First-year BA (Hons) Fine Art student Rebecca Armstrong shares her experiences from her current first term studying at City & Guilds of London Art School. Interviewed by fellow student Frances Leung, Rebecca discusses the projects, teaching style, and community at the Art School.
Rebecca’s first day involved gallery visits with tutors to the Tate Britain and National Gallery. Their introductory project focused on the body, and students were tasked with observing fragments or expressions that caught their eye quickly. “It was fascinating to look at art in that way for the first time,” Armstrong noted.
The first major project delved deeper into observational drawing and life drawing of the nude figure. Unlike traditional life drawing classes, students were given different challenges and rules to make the intimidating subject more accessible and interesting. Rebecca created body books combining 2D images and 3D sculptures in various workshops around the school.
As a mature student, Rebecca appreciated the intimate class size of 23 students, allowing more time to get to know her peers. The course includes students fresh from the Foundation course, those with work experience, and others without formal art training.
Teaching involves observational drawing, technical workshops, and utilising the school’s facilities like the metal workshop. Rebecca praised the tutors, all working artists, for bringing real-world experience into their teaching. Daily classes run from 10-5pm with tutors, and students can access studios independently outside of class hours.
Overall, Rebecca said students can expect a full-on first term immersed in intensive study alongside the same cohort. “It’s knackering but exciting,” she noted, happy to be learning at a prestigious art school with supportive tutors. For those considering BA (Hons) Fine Art, her experience highlights the immersive teaching style and opportunities to develop skills through diverse projects focusing on the human body.
Featuring Artist Rebecca Armstrong, First Year BA (Hons) Fine Art
Words and photography by Frances Leung, Third Year BA (Hons) Fine Art
