Study a Painting Foundation course with OCA

Have you always wanted to unleash the creative genius inside you? Did you love painting as a kid, but put it to one side to pursue other things? Do you dream of being the next Picasso or Monet?

If so, this course is for you. The Open Foundations Painting course is designed to unlock your creative potential and encourage you to paint more.

Our foundation painting course will help you grow your technical skills and understanding. Using different materials you’ll explore their effects and learn to apply them for different outcomes. You’ll work with a range of different painting styles and subjects such as still life and landscapes. You’ll start painting immediately, and work on plans for future art. Together with feedback from your tutor, you’ll make rapid progress.

You will explore a range of subject matter including interiors and the figure, and there will be an emphasis on painting from real life. You will also learn to make preparatory sketches and studies to help you understand composition in painting. You will reflect on your own work, and different ways of responding to a subject.

The online foundation course will also introduce you to the work of other artists, both historical and contemporary. This allows you to ground the development of your own distinctive practice from a really firm base.

An experimental approach to visual research is encouraged throughout our painting courses, to support and enhance the development of your ideas.

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Foundation-level online painting course

Whether you’ve not studied for a while, are ready to engage in degree level study, or wish to study to develop your skills and understanding, this online foundation course is for you. You don’t need any prior qualifications, this course is open to everyone, whatever level you are at.

This OCA painting course is a great steppingstone onto a bachelor’s degree level. On completion of the four parts of the OCA painting course, you can go with confidence to further study with the Open College of the Arts or elsewhere and decide on the nature and direction of your future studies or writing practice.

So start your journey today, pick up your paintbrush and palette and enrol with OCA.

Course Aims

The course aims to:

  • Introduce you to the technical skills and materials for painting.
  • Introduce you to historical and contemporary painting practice.
  • Develop your ability to select, edit and present a body of work.
  • Use visual research and experimentation to create a portfolio of work.

Course Outcomes

Through the course, you will:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the technical skills and materials for painting.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the context for painting and reflect on your own work.
  • Present a selected body of work.
  • Develop and communicate your ideas as a painter.
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Foundations

£1025

Per course

Level 1 (HE4)

£4,950

For the level

Level 2 (HE5)

£4,950

For the level

Level 3 (HE6)

£4,950

For the level

Total approximate undergraduate fees

Breakdown of costs...

Foundations

£1,175

Per course

Level 1 (HE4)

£5,670

For the level

Level 2 (HE5)

£5,670

For the level

Level 3 (HE6)

£5,670

For the level

Total approximate undergraduate fees

Breakdown of costs...

Fees, Funding and other costs

Foundation courses are ineligible for Student Finance funding, but we have deposit and instalment options available to help spread the costs.

There are also bursaries available for students on low incomes. See our fees and funding page for more info.

Other costs you may find during your foundation course include the purchase of materials/books/texts to assist in your practice and research. These can be around £150-400 for fine art subjects. Students are also encouraged to attend exhibitions and costs may vary.

Fees, funding and other costs

Drawing Open Foundation

Not sure if this is the course for you? Explore our Foundation Drawing course.

Learn more

BA Painting

Considering studying at a higher level? How about a degree in painting?

Learn more