Course: Drawing The Natural World
“So many ideas to take my art practice further and useful tips on how to work creatively outside”
“Exceeded expectations, I have been so impressed with everything and have enjoyed the five days immensely.I have learned some new approaches to working that I will definitely incorporate into what I do. I enjoyed the variety of exercises and tasks”
During this 5-day observational drawing and mixed media course, painter, drawer and printmaker Chris Wallbank and painter and printmaker Nik Pollard will be teaching you how to explore the creative possibilities and challenges that arise from working as artists, observing wildlife in its habitat and the natural world.
In this drawing and mixed media course, participants will explore the creative possibilities and challenges that arise from working as artists observing wildlife in its habitat and nature in the landscape.
This course is a series of tutor-led workshops that will cover approaches to observing, drawing and revealing different aspects of the natural world. Whether investigating vast outdoor spaces and mega-fauna or delving into the microscopic landscapes of hedgerows, meadows, ponds and insect habitats found on our doorstep, this course will engage participants in contemplating the natural world from different perspectives.
Workshops will include drawing outdoors and focusing on subjects, ranging from depicting space in a landscape, and wildlife; to responding intuitively to the sensory world of flora and fauna experienced up close.
These explorations will take place within Clayhill Artis 140 acres of varied natural habitat, providing excellent opportunities to study the birds, insects, flora and changing landscapes of a traditional farm in September. There will also be an opportunity to develop strategies for drawing some of the world’s largest and most charismatic fauna during studio-based sessions as well as a chance to work at one of the nature reserves or landscape heritage sites found locally.
As the course progresses, participants will be able to revisit the workshop theme that inspired them the most and use it as a springboard for developing their own self led projects in response to the natural surroundings of Clayhill Arts. Both one-to-one and group tuition will be provided throughout the week alongside a good provision of diverse artist examples for reference use. This course is suitable for all levels of experience; artists who wish to build on an existing portfolio, creative newcomers or anyone interested in engaging with the natural world through observational drawing and mixed media.
Over the five days you will:
Implement a variety of techniques and exercises for drawing nature/wildlife subjects in the field.
Explore the locations within the Clayhill Arts’ grounds, taking in the variety of habitats and landscapes on offer.
Work within a relaxed environment amongst like-minded artists with tutor support and peer-to-peer feedback.
Analyse observational techniques and approaches to experiencing different aspects of the natural world on our doorstep.
Apply proportional measurement to a drawing.
Combine wildlife drawings made from observation with landscape references to imagine and create a new composition.
Evaluate approaches to drawing and observing nature and analyse ways of adapting this to your own work/practice methods.
Investigate visual perception and how it influences the way we observe and draw.
Apply observational techniques to drawing moving wildlife subjects and introduce anatomy for drawing animals.
More Information and to enquire about future courses visit Clayhill Arts