Painting: Developing Your Style
COURSE CODE: EC2402029
COURSE DATES: Fridays, 7th February – 28th March 2025
TUTOR: Nicholas McLeod
DAYS: 8
TIMES: 6:30pm – 9:00pm
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, Intermediate
FEE: Early Bird price: £265.50 / Standard price: £295
LOCATION: Bankside Campus, 185 Park Street, SE1 9BL
This course focuses on developing each student’s style of painting, both through pushing creative expression and refining technical ability. By working from the model, and by developing a creative project, students will explore multiple ways of using paint to convey a certain message or feeling. Suitable for students working in oils or acrylics. In this course you will explore the following:
- Brushwork
- Painting using a life model
- Abstraction
- Narrative and expression
- ‘Hybrid’ painting
- Emulating other artists work and combining it with your own
- Time to develop personal projects
Students will develop a series of artworks, from quick sketches to longer more developed pieces. The focus will be on developing expressive paintings through their specific use of colour, composition and brushwork. Students will be working from the figure, developing core painting skills whilst also reflecting on their use of paint. You will also be exploring other artists work and develop an understanding of how paint can be used to convey a variety thoughts and ideas.
Students will have the opportunity to work on a personal creative project. They will be guided step by step through the process of developing an idea, collecting source material and references, experimenting with different techniques and approaches, before the final execution. By looking at contemporary and historical artists, and through dialogue with the group, students will develop their creative and critical awareness.
Recommend booking by: January 24, 2025
All attendees must be aged 18 and over.
Our Intermediate courses are suitable for students who have considerable prior knowledge of the taught medium or have completed a Beginners/Beginners + course with the Art Academy.
These courses tend to be less structured and instead are tailored to the classes’ needs and the direction they want to advance in. Choose an Intermediate course if you are looking to improve your skills and have more critical discussions around the work you produce.Intermediate
You will need to bring your own painting materials to the class, which you can store at The Art Academy for the duration of the course.
If you do not have your own materials, we recommend you order one of our Painting Packs when booking. You can purchase this at the checkout. Once ordered, packs will be available when you arrive for your first class. There is also a mini shop in the Academy that supplies the basics such as canvas boards, paints, Zest-it etc. (card purchases only)
The Academy is a white spirit and turpentine free environment and only odourless spirits, such as Zest-it or Sansodor, are permitted on the premises. These can also be recycled on site. If you are using oil paints you must bring 1 small jar with a lid to hold your solvent as this should be reused each week. If you want to dispose of your solvent please speak to your tutor as these cannot be poured down the sink and must be disposed of correctly.
Please also bring an apron or old clothing to wear.
Please note that pack contents are subject to change at the discretion of the Academy at any time.
Please be aware that depending on the course structure, you might need to purchase extra canvas boards, on top of the ones provided in the pack. The Acrylic Pack contains:
The Oil Pack contains:
NICHOLAS MCLEOD
graduated with an MA in painting from the Slade School of fine art in 2016. He has won the Threadneedle Prize Visitors Choice award and his work has been selected for numerous exhibitions across London. Nicholas has also had his work included in various publications including, A Brush With The Real: Contemporary Figurative Painting (Laurence King Publishing) and Imagine Architecture (Gestalten, Berlin).
185 Park Street,London SE1 9BL tel: +44 (0) 207407 6969
This is our new purpose built accessible campus. Find more information here
Nearest Tube/ Rail: London Bridge or Southwark (both a 10-15 minute walk). Please note that London Bridge has two exits, the most direct route is to follow signs to “Borough Market”.
Bankside Campus
Students are welcome to use The Hub during break times, where you can prepare hot drinks and/or food. You must bring your own keep-cup, water bottle or food container to the Academy as mugs, glasses, and containers will not be available in our Bankside campus.
Tea and coffee will be provided by the Academy and is available from the island unit at the end of The Hub.
Terms and Conditions
- By booking onto one of our courses you agree to our Short Courses Terms and Conditions.
- You will need to have paid in full before the first session of your class. Your place is not guaranteed until we have received full payment. Please book early in order to guarantee your place on the course.
Materials & Equipment
- If you purchased a pack online this will be given to you on the first session of your course upon your arrival. Packs can be booked on our Materials Page or on this page when you book the course
- Please don’t wear your best clothes as there is always a chance you will get messy. If possible bring an apron or overalls.
- All artwork at the Academy MUST be taken home at the end of each session where possible, with the exception of oil paintings and sculpture works.
- We cannot store materials at the Academy, so please take these to and from your sessions.
- Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched off or is on silent during the class.
- Health and Safety Guidelines will be provided to you a week before the start of your course.
Concessions and Discounts
We offer a number of concessions and discounts, please find more information on what we offer here.
Gift Vouchers
If you would like to purchase a gift voucher to be used on our courses then you can purchase these here.
Original price was: £295.00.£265.50Current price is: £265.50.
Early Bird discount available until 28th October.