The Art School Syllabus (2026)

This one-year programme unfolds across three distinct terms, each designed to build technical confidence while expanding creative expression. Every session begins with a signature 30-minute drawing drill to warm up the hand, eye, and mind.

Term 1 | Autumn: From Graphite to Fluidity

Duration: 12 Weeks (September – December) Aligned with local school terms

Weeks 1–6: Experimental Mark Making

Inspired by Laura McKendry
Technique: Pencil, Graphite, Charcoal, Indian Ink.
Focus: Reconnecting with the page through “controlled accidents.”
Practice: Blind drawing, non-dominant hand exercises, and exploring the full tonal range of graphite to capture the raw essence of natural forms.

Weeks 7–12: Narrative Silhouettes

Inspired by Kara Walker, Jan Pieńkowski & Arthur Rackham
Technique: Paper-cutting, Watercolour and Acrylics.
Focus: Transitioning from soft tonal work into bold, high-contrast storytelling. This project aligns with the winter season. Think Children’s books & Christmas Tales.
Practice: Combining fluid colour washes with crisp silhouettes to create atmospheric, narrative-driven pieces.

Milestones

• Weekly: Studio Huddle — a 10-minute sharing of discoveries from your ink work

• Mid-Term: The Mark-Making Review — a Show & Tell of graphite explorations before transitioning to the next media. 

Term 2 | Spring: Colour, Pattern & Structural Layers

Duration: January – Easter

Technique: Acrylic, Watercolour, Collage.
Theme: Building Depth Through Repetition

Focus: Developing layered compositions through bold, joyful colour bases (inspired by Emily Powell), and meditative pattern overlays (inspired by Helen Wells).

Weekly Drill: Organic & Non Organic Patterns

Repeated marks and motifs to build focus, rhythm, and fine motor control before scaling up into larger works.

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Milestones

• Weekly: One Good Line — sharing a successful pattern or motif from the drill

• Mid-Term: The Layering Critique — group discussion on colour harmony and base layers before adding detailed overlays

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Term 3 | Summer: Tactile Narratives & Mixed Media

Duration: Easter – July

Technique: Drawing, Painting Printing & Collage (Paper/Fabric)
Theme: Identity and Texture

Focus: Bringing together all prior skills into resolved mixed-media works. Inspired by Amy Sherald, Bisa Butler, Malgorzata Mirga-Tas, and Nicoleta Sekulovic, students create portrait or landscape pieces that explore identity through texture and material.

Weekly Drill: Including Textural Rubbings 

Capturing textures from the environment and fabrics, translating them into marks that can be incorporated into final compositions.

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Milestones

• Mid-Term: Material Mashup — presentation of curated “texture palettes” and their connection to personal themes

• Final: End of Year Exhibition — a celebratory showcase of each student’s journey and completed works

The 30-Minute Drawing Practice

A consistent warm-up designed to help you enter a creative flow state:

• Release the Ego: The first 10 minutes prioritise movement over perfection

• Focus on Sensation: Notice how materials behave—the drag of graphite, the flow of ink

• Build Consistency: Use a dedicated sketchbook to track progress across all three terms

Show & Tell: Building Our Creative Community

• Weekly Studio Huddle: A relaxed 10–15 minute sharing session focused on process, not polish

• Mid-Project Review (Every 6 Weeks) to reflect, exchange ideas, and gain inspiration from different interpretations of the brief

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