Contemporary Still Life

COURSE CODE: E2402P017

COURSE DATES: Friday, 17th January 2025 - 28th March 2025

TUTOR: Nicholas McLeod

DAYS: 10

TIMES: 10:30am – 4:30pm

EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, All Levels

FEE: £675

LOCATION: Bankside Campus, 185 Park Street, SE1 9BL

Develop your approach, understanding and engagement with painting through the genre of Still Life. You’ll look in-depth at the work of both contemporary and historical artists for whom still life is a major focus and discuss why the genre is still relevant today. You’ll consider the use of objects for their symbolic value as well as their aesthetic properties. Throughout the course students will examine the abstract forms, shape, colour and tone of the objects and explore how to use all of this information to create interesting and contemporary paintings. Working in oil, you’ll be encouraged to approach the act of painting with a balance of instinct and analysis, growing your technical understanding of a variety of mediums and materials, whilst also developing observational, critical and creative skills.

Students will be able to:

  • Analyse the work of others, applying findings to their own work.
  • Apply observational drawing and painting skills. 
  • Create still life paintings using a variety of approaches to motifs and subject matter. 
  • Apply colour mixing techniques.
  • Apply a range of paint application techniques. 
  • Research, plan and complete a self initiated project
  • Apply safe-working practices at all times. 

Recommend booking by: January 1, 2025

All Levels

All attendees must be aged 18 and over.

This course is suitable for all levels. Students can move at their own pace depending on their experience, with as much support from the Tutor as they wish. This means an student from the following experience levels can join this course:

Beginner

Choose a Beginners course if you are looking for a broad introduction to the medium you are studying. Our Beginner courses are suitable for students with no prior experience.

Beginner +

Choose a Beginner + course if you are looking to hone your skills, focus on a specific subject area and build your confidence. These courses are suitable for those with some basic skills in and knowledge of the taught medium.

Intermediate

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.

Advanced

Choose our Advanced courses if you have considerable knowledge in the taught medium. You are expected to be able to work independently and have critical discussions around your work.

YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN MATERIALS:

  • Drawing equipment (inc. 2B & 4B pencils), rubber, charcoal, putty rubber
  • Burnt Umber and Titanium white acrylic paint
  • A3 pad oil painting paper
  • Brushes – Hogs hair brushes (Filbert no. 7 & 10, round no. 4, flats), acrylic brush round §(no. 2)
  • Only odorless spirits, Sansodor or Zest-it (the Academy is a white spirit free environment)
  • Liquin Original
  • Jam jar x 2
  • Tear-off paper palette
  • Oil colours:  Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue*, Paynes Grey*, Cadmium Yellow, Burnt Umber, Titanium White, Yellow Ochre*

  * If you buy the Art Academy Oil Painting Pack, please be aware these colours are required in addition to the pack.

  • Apron or old shirt
  • Old rags
  • Baby wipes
  • Surfaces (specified each week)

There will be a materials cost of £7 for the following mediums used throughout this course:

  • Lukas painting medium No.5
  • Sand
  • Marble Dust
  • Wax (Beesw
  • Liquin
  • Linseed oil
  • Glaze Medium

If you do not have your own painting materials, there is an option to order an Oil Painting Pack at the time of booking which will be available when you arrive for your first class.  

An Oil Painting Pack (£75.00) contains:

  • A set of bristle brushes, both flat and round, suitable for either oils or acrylics
  • One tear off palette (9”x12”)
  • One palette knife
  • One bottle Zest-it (250ml) 
  • One 10″x 12″ canvas board
  • One 10″x 14″ canvas board
  • Two 12″x 16″ canvas boards
    6 Daler Rowney (Georgian) oil tubes: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, French Ultramarine and Burnt Umber

Certain materials can also be purchased from the Academy shop during shop hours. Please check in advance of your class if the item you require is available, as the Academy may not stock all items listed above.

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)

https://www.nicholasmcleod.com 

Bankside Campus

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”.

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.

£675.00

Contemporary Still Life: Artwork by Nicholas Mcleod

Artwork by Nicholas Mcleod