Life drawing and mindfulness
Time: 14:00 - 17:00
Location: Keeley Street
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VH852
- Dates: 11/06/24 - 02/07/24
- Time: 14:00 - 17:00
- Taught: Tue, Daytime
- Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Clare Barton-Harvey
Course Code: VH852
Choose a start date
Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 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?
Explore a range of approaches to life drawing through and variety of guided drawing exercises to stimulate a fresh response to drawing the human nude. During the course you will explore how mindfulness practice can support presence of mind and help to support a light/playful, yet wholehearted engagement in drawing. You will investigate the role and value of both traditional and experimental approaches and will practice a range of drawing exercises with reference to a variety of artists work for inspiration - the resulting work will range from the minimal to more bold and expressive work and will provide you with an opportunity to reflect on your work and where you can take it. This workshop is studio-based and is fully accessible by wheelchair.
What will we cover?
• An exploration of the theory and practice of mindfulness in the context of drawing.
• A range of drawing and mindfulness exercises to support concentration, presence of mind, and an imaginative response to the human figure.
• You will engage a variety of media and will cover a range of topics including proportion, composition, quality of line and mark-making and a variety of ways of expressing tone with the aim of igniting new ways of seeing and expressing yourself through drawing.
• You will be encouraged to adopt the materials and working practices of various artists, and to consider and discuss their approach and attitude.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Identify how mindfulness can support presence of mind, spontaneity, clarity of seeing, feeling and the imagination. Draw the human body with more confidence using a variety of different methods and media.
• Engage a toolkit of methods and resources for exploring and developing mindfulness and drawing.
• Look at and take inspiration from the work and practice of a variety of artists.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Suitable for those with experience in mindfulness as well as beginners. Some prior experience of drawing is recommended. Introductory life drawing guidance will be offered.
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 practices
• Demonstration of drawing methods
• Practical drawing exercises
• Pair and group discussion
• Slideshows, 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. and may be asked to complete learner progress records. You can find help via the student help centre on the City Lit website.
Please note it is important that you sign up and log in to your course Google classroom prior to the first session. Joining detail will be sent to you via email (check your junk/spam folder).
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 the art of Mindfulness: tone, Drawing and Mindfulness: release the judging mind, Drawing and Mindfulness: the art of seeing, Drawing and Mindfulness.
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.
