Course overview

This two-week online project-based course is a great introduction to the world of mixed media art. The creative project for this course is designed to improve, build and inspire your own unique and individual artistic skills. Your tutor will guide you through the process of creating a mixed media art project working with the theme of Hopes & Dreams.

Contemporary research shows us that creating art brings with it many surprising health and wellbeing benefits. Making art can reduce stress, increase happiness, encourage self-expression and expand critical thinking. This mixed media course has been designed for beginners to improvers and for those interested in exploring a new, creative, fun and relaxing pastime. This course is also well suited for those who wish to progress on to further or higher-level art education.

Basic materials you will need to have with you for this course are below, please select a few from the list below. These materials are suggestions only, please use materials you may have already for example, if you have paper, coloured card, glue and some pencils or crayons this would be an excellent basic tool kit sufficient to attend this course.

An A4 or A3 sheet of watercolour or mixed media paper with a weight 250 to 300 gsm. Alternative surfaces – a sheet of robust craft card or mount board primed with white gesso.

PVA glue or matte medium with a brush to apply the glue.

Synthetic paint brushes – a flat half inch brush and a round sized 8.

A small plastic or china paint palette or an old china saucer to mix your paint on.

White gesso or white acrylic paint.

Four small tubes or jars of crafters or artist’s acrylic paint in colours of your own choice. A suggested colour palette of white, blue, red and yellow.

A selection of papers to collage with, some suggestions - old magazine pages, old gift wrap, paper napkins, crafters rice and tissue papers, light weight coloured craft card, old tickets or even junk mail – used, emptied and dried tea bags. Pencils, pens and crayons, stencils, stamps and stickers and glitter are all optional.

Spend some time selecting a focal image for your project to symbolise a personal hope or dream you currently have. For example, the butterfly is commonly used in art to symbolise transformation, rebirth and new beginnings, as are certain flowers. Choose something which holds personal meaning to you, however, please do not use photographs unless they are laser copies of your original as glue may damage your print.

Course assessment

There are no exams for this course however if you wish to receive personal tutor feedback for your practical works, you are welcome to send the tutor digital photographs and she will respond with her feedback before the next class. Further details will be given at the first meeting.

Course progression

At the end of this workshop, if you’d like to continue with your learning in this subject, you’ll be able to progress onto our Drawing & Painting Developer Course or other art-based Developer courses.

Our workshops and courses are designed to provide essential skills, develop confidence and resilience, improve your health & wellbeing, prepare you for further learning or employment, provide ways to learn with your family and build communities. We have a wide range of workshops and courses and you can explore more on our website. There’s something for everyone!