
Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, New Zealand's leading private arts and design institution, is proud to offer evening classes to our community.
Courses provide quality teaching, an exposure to the world of contemporary art practice, and individualised tuition in a positive learning environment. Our aim is to make art and design accessible to any individual who is willing to develop their skills, explore their creativity, encounter new ideas and ways of working, and revitalise their practice.
Click here to download and print the Short Course application form.
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The Whitecliffe Art and Design Weekend Experience is designed specifically as a fun, informative, and practical introduction to Painting, Illustration, Photography and Adobe PhotoshopCS5. Students complete four introductory courses of three hours duration each, over the two day period. Each course is intended to give students the skills to get started on their own or to begin further study in that area of interest. Courses are taught by Whitecliffe faculty and short course tutors.
Suitable for beginners
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
FEBRUARY | SATURDAY 18 and SUNDAY 19
APRIL | SATURDAY 7 and SUNDAY 8
JUNE | SATURDAY 2 and SUNDAY 3
9.30 AM - 4 PM
$285.00 for each two day workshop
ABSTRACT PAINTING
James Lawrence
James Lawrence is a well known painter and tutor and one of New Zealand’s respected modernist artists. Students will have the opportunity to improve current painting skills or learn from scratch functional, original and resourceful acrylic techniques. The classes will cover design, colour and texture, utilising demonstrations and practical creative exercises. Students will be able to develop their own style with individual direction from James.
EVENING COURSES
THURSDAYS. 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | MARCH 1 - APRIL 5
TERM 2 | MAY 3 - JUNE 14 (NO CLASS MAY 24)
$250.00 per term
LANDSCAPE PAINTING
Steve Marsh
This course is offered to beginner or intermediate level students who would like to learn to paint representational landscapes in an impressionist style. Students are free to utilise and adapt this painting style for other preferred subject matter. Students will be taught the fundamental principles of paint application to achieve atmospheric perspective and dimension and will be shown how warm and cool colours are used by professional artists to create depth in a painting and also how to mix colour to change tonal values. Most importantly, Steve will show students the four key skills required for composing and creating a successful landscape painting. The preferred medium is oils but students may also use acrylics.
EVENING COURSES
WEDNESDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 29 - APRIL 4
TERM 2 | MAY 2 - JUNE 13 (NO CLASS MAY 23)
$250.00 per term
MIXED MEDIA
BEGINNER
Selene Simcox
The ‘Mixed Media’ style of painting is an approach to creating artworks which utilise materials and tools other than purely paints and brushes. The Beginner course offers students the opportunity to be experimental with a variety of media and to learn and apply techniques for creating textured surfaces, collage, scraping and painting with rags, cardboard and other tools. The works completed by each student will have a unique and individual character
EVENING COURSES
WEDNESDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 29 - APRIL 4
TERM 2 | MAY 2 - JUNE 13 (NO CLASS MAY 23)
$250.00 per term
ADVANCED
Selene Simcox
A Mixed Media workshop for those who have completed the Beginner Course, or who have some experience with this style of painting. Students will be introduced to more advanced techniques including encaustic wax, stenciling, mono and digital printing as well as acrylic medium, gels and unconventional tools. After experimenting and developing skill with these techniques, students will be able to apply their new knowledge towards an artwork or series of works
EVENING COURSES
Monday 23 – Wednesday 25
TERM 1 | MARCH 1 - APRIL 5
TERM 2 |MAY 3 - JUNE 14 (NO CLASS MAY 24)
$250.00 per term
YOUNG ADULTS
Wendy Faith
This mixed media workshop for 11 - 14 year olds is designed to encourage an exploration of individual creativity using painting, collage, found objects, and colour. Students can choose from a range of projects relevant to their world such as a CD cover, poster, book cover, board game, etc. as well as traditional exercises in colour and mark marking.
SUMMER Workshops
Workshop one
JANUARY | Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25
9.30 AM - 4 PM
$285.00
Workshop Two
JANUARY | Thursday 26 and Friday 27
9.30 AM - 4 PM
$225.00
EXPRESSIVE ACRYLIC PAINTING
John Horner

This course introduces students to expressive acrylic painting with a focus on either landscape or cityscape. John Horner, will instruct students on the painting techniques for which he is well recognised - his “loose brushwork” style utilising under painting, scraping, textures and glazing. The course will include time in the studio and excursions to suitable locations close to Whitecliffe.
Suitable for beginners and advanced artists.
date To Be Announced
still life painting
Grant Whibley

