recording and selecting visual inormation.

Use a range o printmaking techniques and media skilully.

Demonstrate knowledge o some important artists and movements in the history o printmaking.



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PH4AOP

Photography 1: The Art o Photography

40 Credits

This unit is the entry point or photography study with the OCA and is accordingly designed to accommodate

a wide range o prior knowledge and skill. The rst assignment has a diagnostic unction enabling you and

your tutor to establish whether you are capable o degree level study and whether you should make an APEL

application.

This largely practical unit provides an initial introduction to concepts, working methods and resources utilised

in photography. The unit is based on ve practical assignments covering raming, elements o design, colour,

use o articial and available light and narrative and illustration. Through tutor eedback you are encouraged

to see your work in a broader context and start to understand the cultural positioning o photography.

Projects are underpinned by an increasingly wide appreciation o the works o photographers past and present.


The principles o composition

The principles o graphic design in photography

The basic properties o colour

Structuring an image

Using light, both natural and articial.

Learning outcomes


Use the principles o composition when planning and taking photographs using suitable cameras, lenses

and other equipment.

Demonstrate skills in the control o qualities o light, and colour, and demonstrate creative outcomes

using these skills.

Demonstrate a basic knowledge o the principles o graphic design in photography through a single

photograph or a series. Refect on your learning experience.


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AH4UVC

Visual Studies 1: Understanding Visual Culture

40 Credits

This unit is an introduction to a complex eld o study. It takes you through the core theories that underpin

a contemporary understanding o visual culture, looking at theories about how we look at the world and

understand the visual vocabulary that describes it. The unit ocuses on the practical application o those

theories and will provide a sound introduction to the subject in an interdisciplinary ashion. The unit looks

at the ideas in Structuralism, Post-Structuralism and Post Modernism. You will be introduced and guided to a

clear understanding o the key texts in the study o visual culture. You will be required to research a variety o

subjects and will thereore need access to the Internet as a research resource.


An understanding o the parameters o visual studies.

An introduction to the major themes that underpin the discipline (eg signs and symbols).

Experience in the application o theory to projects (Looking and subjectivity, and concepts o reality).

Learning outcomes


Identiy appropriate sources o inormation or the study o visual culture.

Demonstrate research skills and understanding o the relevant orms and modes o inormation, including

textual and electronic.

Demonstrate an understanding o the signicant critical, theoretical and artistic shits in visual culture.-



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VC4KSI

Illustration 1: Key Steps

40 credits

The unit aims to provide a practical and contextual introduction to illustration. You will develop an

understanding o the basic visual language o illustration, exploring mark-making and drawing, composition,

raming and colour theory. Taking the central use o the gure in illustration as a starting point, this unit will

explore character design, subjective and objective gure drawing and the use o characters in illustration.

Creative problem solving, the interpretive unction o illustration, research and ideas generation will be

explored, tested and evaluated against a range o illustration tasks, and an appreciation o the historical

and contemporary contexts o illustration will be developed by looking at other illustrators work. The unit

will use sketchbooks as an important tool or developing your creative thinking, visual research and ideas

development.


An overview o illustration: an introduction to contemporary and historic examples o illustration practices.

The practice o illustration: an introduction to creative problem solving and interpretive unction o

illustration, and an exploration o techniques in researching, developing, visualising, and presenting

ideas.

An introduction to visual literacy within illustration; mark-making and subjective and objective drawing

skills, basic colour theory, composition, raming, visual distortion; using a sketchbook; using reerence

material; and an exploration o the work o other practitioners.

An exploration o character design, using gures in illustration, developing abstract illustration; and an

introduction and brie survey into the use o sketchbooks, scrapbooks and drawing as a development tool.

Application o skills learnt so ar; using illustration as an interpretive tool in a range o contexts, and an

exploration o the critique and development o sel-refective skills.

Learning outcomes


Develop a broad contextual understanding o illustration.

Employ drawing and image-making skills creatively.

Generate ideas and visual research in response to a range o contexts.

Present ideas and visual outcomes, demonstrating an awareness o visual thinking.


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Level Five Units: Intermediate stageAt Level Five, they are encouraged to progress to becoming an independent, sel-motivated artist by developing

the skills they have already gained so that they begin to develop a personal visual language as a painter.

