The Contemporary Painter: Concepts and Techniques

COURSE CODE: E2402P14

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

TUTOR: Neil Morley

DAYS: 10

TIMES: 10:30am – 4:30pm

EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, All Levels

FEE: £675

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

The proliferation of digital images in society has made the image more disposable and less open to visual critical discourses. This course will explore how the manipulation of pictorial space can create new and exciting directions in painting – by fragmenting, obscuring and intertwining images into the pictorial space and by using a series of techniques and conceptual approaches that question the normal conventions of background/foreground relationships.

Students will be able to: 

  • Analyse the work of others and apply findings to their own work
  • Conduct research into social and political issues and use knowledge to create paintings.
  • Analyse the impact of the internet on contemporary painting, applying findings to own paintings. 
  • Analyse the role of the viewer in relation to contemporary painting, applying findings to own paintings.  
  • Think laterally, applying conceptual and technical approaches in creating contemporary painting. 
  • Create paintings that subvert pictorial space, layering and fragmentation of images and explore the relationship between background and foreground. 
  • Research, plan and complete a self initiated project
  • To 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.

Neil Morley studied at  Royal College of Art – MA in Painting 2001 and Staffordshire University –  BA Hons in Fine Art 1995. In 2009/10 he won the Berwick Gymnasium Artist Fellowship. My work engages in a celebratory and prolific process of experimentation and refinement—upending the conventions of painting while simultaneously commanding a deep awareness of its history. The paintings often negate or affirm the pictorial space to create tension between the background / foreground. The materiality of paint and semiotic potential of mixing painting styles play a significant role in how each individual painting is produced.

http://www.neil-morley.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

The Contemporary Painter: Artwork by Neil Morley

Artwork by Neil Morley