Fine Art Painting and Sculpture L6

Course details

This well established course is designed to offer students the opportunity to extend their artistic potential mainly through painting, drawing and sculpture. Traditional and contemporary painting techniques and theories explored in a ‘hands on’ way. Students are provided with their own personal studio space (as well as easels, paints, canvas etc.) and the support of daily tutorials from specialist staff.

Students also work in alternative media and sculpture in a complementary way to their painting practice. Art appreciation classes deepen the student’s understanding of historical and current facets of the visual arts both locally and internationally. As part of the overall program we also focus on what our students do after the course – be it individual guidance and support to prepare a portfolio for further studies or how they may go about setting themselves up in the art world in the future.

Entry Requirements

• Standard applicants should have a pass or greater in two FETAC level 5 modules required for an Art award or an Art, craft and design award, preferably including FETAC level 5 modules painting and Drawing.
• Applicants of mature Years will be considered on their merits.
• All applicants are interviewed with a portfolio of their work. Applicants should bring 10 to 15 examples of creative work including drawing and painting to their interview.

Course Outline

• Painting – Exploring areas such as the human form, the environment and non-objective painting in oils and acrylic paints.
• Drawing – deepening an understanding of drawing including sketchbook work, life drawing with models, non observational drawing and experimental drawing.
• Mixed media and the use of ‘non traditional’ materials to enhance the student’s creativity and their appreciation of the visual and material world.
• Appreciation of Art – provides an insight into some important art theories.
• Sculpture – equipping the student with the knowledge and skill to generate 3D fine art sculpture using a variety of media.
• Design – getting a fuller understanding and appreciation of the design process from an artist’s point of view.
• Communications – exploring personal and professional communication.
• Work Experience/practice
• Portfolio Preparation Assistance

Facilities

• Each student has their own equipped studio space and storage
• Specialist Staff – the staff are very experience teachers who teach their own specialisms.
• Guest speakers from the art world are invited in to talk to and meet with the students.
• Access to the colleges Information Resource Centre / Library with an extensive collection of art books and publications and ample computers with broadband.
• Trips to galleries and other course related trips.
• St. John’s college is centrally located in Cork city within walking distance to galleries, art supplies shops and the bus and train station.
• There are a large range of other art, design, craft and media course on campus.

Assessment

• Projects and continuous assessment

Progression

• Students may progress to Art and Design colleges both in Ireland and internationally.
• Course tutors and the college career guidance staff both offer time to the students to discuss their further options after studying in St. John’s.
• One to one portfolio guidance meetings are arranged to give individual advise on portfolio preparation for further studies.
• There is generally a very high success rate by students that apply for further study and there is the possibility of students to enter the second year of the Crawford College/CIT fine art course through the cork college’s progression scheme.

Job opportunities

• Artist, art galleries, art studios, commercial art and other art related services.