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Drawing and Painting - Absolute Beginners
Calm any creative nerves with this easy-going art group designed to help you form a good foundation of confidence and skill in your creative endeavours.

Each week we will work very slowly with simple exercises and tasks, spending time to explore different mediums such as pencil, crayon, watercolour, pastel, collage/mixed media, and even painting in acrylic if we dare!

Each week I will bring in some of my materials and equipment for you to get to grips with what’s on offer in the art world - although I feel it’s a possibility you have lots of materials already waiting to be used! Saying that though, we will keep items required to a minimum, looking at alternatives to help you dive in each session without breaking the bank. You will have a week’s notice for any materials needed specifically.

Sessions will involve learning foolproof techniques to help you create artworks with confidence. Over the weeks we will look at drawing simple objects in-life, creating an imaginative landscape, atmospheric seascape, figure drawing and much more. We will also look at colour mixing and how to use colour well.
Prosp User 3
If you have a creative interest but have no idea how to start, this course is for you. If you prefer to work at a much slower pace and have lots of patience and are keen to try, then please do join us.
Prosp User 4
For the first session, please bring:

1. Graphite pencils: HB, 2B, 6B

2. A spiral-bound sketchbook, A3 size, with preferably a heavier weight of paper, so that you can use water on it too.

For a versatile surface that handles both drawing and painting, 250gsm (approx. 120 lb) is an excellent weight. It is thick enough to resist buckling from wet media like watercolour or acrylic while providing the "tooth" needed for dry media like graphite and charcoal.

I will bring in what I can to share and help but you will eventually need some other materials, as listed below. We will discuss these a week before, or you can bring in what you already have to discuss.

3. A basic set of of paints (watercolours/acrylics)

4. Four or five synthetic brushes, focusing on medium sizes and a small round

5. Apron, water pot (old cup), palette (old plain plate/basic plastic one/paper plate)

If you are claiming a Means Tested Benefit fee reduction or enrolling via social prescription, there is financial help available to help pay for the cost of your materials: click here for more information.
Prosp User 5
There is no class on Wednesday 28 October 2026 (half-term holidays).

You can find details of how to access, travel to and park at St Paul's Church Hall, Holgate, on their website. Please be aware that there is limited parking at the church. The postcode is YO24 4BF and their ‘what 3 words’ are ///farm.stamp.with. Click here for more information.

Please ensure that you read and understand the health and safety guidelines on any creative product that you intend to use during the course.
Prosp User 6

In order to support keeping York moving, consider travelling to your course by bus or bike. Click here to check out the bus routes closest to the venue for this course using the iTravel website, or discover York's cycle routes by clicking here.
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Alongside gaining course-specific skills, you will develop and showcase transferable skills that boost your confidence, employability, and ability to engage in further learning or volunteering.
Alongside gaining course-specific skills, you will develop and showcase transferable skills that boost your confidence, employability, and ability to engage in further learning or volunteering.
Employers highly value these transferable skills because they equip employees to excel beyond their basic job roles.
Employers highly value these transferable skills because they equip employees to excel beyond their basic job roles.
Prosp User 8

Learners who live in devolved authorities

Learners who live in devolved authorities
York Learning receives government funding which allows us to offer courses at a lower cost. The guidelines relating to devolution means that we cannot apply this funding to learners who live in devolved areas such as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
York Learning receives government funding which allows us to offer courses at a lower cost. The guidelines relating to devolution means that we cannot apply this funding to learners who live in devolved areas such as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
If you live outside of this area, we recommend that, before committing to a course with York Learning, you explore options to study the course in your local area.
If you live outside of this area, we recommend that, before committing to a course with York Learning, you explore options to study the course in your local area.
If you would prefer to continue your learning with York Learning please note that the price of the course could be double the advertised cost.
If you would prefer to continue your learning with York Learning please note that the price of the course could be double the advertised cost.
In this case, please contact us on 01904 554277 to complete your enrolment.
In this case, please contact us on 01904 554277 to complete your enrolment.

Learners under the age of 19

Learners under the age of 19
Please note that Adult Education funding is for individuals who are over the age of 19 on the 31st of August prior to the start date of their course.
Please note that Adult Education funding is for individuals who are over the age of 19 on the 31st of August prior to the start date of their course.
This means that there will be an additional cost for learners who are under 19 who wish to access funded courses.
This means that there will be an additional cost for learners who are under 19 who wish to access funded courses.
For safeguarding reasons, we cannot accept learners who are under 18 on courses except by prior arrangement. This does not apply to programmes which are designed for 16-18s.
For safeguarding reasons, we cannot accept learners who are under 18 on courses except by prior arrangement. This does not apply to programmes which are designed for 16-18s.
If you are under the age of 19, please contact us on 01904 554277 before booking.
If you are under the age of 19, please contact us on 01904 554277 before booking.
AT1/SV8
16/09/2026
25/11/2026
10:00 - 12:00
Wednesday
2.00 hrs per wk
10 weeks
Carolyn Coles
155.00
A 65% discount of the full fee is available for people in receipt of certain means-tested benefits