Painting and drawing dialogues: performance and the body
Drawings and paintings can capture the body’s movement in their surface, alongside registering an image. By focusing on the ‘performance of making’ new perspectives will inform a more...
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Your body leaves unique imprints of its movement in drawn and painted surfaces which are registered in distinct ways. Becoming more conscious of how your physical gestures impact your use of different materials will give you access to expanded methods of creating work, through group workshops to explorations of more individual subject matter.
What will we cover?
• How you can change the relationship to your work by becoming more conscious of your physical gestures. • Exploring pace, duration and scale in painting and drawing to heighten the ‘performance’ of making. • Using moving image, you will be invited to draw ‘with’ and ‘to’ camera, to choreograph your body’s movement when drawing or painting.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Expand the creative possibilities of painting and drawing by utilising the performative act of making. • Make use of the natural velocity of mark making and how changes in scale alter how the body is used when you draw and paint. • Utilise ‘seeing’ as a self-consciously bodily act and understand how this affects your relationship with drawing and painting. • Unpick the archaeology of a painted/drawn surface as an alternative way of responding to images. • Discuss and evaluate the progress of your work.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an intermediate course, intended for those with some painting or drawing experience, or those who wish to explore the relationship between the two disciplines.
You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Each session workshops a distinct aspect of the dialogue between painting and drawing, creating an atmosphere to support shared experimentation and discussion. The individual strands of thought arising, will be increasingly drawn together, but you will also be encouraged to make your own links between workshops. The course offers: • Practical structured projects • Group discussion and evaluations • One to one guidance • Presentations on the work of selected artists
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment, where 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 materials required are provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This is one of a suite of Painting and Drawing Dialogues courses. Taking further modules will expand your experience and confidence with cross-disciplinary working and prepare you for higher level study in the City Lit’s Advanced Practice area.
I am an artist living and working in London, trained at Chelsea School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art (University College London). I have shown in solo and group exhibitions around the UK and in Europe (including the Whitechapel Open and Threadneedle Painting Prize) with work in numerous private collections and featured in Drawing and Painting by Kate Wilson (Thames and Hudson, 2015) For over 30 years I have taught in a wide variety of contexts, lecturing in many British art schools, including Manchester (MA), Cheltenham (BA), Central St Martins, UAL. I have run drawing workshops for Microsoft Seattle, Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing, Electronic Arts UK, Vanguard Animation, Tell Me in Mountain View, CA and Kaos Studios (THQ) in New York amongst others. I have also taught renowned opera, television and film directors how to draw (NDAs duly signed) From 2021-22 I was the recipient of an Arts Council England Project Award to conduct research into drawing and the processing of trauma. I have tenure at City Lit where I deliver drawing and painting courses exploring how these activities alter visual perception, with a strong emphasis on thinking through doing.
Monika KitaSee moreSee less
Monika Kita is an artist and filmmaker with over 25 years of experience in the art world. Her works have been presented at festivals and exhibitions across the UK, Europe, and South America, including the Museum of Contemporary Art of Oaxaca, BBC Shorts, East End Film Festival, and the Venice Biennale. Teaching is an integral part of her practice. She fosters a flexible and open approach that encourages connections between concept, process, and material – recognising spontaneity and liberation as the beating heart of artistic practice. Monika designed and leads the City Lit expanded experimental film course at City Lit. She also teaches a range of short courses in experimental filmmaking, DSLR for video, and shooting for short films, alongside contributing to the City Lit dialogues course, City Lit fine art, and other related courses that situate moving image and animation practice within a broader fine art context.