At this level, they can choose the direction and content o your project work by working closely with yourtutor. You develop your individual research methodologies to nd the material or assignments. You will be

encouraged to cultivate working routines rom which an independent style will evolve. You will be expected

to develop prociency in a comprehensive range o painting practices and techniques. You will also need

to maintain a continuous, sel-refective commentary or the recording o project and assignment work,

augmented by a critical discourse on progress. Through this log you are expected to show a creative, critically

inormed and sel-refective approach to art practice including your own work and that o others.

Assessment at Level Five: Coursework 80%, Learning logs (10%), Critical Review o approx 2000 words

(10%).

On successul completion o two units at this level, you will gain 240 credits. I you choose to exit at this point,

you will be awarded a Diploma in Higher Education in Painting.


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PT5EXC

Painting 2: Exploring Concepts

60 Credits

The unit provides a challenging ramework and the fexibility or the less experienced to experiment and

grow and practice a breadth o techniques and approaches to painting. Throughout this unit you will work

through a range o projects and explore new approaches to artistic concepts. You will consider your artistic

strengths and preerences, and trial a wide range o perspectives on art: rom very precise and detailed,

realistic gurative painting, and themes such as landscape and the gure. You will also explore seminal

20th and 21st century movements in art, enabling you to understand how your work relates to that o other

artists. You will investigate attitudes to painting as well as exploring how others have used the media. You are

encouraged to be more sel-reliant and express your own attitudes to the visual world.

This unit requires you to develop new ideas or painting, and also explore new subjects and attitudes.

Throughout the unit you will compare your work with that o other artists through a systematic approach

illustrated by paintings in the Bridgeman collection. There is a major project The Four Seasons which extends

throughout the unit . You will decide how you will interpret this project and execute our major art works. You

are also required to write a critical review on an artist or art period.


Abstraction and abstract painting

Painting detail

Figure painting

Landscapes

Abstract Expressionism

Parallel project: the seasons

Learning outcomes


Demonstrate increasing skill and independence in the execution o your work.

Generate visual research and outcomes that show an increasingly personal visual language.

Produce an articulate academic critique that provides scope or an understanding o the research

requirements at Level 6.

Demonstrate greater autonomy in expressing attitudes to the visual world.


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DR5DRA

Drawing 2: Investigating drawing

60 credits

This course takes an in depth look at the nature o drawing. It encourages you to take apart the elements o

drawing practice and scrutinise them. The course also ocuses on the crucial relationship between contextual

research, visual research and drawing practice. It is expected that you will leave the course with a robust

and healthy working method; able to articulate and synthesise your knowledge, understanding and skills

eectively and creatively. This will enable you to move condently onto the next level.

You are expected to use the projects as starting points, generating your own ideas, proposals and arguments.

As the ocus o the course is on the nature o drawing and the thinking processes that underpin it, there is a

great deal o reedom in terms o selection o visual source material. The parallel project and critical review

both place responsibility on you to choose suitable subject matter or enquiry.

You will be given opportunities to think creatively and are expected to work refexively using processes o

observation, investigation, speculative enquiry and making. Your critical engagement in the wider subject

area will enable you to analyse inormation and experience, ormulate independent judgements and develop

articulate and refective work.

This course is experimental and exploratory in nature. You will be asked to challenge your assumptions about

what drawing is or can be, to test your existing skills by taking risks and working in ways that raise urther

questions. The outcomes o these creative processes will be synthesised into your ongoing practice, ultimately

enabling you to develop your individual creativity using a wide range o tools and methods.

Drawing hones our visual sense and teaches us to see the world around us in a unique way. It is expected that

you will maintain your observational drawing independently throughout this course in your sketchbook and

elsewhere, taking it into projects as appropriate.

Open learning requires resourceulness and motivation; both essential qualities or uture artistic endeavour.

You are expected to work with the required momentum to ensure that your ideas are given the best chance

to develop and to make ull use o sketch and log books to evidence your research and processes. The OCA

website provides many opportunities to engage with peers and it is expected that you will make ull and

regular use o the online resources available to support your studies and collaborate with ellow students.

Learning outcomes

On successul completion o the unit you will have:

Developed advanced skills in drawing.

Demonstrated individuality and experimentation in drawing practice.

Demonstrated the ability to synthesise knowledge, understanding and your emerging practice.

Critically reviewed the work o artists who have contributed to the development o drawing practice and

related this to your own development.


