Drawing and mindfulness: the art of being
- Course Code: VM141
- Dates: 09/02/25 - 09/02/25
- Time: 10:30 - 16:30
- Taught: Sun, Daytime
- Duration: 1 session
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Clare Barton-Harvey
Course Code: VM141
Duration: 1 session
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?
An exploration of drawing and mindfulness and how more ‘being’ as distinct from ‘doing’ in the drawing process can lead to many benefits including a sense of spaciousness, a more vibrant and sensitive connection to your materials and subject matter, and a sense of freedom and play. Through a series of guided drawing and mindfulness exercises you’ll explore a variety of ways of connecting to drawing to stimulate your inspiration and build confidence. A practical drawing course engaging a variety of media and subject matter, including the world around us, the imagination and artists’ work. The drawing studio is fully accessible by a wheelchair.
What will we cover?
- During the day we will investigate a range of sources of inspiration for drawing, including our physical senses, the imagination, and artists drawings.
- You will be introduced to ways of incorporating mindfulness into drawing.
- There will be guidance on how to shift from ‘the doing mode’ to the ‘being mode’ to access increased freedom, clarity of perception and connection, when drawing.
- There will be opportunity to try out a variety of drawing materials and approaches, to refresh your drawing or stimulate new directions.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Discover the difference between ‘doing’ and ‘being’ in the drawing process.
- Identify ways to cultivate ‘the being mode’ or ‘presence of mind’ to stimulate a sense of spaciousness, a more vibrant and sensitive connection to your materials and subject matter, and a sense of freedom and play.
- Incorporate a range of mindful drawing skills, for you to take away.
- Draw from observation and the imagination, engaging a range of media and artists drawings, for inspiration.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Suitable for beginners as well as those with experience in mindfulness and/or drawing who wish to re-fresh their practice or stimulate new approaches.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Through guided mindfulness practice
- Demonstration of drawing methods
- Practical drawing exercises
- Pair and group discussion
- Slideshow, hand-outs and other practical learning resources.
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All basic materials are included.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Drawing and Mindfulness, Drawing and the art of Mindfulness: tone, Drawing and Mindfulness: the art of seeing, Life Drawing and Mindfulness, Drawing and Painting from the Imagination.
Clare Barton-Harvey is a full time artist and tutor/trainer living in London. In her teaching, she specialises in life drawing, drawing and mindfulness, working with colour, and painting from the imagination. She is an engaging and inspired tutor responsive to individual need and encouraging of individual growth/expression. In 2003, she studied at the Royal Drawing School, where she engaged in life drawing and the study of contemporary and historic artist’s drawings as part of the Drawing Year. In 2017 she engaged in post-graduate study with Bob and Roberta Smith (RA) and has exhibited solo and in a variety of group shows throughout the UK. You can see her work at www.cbarton-harvey.co.uk. Clare has been a practicing artist & mindfulness practitioner for over 25 years, and has taught drawing and painting for over 18 years, in a variety of locations currently including the National Gallery, British Museum, British Library, Pallant House and Hampton Court Palace. She is also co-founder of LIMINA collective (www.liminacollective.com) who specialise in mindful engagement with art in galleries and museums.
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.
