Sketching at the museum: Tate Britain
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VH986
- Dates: 09/07/25 - 09/07/25
- Time: 10:30 - 16:30
- Taught: Wed, Daytime
- Duration: 1 session
- Location: Off Site
- Tutor: Mario Lautier Vella
Course Code: VH986
Choose a start date
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 introduction to sketching in different areas of Tate Britain. Drawing will be explored in its broadest sense by gathering information through image making, research and interpretation. Enjoy the challenge of expressing yourself in fresh ways through a personal response to the collections and in discussion with the group.
Explore a range of approaches with a variety of drawing media, using experimental mark-making, light and shadow and colour to interpret the paintings on display.
- Meeting place will be just inside the main entrance to the gallery on Millbank. Please be on time, the tutor can only wait max 15 mins for latecomers, please let Visual Arts know if you are running late.
The tutor will have your phone numbers in case they need to get in touch in an emergency.
What will we cover?
* Quick sketching
* Experimental mark-making
* Intuitive response
* Line, tone, pattern, texture
* Volume and form
* Scale and spatial relationships
* Inter-relationship of objects on display
* Sketching as research.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Start to sketch a range of objects and artifacts from observation
- Investigate different methods of drawing
- Interpret and reinterpret work in the collections
- Sketch with greater confidence in public space.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for you if you are a beginner or:
- You want to learn more about how to sketch as research
- You have not used a sketchbook before
- You need more confidence looking at and understanding museum collections
- You’d like to broaden your ideas of what drawing is.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will receive individual guidance and group discussion to enable you to develop your practical work in the
sketchbook throughout the day, supported by a handout and itinerary.
Please note the Meeting place as above.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring an A5 or A4 hardbacked Sketchbook that preferably opens out flat and a selection of:
Drawing pencils eg 2B, 4B, 6B, coloured pencils including white, a rubber and sharpener, a biro/fine
liner and any other materials that you enjoy using and are portable, clean and easy to use in the gallery. It is useful to have some coloured or tonal paper for use with any colour materials of your choice.
Please note: no wet materials, craft knives or scissors are allowed in the museum.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We run a number of different 'sketching at the museum' courses eg Tate Modern, National Gallery, National Maritime Museum, British Museum, William Morris Museum, V&A Museum
Sketchbook: Ideas, materials, techniques
50 Drawings in a day
Drawing: a Contemporary Approach.
Mario Lautier Vella is a cross-disciplinary, award-winning artist who began his art career at City Lit. After completing a number of short courses in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and textiles, Mario went on to do the two-year City Lit Fine Art course before going back to university to gain his Masters degree. Mario regularly exhibits in the UK and abroad and his work can be found in private collections around the world. Mario has enjoyed teaching at City Lit since 2011. For more info go to mariolautiervella.com
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.
