A0497 - Explore: oil painting – build skills and confidence

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Start Date: 23/09/2026      End Date: 25/11/2026        Start Time: 18:00      End Time: 21:00        Hours per Week: 3.00      No of Weeks: 9
Fees:      £216.00 (tuition)     £379.00 (overseas)     £90.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Mark Batley        No of Places: FULL - click to check
Shadwell Centre

Course Overview

Course Overview
You will learn how to use oil painting materials safely and effectively, including preparing your workspace, mixing colour, applying paint and cleaning equipment. Through weekly exercises, you will explore colour, tone, brushwork and composition, developing greater control and understanding of the medium.
As the course progresses, you will begin to make more independent choices in your work, using painting not only to record what you see but also to explore ideas and personal responses. You will be encouraged to reflect on your work and identify areas for development.
The course offers a supportive and structured environment while encouraging curiosity, experimentation and creative growth. Oil painting is introduced as a focused and absorbing practice that supports wellbeing through sustained creative activity, helping to build concentration, confidence and a sense of achievement.
By the end of the course, you will have increased confidence in handling oil paint and a clearer understanding of how to develop your practice further.
What you will explore
• Oil painting materials, tools and safe studio practice
• Colour mixing, tonal relationships and control
• Brush handling and developing a wider range of marks
• Working from observation (still life and simple subject matter)
• Introduction to composition and spatial awareness
• Looking at artists’ work to inform and develop your own approach
• Simple experimentation to extend understanding of materials
• Learn about artists and art history
• You will be encouraged to visit art galleries and research artists

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Use oil painting materials (brushes, paint, charcoal, pencil) demonstrating good practical skills and growing confidence and independence, including safe and effective studio practice.
* Apply and combine basic techniques to explore colour, tone and surface with increased control.
* Develop painted studies from observation, demonstrating improved accuracy and attention to detail.
* Make simple informed choices in colour, composition and paint application/brush strokes.
* Engage in reflection, by reflecting on your work, progress, problems you have identified and solved and identify ways to improve your skills.
* Recognise the benefits of sustained creative practice for concentration, confidence and wellbeing.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements except a commitment to attend each week on time and develop skills learnt outside of class time.
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Equipment required

Equipment required
You will need to provide most of your own materials. Materials required will be discussed in the first session.
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How will you know you are making progress?

How will you know you are making progress?
You will have an ‘Individual Learning Plan’ where the course learning outcomes are shown and
where you can set individual learning goals and monitor your own progress against these.
You will need to evaluate your own progress and manage your time.
Your tutor will give ongoing feedback and will keep you informed of your progress.
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At the beginning of the course an initial assessment takes place to identify your level of
experience knowledge or current skills.
The tutor will carry out informal assessments to check your understanding, there is no exam.
You will complete a self-assessment at the beginning, middle and end of the course.
Your tutor will let you know how you are getting on throughout the course to you will help you
work to your full potential.
At the end of the course you will receive written feedback.
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Progress opportunities - your next steps

Progress opportunities - your next steps
You can progress to:
B0498 Explore: Oil Painting – Extending and Experimenting (Term B)
Please see our website 'Idea Store - Learning' for further information on a range of Visual Arts courses or speak with your tutor. Your tutor will support you in researching these and other courses outside of Idea Store Learning.
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Other info

Other info
We have high expectations regarding attendance and punctuality. We expect 100% attendance for all scheduled sessions and that you do so punctually and are ready to start learning at the start of the class.
We acknowledge the rare occasions when that will not be possible, please inform us before the class by emailing ideastoreadmin@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
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Extra Support

Extra Support
If you have declared a learning difficulty, disability or support need whilst enrolling and you require support/assistance in class or to complete your course, please discuss your needs with your tutor at the first lesson.
If you intend to take an examination and feel you have an additional learning need or special requirements, you must declare them to your tutor within the first 2 weeks of your course. If you are studying in an online group, then you can arrange a one-to-one online discussion with your tutor, after the session, or by email. Where we aim to make reasonable adjustments to support our learners, please note we are unable to provide any type of in class or in person support if your course takes place online.
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