In response to the demands of numerous beginner oil painting learners, the first session of the advanced class, "Professor Tang Yingshan Teaching Oil Painting," commenced on the 29th of November, 2023 at the Weigongcun Campus of the Seniors University of China (SUC).

This 6-week course is led by a teaching team consisting of one course leader, three assistants, and one class supervisor, with an enrolment total of 23 students.

Tang Yingshan provides on-site instruction

For this session, the advanced class employs offline teaching methods, allowing the course leader to dedicate more time to precise evaluations, on-site guidance, and assignment revisions. Students will have ample opportunities to interact with the course leader and observe live demonstrations.

Regarding the instructional content, the focus of the advanced class is the learning process from imitation to sketching in oil painting, specifically emphasising the copying of works by artists like Giorgio Morandi and Van Gogh, as well as landscape and still life sketching, and other relevant knowledge.

In terms of learning support services, the advanced class follows the instructional format of the basic oil painting class. The class functions as a unit, with study materials distributed prior to class and assignments collectively reviewed afterward. Students share their experiences, and teachers clarify doubts and provide guidance, fostering an environment of relaxed and enjoyable interactions, where everyone can learn from one another and make progress together.

Tang Yingshan offers guidance and revision for students' artworks

Tang Yingshan provides feedback on students' assignments

The current session represents an attempt by the Wei Gongcun Campus, of the SUC, to transition from small-scale offline oil painting classes, that drive large-scale online courses, to an integrated offline "teaching, feedback, demonstration, and coping" advanced improvement course. The ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive and diverse oil painting teaching system for senior universities in China.

Through their participation in the advanced class, students will experience significant improvements in both their knowledge, and skills in painting，ultimately helping them transform their artistic vision into satisfying masterpieces. With a 6-week duration, we anticipate that both teachers and students will reap fruitful rewards.

By Cheng Ling, OUC