QQI LEVEL 5

Painting In Practice

Course Details

BTEI

QQI Level 5

Part-time (10AM - 15.30PM, Tues)

Places: 23

Start Date: 22/09/2026

Finish Date: December 2026

*FREE – Applicants must meet the BTEI criteria in order to qualify for free fees. We have a limited number of places for paying students (€50). Details on our FAQ page.

Summary

STARTING Tuesday/Friday 22/25 SEPTEMBER 2026:

Painting under the ⏰

Over 12 weeks, our accredited part-time Painting course, introduces students to the languages of still life, landscape, portraiture, colour, tone, collage, and exhibition practice through sustained studio work and experimentation, including painting under the clock which brings vitality to your paintings.

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Beginning with close observation and tonal studies, the course gradually expands into colour, atmosphere, identity, and personal expression before culminating in the curation and presentation of a group exhibition.

The course is led by James Merrigan, artist and critic, whose current research and writing examines painting in relation to photography, social media, and contemporary image culture, including his forthcoming essay “When the World Mistook a Photograph for a Painting” for the Routledge Companion to Contemporary Painting (2027).

Due to demand, the course will be divided into two groups: Tuesday or Friday. If applying, please include your preferred day (Tuesday or Friday) after your name on the application form. Starting the 22/25 September.

While we will try to accommodate preferences where possible, placement on specific days cannot be guaranteed. Priority will also be given to BTEI students in line with course criteria outlined in the “Entry Requirements” below.

Course is FREE for BTEI applicants; course fee for non-BTEI students: €50 for 12 weeks.

  • Title: Art

    Code:  5M1985; 5N1302 Painting

    Level: 6

    Type: Minor

  • In this standalone 12-week painting course you will explore and practise the fundamentals of painting, from setting up your subject matter for painting, to mixing and applying paint.

    Through the frame of the landscape, portrait and still-life, students will be given demonstrations and painting exercises on light, colour, form, texture, tone, negative space and so on.

    Painting appreciation will be helped by field trips to galleries, and class presentations and discussions on painting, from the Renaissance to now. Through experimental techniques and intuitive processes students will build their creative identities through an appreciation of traditional and contemporary modes and materials of painting.

    This course is perfect if you are returning to learning with ambitions to pursue Level 5/ 6 or higher education; or if you always wanted to explore your creative impulses but never got the opportunity.

    The course will support students in making successful applications to full-time QQI level 5 and 6 courses like our Portfolio Preparation Level 5 and Advanced Portfolio Preparation Level 6 full-time programmes.

    • Experiment with diverse painting techniques

    • Develop your unique artistic style through personalised guidance and exploration, unlocking your creative vision.

    • Learn the essential skills to present your work professionally

    • Gain valuable feedback and support from experienced artists and educators through expert mentorship.

    • Discover new mediums and approaches, fostering a deeper understanding of your creative potential, exploring your artistic passion.

    • Build the confidence and skills needed to begin and sustain your art practice in further art education or independently

  • 5N1302 Painting

  • The course will support students in making successful applications to full-time QQI level 5 and 6 courses like our Portfolio Preparation Level 5 and Advanced Portfolio Preparation Level 6 full-time programmes.

  • Places are based on a first come, first basis. There is no portfolio or interview required to gain entry onto this course. We prioritize BTEI eligible students who have a medical card or in receipt of a social welfare payment, listed below:

    • Medical Card

    • Supplementary Welfare Allowance

    • Job Seekers Benefit (Unemployment Benefit)

    • Job Seekers Allowance (Unemployment Assistance)

    • Family Income Supplement

    • Farm Assist

    • Carer's Allowance

    • One-Parent Family Payment

    • Back-to-Work Allowance

    • Community Employment

    • Part-time Job Incentive Scheme

    • Widow's and Widower's Non-Contributory Pension

    • Blind Person's Pension

    • Pre-retirement Allowance

    • State Pension (Non-Contributory) (Old Age Non-Contributory Pension)

    • Guardian's Payment Non-Contributory (Orphans Non-Contributory pension)

    • Illness Benefit, where this has been held for a continuous period of at least 6 months (Disability Benefit)

    • Disability Allowance

    • Invalidity Pension

Next

Practical Design | QQI Level 5