This painting class will introduce you to still life painting. We will be considering both historical/traditional models and more contemporary examples. The class will focus on developing your painting skills while encouraging you to develop your own personal style. We will be considering a variety of approaches to composition and the use of different media and techniques. As well as plenty of studio time devoted to painting there will be both formal and informal discussions and presentations to support your learning and to assist you in understanding how your work might be interpreted by a wider audience. During the course you will have full access to the library and its extensive range of art and design material to enhance and inform your studio activities.
Suitable for beginners or those with some experience
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP ONE
MARCH | SATURDAY 17 AND SUNDAY 18
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00
WORKSHOP TWO - THE ROMANTIC LANDSCAPE
MAY | SATURDAY 12 AND SUNDAY 13
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00
ABSTRACT comic strip PAINTING
Glen Snow

In this workshop students will make a large abstract comic strip as a unique piece of art, exploring different abstract painting techniques along the way. The words ‘abstract’ and ‘comic’ are not normally found together and this odd combination is just the ticket to get creative juices flowing. The possibilities of mark-making, drawing, painting, collage, colour as well as story telling, and ‘figure’ within abstraction are all worked through practical exercises resulting in a personal piece of abstract art as comic strip.
Suitable for beginners and advanced artists.
date To Be Announced
LAYERING
Ruby Oakley

This Two day workshop introduces students to four different methods of printmaking. The focus will be on layering of prints either together (one on top of another) or multiple printing of individual plates to create a variety of finished images. Layering is a fabulous technique to create pattern, texture and depth. The results are usually dynamic and wouldn’t be possible using just one process.
The four processes used are gelatine plate mono-printing (which does not need a press so printing can continue at home), dry-point etching on plastic, collagraph and pronto (a type of paper lithography).
Tuition will cover each process one at a time so that students are able to understand how each process works individually. The course will explore how to create an image through layering these processes together and students should complete the course with the ability to independently produce more plates and prints.
The course is aimed at beginners and those with some experience.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP
MARCH | SATURDAY 17 AND SUNDAY 18
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00 plus a materials fee
PHOTOGRAHIC PRINTMAKING
Ruby Oakley

The two print processes of solar and pronto plate are being offered together as they can both be utilised to produce prints directly from photographs, which is the focus of this workshop.Solar plate uses UV light to etch the plate while Pronto is a type of paper lithography that makes use of a photocopier. This is almost a unique opportunity as rarely is tuition offered for these modern printmaking processes.Inspirational examples will be provided as well as easy to follow demonstrations. Students will find these processes are an easy way of creating great looking prints.
The course is aimed at beginners and those with some experience.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP
MAY | SATURDAY 12 AND SUNDAY 13
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00 plus a material fee
INTRODUCTION TO PRINTMAKING
Ruby Oakley
This introductory course covers five different processes of print making which are not commonly taught These include mono-printing using gelatine plate - so students will not need a press to continue printing at home. Other processes introduced include: dry-point etching on plastic, lino cuts, collagraph and pronto plate lithography.
By focusing on a different printing process each week students will discover their own style to create their own printing plates and prints on paper. It is my aim to ensure students leave with the confidence to produce more plates and prints completely on their own.
The course is aimed at beginners and those with some experience.
EVENING Courses
Tuesday, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 28 – APRIL 23
TERM 2 | MAY 1 – JUNE 12 (NO CLASS MAY 22)
$250.00 per term (plus a $55.00 Material Fee to cover the cost of ALL materials - paid directly to the tutor)
INTRODUCTION TO PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Parisa Taghizadeh

This course is designed for students with a limited knowledge of technical photography. The course will teach students everything from the basic use of a DSLR camera, downloading images, colour correction, editing of work through to the completion of each portrait project. Students will learn how to compose their images and work with available light as well as studio lighting.
EVENING COURSE
Tuesday, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 28 – APRIL 3
TERM 2 | MAY 1 – JUNE 12 (NO CLASS MAY 22)
$250.00 per term
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
2012 DATES to be advised
6 PM - 9 PM FRIDAY
9.30 am - 4 pm SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
$285.00 per course
Student Comment
"I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Portrait Photography course. I am very appreciative that Whitecliffe runs weekend courses like this! I thought that the instruction by Parisa Taghizadeh was superb and very accessible by all. I thought the active teaching/learning style was very effective." - Jasmine Kamante
INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS5®
Alexandra Savtchenko-Belskaia (Sasha)

