Art Class: Manuscript Illumination for Beginners - starts January

The content of the following programme is partially dependent on the group dynamics of the particular class. Therefore your tutor will aim to develop the skills of the group and of individuals in the group at an appropriate level.

Core themes that will be covered include:

• What is an illuminated miniature?
• Understanding the tools and materials of illumination
• Tracing and transferring a design
• Preparing our ground
• The order of applying materials.
• Applying gold leaf
• Colour mixing and painting with fine brushes & gouache paint.

 Materials needed:

• Extra fine brush for painting (preferably a Kolinsky Sable brush 2/0 or 3/0): https://www.cornelissen.com/davinci-series-11-tobolski-kolinsky.html
• Small brushes for mixing colours & applying glues
• A hard pencil such as a 4H
• A paint palette
• Goauhe paints including, white, black, red (vermillion), blue (ultramarine), burnt sienna, green & yellow (cadmium). The best brand is Sminke Calligraphy gouaches: https://www.cornelissen.com/schmincke-calligraphy-gouache.html
• 300gsm hot pressed water colour paper
• A book for note taking
• An agate dog tooth burnisher either no. 27, 21 or 22

Material Suppliers:

• https://www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/polished-agate-burnisher-no-27-5334/ 
• https://www.cornelissen.com/agate-burnisher-no-21-series-2.html
• https://shop.stuartstevenson.co.uk/products/agate-burnishers?variant=34068875804803

The more niche materials such as vellum and gilding glue will be provided. Each student will start with a sheet of gold leaf and you can buy more from the tutor as the course goes on if needed.

Sarah Davis is a multi-talented artist who studied at Chelsea College of Art and the City & Guilds of London Art school, from which she graduated with a distinction in 2019.

In her own work Sarah uses a variety of techniques, ranging from traditional artisan skills, such as gilding and carving, to contemporary practices such as multi-media sound installation. Highly skilled in her work, Sarah's approach is informed by a love for historic crafts but reapplied to contemporary art practice.

As well as teaching at Imperial College, she is a tutor in the carving and historic conservation departments at City and Guilds of London Art School, and she has a studio in south London.

Rate Categories and Discounts

Standard Rate

• Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.

Internal Rate

• Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
• People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
• Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
• Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
• Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School

Associate Rate

• Austrian Cultural Forum staff
• Co-operative College members
• Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
• Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
• Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
• Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
• Friends of the Royal College of Music
• Harrods staff
• Historic Royal Palaces staff
• Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
• Members of the Friends of Imperial College
• Members of the Kennel Club
• Members of the London Zoological Society
• Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
• Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• National Health Service (NHS) employees
• Natural History Museum staff
• Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
• Royal Geographical Society staff
• Science Museum staff
• Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
• Students (non-Imperial College)
• Teachers and other staff of UK schools
• The American Institute for Foreign Study
• Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
• Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
• Victoria and Albert Museum staff

Late enrolment

It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.

Friends and Family Scheme

This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.

Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024

Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:

• Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
• If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.

When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:

If you have any questions about the content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Sarah Davis, s.davis@imperial.ac.uk 

If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk