To cater to the learning requirements of oil painting enthusiasts nationwide, the School of Art at the Open University of China (OUC) conducted a blended online and offline "Oil Painting for Beginners" class at the Seniors University of China (SUC) from 15 May to 23 June, 2023.

The course was delivered by esteemed professors hailing from the OUC's School of Art, namely Cheng Ling, Li Jianqiang, Chen Hong, and Cui Meng.

A Photo of some students attending the face-to-face lecture and the SUC teaching team

The class was conducted in a blended format, simultaneously taking place offline and online, totaling 7 class hours. The face-to-face lectures were held at the Weigongcun Campus of the Seniors University of China (SUC), where approximately 30 learners, with an average age of 60, attended and successfully completed a total of 145 oil paintings. Simultaneously, the online lectures were delivered via immersive VR live streaming, accessible to participants for free. An exclusive live channel was set up for online learners, enabling group demonstrations and tutoring. The online lecture drew a remarkable participation of over 60,000 individuals, who actively engaged with the teacher, posing questions and receiving prompt responses. Through collaborative efforts, the learners generated an impressive collection of over 560 pieces of oil paintings.

Throughout the course duration, the students delved into the fundamental principles of artists' perspectives and skillfully replicated several renowned paintings, including Van Gogh's "Iris," Monet's "Tides," "Water Lilies 11," and "Haystacks." In a mere 6 weeks, these students evolved from novice oil painters to proficient artists capable of recreating masterpieces by renowned painters. As they marveled at their own creations, the participants expressed their enthusiasm for the blended class, which had ignited their artistic potential. Notably, a selection of the students' exceptional works will be showcased at the 'Online Oil Painting Commune' exhibition hosted by the ASEAN Economic and Cultural Exchange Centre.

Based on the live communication information and face-to-face class learning experience survey, the blended class received an outstanding overall satisfaction rate of 99%. Participants attributed this high level of satisfaction to the meticulous preparations and thoughtful services provided by the SUC, along with the meticulously designed course developed by the teaching team under the guidance of Prof. Tang Yingshan. Prior to the class, the team took great care in preparing painting materials, delivering understandable interpretations of the artists' perspectives, and providing informative videos on how to protect students' posture and eyesight during painting sessions. Furthermore, after each class, they diligently reviewed and provided detailed explanations for every artwork created by the students. These meticulous efforts collectively contributed to an excellent learning experience for the participants.

Students and their works

"Time flies,

These six weeks of painting lessons passed in a flash,

We have gained great benefits from this class,

Anticipating with excitement to meet our teachers again this autumn,

Eagerly looking forward to creating more artworks with our own hands."

Huang Xiaowen, one of the students in attendance, composed this poem to convey the sentiments upon the class's conclusion. Another student, Ma Yanfang, also shared their thoughts: "Prof. Tang's exceptional teaching has provided me, as a beginner, with a fresh understanding of oil painting. In just a few classes, I have gained significant knowledge and skills. Additionally, I have discovered the joy and happiness that colour matching brings to my daily life."

The class represented an innovative exploration of the "small-scale offline to drive large-scale online" digital learning approach, implemented by the School of Art within the framework of a "digital university." This endeavor serves as a practical step towards advancing digitally empowered aesthetic education for individuals of all backgrounds, with a particular focus on delivering high-quality learning services for seniors.

By Tang Yingshan, OUC