Part Time Fine Art: Painting - BA(Hons)

Fine Art: Painting - BA(Hons)
Course Length: 5 Years
Site: West Durrington Campus
Attendance: Part Time
Course Code: DHBFP1

Day : Time : Start
Wednesday and Thursday 10:00-17:00 29-Sep-2010
ABC
(Fee per year)

A-Full fee,
B-Discounted fee for full payment at time of enrolment,
C-Concessionary fee for people in receipt of specified benefits

Day : Time : Start
Wednesday and Thursday 10:00-17:00 30-Sep-2009
ABC
1,180.00 1,062.00 NA (Fee per year)

A-Full fee,
B-Discounted fee for full payment at time of enrolment,
C-Concessionary fee for people in receipt of specified benefits

The Course
Painting pathway
UCAS code: W100

The pathway enables students to explore the historical traditions of painting and the changes to contemporary manifestations of visual language as a result of mechanical and digital technologies. Painting students are introduced to the traditional techniques and materials for the supports, grounds and mediums of their work and are encouraged to consider their own position within the contemporary discourse about painting.
The Fine Art course, which offers the choice of four pathways, provides a challenging and stimulating creative environment where individuals can develop their own studio practice as professional artists. The course is delivered through a series of workshops, inductions, tutorials, lectures and seminars, where students of all pathways meet to exchange ideas. There is close integration of studio practice and art theory; students are encouraged to develop an awareness of the historical and contemporary context of fine art and to critically evaluate their work and that of their contemporaries. The course is delivered by a dedicated team of practising artists and has been highly commended by both External Examiners and the recent QAA Inspection report. Each year the Visiting Artists Schedule brings students into contact with a range of nationally and internationally recognised artists such as Roger Ackling, Hamish Fulton, Chris Drury, Eileen Cooper, Richard Billingham, Albert Irvin, Basil Beattie, Alexis Harding, Claude Heath and Dennis Creffield. Students are encouraged to exhibit their work in public spaces and they are made aware of funding issues, public arts and professional practice. The course also provides opportunities to travel and study abroad and students have the option of taking part in the student exchange programme with the USA.

Course Content
Year One Structure

• Studio Practice 1: Visual Research
• Studio Practice 2: Thematic Project
• Cultural and Supporting Studies
• Fine Art Workshops
• Exhibition Studies

In the main Studio Practice units of Year 1, students on all pathways are introduced to the visual research process which enables them to develop their own individual ideas. They are encouraged to establish their own personal approach to fine art by experimenting with drawing, in its broadest sense, and by exploring the use of photography as a means of researching ideas within their own chosen pathway. The Fine Art Workshops provide an introduction to a variety of materials and techniques and students on all pathways can choose from a range of technical inductions in a choice of fine art media such as painting, sculpture, installation, printmaking and digital imaging. The Cultural and Supporting Studies unit focuses on the historical and contextual relationships that influence the development of fine art and students are encouraged to critically evaluate images and objects within the social, political and historical context in which they were made. The Exhibition Studies unit provides the opportunity for students to look at contemporary and historic art in galleries and museums and to expand their awareness of art that is relevant to their own practice.

Year Two Structure

• Studio Practice 3: Exploratory Practice
• Studio Practice 4: Independent Project
• Cultural and Supporting Studies
• Professional Practice

In the main Studio Practice units of Year 2, students on all pathways work more independently, devising their own research projects and using a more personally selected range of materials and techniques. Students are encouraged to expand their practice through creative experimentation and speculative enquiry and to explore a range of research methodologies. Students on all pathways can select from a number of workshops which are designed to further deepen and expand their knowledge and understanding of fine art media such as painting, sculpture, installation, printmaking and digital imaging. In Cultural and Supporting Studies students are introduced to contemporary theory and criticism which is related to established artists as well as their own work. Through an examination of cultural practices, this unit will encourage a re-definition of Modernism, examining Post-Modernism and raise questions regarding current and future fine art practice. The Professional Practice unit helps individual students to promote themselves and their work in professional contexts. The unit focuses on gaining realistic, practical experience and establishing potential professional opportunities.

Year Three Structure

• Studio Practice 5: Studio Research
• Studio Practice 6: Final Exhibition
• Dissertation

In the main Studio Practice units of Year 3, students on all pathways work towards the production of a coherent body of work which they present for final assessment and a public exhibition. This work is backed up by a period of sustained visual and contextual research in an area chosen and developed by the individual student and outlined in a written research proposal. The Contextual and Supporting Studies unit at Level 3 consists of a final dissertation which is an opportunity for students to undertake in-depth research in an area of contemporary or historical art that directly relates to their studio practice. The role of the dissertation is to challenge and extend intellectual understanding and to develop advanced critical and analytical skills. Students are guided in preparing for a range of professional opportunities that a Fine Art graduate would expect to pursue. Each student is shown how to present their work in an appropriate format for self promotion with, for instance, gallery owners, curators, grants officers, employers and post graduate course leaders. While students opt for one of the following four pathways, considerable interrelationship between them exists and, in order to encourage a creative dialogue and cross fertilisation of ideas and methodologies, units of the course are delivered to students of all pathways together as year groups. The pathways allow students to develop and express their own ideas and visual language within a supportive and informative environment.

Progression/Career Path

• Recent graduates have established careers as professional artists exhibiting and selling their work through galleries and websites.
• Others have progressed onto courses such as MA Fine Art, MA Art History, MA Curating and PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education).
• Students have found employment in: curating, gallery and museum work, teaching, lecturing, community arts, arts administration, public arts, art therapy, video and website production.

Entry Requirements
Portfolio of recent visual and creative work; all applicants are assessed through interview. Normal entry requirements include Foundation Studies in Art and Design, National Diploma, Access, GNVQ, OCN or similar courses. Mature students without qualifications but with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
Students are given guidance of what to include in their portfolio when they apply. If students are uncertain of which pathway is most suitable for them, they should apply for Fine Art and then be advised at the interview.

Further Details
If you would like further information about this course or any other courses offered by Northbrook College.

Applications
Applications are to be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) quoting institution code: N41 and Institution code name: NBRK