Photoshop® is the professional standard in digital imaging, with an endless selection of drawing tools, filters, and colour-adjustment capabilities for manipulating items in almost any way. Photoshop® has become an indispensable tool for all creative professionals. This course teaches a broad spectrum of core skills that are common to many creative fields. Students will learn how to work with layers and selections, how to adjust, manipulate and retouch photos. Students will also learn how to use the paint tools, add text, prepare files for output, and much more. Whether you are making a photo album, a brochure for a small business, or a graphic for your website, this course will teach you how to use Photoshop to achieve the best results possible.
This course is suitable to those who are new to the application, just learning this version, or expanding their skills.
Prerequisites: Before enrolling on this course, participants should have basic computer skills including mouse operation, creating folders, creating files and savings files into folders.
EVENING COURSES
THURSDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | MARCH 1 - APRIL 5
TERM 2 | MAY 3 - JUNE 14 (NO CLASS MAY 24)
$300.00 per term
INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Treve Dromgool

This introductory course is designed to teach students how to progress from a reliance on automatic functions to being able to fully utilise the manual functions available on a DSLR camera. The course will incorporate group trips outside the classroom so that students can experiment with composition, cityscapes, and landscape, returning to the studio to analyse the results and to work on downloading, archiving, and printing methods. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about the value of commercial lighting in the Whitecliffe photographic lighting studio.
EVENING COURSES
WEDNESDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 29 - APRIL 4
TERM 2 | MAY 2 - JUNE 13 (NO CLASS MAY 23)
$250.00 per term
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP ONE
MARCH | SATURDAY 17 AND SUNDAY 18
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00
WORKSHOP TWO
AUGUST | SATURDAY 11 AND SUNDAY 12
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00
WORKSHOP THREE
OCTOBER| SATURDAY 13 AND SUNDAY 14
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00
Student Comment
"Loved it - good pace and I learnt a lot. Treve was an excellent communicator, as well as informative, interesting, enthusiastic and keen to pass on her knowledge." - Joan Laurence (completed the six week Intro to Digital Photography in 2011)
"As a novice photographer, Introduction to Digital Photography taught me the basics of technique and theory. The weekly assignments were a fantastic opportunity for me to learn how to use my new digital SLR camera. My favourite parts of the course were hands on experience with Adobe Photoshop in the classroom, and time in a real studio to learn about portrait photography." Kathy Gillespie
INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHY
Treve Dromgool
The Intermediate class is designed for students who are completely fluent with their camera and understand its manual functions and the creative impact of these controls. The course is designed to further this experience with more technical and challenging tasks. Through ongoing discussion, group critique, observation and workshop style learning of issues related to photography, students will develop an awareness of the medium both practically and conceptually. Topics covered include; client scenarios, colour theory, grading laboratory prints, a field trip for High Dynamic Range shooting, a gallery visit and studio lighting workshop.
EVENING COURSES
THURSDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | MARCH 1 - APRIL 5
TERM 2 | MAY 3 - JUNE 14 (NO CLASS MAY 24)
$250.00 per term
INTRODUCTION TO FIGURATIVE ILLUSTRATION
Paul Hooker

Students in this course will be taught the basic skills of figurative drawing either for the purpose of Fashion Design or for Illustration. The class will be adapted to individual strengths and whichever of these two disciplines students wish to develop.
Fashion Illustration: students will be shown how to structure the figure as a coat hanger for fashion drapery where the figure is elongated to create the desired elegance and beauty that best presents a design concept.
Figure Illustration: students will be shown the skills required to accurately and sensitively draw a life figure using personally selected photographic images for the subject matter.
EVENING COURSES
WEDNESDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 29 - APRIL 4
TERM 2 | MAY 2 - JUNE 13 (NO CLASS MAY 23)
$250.00 per term
INTRODUCTION TO DRAWING
Emma Thomsen

This observational drawing class introduces students to the basic principles and skills of objective drawing. Students will initially focus on a still life set up in the studio and will progress throughout the six week course to subject matter of their own choice, including landscapes or portraiture. The core skills covered in the course include mark making, proportion and tone in Term 1, and in Term 2 creation and understanding of the mechanics behind interesting and dynamic composition using the elements and principles of design. It is not necessary to have completed Term 1 in order to enrol in Term 2.
EVENING COURSES
THURSDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | MARCH 1 - APRIL 5
TERM 2 | MAY 3 - JUNE 14 (NO CLASS MAY 24)
$250.00 PER TERM
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
9.30 AM - 4 PM
SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18 MARCH
SATURDAY 12 AND SUNDAY 13 MAY
$225.00 PER WEEKEND


