Thumbnail Image: 'The Soul of the Rose,' John William Waterhouse (cropped)
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APPLICATIONS CLOSEDWINTER TRIMESTER DATES: 14 January to 30 March 2024
CLASS SCHEDULE: Saturdays 10:30 to 15:00 STUDY LOAD: 4,5 lesson hours per week, 49,5 instructed hours total (some additional homework is assigned outside of class) INSTRUCTOR: Thomas Langeveld LANGUAGE: English is spoken during lectures and demonstrations ; individual critique in Dutch or English LIMIT: 14 students maximum TUITION COST: € 545 (Tuition does not include course materials. See materials list below.) Registration for the Winter Trimester is now closed. Applications for the next trimester of classes at DARA will open in June 2024. |
Reproducing a master's work deepens our understanding of traditional painting techniques. Not only do students gain insight into how historical painters might have approached their subjects, but this field of study advances the student's ability to learn about composition, paint application, color mixing, and brush handling.
Duration: This course focuses on one historical painter and/or a specific school of painting for two trimesters at a time.
Duration: This course focuses on one historical painter and/or a specific school of painting for two trimesters at a time.
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Top - examples of paintings by Waterhouse typical of the work students will copy from ; bottom - student work in previous trimesters of this course
Course Description
The English painter John William Waterhouse will be studied during the 2023 Fall & 2024 Winter trimesters. (The selected painter for this class changes every two trimesters.)
In this course, students will explore master works across a variety of different artistic periods, genres, and painting methods. Each trimester, students are given a selection of paintings from the chosen artist to work from, and will complete their master copies from a high quality print reproduction.
About John William Waterhouse
John William Waterhouse (1849 - 1917) was an Italian-born English Academic style painter who later embraced the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s style. He was mostly know for painting young women in historical costumes, from Greek mythology or Arthurian Legend. Many of his paintings are based on authors such as Homer, Ovid, Shakespeare, Tennyson, or Keats.
Waterhouse is known for his depiction of luminous skin tones, often contrasted with dark eyes and background. This aesthetic made the women he painted appear pure, innocent and angelic, considered the height of beauty at the time in Waterhouse's Victorian England. To achieve this luminosity, a pale underpainting will be applied first for the flesh tones, which will be refined in subsequent layers while allowing the underpainting to shining through.
Waterhouse often began his work with a rough, almost impressionistic underpainting, employed immediately in color. This would allow him to quickly capture the essence of the final ''look'' of the painting with bold and semi-transparent brushstrokes, and more intense color and refined brushwork was then added in the final layers. Students will learn this method by studying after one of his "unfinished" paintings, as well as one of his completed works.
Curriculum
Students in this course will reproduce two works of John William Waterhouse over the trimester, approximating his palette and painting approach.
The first selection will focus on one of Waterhouse's 'unfinished' paintings, to become familiar with his underpainting technique.
The second selection will focus on one of Waterhouse's finished works. During the trimester, students will make a small color study of this painting first, and then paint a larger reproduction.
Throughout the trimester, Thomas will demonstrate each step of the painting process, and lead discussions with his students about paint handling, color theory, and correct material use.
First Trimester
Students who enroll in this course for the first time are given a selection of cropped versions of Waterhouse's paintings to choose from by the instructor. A choice is made when completing an application form online.
Second Trimester
Students who enroll during both the Fall and Winter trimesters can select their own painting after Waterhouse to study from during the winter session.
All work in this class is completed from print reproductions of master works using the sight-size method.Course Materials
The following materials are required for participation in this course.
Buying supplies at DARA?
Items on the list marked * are available to buy at the atelier.OIL COLORS:
All oil colors should be Artist/Professional quality. No “student-grade” paint please.
PRINCIPAL PALETTE:
The following pigments are required for all paintings:- Lead White OR Lithopone White + Titanium White (Beginners should not use Lead White. *Lithopone white is sold at the studio.)