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.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/painting-and-drawing-dialogues-performance-and-the-body2490073Painting and drawing dialogues: performance and the bodyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/m/vm009_p_d_dialogues_-_performance_and_the_body-1024.jpg449449GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Painting/Courses/Art & design/Painting/Painting techniques & processes22851132191619191228511321916Drawings and paintings can capture the body’s movement in their surface, alongside registering an image. By focusing on the ‘performance of making’ new perspectives will inform a more individual approach to your work.002575729Painting and drawing dialogues: performance and the body449449https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/m/vm009_p_d_dialogues_-_performance_and_the_body-1024_1.jpgInStockDaytimeMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-01-12T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceJan 2026Art & designVM009449449Painting and drawing dialogues: performance and the body359292449Tony Hull, Monika Kitapainting-and-drawing-dialogues-performance-and-the-body/vm009-2526Drawings and paintings can capture the body’s movement in their surface, alongside registering an image. By focusing on the ‘performance of making’ new perspectives will inform a more individual approach to your work.0000-Available|2026-01-12 00:00:00Your body leaves unique imprints of its movement in drawn and painted surfaces which are registered in distinct ways. Becoming more conscious of how your physical gestures impact your use of different materials will give you access to expanded methods of creating work, through group workshops to explorations of more individual subject matter.Drawings and paintings can capture the body’s movement in their surface, alongside registering an image. By focusing on the ‘performance of making’ new perspectives will inform a more individual approach to your work.• How you can change the relationship to your work by becoming more conscious of your physical gestures. <br/>• Exploring pace, duration and scale in painting and drawing to heighten the ‘performance’ of making. <br/>• Using moving image, you will be invited to draw ‘with’ and ‘to’ camera, to choreograph your body’s movement when drawing or painting.• Expand the creative possibilities of painting and drawing by utilising the performative act of making. <br/>• Make use of the natural velocity of mark making and how changes in scale alter how the body is used when you draw and paint. <br/>• Utilise ‘seeing’ as a self-consciously bodily act and understand how this affects your relationship with drawing and painting. <br/>• Unpick the archaeology of a painted/drawn surface as an alternative way of responding to images. <br/>• Discuss and evaluate the progress of your work.This is an intermediate course, intended for those with some painting or drawing experience, or those who wish to explore the relationship between the two disciplines.<br/><br/>You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.Each session workshops a distinct aspect of the dialogue between painting and drawing, creating an atmosphere to support shared experimentation and discussion. The individual strands of thought arising, will be increasingly drawn together, but you will also be encouraged to make your own links between workshops. <br/>The course offers:<br/>• Practical structured projects<br/>• Group discussion and evaluations<br/>• One to one guidance<br/>• Presentations on the work of selected artists<br/><br/>This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment, where you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc.All materials required are provided.This is one of a suite of Painting and Drawing Dialogues courses. Taking further modules will expand your experience and confidence with cross-disciplinary working and prepare you for higher level study in the City Lit’s Advanced Practice area.PaintingPainting techniques & processesvirtual359449292VM009NONEMon12/01/26 - 09/02/2610:00 - 17:0010:0017:005 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetTony Hull, Monika KitaSome experienceAvailable courses2026-01-12T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2026Art & design449449Painting and drawing dialogues: performance and the bodypainting-and-drawing-dialogues-performance-and-the-body/vm009-2526Drawings and paintings can capture the body’s movement in their surface, alongside registering an image. By focusing on the ‘performance of making’ new perspectives will inform a more individual approach to your work.0000-Available|2026-01-12 00:00:00Your body leaves unique imprints of its movement in drawn and painted surfaces which are registered in distinct ways. Becoming more conscious of how your physical gestures impact your use of different materials will give you access to expanded methods of creating work, through group workshops to explorations of more individual subject matter.Drawings and paintings can capture the body’s movement in their surface, alongside registering an image. By focusing on the ‘performance of making’ new perspectives will inform a more individual approach to your work.• How you can change the relationship to your work by becoming more conscious of your physical gestures. <br/>• Exploring pace, duration and scale in painting and drawing to heighten the ‘performance’ of making. <br/>• Using moving image, you will be invited to draw ‘with’ and ‘to’ camera, to choreograph your body’s movement when drawing or painting.• Expand the creative possibilities of painting and drawing by utilising the performative act of making. <br/>• Make use of the natural velocity of mark making and how changes in scale alter how the body is used when you draw and paint. <br/>• Utilise ‘seeing’ as a self-consciously bodily act and understand how this affects your relationship with drawing and painting. <br/>• Unpick the archaeology of a painted/drawn surface as an alternative way of responding to images. <br/>• Discuss and evaluate the progress of your work.This is an intermediate course, intended for those with some painting or drawing experience, or those who wish to explore the relationship between the two disciplines.<br/><br/>You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.Each session workshops a distinct aspect of the dialogue between painting and drawing, creating an atmosphere to support shared experimentation and discussion. The individual strands of thought arising, will be increasingly drawn together, but you will also be encouraged to make your own links between workshops. <br/>The course offers:<br/>• Practical structured projects<br/>• Group discussion and evaluations<br/>• One to one guidance<br/>• Presentations on the work of selected artists<br/><br/>This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment, where you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc.All materials required are provided.This is one of a suite of Painting and Drawing Dialogues courses. Taking further modules will expand your experience and confidence with cross-disciplinary working and prepare you for higher level study in the City Lit’s Advanced Practice area.PaintingPainting techniques & processesconfigurable
