Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between Beginners Drawing and Foundation Drawing?
Firstly they are taught by different teachers so the exercises/methods are different, but they are still both for beginners. Foundation drawing uses only pencil and charcoal exercises while the beginner drawing course includes some exercises with ink and gouache. Both course have 2 lessons with a life model and both use simple still life compositions. So the choice often comes down to which night suits you better!
What is the difference between Art for Beginners and Beginners Acrylics?
These course are similar as they are currently taught by the same teacher Anne Kwasner. The beginner Acrylics is structured to show you every step in the process of painting with your initial sketches also done with paint, no pencils needed. Whereas AFB combines both painting and drawing elements for those who want to try a bit of both. Drawing experience will always help with your painting technique so if you have absolutely zero experience in both, Art for Beginners is a good course to start with.
What is Mixed Media?
Mixed media is the combined application of 2 or more mediums. In this course you will experiment with acrylic paint, ink, charcoal, pastel, pencils, collage and simple relief printmaking. This course is great for those who aren’t sure about what medium they would like to start with,—here you get a taste for everything. It’s also a great course for those wanting to learn how to combine different media and be more experimental in their art making.
How is Expressive Drawing different to the other drawing courses?
In this course you will be taught basic drawing principles while learning to push the boundaries with conventional drawing equipment. You will not use as diverse a range of materials as in mixed media but there will be charcoal, pen, pencil and ink. You will be given specific tools and tricks of the trade in working with these mediums. The class exercises will be more dynamic and experimental than the beginners drawing courses. There will be a focus on mark making and expressing yourself more in your work.
This course is suitable for beginners as realism and perspective are not the focus here. The end result is a much more organic approach to drawing. There are no life models used in this course.
What does Drawing in Colour entail?
This course is basically about pastels, and how to draw using colour. If you have only ever used graphite or charcoal this course will show you how to add a whole new dimension to your work. Coloured pastels are a wonderfully versatile medium which is very forgiving. It allows you to apply colour fast while making alterations easily. There are specific techniques when working with pastels and Tania Castiang will show you how.
Can I start Oil Painting with no experience?
Yes, beginners can start painting with oils. Our course is designed to teach you step by step how to work with this medium. Oils are a medium loved by many artists and although they do have substantially longer drying times, many artists love this quality with oil painting as it gives you more time to blend colours and apply glazes.
If you are still unsure we often recommend you start with acrylics—especially if you have never painted before. Acrylics dry fast, so if you like to work quickly the speed of acrylic painting might better suit you. They are also easy to clean up and are very versatile, working well with other mediums.
Will Life Drawing be too hard for a complete beginner?
Life drawing is a challenging medium even for an experienced artist, but it is an incredibly rewarding one to master. Initially this course will feel difficult for a total beginner but it is structured in a way that all levels are catered for. Unlike other ‘drop in’ courses which don’t have any instruction, you will have an experienced tutor to guide you. The tools for measuring angles, achieving perspective and techniques for creating form and depth will be explored. Unlike more general drawing courses you are focusing on the one topic—the human figure—so you will see dramatic improvements in your drawings over the 8 week course.
If you are still unsure we often recommend to start with a beginner drawing course, which includes two weeks of life drawing also. If you enjoy that you can follow on with this course.
What is Project Painting all about?
Basically we created this course to follow on from both our Oil and Acrylic courses. It allows students to continue painting and learning new techniques without the structure of a beginner class. This way you can have individual guidance in the areas you require. This space also lends itself to self directed projects. You may just have an idea for a painting but need help in putting those ideas on canvas. Or you may need help and feedback on your progress for a major work you may be submitting for a competition or university portfolio.
This is a relaxed course that runs on a sunday afternoon. Many students just keep re-enrolling as a commitment to regular art practice in a friendly and creative studio environment.
Why do only some courses have material kits and do I have to buy them?
We only make up kits for our 5 most popular courses to make it easier for both teachers and students having the right materials to complete the course. Also you can imagine what it would be like if 20 students turned up at 6.15pm all wanting to buy a long list of products! You save 20% when you purchase an art kit; however you are welcome to buy materials as you go and you will still get a 10% student discount for the duration of your course.
Mixed media is the only course where it is important to have specific materials as the exercises are based around particular media. With the drawing and painting courses you can get away with bringing whatever materials you may have and just buying a few items that your teacher may suggest, ie, a particular medium or colour paint.
Is there any parking near Art On King?
Newtown isn’t the easiest place to find parking but with a few tips it is achievable. A lot of the back streets behind our studios are 1 hour parking but only until 6pm, after which you can park all night. So the best time to grab a park is between 5 and 6pm. There is paid 2 hour parking on Church Street and if you don’t mind a 10 minute walk, if you park behind Camperdown Park on the Australia Street side, there is unlimited parking there too.
Having said that, it is easy to travel to Newtown via public transport. Newtown train station is a 5 minute walk away and all of the following buses stop 2 minutes from our studios: 422, 426, 428, 423, 370 and a few others.