FASHION ONE
Anja Lundin (Evening Courses)
Students will develop knowledge of the Fashion industry and foster their creativity through experimentation within this discipline. Students will be introduced to the process of pattern drafting and garment construction using industrial sewing machines. During the garment construction process, students will experiment with surface design and embellishment employing different fabric manipulation techniques.
This course is suitable for beginners and for those with some experience
EVENING COURSES
Tuesday, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 28 – APRIL 3
TERM 2 | MAY 1 – JUNE 12 (NO CLASS MAY 22)
$250.00 per term
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
9.30 AM - 4 PM
SATURDAY 17 - SUNDAY 18 MARCH
SATURDAY 12 AND SUNDAY 13 MAY
$225.00 PER WEEKEND
FASHION TWO
Marigona Xharra
Students that have already completed the Fashion Design One course or are sufficiently experienced will be taught further skills in basic pattern making. Students will draft a pattern for pants and a shirt, and construct one garment in calico. Using industrial machines, students will learn garment construction elements such as fly zips, cuffs and collars.
This course is suitable for intermediate students.
EVENING COURSES
WEDNESDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | FEBRUARY 29 - APRIL 4
TERM 2 | MAY 2 - JUNE 13 (NO CLASS MAY 23)
$250.00 per term
FASHION THREE
Tara Cunniffe & Paul Hooker
This course introduces the student to elementary principals of design including appropriate fabric choices, to create a cohesive fashion collection. The course will include two fashion illustration classes. For inspiration; students will have exclusive access to international trend forecasting data. Students will complete this course with a design board showcasing their collection of three to five garments.
This course is suitable for beginners and for those with some experience.
EVENING COURSES
THURSDAY, 6 pm – 9 pm
TERM 1 | MARCH 1 - APRIL 5
TERM 2 | MAY 3 - JUNE 14 (NO CLASS MAY 24)
$250.00 per term
Jess Paraone

This course serves as an Introduction to tikanga (protocols associated with raranga/harakeke). Students will learn how to Identify and harvest harakeke for weaving projects. In Workshop One the course includes demonstrations on the methods for preparation and storage of harakeke for weaving projects. Students will be introduced to weaving techniques for Puti puti, (woven flower forms), three dimensional kete (baskets): and Kono, a simple food basket.
Students who wish to advance can enrol in Workshop Two where they will create a Waikawa, (large storage basket)
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP ONE
MARCH | SATURDAY 17 AND SUNDAY 18
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00
WORKSHOP TWO
MAY | SATURDAY 12 AND SUNDAY 13
9.30 am - 4 pm
$225.00
Enrolment Information
Courses are open to all people aged 16 years and over unless specified otherwise in the course description. No qualifications or experience are necessary unless specified in the course description.
EVENING CLASSES
Terms at Whitecliffe run over a seven week period, but evening courses consist of six classes which run from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Each class will therefore have a one week break in the fourth week of classes when Whitecliffe Undergraduate Workshops are held. If a class needs to be cancelled, it will run on the next available day or by arrangement between the tutor and students.
DAY & WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
The Whitecliffe Short Course programme includes a range of Day Classes and Weekend Workshops which are scheduled during the mid semester break and during term holidays. Classes are not designed as a school holiday programme however, mature school students who are aged 14 or over may be permitted to enrol. The Weekend Workshops are either over a full weekend or are on consecutive Saturdays, enabling students who are not able to attend in the evenings the opportunity to enjoy classes at Whitecliffe. All Day classes will run from 9.30am - 4 pm.
Eligibility
All Short Courses are non-credit and are open to all ages. However, some courses are challenging, therefore we recommend that applicants under the age of 18 years contact the office if uncertain about their eligibility. No qualifications are necessary unless experience is specified in the course description.
Location
All classes take place at our main Campus, located at 24 Balfour Rd in Parnell off Gladstone Rd, one block from the Parnell Rose Gardens. On-street parking is available on Balfour Rd.
Materials
A material list will be provided upon confirmation of the course.
Building Access
For your security, the Whitecliffe Balfour Road Campus is protected by a swipe card access system. As part of your fees, you will be allocated a swipe card on the first night of course, granting you access during your scheduled classes. Should a student require a replacement card, or fail to return this swipe card at the end of the course, a replacement fee of $25 will be incurred.
Refunds
You may request to withdraw from a course up to 3 working days prior to the commencement of a course and gain a full refund. Refunds will not be given to students withdrawing after the commencement of a course. Fees cannot be transferred to future bookings.
Booking and Course Cancellation
In order to confirm your place, full payment is required at the time of booking - no deposits taken. Whitecliffe reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course that does not reach a viable number of enrolments. In this case you will receive a full refund. Whitecliffe reserves the right to amend any course, schedule, location or tutor listed in the brochure before or during the course.
Students
Please note that on the enrolment form you are required to notify Whitecliffe of any existing medical condition or disability that may affect your participation in a course. The information supplied to Whitecliffe is required to manage your enrolment and participation. No personal information will be disclosed outside Whitecliffe without your expressed consent, except where required by law.
Click here to download and print the Short Course application form.