- Yellow Ochre Pale
- Nickel Yellow
- Cadmium Red Medium
- Ivory Black
- Ultramarine blue OR Cobalt Blue
- Viridian
- (Permanent) Alizarin Crimson
- Raw Umber
- Burnt Umber
- Raw Sienna
- Burnt Sienna
DRAWING TOOLS:- * Graphite pencils for sketching - B or HB
- * Utility/crafting knife
- * Sandpaper block
- * Kneaded eraser
- A roll of masking tape
- * 2 sheets of white sketch paper, 30x40cm
- * 1 sheet tracing paper, 30 x 40cm
- * 1 sheet tracing paper, 40 x 50 cm
- * 1 sheet tracing paper at a size that matches your chosen painting
- 1 thick stick of charcoal
CANVAS:- 1 stretched and primed fine- or medium-weave canvas, size 30 x 40 cm
- 1 stretched and primed fine- or medium-weave canvas, size 40 x 50 cm
- 1 fine- or medium-weave canvas (size depends on your chosen painting)
MEDIUMS:- * Linseed oil
- * Liquin by Winsor & Newton
- * Gamsol
PAINTING TOOLS:- Large wooden palette
- Palette knife
- * Metal palette cups
- Clean, empty jar for rinsing brushes
- Paper towels or rags
- 1 kitchen sponge
- OPTIONAL: * Pipette
- OPTIONAL: Rubber gloves (strongly advised if you are using lead white)
BRUSHES:
Please bring 1 large housepainting brush to the first class. The other brushes are not required on the first day, and students may wait to prefer to buy brushes after consulting with Thomas during the first lesson.
The size and brushwork of your chosen painting should be taken into account when deciding on the sizes of your brushes.
- 1 large flat housepainting brush
- A variety of bristle brushes in small to large sizes: filberts (“cat-tongue”), flats, and rounds
- A variety of sable-hair or synthetic brushes in small to large sizes: filberts (“cat-tongue”), flats, and rounds
Financial Aid
Student Discount
Are you 21 years old or younger OR are you studying full-time in a university or other accredited school during the trimester?
If so, you qualify for a 10% student discount off the cost of any part-time course at DARA.
To claim the discount, please email a copy of a valid photo ID which includes your date of birth, or your current student card to [email protected] before the start of the trimester.
Please note that the student discount is for part-time study courses, and does currently not apply for workshops.
Funding For Creative Professionals
You may be eligible for funding for your studies at DARA from Werktuig PPO (permanente professionele ontwikkeling, or “continuous professional development”) if the following applies to you:- You are employed by a Dutch company or organization in the creative or cultural sector.
- You are a self-employed freelancer in the Netherlands in the creative or cultural sector.
How can I check if I am eligible?
Businesses within the creative or cultural sectors are categorized by SBI code.
The list of eligible SBI codes can be found here.
How does this funding scheme work?
Werktuig PPO finances one-third of the total cost of the course, with the remaining amount to be contributed by you or your employer.
Are you interested in enrolling in multiple courses at DARA? Werktuig PPO offers a maximum contribution of € 2000 in funds per 12 months.
How can I apply?
Apply online at: https://werktuigppo.nl/
Applications must be submitted by students. DARA is not affiliated with Werktuig PPO and cannot apply on a student’s behalf. Questions regarding this funding scheme may be emailed to [email protected]
Can DARA students apply for the STAP budget?
Not at this time.- FAQs about this CourseQ: Is this course suitable for beginners?
A: It is recommended to have basic proficiency in drawing first. This class is accessible to beginners, but it's recommended that you select a painting to copy that is appropriate to your skill level.
Q: Do students work from photographs?
A: Students work from high-resolution print reproductions of paintings. Working from photographs is not taught in any course at DARA.
Q: Can I keep my print at the end of the course?
A: Yes, the print is included.
Q: I want to copy a painting that is not included in the instructor's selection. Can I choose my own?
A: This course focuses on a specific painter for two trimesters at a time. Any students who enroll in the course for both trimesters can choose to copy a different painting (or crop of a painting) from the featured painter during the second term.
Q: What's the point of copying?
A: We believe the most efficient way to learn the difficult skill of drawing and painting is through imitation. Studying from a master's work hones our skills of observation and enables us to assimilate ideas about composition, brush-handling, color, form, and craftsmanship into our own process. The result is a profound advancement of technical skill, which DARA considers the foundation of academic training.
Q: Can I use water-mixable oils?
A: The instructor does not use this type of paint himself, but students who prefer to use water-mixable oils may do so. It's not necessary to bring solvents if working with this type of paint, but students should still plan to bring linseed oil.
Q: Why does the materials list say that I should not bring Student paints?
A: Student quality paints perform very differently from professional quality oil colors. Student paints cost less because the volume of pigment is diluted with paint-extenders and fillers, which weaken the strength of the color and are not good for the painting's longevity. To learn a craft properly, we feel that it's important to use the correct tools.
Q: I want to take this class, but I will probably have to miss some lessons. Can I still register?
A: Please make sure you can attend at least 80% of the lessons before you sign up.
For FAQs about DARA in general, click here.
DUTCH ATELIER OF REALIST ART
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