Explore the expressive qualities of charcoal to represent the evocative landscape of the West Dean Estate. Develop your repertoire of mark-making techniques, working from direct observation and your photographs. Learn how to respond to the landscape as you explore the tone, composition and material qualities of drawing with charcoal.
On the first evening, the tutor will present examples of her work for inspiration, including sketchbooks and research material. You will then begin with some simple drawing exercises to help you explore the mark-making possibilities of charcoal. From these, you will start to build a range of expressive techniques with which to represent the beautiful and evocative landscape at West Dean.
You will work from direct observation and your photographs of the West Dean landscape. From this research material and your charcoal experiments, you will produce quick studies and then make finished drawings in a variety of scales and size. The tutor will guide you through each stage of the process, as well as support you in developing your personal response to the subject of the landscape through group discussions and one-to-one support.
By the end of the course, you will have developed your skills with charcoal and gained the confidence to use the techniques learned to respond to and draw other landscapes beyond the course.
Included
The course fee includes the cost of providing some of the materials required, including some willow charcoal, masking tape, fixative and paper shared amongst the group to get started.
What students need to bring
- Smart phone (or camera and lead)
- Apron or protective clothing
- Scrap clean paper, envelopes, letters, etc., not newspaper or magazines
- Willow charcoal, various sizes
- Compressed charcoal black, any brand
- Masking tape, thick or thin
A2 or A3 smooth (or hot pressed) paper pad
- Soft brush – like a make-up brush or a DIY soft brush
- Any other form of black pastel, charcoal or graphite you have, for experimentation
- Printouts of your own photographs – please only bring your own photographs, not those from magazines or not taken by you. Take and print out your photographs of landscapes that you're interested in, not magazines.
Available to buy
Available from shop:
A good variety of materials, including A2 and A3 smooth paper pads, sketchbooks and drawing materials, including charcoal and compressed charcoal
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.
Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
Students meet their tutor in the Bar at 7.30pm prompt to go to studios.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
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
Teaching finishes: 3pm
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.
*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options
