Drawing and mindfulness
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: VM640
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 Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
An introduction to and exploration of the practice of mindfulness and how it supports and enhances creativity.
Through a variety of guided exercises, including drawing observation and the imagination, we will explore how An introduction to and exploration of the practice of mindfulness and how it relates to drawing. Through a variety of guided exercises, investigate ways of consciously cultivating awareness and identify how this can enrich the drawing process and lead to deepening concentration, clarity of perception, appreciation and responsiveness to your subject matter, and versatility in your drawing practice. This course is suitable for beginners as well as those with experience in drawing who would like to enhance their drawing practice.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
During the course we will explore a variety of ways to stimulate a fresh response to drawing. There will be a series of guided drawing exercises exploring: the role of body awareness, clarity of perception, sensitivity to your materials and subject matter and the importance of play and enrichment in drawing. There will be opportunities to explore a range of media and subject matter with reference to a variety of artists work, which will serve as inspiration for expressing shape, volume, line and tone directly and freely in your drawings. Group discussion and one-to-one guidance is available throughout the course.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Identify and employ a range of methods for practicing mindfulness in drawing
• Engage in drawing from observation and the imagination with greater confidence and resourcefulness
• Explore ways of cultivating concentration, clarity of perception, responsiveness to your materials and subject matter, and enrichment in drawing
• Demonstrate an ability to engage a variety of drawing approaches with reference to artists work
• Employ a toolkit of methods and approaches to stimulate, sustain or refresh your drawing.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Suitable for beginners as well as those with experience in mindfulness and drawing who wish to re-fresh their practice or stimulate new directions
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
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
- One to one tutoring
- Pair and group discussion
- Personal research tasks
- Slideshows, other practical learning resources including PDF Handouts.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Recommended materials:
Pencil, paper, eraser, pencil sharpener, 15 sheets cartridge paper e.g. A2 or A3
Additional materials (optional/extra):
Charcoal, coloured pastels, coloured pencils.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
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.
