Painting Pollinators

Overview

This course provides the opportunity to explore a range of watercolour and mixed media techniques for depicting a wide variety of pollinator species including bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, hoverflies, ladybirds and beetles. Throughout the course and the creation of life studies we will find out more about these fascinating creatures, their behaviour, food source and ecological role. Techniques will be explored for depicting form, texture, colour, creating field studies from life as well as magnified images and intriguing illustrations. Packed with video demonstrations and handouts this exciting online course gives you the opportunity to develop fine art, field observation and transferable skills to a variety of subject matter whilst working at a convenient time and pace for you. Your assessment will include a personal project and research and create a signage board or a project for press on habitat and environment.

Programme

Unit 1: Understanding Your Subject Aims: To create study pages for several species demonstrated, particularly those of personal interest. Detailing key ID features and exploring painting techniques for depicting specific characteristics.

Unit 2: Life Studies Aims: Start a pollinator sketchbook creating drawn and painted studies from life, these studies can relate to your personal project, Demonstrations: Techniques for depicting pollinators from life, on location, capturing key characteristics, behaviour and movement.

Unit 3: Pollinators & Plants Aims: Create painted studies from life showing pollinators on plants, exploring links between pollinators and plants, particularly friendly plants, diversity of species visiting certain plants. Create more resolved paintings of pollinators and plants.

Unit 4: A Macro View Aims: Experiment with techniques for creating enlarged, magnified images of pollinators. Begin combine life studies and photographic reference images to create resolved illustrations for your personal project.

Unit 5: Pollinators on Paper Aims: Completion of personal project illustrations and design.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate painting techniques which allow the accurate depiction of the key characteristics and ID features of a variety of pollinator types.
2. Demonstrate observational and life drawing/painting skills depicting pollinators in their habitats and on food source plants.
3. Demonstrate illustrative design skills, exploring scale, composition and image editing using appropriate techniques and software to create an informative design conveying relevant ecological information.
4. Create a visual display showing your research from your investigations and reading.

Assessments

1. Report - 20%
2. Portfolio - 80%

Reading Suggestions

Additional reading list available on request.

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What Do I Need?

A list of materials, not included in the course fees, will be available prior to the course start date.