ART COURSES
PREPARATION
Art Academy’s Roxana Halls on the things to consider before a new course
Nervous students should bear in mind
that their tutors will not be expecting a
masterpiece from them during their
first class – or probably at any point
during their first course. Just as a
piano lesson starts with some basic
exercises and you wouldn’t expect to
be able to play a sonata for some
considerable time, so learning to paint
or draw is about starting with the
building blocks. All art classes will
begin with basic exercises designed to
get students used to handling paint,
mixing colour or making marks.
It’s also important to think about
your purpose for doing a class. Every
student is initially painting or drawing
for themselves. In time, you might
hope to make some work you could
exhibit or sell. But that first class is
actually a private affair. The trouble
with art is, of course, that other
people can always see what you’re
doing. However, if you hold on to the
thought that you’re doing it for
yourself, and it doesn’t matter whatanyone else thinks, you’ll feel more
confident. As a beginner, no one is
judging you anyway. Making mistakes
is an essential part of learning to do
anything, but it’s integral to making
art. Indeed, there is often no one
‘right’ outcome when it comes to art.
It’s good to get everything you need
organised the night before, so you’re
not searching through your cupboards
on the day of your class: you don’t
want to arrive late and flustered.
At the Art Academy, like many
schools, we’ll provide a list of all
materials needed by students for the
class they’re attending. Make sure you
read this a week before the course, so
you can ensure you have everything- don’t leave it until the night before.
For a painting course, you’re likely
to need a set of brushes, a brush
cleaner or medium like Sansodor, a
palette (a large, A3 tear-off one is
good for a painting class), some basic
paint colours, rags, an apron and one
or more supports (canvases or
boards) to paint on. Drawing classes
are likely to require a variety of
pencils, rubber, sharpener, charcoal,
putty rubber and maybe some paper.
On the day of your class, aim to
arrive in good time, so you can set
yourself up in the studio, meet your
tutor and fellow students, and lay out
your materials.
Above all, remember that making
art is really fun and it’s not about
testing yourself to see how ‘good’ you
are, judged against some undefinable
criteria. Think about the way children
learn through making things, and the
pleasure they get from exploring their
materials and the marks they can
make. Try to reconnect with that inner
child in yourself.CHECKLIST
Callington School of Art’s
Tessa Sulston shares her
list for success in classAlways keep a sketchbook
withyou
Use the best materials you
canafford
Use an easel and stand up
towork
Give yourself enough time
tothink
Don’t be in a hurry – good
artworkstaketime
Put your iPad’s Auto-Lock
on ‘Never’ if working from
photos
Stand back and look at your
workregularly
Keep acrylic brushes in
waterwhennotinuse
Clean pencil rubbers with
soap and waterISTOCK