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Level Six Units: Becoming an independent

practising artistPlease note that the following new structure for this level in the Painting pathway will not be in place until

2013/14. Until this time, please refer to the degree pathway diagram on the website, which requires two 60

credit units at level six rather than three 40 credit units as described below.

Your horizons will expand at Level Six to embrace the practical, theoretical and conceptual issues which are

central to the practice o painting. You will be encouraged to demonstrate a breadth o inventiveness, ideas

generation and techniques in the creation o their paintings. You will gain an understanding o the proessional

considerations with which you need to be equipped in order to pursue this proessionally, including an

understanding o the vocational context within which the discipline sits and in particular personal initiative

and responsibility and decision making in challenging contexts.

Society is in constant change nationally and internationally and it is important to become and remain aware

o the social, political and economic issues which aect painting. For your personal project and extended

essay, a body o work on an issue o signicant topical importance o your own choice will complete your

studies at this level. You should, at this level, make appropriate use o primary sources and scholarly reviews,

including those at the oreront o debate. You must demonstrate an underpinning understanding o art theory

and concepts and show that they can articulate and comment upon through debate, and devise and sustain

arguments. They should careully consider the selection o a theme or your project in consultation with your

tutor. Through your project, you will be asked to demonstrate your ability to communicate inormation and

justiy your art work convincingly.

Assessment at Level 6: Coursework 80%, Learning logs (10%), Critical Review or Essay o approx 3500

words (10%).

On successul completion o two units at this level, you will gain 360 credits and be awarded the BA (Hons)

Painting.


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Current units

PT6YOP

Painting 3: Your Own Portolio

60 credits

This unit builds on the skills already acquired and provides scope to develop and express personal ideas. There

is continuing emphasis on the importance o drawing as a means o discovery and particular painting themes

to explore, though most o the content is designed by you in conjunction with the tutor. In the theoretical

element o the unit you will select three art movements to study. Areas o study include drawing, a variety o

painting themes, theoretical studies, a study o illusion in paint and a close look at how dierent artists use

paint. Finally you will complete a personal major project.


Planning and carrying out a programme o practical work.

Sel-evaluation through written project commentaries.

Planning, researching and writing an extended written project to complement the practical work.

Learning outcomes


Deploy, with minimal guidance, advanced skills in the use o drawing and painting media and demonstrate

a clear personal language in the execution o visual solutions.

Devise and execute innovative proposals, grounded and justied at a conceptual level, consolidating your

skills through means o expression and materials.

Contextualise your work and articulate clearly the impact o and links to other artists and art movements

investigated.

Critically review a contemporary work/movement or artist demonstrating a coherent understanding o

the complex cultural context.


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Current units

PT6ADV

Painting 3: Advanced

40 credits

This unit builds on the experiences that you have acquired in previous levels and requires you to continue to

make the transition rom being a sel-motivated student to become a sel-motivated and independent artist.

With the help o your tutor, you will use the unit guidelines to plan your entire programme o study. The

studies may develop any aspect o your previous work or be concerned with completely new ideas; and while

it is expected that you will be primarily concerned with the production o paintings, some projects may explore

work in other media.

You will to continue to improve the quality o your work and consolidate a personal visual language, showing

a breadth o inventiveness, ideas generation and techniques in the creation o paintings. You will build on the

skills transerable to employment, in particular personal initiative and decision making in challenging contexts

and improve your understanding o the vocational context within which the discipline sits. You will manage

your work resourceully and independently and make appropriate use o primary sources and scholarly reviews

and consolidate your knowledge and understanding o the principles o ne art. You will also build on your

knowledge o emerging aspects o the discipline and underpinning art theory and concepts.


Planning and carrying out a programme o practical work. Sel-evaluation through written project commentaries.

Planning, researching and writing an extended written project to complement the practical work.

Learning outcomes


Devise a series o proposals leading to project outcomes that employ a breadth o creative solutions,

inventiveness, ideas and techniques

Investigate the theories and concepts underlying the chosen projects and completed the projects makinginnovative use o means o expression and materials

Demonstrate personal investigation and contextual enquiry on three major movements in art and their

context in relation to your own work

Demonstrate a depth o knowledge, and show an appreciation o uncertainty and ambiguity in contextual

studies.


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Forthcoming units

PT6MPR

Painting 3: Major Project

40 credits

Painting 3 comprises three closely linked units: the rst o these involves intensive studio practice (1) Major

Project which is inormed by a research and written unit (2) Contextual Studies, ollowed by the third and

nal unit (3) Proessional Practice.

