Advance your life drawing
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Location: Keeley Street
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- Course Code: VA649
- Dates: 29/01/25 - 19/03/25
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Wed, Evening
- Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Andrea Voisey
Course Code: VA649
Choose a start date
Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course provides an opportunity for learners on any of City Lit's advanced courses to access and work from the life model, whether to explore and develop elements of figure-based work in existing practice, to build observational skills, develop a portfolio of objective drawing, or to practice working from life. Each learner will come to the course with their own set of interests and requirements, so each session is an opportunity for you to practice, explore and develop according to your individual needs, with tutorial feedback and advice.
What will we cover?
- observation and accurate rendering of the human form
- contrasting traditional 'academic' life drawing with expressive/expressionistic approaches
- expressive use of mark, gesture, material and scale
- appropriate use of material, scale, speed and touch.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- approach life drawing, figuration and representaion of the human form more confidently
- render the figure more successfully, across a greater range of materials and processes
- effectively use materials and marks to expressive ends
- understand and enhance the relationship between life drawing, in both traditional and experimental forms, and your onigoing and developing practice.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is intended for learners on any of our advanced visual arts courses who wish to have greater opportunity to practice and develop their life drawing. It will be of particular value to students on our Foundation and Pre-Foundation courses whose practice consists of figurative representation, who are developing skills in this cornerstone discipline of the western academic tradition, or who are developing a portfolio. Equally, it is intended for advanced students who simply enjoy life drawing. As such, you should come to each class with some idea of what you would like to explore, or how you want to develop your life drawing.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Every session will consist of working from the live model, in one of our drawing and painting studios. There will be demonstrations, presentations and group discussions, as appropriate. The main focus is on activity, and either developing existing skills in compiling a portfolio of figure-based observational drawing, or exploring and experimenting with techniques and materials as part of an on-going and increasingly advanced practice.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All basic materials are provided. Your tutor will advise regarding appropriate materials for any particular approach you may wish to explore, and whether we will provide them or you should source them yourself.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
As this course is intended primarily to support learners already studying in our Centre for Advanced Practice, there is no particular recommendation for any future courses, as this will depend on the other courses you are studying and how you intend to develop your practice at an advanced level. Your tutor will be able to advise, and support you in selecting the most appropriate follow-up course(s).
Andrea studied Drawing at Camberwell College and textiles at Morley College, where she also did her teacher training. She has a passion for the macabre and much of her recent practice has focused on drawing animal skulls and skeletons. She has a particular interest in comparative anatomy which led her to devise the Anatomical Life and Portrait Drawing courses at City Lit. Observational drawing is at the core of her practice and she uses it as a means of recording the world around her, be it the clutter of the studio, a music gig or a specimen in a museum. Andrea has an energetic approach to teaching. She is highly communicative and strives to create a positive group dynamic whilst being sensitive to the needs of individual students. This has been enriched by her extensive experience as a life model which she has used as a unique opportunity to observe first-hand the teaching methods and creative processes of many artists and has applied this knowledge to develop her own distinctive teaching style. Examples of her work can be found at www.instagram.com/voiseydrawing
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.