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Drawing and Painting - Very First Steps
This is a fun class designed to help beginners to develop their skills and confidence, creating a good foundation to take other creative tasks further with confidence. Each week we will have a loosening up exercise and a task.

Tasks will include still life set-ups, sometimes using other artists as inspiration, such as recreating a study in the style of, or such like. We will delve into abstracts, and how to create your own landscape and seascape. There will be a bit of everything, with the emphasis on stepping up a gear in your confidence by learning and playing with paint and dry media.

We will look at creating mark-making tools as well, to help you along the road of conjuring interesting texture, useful for when creating foam on the sea for example, or softness in clouds.

Each session will involve discussing our work in an easygoing and supportive environment.
Prosp User 3
If you aren’t afraid of picking up a pencil, and have some understanding of how to get stuck in, then this is the course for you.
Prosp User 4
You will need a basic set of everything. Pencils 2B-6B, charcoal, kneaded eraser, sketch paper, to begin with.

When it comes to painting, we will start slowly and I will bring in what I can to share and help. A basic set of student acrylics and a small set of watercolours will be eventually required, alongside watercolour paper and board.

Brushes: 3–5 brushes is ideal, focusing on medium sizes to balance coverage and control. Essential starter sizes include a medium-large flat (size 10–12 or 3/4 inch) for backgrounds, a medium round (size 6–8) for general painting, and a small round or detailing brush (size 0–2) for details. Synthetic brushes are recommended for durability across media.

You will need to wear old clothing/an apron, and please bring a water pot and mixing palette/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
To find your classroom, please come to the main reception at the front of York High School. This is on your right at the beginning of the road leading into the car park. The green perimeter gates will be open, and the main reception is to your left once you have passed through the green gates.

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/TC5
21/09/2026
23/11/2026
19:00 - 21:00
Monday
2.00 hrs per wk
9 weeks
Carolyn Coles
140.00
A 65% discount of the full fee is available for people in receipt of certain means-tested benefits