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.
Apply NowFoundation-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.
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
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
£1,650 Per course unit (4o credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £495 followed by 6 monthly instalments of £192.50. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£2,475 Per course unit (6o credits) |
Some of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessarry 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £550 followed by 10 monthly instalments of £192.50. |
Level 3 (HE6) |
£4,950 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given Open degree pathway. |
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
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
1,890 Per course unit (40 credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £567.50 followed by 6 monthly instalments of £220.50. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£2,835 Per course unit (60 credits) |
Some of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £630 followed by 10 monthly instalments of £220.50.
|
Level 3 (HE6) |
£5,670 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given degree pathway, and therefore are varied in cost. For individual pricing, please see the individual course unit pages on this website. |
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 costsDrawing Open Foundation
Not sure if this is the course for you? Explore our Foundation Drawing course.
Learn more