The aims of the course were to explore and employ key processes for drawing and painting , to explore a range of media to create visual work and begin to understand how historical and contemporary painters and artistic movements can and have informed your own practice and learning experience.
In May 2019, and halfway through Practice of Paint 1, I attended an OCA visit to an artists’ studio in Manchester. It was enlightening listening to the artist and talking with other OCA students from different courses who were at different stages of their degree pathway. During a discussion group one of the more advanced students reflected on her progress and offered the following advice: ‘own it, and paint how you feel’. This statement appeared daunting as I had, up to then, slavishly worked through the course material. On reflection (albeit sometime later) I began to understand the significance of this advice and how the course content was a vehicle from which to employ the aims of the course.
By pushing the boundaries, I began to understand the importance of listening to my own ideas as one inevitably lead to the next – and so on. At this juncture in my artistic development I was keen to take enjoyment from the process rather than just the outcome, to be expressive and have fun with it.
Which parts of the module did I enjoy?
There was so much of the course that I have really enjoyed; theory, research, and the practice of creating a painting. Colour theory was a topic where I had perhaps underestimated its importance. Knowing how to use and exploit colour in all genres can produce an array of atmospheric scenarios, only bound by the limitation of my own ideas.
I really enjoyed the process of developing a series of work from which to reflect and map my own progress. There is still some way to go, but I feel that I have grown in confidence as an artist.
The latter parts of Practice of Painting 1 were a milestone that I really embraced and enjoyed wholeheartedly. Painting outdoors, squaring up, different ways of applying paint and assignment 5 had all allowed for an intuitive and expressive approach. The outcomes were varied, but the process, studies and reflection helped shape my style, techniques, and personal development. The use of wide brushes (feedback from my tutor), painting knives and other means of applying paint resulted in my style of painting becoming more expressive, and as a result – more intuitive, which is something I really enjoyed and would continue to develop.
Which parts did I not enjoy?
One area where I feel that I struggled was abstraction of man-made objects. Whilst the theory was relatively straight forward, and I admire those artists’ and their works who mastered this technique, in practice I found it much more challenging. I certainly felt as though I was over-thinking it.
I fully understand the rationale for keeping a record of process and demonstrating knowledge and understanding in an HE context, and I know this will require greater emphasis as I continue to progress through the course modules. On reflection, my experience from Level 1 has been positive.
Tutor feedback:
A summary of my tutor’s feedback can be found at the link below. It is colour coded Red, Amber, Green and Blue. The traffic lights indicate my progress and action, while the blue is for my own reference for Level 2.
Summary
On completion of Level 1 (HE 4) I felt a real sense of satisfaction, achievement, and personal development. It provided a firm base from which to progress to Level 2, and as an artist. That said, I was very aware of how far there is still to go – and looked forward to it!
OCA BA(Hons) Painting Degree - Level 1 