The Contemporary Fine Art course is aimed at a broad range of artists and levels of experience and seeks to develop a community where practical and theoretical skills can be explored and established with emphases on making, presenting, talking and thinking about art. The course includes sessions that encourage your personal development in areas of subject matter, artistic processes and materials
Fee £590
Through a comprehensive set of tutorials, group activities, demonstrations, crits, gallery tours and visiting artists you will establish new areas of research and develop contemporary techniques for producing, displaying and disseminating art. Prepare yourself for full immersive days incorporating experimentation, playfulness, technique and discussion.
Bob Matthews 
Liane Lang 
Jost Münster
This course will be taught by artists: Bob Matthews and Liane Lang and guest tutor Jost Munster. All three are experienced teachers and artists exhibiting nationally and internationally. Bob Matthews is a curator and lecturer in printmaking at the Royal College of Art.
Liane Laing studied at the NCAD Dublin, Goldsmiths and the Royal Academy schools and has taught extensively.
Level:
This course is intermediate to advanced level. For example you may have completed a foundation course or an A level in art and design or an adult education course. You may have been to art school and would like the benefit of an artistic community and tutor guidance to develop your work further.
Mediums:
You may already be working in one medium and would like to explore others possibly in combination, including moving between 2D and 3D approaches and dissolving the distinctions between. This course can help you explore multi media in a supportive space. For example you may be interested in exploring film, collage, photography, installation or performance, conceptual art, painting, drawing or simple print methods.
Course description
The course will explore drawing as a starting point allowing it to lead the participants into different media. You will be helped to identify ideas and subject matter and to research these with a view to starting your own projects. There will be gallery visits and workshops on various themes to help stimulate ideas plus advice on using experimental and collaborative sketchbooks.
Projects begun in term one will be developed further, with encouragement to explore a range of approaches and mediums. We will look at how the power and the nature of the idea and its expression is changed by translation through distinctive media.
TheESOP courses are non-accredited which gives us the freedom to ensure tutorials will be focused entirely on being critically constructive rather than defining your work with a grade. Dr Ainsley will also provide advice on professional development and next steps.
FAQ
- Art Materials and equipment: We provide basic art materials included in your fee: eg. drawing materials, paper, paint, glue, primer, solvent etc. A full list will be sent on enrolment. You will need to provide your own materials for other projects including cameras, computer and editing programmes or 3D materials. We do not have a printing press but can advise on press free studio printing methods and can recommend where to hire the use of printmaking presses.
- Storage of artwork and personal materials: You may store artwork on which you are working at the school. Once it is finished we request that you take it home to ensure storage space is kept as free as possible. You may also keep your own box of personal materials at the school. Both artwork and art materials are left at your own risk. However we will do everything we can to keep them safe.
- Student cards: You can order a laminated student ID card from us for £8. This is cost price plus £1 admin fee. With this card you can receive 10% discount from Cass Art and Atlantis Art materials shops and student discounts at various other venues.
- Art Library: We have a good collection of art books and magazines for students to look through.
- Refreshments and facilities: When you need a break from the sheer hard work of being creative you can help yourself to complimentary tea and coffee including our very own Nespresso machine plus copious amounts of chocolate biscuits and ginger nuts. For lunch, students often bring their own or there are several sandwich shops nearby and grocery stores . Our kitchen has a fridge and a microwave oven to warm food if you need to.
- Student progression and artist’s communities: Many of our students go on to more advanced courses with us or elsewhere or continue on our mentoring programmes. TheESOP encourages the development of communities of artists which last beyond each course, where friendships are forged and active partnerships established. Advanced and postgraduate students are exhibiting their work and organising events, exhibitions, sales and commissions. Professional practice advice is given as a component part of each year long course.
Images ©TheESOP
