“To enter a wood is to pass into a different world in which we ourselves are transformed.” Roger Deakin, Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees

West Dean College has a large collection of specimen trees. Some are native, like the ancient English oak to the front of the College beyond the ‘ha-ha’. Many deciduous trees such as the handkerchief tree and the Paulownia originate from other continents. Conifers like the majestic cedars and pine trees benefit from having much space on the estate. West Dean’s Head Gardener will join us for a talk on trees.

The Parkland has newly planted sweet chestnut, hornbeam, oak, cedar, liquidambar, pine and purple beech. Edward James, founder of West Dean College, loved trees so much that he wanted to perpetuate trees that had to be felled from disease and old age, by encapsulating the standing timber in fibreglass to preserve the tree for future generations. Near these sculptures in the Spring Gardens, a large collection of trees showcase a diversity of shapes, forms, textures and colours. This course will open your eyes, to look at trees like never before. You will share thoughts with other students with reference to trees, observing and discussing how they have grown, how they occupy space, how the climate and the plantings around them have shaped them.

You will create a collection of tree ‘portraits’ using different drawing techniques from gestural drawing to diagrammatic drawing and you will have experimented with different papers. You will learn to observe the overall shape of trees, the form that the branches and leaves create, as well as the textures that the light and leaves make together. You will be encouraged to experiment with mark-making to find out how best to interpret each tree that you draw.

At the end of the course, you will have discovered that no tree will be too difficult to draw and integrate into a landscape drawing. You will have learned to make decisions on which media to choose and discover how paper with more or less grain makes for a different kind of drawing.

Included

On this course the College will supply most of the materials, including a sheet of Snowdon 300gsm paper, Fabriano smooth 220gsm paper, Khadi smooth 320gsm paper, Zerkall Ingres 90gsm (flannel grey), cartridge paper 130gsm and tissue paper per student, plus inks and charcoal to share amongst the group.

What students need to bring

• Your favourite drawing materials
• A sketchbook for drawing outside (any size)
• Pencils: 2H, HB, 2B, 4B
• 1 x water-based graphite pencil
• Soft brushes: small and medium size
• 2 x water brush pens: one for ink and one for water

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials, including drawing papers and drawing materials you may wish to purchase

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

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