Art Practical: Culture and Decoration - Styles and Techniques

This creative and practical course will examine how different countries and cultures use pattern as a form of decoration whilst exploring a variety of art making techniques and media. You will be invited to find out about different countries, uncovering how decoration has become a distinctive part of their culture, rituals and presentation. You will have the opportunity to experiment with symmetry, symbolism and colour and learn about the meaning and importance of different decorative traditions, including the making and decorating of your own Mexican sugar skull, Indian Mandala plate and Chinese Ming vase pattern. During the course you will identify how to use symbols and shapes to make symmetrical patterns. You will work on the development of your drawing skills and recognise how to work within controlled lines. You will also select patterns that appeal to you, which can be copied and repeated as part of a design. This course encourages you to create whilst you learn something new about other countries and cultures. At its finish you will be able to display your own colourful and useful outcomes at home.