The aim o Major Project is to introduce you to the rigour o study demanded at this level, and as such

demands commitment and sel-motivation in the production o a collection o ambitious paintings (in scale,

material, method and concept) which are experimental, accomplished and contemporary. The unit is designed

to enable you to put into practice and demonstrate your learning during this and previous units. The ocus is

on the development o your practice leading to a condent body o work or this level, to work independently,

and to instil a critical awareness in relation to your own practice and the practices o others


Assignment one: completion o project plan, with a list o initial research questions, plus a selection o

test pieces or review.

Assignment two: completion o rst set o paintings, written sel-assessment and submission o drat

proposal or Contextual Studies project.

Assignment three: completion o second set o paintings with written sel assessment.

Assignment our: completion o third set o paintings with written sel assessment.

Assignment ve: completion o ourth set o paintings, and commentary on the works relation to the

written element or Painting 3: Contextual Studies.

Learning outcomes

On successul completion o the unit you will be able to:

Deploy, with minimal guidance, accomplished technical and practical skills in painting.

Select and combine appropriate methods and materials to carry complex ideas through into practice.

Demonstrate a clear visual language with a high level o individuality and inventiveness.

Produce an ambitious and ocused body o work at an accomplished standard.

Demonstrate complex knowledge and broad ranging understanding o a range o painting and its

contemporary cultural context.


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Forthcoming units

PT6CTS

Painting 3: Contextual Studies

40 credits


Project which is inormed by this, the research and written unit (2) Contextual Studies, ollowed by the third

and nal unit (3) Proessional Practice.

The Contextual Studies unit underpins and strengthens the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired

in previous units and represents an opportunity to synthesise theory and practice through a sel-initiated

research project o an appropriate standard or this level.

This unit encourages a high degree o sel-motivation and autonomy. The written work prepared or assignmentswill be used to support the development o sel-refection, critique, time/project management and academic

rigour.

With tutorial support, this is a sel-directed unit, structured to support the process o undertaking substantial

textual and written research, with the aim o developing contextual and conceptual awareness o your own

practice and the practices o others.

For contemporary artists, understanding the complexities o visual language and having an authoritative

voice is important. Being able to respond to contemporary issues and communicate eectively and creatively

to dierent audiences and viewers helps dene and strengthen your practice and condence.

In consultation with your tutor you will prepare a proposal (1000 words) or research that will culminate in

an extended written project or dissertation (5000 words). This complements the programme o practical work

rom the other two units within Painting 3.

The Contextual Studies unit oers the opportunity to concentrate on an area or areas o art practice rom a

critical, historical and practical perspective. You will engage in a ocussed and personal enquiry, working on

questions arising rom your own practice and rom the practices o other artists and writers on art. In this

way the research journey and the dissertation underpins the Major Project and Proessional Practice units. As

such, the three units that make up Painting 3 are co-related and mutually dependent.

The Painting 3: Contextual Studies unit will enable you to develop skills in research and writing about

art, alongside critical awareness o a range o contemporary art practices. This is achieved by extending

your knowledge o primary and secondary research methodologies, and the adoption o appropriate styles

o academic writing, using consistent reerencing and presentation skills. The dissertation will show the

necessary critical and contextual awareness o level 6 academic studies.

This unit encourages a high degree o sel-motivation and autonomy. The assignments will provide a structure

to support your proposal, research process, writing and presentation. A properly reerenced research journal

will be used to support the development o sel-refection, academic enquiry, and evaluation.


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Research and documentation, Research methodologies (primary and secondary research, written and visual

research), Academic writing skills (identiying, sources and analysing appropriate material; developing

analytical and evaluative skills.

Dierent approaches to writing about art using appropriate language and critical rameworks (major ideas,

theories and debates surrounding contemporary painting practices).

Assignment one: completion o project proposal or review with description o the proposed layout o the

text (sections/chapters, images etc.) and a brie description o written works relation to the students

own practice. To include a list o initial research questions, outline o artists/movements to be explored

and bibliography.

Assignment two: completion o rst drat with evidence o research.

Assignment three: second drat using appropriate terminology and reerences.

Assignment our: submission o the ull text with introduction, conclusion and images or review.

Assignment ve: nal copy o text ully reerenced with quotes, ootnotes, bibliography, contents/image

list etc.

