A0530 - Creative Essentials: painting and drawing – get creative

Header
Start Date: 22/09/2026      End Date: 24/11/2026        Start Time: 19:00      End Time: 21:00        Hours per Week: 2.00      No of Weeks: 9
Fees:      £144.00 (tuition)     £253.00 (overseas)     £60.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Mark Batley        No of Places: 2
Shadwell Centre

Course Overview

Course Overview
This welcoming course introduces you to the basic skills, materials and techniques you need to begin. You’ll learn step by step, building confidence as you explore line, tone, colour and simple forms.
The course introduces painting and drawing as an accessible, practical creative practice that support self-expression, confidence, focus, and emotional wellbeing. It is ideal if you:
• want to build confidence using art materials
• may feel anxious about “being creative” or “being an artist”
• want a positive, absorbing activity for wellbeing
• are curious about developing an art practice at your own pace
You’ll also discover how artists from different cultures and art movements use drawing and painting to represent their world—from everyday objects to symbolic imagery. This helps you see that there are many ways to make art, not just one “right” way.
The focus is on learning how things are done, building confidence and enjoying making.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Use basic drawing and painting materials safely, including cleaning and setup
* Create a range of marks and lines with growing control
* Explore simple shapes and forms in two and three dimensions
* Use basic tone and colour to describe what you see
* Complete simple pieces of work with increasing confidence
* empty
* empty
* empty
* empty
* empty

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.
Prosp User 8

Equipment required

Equipment required
Notebook or sketchbook.
Protective clothing or older clothing suitable for painting.
Prosp User 9

How will you know you are making progress?

How will you know you are making progress?
After completing this course, you can re-enrol or progress onto Improve your Painting and Drawing; Oil Painting, Figure Drawing – All Levels, or a range of other Visual Arts courses. Please see our website Idea Store - Learning for further information or speak with your tutor. Your tutor will support you in researching these and other courses outside of Idea Store Learning.
Prosp User 12
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.
Prosp User 11

Progress opportunities - your next steps

Progress opportunities - your next steps
After completing this course, you can progress to B0531 Creative Essentials painting and drawing – build creative skills, experiment and discover. Alternatively please see our website 'Idea Store - Learning' for further information or speak with your tutor. Your tutor will support you in researching these and other courses outside of Idea Store Learning.
Prosp User 10

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.
Prosp User 13

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.
Prosp User 14