Course Overview

Course Outline

In this course you will learn:
Starting with a refresher on Celtic Knot border patterns, you will be shown how to use them in differing shaped borders.
You will be shown how to look at the trees around you to identify potential design ideas.
Then, with step-by-step guidance using simple drawing techniques you will be shown you how to create your own designs.
To finish we will explore the use of colour and different media for you to complete your Native Tree of Life artworks.

Course Outcome

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Draw a Celtic Knot border for a mandala
• Draw a basic tree shape to design from a photo of a local tree.
• Draw Celtic Knots ‘growing’ from a tree shape
• Draw Celtic spirals ‘growing’ from a tree shape
• Draw leaves and flowers ‘growing’ from a Celtic knot pattern
• Outline and tidy your designs
• Apply colour to your Celtic designs
• Design your own Celtic artworks combining spirals, knot patterns and plants into one pattern

What you need to know

Entry Requirements

Beginners and continuing students are welcome.
Some experience of drawing from nature (desirable).
To be able to use a compass, protractor and ruler.
To be able to draw Celtic Knots using a diamond dot grid.

What you need to provide

• Mechanical/pacer pencil + 0.5 2B leads
• Ruler and 30cm or longer Eraser
• Compass (Make sure it can hold its position without slipping.) Protractor
• 0.4 Pigment marker, eg. Artline marker
• A4 Sketch pad
• Colour media, what you have or prefer to use: colour pencils; pigment markers; other felt tip markers; OR
• Paints – water colours or watercolour gouache, acrylics.
• Empty jar, for rinse water
• Rag, soft & absorbent like t-shirt fabric
• Fine pointed round brushes no.0 & no.1