Recently, the Seniors University of China (SUC) concluded its third session of the 'Oil Painting for Beginners' class led by Professor Tang Yingshan.
The six-week programne consisted of a teaching team of eight instructors and 28 participants. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of all involved, the beginners with no prior experience achieved remarkable progress in their studies.
Building upon the successful teaching experiences of the previous two sessions in 2023, the "Oil Painting for Beginners" class has honed a rich blend of online and offline teaching methodologies. In this latest session, Professor Tang Yingshan spearheaded a thorough review and enhancement process that focused on refining painting techniques, imitation of artworks, teaching approaches, and support services, resulting in an upgraded teaching curriculum. The essence of this approach revolves around emphasising the core principles of artistic thinking, aiming to help novice learners cultivate the ability to observe the world through the eyes of a painter and capture the vivid beauty of oil paintings.
This session boasted several distinctive teaching features, including an initial hour dedicated to the lecture on key artistic concepts, followed by practical demonstrations and one-on-one coaching. Adjustments were made to three artworks based on feedback from previous participants to better suit their imitation practice and reinforce knowledge retention. The integration of online and offline elements involved weekly in-person classes complemented by online exercises and feedback sessions to solidify students' application of learned concepts. Moreover, an elderly-friendly design approach was implemented, featuring increased reviews of core concepts during lectures and diligent note-taking by the assistant team for easy access to revision materials. Additionally, comprehensive feedback on assignments helped students identify strengths and weaknesses, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Professor Tang Yingshan was imparting core knowledge points to the students
Professor Tang Yingshan was reviewing and revising students' works
The students were dedicated to their painting
After extensive teaching practice, Professor Tang Yingshan's "Oil Painting Basics" class at the SUC has developed a teaching plan that primarily focuses on in-person lessons supplemented by online resources, tailored for elderly beginners. The strength of this teaching plan lies in its simplicity and clarity, making it easy to understand and apply, combining learning with practical application. Through the course, students have not only learned how to paint and enjoyed the process but also undergone aesthetic education, subtly applying knowledge of form and colour to their observation of society and the beautification of their lives.
The high-quality teaching and excellent services of the beginner class have been highly praised by the students. Survey results show that 86.7% of the participants were "very satisfied" with the course, and 100% felt "very happy" during their learning process. The SUC’s oil painting courses have received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, with a long waiting list for enrollment due to their excellent reputation.
It is reported that this autumn, Professor Tang Yingshan will offer beginner, intermediate, and plein air painting classes to meet the needs of students at different levels. The teaching team is committed to continuously refining the curriculum and enhancing the quality of instruction based on ongoing evaluations, so as to better meet the learning needs of oil painting enthusiasts.
By Cheng Ling, OUC