Watercolour

From figurative to abstract

The Watercolour course offers an in-depth theoretical and practical exploration of the watercolour technique, understood as an autonomous and complex painting medium. Each lesson adopts a theoretical and practical approach, combining life-drawing exercises, technical demonstrations and references to art history, with particular attention to contemporary artists.

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From mark to colour

The work focuses on the relationship between drawing and painting, on controlling water and execution time, and on the conscious use of colour, from building the colour palette to composition, image balance and the design process, from the initial sketch to the final work.
The course encourages a critical reading of the artwork and a conscious practice of pictorial language.

At the end of the course, participants who have attended at least 8 of the 10 scheduled lessons will receive a certificate of attendance, which may be used for the possible recognition of 2 CFA academic credits.

Course type: group – in person Participants: Max. 15 Attendance: weekly, Saturdays from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm Duration: 8 lessons – 32 hours total Cost: €490.00 – in a single payment or two instalments of €250.00 Materials: to be purchased by participants, see the Programme section Requirements/materials: none Language: Italian Lecturer: Giulia Di Pasquale Campus: RUFA – Via Degli Ausoni, 7 Rome Scheduled annual sessions: Autumn Session > 17 October – 5 December 2026, Winter Session > 9 January – 27 February 2027

– Study of the fundamental materials and techniques of watercolour.
– Life study of still life: observation, sketching and colour mapping.
– Colour theory: colour wheel, hue, saturation and brightness.
– Principles of composition and image balance.
– Copying a masterwork and pictorial interpretation.
– Life drawing in a museum.
– Life drawing of the human figure: studying the body as a structure of volumes and forces.
– Development and exploration of a personal expressive language.

MATERIALS: Materials for drawing:
– sketchbook;
– graphite pencil (2B or 4B grades);
– white eraser and kneaded eraser;
– pencil sharpener;
– charcoal and/or sanguine;
– fine-tip black marker (e.g. Pentel Brush Sign Pen or equivalent);
– one roll of yellow paper masking tape.

Materials for technical experimentation:
– 7 sheets of watercolour paper (300 g/m², fine or medium grain), minimum size 30 × 40 cm; a higher percentage of cotton makes the support more suitable;
– watercolours (preferably in tubes; alternatively, pans). Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolours, for example, are recommended;
– white gouache;
– soft round brushes in various sizes (16/14 – 8/6 – 4/2); professional-quality brushes such as Davinci or Tintoretto are recommended;
– soft-bristle flat brush;
– natural sponges; dropper or pipettes;
– cloths for cleaning brushes; two small bowls or glasses for water;
– optional mediums: ox gall and masking fluid.

OCTOBER
17/10/2026
24/10/2026
31/10/2026

NOVEMBER
07/11/2026
14/11/2026
21/11/2026
28/11/2026

DECEMBER
05/12/2026

Giulia Di Pasquale (Rome, 1999) is a visual artist. She lives and works in Rome. She graduated with highest honours from both the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes in Painting at RUFA. She subsequently obtained her teaching qualification in graphic, painting and set design disciplines at the Academy of Fine Arts in L’Aquila. She currently works as an Academic Tutor for a student with Down syndrome and teaches watercolour in RUFA Short Courses. From 2024 to 2025, she taught painting disciplines at the Spazio Studi Flaminio secondary school in Rome. In 2024, she worked as an academic assistant to RUFA Painting lecturers Guido D’Angelo and Fabrizio Dell’Arno. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Italy, including at the Museo della Permanente in Milan, Palazzo Costantino in Palermo and MAS in Bologna, as well as at KOU Gallery, Studio Buccia, Spazio Y and La Nuova Pesa in Rome. She was selected as the winner of the calls for the Morlotti – Imbersago Award and Uno sguardo contemporaneo sul Farnese, curated by the French Institute. From 2020 to 2023, she was a collaborator and member of the collective project KHLAB – Laboratorio Kaspar Hauser.

Studenti e Alumni RUFA: agevolazione del 50%
Ex studenti Corsi Brevi e Summer Academy RUFA: agevolazione del 10%
Studenti universitari: agevolazione del 5% (previa esibizione del libretto universitario)
Pacchetto corsi/gruppi/famiglia: contatta corsibrevi@unirufa.it per soluzioni personalizzate e un orientamento gratuito sulla combinazione di corsi per semestre

Per tutti gli iscritti, senza necessità di requisiti particolari, sono disponibili agevolazioni in base alla data di iscrizione:

SUBJECT	ECTS
The links between form, structure and function of objects. Study of the principles underlying a sustainable design methodology and the different strategies. Realization of a complete project: prototype, model or layout.	6
Knowledge of common graphic elements and tools for technical drawing: construction graphics, metric scales, basic elements of orthogonal projections, axonometric projections and techniques for architectural metric survey. Representation of an architecture, or parts of it, with furnishing elements and details, using the most appropriate scales.	6
AutoCad: basic commands and principles. Hatches, backgrounds and masking, texts, dimensions. Creation and application of dimensioning blocks on scale 1:3 of the drawing, modification of existing objects, raster graphics, insertion of squares and scale ratios. Development of an assigned project: representation of plans, sections, prospects and details.	6
Realization of concrete objects starting from intuitions, graphic sketches, design forms not yet finalized. All the way to three-dimensional models that conclude the design process. Final report related to the work carried out during the course, as well as time and costs estimates for the production of the final object.	6
Focus on the peculiarities of sustainable design materials and their rational use in industrial production. Assessment of the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the materials analyzed; in relation to the technologies, advantages and risk levels related to their processing. Deepening of the characteristics of natural and artificial materials such as wood, stone, stoneware, resin, composites, etc., in relation to their practical applications, with the aim of identifying their requirements and evaluate the appropriate and sustainable choice according to the type of project.	8
Learning the correct method of analyzing objects, ideas and contemporary design forms. Encouraging the development of a critical sense in the acquisition and review of historical data. International design context and movements from the late nineteenth century to the second world war.	6
First approach to developing and drafting interior spaces. Study of shapes and space. Understanding measurements based on functional and ergonomic standards connected with humans.	12
Interior design	8
Applied technology	4
Introduction to parametric modeling with an overview of the software Rhinoceros, used in the job market. Two-dimensional parametric design and three-dimensional modeling. Photography in a virtual environment: lights and materials for rendering. Control parameters for 3D printing.	6
Design knowledge necessary for the realization of models and prototypes using innovative digital technologies. Development of theoretical and practical activities to become aware of digital production systems such as: 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling.	4

Tutti gli studenti in possesso di certificazione ai sensi della Legge 104/92 hanno diritto a un’agevolazione del 20% sulla quota di iscrizione, indipendentemente dalla fascia temporale scelta. Per richiederla, è necessario inviare la documentazione alla segreteria all’indirizzo corsibrevi@unirufa.it.

L’iscrizione a un corso breve dà diritto, per il mese in cui si svolge il corso, ad accedere ad alcune convenzioni attive con esercizi commerciali.
Le agevolazioni riguardano sia l’acquisto di materiali creativi che le pause pranzo presso locali situati nei pressi dei campus. Se interessati si prega di fare richiesta del file aggiornato.