Art

Course details

This FETAC/QQI Level 6 Art Course offers students an opportunity to build on their existing skills and develop their personal visual expression through experimentation in a variety of media.

Students have the opportunity to assemble a quality portfolio of work, which they may use to gain access to Diploma/Degree courses. In some cases it may be possible to progress to second year of certain courses.

Former art graduates have achieved great success in their subsequent college and professional careers. Our graduates have progressed to an array of colleges around the country including: NCAD, Galway School of Art, IADT Dun Laoghaire, Sligo Art College, Limerick Art College etc.

Award

Successful completion of this course will result in a FETAC/QQI Level 6 Certificate in Art, 6M4029.

Modules studied in this course include:

• Drawing
• Painting
• History and Appreciation of Art and Design
• Work Experience
• Constructive Thinking Skills
• Creative Application Ceramics
• Printmaking
• Sculpture

Printmaking (6N3568)

Level 6 printmaking encourages the student to develop a working practice that is based on personal ideas and motivations. A wide range of fine art printmaking techniques will be explored from traditional to modern.

History and Appreciation of Art and Design (6N3450)

This module explores the significance of the visual arts across an array of world cultures. Students will become familiar with the language and concepts of art criticism which will assist them in the evaluation of artwork

Painting (6N3452)

Painting is a core skill for most artists. This course covers all aspects of painting including watercolour, oil and acrylic. The course takes you through all the techniques, improving skills as the course progress. Also covered in the course are compositional skills and how to organize your ideas into a striking image.

Drawing (6N3569)

Students will explore the full potential of drawing as an analytical and expressive language. The essential skill for every artist is drawing. This course includes instruction on all the professional drawing skills and techniques needed, using all of the common drawing media including, pencil, charcoal and inks.

Sculpture (6N3570)

This module will equip students with the knowledge, skill and competence to generate robust research based 3D fine art sculpture using a variety of media.  Learners will consolidate a personal visual language through observation, disciplined technical practice, creativity and critical evaluation.

Work Experience (6N1946)

Students will participate in the workplace of a professional visual arts practitioner or visual arts centre for a limited time, carrying out work-related tasks autonomously and/or in a supervisory capacity.

Creative Application Ceramics (6N3445)

The ceramics course is about forming clay and decorating clay, then firing it in a kiln. We supply the materials and the expertise and you supply the genius.

Constructive Thinking Skills (6N3448)

Throughout history artists have shown the way – inventing new ways of seeing and understanding what we see. The creative thinking module explains these leaps of faith that artists and other creative thinkers have made in the past - and more importantly what’s going on now.

This Art Level 6 course is designed to make the knowledge of the past and present accessible to all. Throughout the year there will be a number of organised trips to galleries and arts centres both locally and in Dublin. There will also be talks and master classes by guest artists.

Course Tutors

Claire Griffin

Claire started her career in art by completing the craft course at Grennan Mill in Kilkenny . Then went on to get a degree in painting and textiles from Cork College of Art in 1991. Claire now works from her own studio in Liscarney Westport as a painter and illustrator. She also leads creative workshops for various art centres throughout the county. Claire has been teaching in Westport College for over 10 years and is now teaching the painting and drawing module in our level 6 course.

Paul Taylor

Paul has been a ceramic artist since leaving art college in 1973 and brings to this course forty years of experience of working in the art world. His philosophy on education is that everybody has an individual learning style based on their personalities. Successful results come from understanding what that style is and thus turning their enthusiasms into interesting ceramics - be it simple pottery or something wildly creative. He also brings his expertise to bear in the constructive thinking module where the emphasis will be on creativity - how to get it and organise it into something worthwhile.

Anthony Mc Namee

Anthony Is an artist and musician and has taught Sculpture and Combined Materials at Westport College of Further Education since 2000. He is also an experienced art and music workshop facilitator. Anthony works mostly in copper and stone. He also creates giant puppets for street festivals and parades. He has exhibited in solo and group shows both in Ireland and New York.

Sinead Wall

Sinead has a Masters Degree in the History of Art from University College Dublin. She has twenty years of teaching experience at university and PLC level. Sinead also has curatorial experience and was part of the education team at the National Gallery of Ireland. Sinead works professionally as a printmaker, working from her own print studio near Westport. Her work is represented in private and public collections and she regularly exhibits her work at various group shows

Career Progression

Further specialisation would include areas such as: Industrial design, graphic design, art education, fashion design, model making, animation, ceramics, film making etc.

Further Career Opportunities:

Practising artist, art education, community arts worker, gallery assistant, studio technician, art workshop instructor, arts administration.

Entry Requirements

A Leaving Certificate or a FETAC Level 5 qualification in Art/Art and Design or equivalent is required, although exceptions are given to mature students who are over 23 years of age. Acceptance to the course is also based on an interview that will take place a few weeks after application submission.