The relationship between gardens and those that design and tend them is an on-going theme within British art. Gardens can represent the everyday but also act as a metaphor. It is a place where people and nature cross paths.
Explore a pattern-based interpretation of the Gardens at West Dean through drawing from observation. You will look at how patterns, rhythms and textures can represent a sense of place and atmosphere. Referencing artists such as Samuel Palmer, Vincent Van Gogh, David Hockney, Eric Ravilious, Henri Matisse, Eduard Vuillard, 17th C Indian paintings and others, you will be encouraged to experiment in finding your own visual language and way of making marks.
Each session will have a group introduction followed by individual support. There will be a strong focus on learning to look for patterns, textures and rhythms, identifying shapes, space and compositions. Drawing with pencils, charcoal and ink, you will explore different ways of interpreting your surroundings through experimental mark-making. You will also look at how you choose what to draw, pulling out of the scene the patterns and shapes that attract you. You will explore composition as the counterweight to pattern.
By the end of the course, you will have a series of short sketches and some more finished pieces. You will also begin to know how to identify what you are looking for in a drawing and what moves you about a specific place or landscape, and how composition and pattern play their part in this. You will have a range of marks to equip you to tackle any garden or landscape.
Throughout the course, there will be regular informal group reviews of your work with a focus on group discussion and learning from each other.
This is a subject (rather than technique) focused course, suitable for all levels of experience.
Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above
Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.
Daily timetable
Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.
From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).
Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Last day
Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.
Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.
(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)
What students need to bring
- Rags
- Appropriate clothing for working outdoors (extra warmth for sitting, sunhats for shade if necessary)
- White chalk pastel
- Any other materials you really love to work with
- 4 jam jars with lids for water and ink of varying dilutions
- A good sense of humour
Available to buy
- Available from shop:
- Pencils (softer ones are best) 2B-8B, 1 box of charcoal (range of widths)
- 1x bottle of Indian ink at least 100ml
- A2 pad of cartridge paper and a selection of different papers with interesting textures and colours
- Brushes or ink brush pen
- Rubber – hard rubber is better
- Scalpel, pencil sharpener, bulldog clips
- Fixative spray to fix charcoal
- A plastic folder to carry your drawings/drawing board
- Masking tape
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio; this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
