Sketching at the V&A
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- Start Date: 20 Nov 2025End Date: 20 Nov 2025Thu (Daytime): 10:30 - 16:30In PersonFull fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00
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What is the course about?
An introduction to sketching in different areas of The V & A Museum. 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 collection 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 objects on display.
Meeting place will be at the main entrance on Cromwell Road. You will then be given a plan for the day by the tutor. Please be on time as the tutor can only wait max 15 mins for latecomers. Please contact Visual Arts 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 primary research
- You have not used a sketchbook before
- You need more confidence looking at and understanding how to draw from museum collections
- You would like to broaden your ideas of interpretive drawing.
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 thesketchbook 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 preferably one that opens out flat, and a selection of:
Drawing pencils eg HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, coloured pencils, felt pens/markers, a rubber and sharpener, a biro/fine liner and any other materials that are portable, clean and easy to use in the gallery eg oil pastels/crayons etc.
Please note: no wet materials, scissors or craft knives are allowed in the museum.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Other museum days include Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the The British Museum. City Lit runs a range of drawing and sketchbook courses - your tutor can discuss options for progression with you.
Amanda Bracken started her teaching career at the Serpentine Gallery, researching, developing and delivering projects to a range of audiences, which illuminated the art work on show in the exhibition programme, including a teachers’ pack for the Bridget Riley exhibition. She also gained substantial experience developing projects and workshops within the education departments of The Drawing Room, the Estorick collection, The National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria Miro Gallery in particular Alice Neel: Portraits. Bracken holds an MA in Fine Art gained at Central Saint Martins. She also holds a BA in joint Art/Dance and a PGCE gained at Goldsmiths College London. Brackens paintings, drawings and installations have been selected for exhibitions in London and nationally including the Drawing Room, ASC Gallery, C and C Gallery and Atkinson Gallery Millfield. ‘I am interested in colour and form in all its permutations and the qualities of the substance of painting and drawing-the figurative, the abstract and the in-between. Citylit has a diverse Art department where I can use my experience to stimulate students to develop their own work'.
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.