Learning outcomes

On successul completion o the unit students will:

Demonstrate a coherent and detailed understanding o subject knowledge, inormed by recent practical

and textual research into Contemporary Fine Art/Painting disciplines.

Use appropriate research methodologies, to produce an illustrated text relating to concepts and contexts

relevant to chosen subject.

Analyse, evaluate, and synthesise ideas rom appropriate primary and secondary research sources.

Construct a coherent written argument, critical review or investigation that inorms and is inormed by

your personal visual language.


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Forthcoming units

PT6PRO

Painting 3: Proessional Practice

40 credits


Project. This is inormed by a research and written unit (2) Contextual Studies, ollowed by this, the nal unit

(3) Proessional Practice.

The aim o unit (3) Proessional Practice is to consolidate and reinorce the ideas, materials and methods

encountered in the two previous units, introducing the student to the realities o proessional art practice

today.

The unit demands commitment and sel-motivation and or you to produce a collection o ambitious paintings(in scale, material, method and concept). The new paintings will relate to and build on the themes, ideas,

materials and methods researched during the previous two units. Alongside the practical work you will engage

with third parties to propose, prepare, present and document an exhibition (or other viewing platorm) to a

proessional standard.


Assignment one: completion o project plan, with a list o potential exhibition outlets, drat artists

statement, plus a number o new works (or works in progress) or review.

Assignment two: completion o a new set o works, written sel-assessment and evidence o a developing

exhibition plan.

Assignment three: as assignment two.

Assignment our: completion o the nal set o paintings (which will complete the body o work), written

statement about the pieces selected or exhibition and drat press release, evidence o marketing activity,

insurance etc.

Assignment ve: the exhibition (or other viewing platorm), photographic/video documentation o the

event and a written sel-assessment to include viewer eedback, ideas or uture works/events.

Learning outcomes

On successul completion o the unit the student will be able to:

Deploy technical and practical skills in painting, the works themselves demonstrating a clear visual

language and condence.

Complete an ambitious and highly ocused body o work to exhibition standard.

Demonstrate personal and proessional development in the planning and execution o an exhibition or

other means o display.

Demonstrate sound artistic and proessional judgment in the selection o works and venue.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding o a range o historic and contemporary approaches to

making and showing paintings..


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Learner support or any diculties with the practicalities o studying.

Library resources (such as Oxord Art online and Bridgeman Education Art Library).

In addition to the core aspects o study, you may access the ollowing on an ad hoc basis:

Study visits (to exhibitions) in dierent parts o the country and occasional workshops. Current creative arts reviews and discussion via the OCA blog.

Independent Learning

The Art and Design Benchmarks say that: Active learning through project-based enquiry has always been a

eature o the art and design curriculum in higher education. Through this approach you are encouraged to

develop both the capacity or independent learning and the ability to work with others. Through the OCA

model o distance learning units, providing projects and research activities, you learn to study independently,

while backed up by tutor support, and learn to work with others by interacting with them, providing and

receiving support and exchanging ideas on the OCA orum.

Communications

Communication between OCA, tutors and students is predominantly via email. In a small minority o cases,

where students do not have internet access, communication is by post and telephone. We are encouraging the

use o Skype or tutorials, as this can enliven the interaction between you and your tutor. Peer communication

takes place in the student orums, or via comments on the WeareOCA blog or other student blogs.

Delivery

Open tuition: You work rom the course materials and send regular assignments to your tutor, normally by post

but sometimes by email in the case o digital submissions. Tutors then review each assignment and provide

written eedback. There are typically 5 assignments or each course, supplemented by projects. Tutor reports

are copied to the OCA head oce and subject to periodic review to ensure standards are being maintained.

You are also able to contact tutors inormally between assignments (subject to reasonable limits).

Course materials: The written course materials have been specically produced or distance learning delivery

and are designed or individual sel-study. They consist o subject-specic learning content and a series o

learning projects each culminating in an assignment, the results o which are discussed with the tutor. The

course materials contain a balance o practical exercises and large scale projects and research points.

Tutor proles

All the creative writing tutor proles are available on www.oca-uk.com.

Reading lists

Reading lists are made available on a course by course basis on the OCA student website.

www.oca-student.com


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Open College o the Arts

Michael Young Arts Centre

Redbrook Business Park

Wilthorpe Road

BARNSLEY

S75 1JN

Tel: 0800 731 2116

Email: enquiries@oca uk com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

ba hons painting handbook

Documents