The British countryside, cultivated land and the wild margins that surround it have been a source of inspiration for so many artists exploring the fantastical, the pastoral idyll and an ever-changing back drop to everyday life.
You will explore a pattern-based interpretation of the landscape around West Dean through drawing from observation. Drawing in the Arboretum and the flowing chalk downland, you will look at how patterns, rhythms and textures can capture a sense of place and time. Referencing artists such as Samuel Palmer, Vincent Van Gogh, David Hockney, Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden, as well as 17th century 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 and draw from memory, working in the studio from drawings made outside as a way of understanding how you interpret what you see.
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)
Included
- Some fixative to share amongst the group
What students need to bring
- Please bring any of the following items if you have them:
- A2 pad of cartridge paper and a selection of different papers with interesting textures and colours
- Pencils (softer ones are best) 2B - 8B
- 1 box of charcoal (range of widths), thin charcoal is great
- 1 bottle of Indian ink, at least 100ml, and brushes or ink pen
- White chalk pastel
- Rubber (a hard rubber is better), scalpel, pencil sharpener, bulldog clips, masking tape
- A plastic folder to carry your drawings
- In addition:
- Appropriate clothing for working outdoors (extra warmth for sitting, sunhats for shade if necessary)
- 4 jam jars with lids for water and ink of varying dilutions, rags and any other materials you really love to work with.
Available to buy
- Available from shop:
- The College Craft Shop stocks a range of art materials, including: paper, drawing materials, ink, brushes, pastels and fixative spray.
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
