Artists throughout history have drawn from direct observation as a core element of their practice. Whether through a quick study or a painting developed over multiple visits, the landscape has long sparked a beguiling fascination in the artist’s mind. Every drawing made from observation involves thousands of decisions; the final artwork becomes a culmination of all the serendipitous moments that arise when working in the landscape.

Using chalk pastels, you will immerse yourself in the grounds of West Dean Gardens, working between the landscape and the studio. You will begin with sketchbook studies that will inform larger works in pastel. Free from the limitations of size, you will experiment with expanding your drawings to achieve a greater sense of scale and space.

There will be a strong emphasis on working from direct observation, exploring colour relationships, and understanding the importance of drawing as a foundation for developing larger colour studies in pastel. You will also explore and discuss the variations in mark-making that occur when working from life, memory and imagination. These reflections will support you in creating work that moves beyond pure topographical representation, reaching a level shaped by your personal experience of the landscape. This approach is a fantastic way to loosen up your observational drawing and enable you to work on a much larger, more expressive scale, producing artwork that is true to your own experience.

By the end of the course, you will be confident in identifying and developing your own visual motifs within the landscape as part of your evolving personal practice.

Included

• Mungyo soft pastels (set of 32)
• 4 x A1 sheets of sugar paper
• Eraser
• Masking tape and charcoal per student
• Plus some fixative to share amongst the group

What students need to bring

• Additional soft pastel colours (individual or in packs)
• Sketchbooks
• Pencils

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials, including individual soft pastels in many colours and packs of soft pastels, charcoal, erasers, sketchbooks, paper and fixative, are available to buy.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes). Please warm clothes and layers also sun hats and sun umbrellas depending on the weather.

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

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