In this course students extend their technical and theoretical skills in painting via set projects and conceptual prompts. Students will investigate painting's pivotal role in contemporary art via studio projects and lectures which critique and activate the possibilities of what painting can be. For example, students may engage with histories, theories and material aspects of painting. By reflecting on painting on histories and possibilities students will make paintings in context and dialogue with contemporary art.
Students may complete this course up to five times for a maximum credit value of 30 units, provided they enrol in a different topic in each instance/semester. Please note that the course content, assessment structure, and reading list will change depending on the topic and the expertise of the lecturer convening the course. Please refer to the class summary for the specific term in which you wish to enrol for a detailed description.
Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Approaches to Composition and Colour in Painting
- Introduction to Abstract Painting
This course introduces principles for the development of abstract paintings, considering a variety of historical and contemporary examples. This includes abstraction developed out of organic sources, geometric principles, optical effects, materiality and hybrid social forms. Studio projects expand the student's conceptual and historical understanding of abstract painting, introduce a range of paint-handling skills, develop knowledge of acrylic, oil and other media and the understanding of how formal and material qualities contribute to the generation of meaning and affect. Studio work is informed by lectures, seminars and group discussions.
- Painting in the Photo-Digital Age
This course explores the ways photography and media practices (digital and analogue) have influenced approaches to painting both historically and in a contemporary context. Students' progress is supported by lectures, group discussions, and studio projects that focus on the nexus between the mediation of visual experience and painting.
- Studio Methodology for Painting
- Painting Materiality, Environment and Meaning
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate competency with a range of advancing technical skills in relation to studio area & contemporary art practice;
- independently explore the potential of material/s & methods relevant to the studio area and set projects;
- recognise and analyse precedents and influences on artistic practice; and
- evaluate chosen studio methodologies on the outcomes of studio projects.
Other Information
School of Art & Design studio courses have a limited enrolment capacity. Students are advised to enrol as early as possible to maximise the opportunity of securing a place.
This course will have a Materials Fee. At the ANU School of Art & Design, each workshop sources appropriate specialist?materials,?which are made available to students?to facilitate their working?effectively,?efficiently and safely?within our programs. The School of Art & Design is able to supply materials that don’t compromise ANU obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS), and that have been assessed as suitable for each course. The Materials Fee ?is payable for the School of Art & Design to supply consumables and materials that become your physical property. You can choose to pay the Materials Fee and have these materials supplied to you through the School of Art & Design, allowing you to take advantage of the GST-free bulk purchasing power of the ANU.?These materials are also WHS compliant. The exact cost of the Materials Fee will be updated in the Class Summary for each semester in which the course is offered. The full SOAD policy can be read here: https://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/required-resources-and-incidental-fees.
Indicative Assessment
- Portfolio of studio work (Studio Project 01) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Portfolio of studio work (Studio Project 02) (50) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Contextual research and presentation (20) [LO 1,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 48 hours of contact over 12 weeks: lectures, tutorials, critiques and supervised studio practice; and
b) 82 hours of independent studio practice, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
As listed on Wattle.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4020 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painting in the Photo-Digital Age | ||||||
| 3996 | 17 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 23 May 2025 | In Person | View |
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Abstract Painting | ||||||
| 9158 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |