Course Description

During this 2 day course, participants will have the opportunity to learn technical skills that form the foundation of life drawing.

The focus of the course is on the foundational skills that allow us to capture the human form. These include:

• Measuring and proportions
• Anatomy
• Mark making and drawing
• Light and dark values
• Understanding shadows

Throughout the 2 days we will be working directly from life unclothed models. There will be a mix of poses and pose lengths which will allow for quick warm ups and more detailed studies. Matt will give practical demonstrations and and then set timed exercises. He will also give one to one advice and feedback. The course will be taught in charcoals and pencil.

The aim is to encourage participants with their confidence in their use of line, value and anatomy to lay a solid foundation for artistic growth. This course also is a great foundation for the 3-day course ‘Expressive Life Drawing’ that follows.

Suitable For

The course is suitable for those who are new to figurative drawing and improvers alike. Matt is running Expressive Life Drawing on Wednesday to Friday, you may want to continue your work on this course.

Requirements List

• Drawing paper - Multiple A3 or A2 light cartridge paper (the bigger the better) Drawing board to fit your paper. Tutor has a few A3 boards to borrow
• Large bulldog clips to hold paper on board and/or masking tape
• A supply of ‘willow' charcoal in a couple of different thickness (not extra thin). Minimum 4 sticks A stick of white chalk (children's or blackboard chalk is ideal). And/or a range of pencils (3b to 6b are recommended)
• You are also welcome to bring compressed charcoal for darker mark marking
• Eraser or putty rubber, pencil sharpener and ‘firm hold’ hairspray or artist’s fixative to fix charcoal.

Matt will provide a simple desk based easel. However please bring along a portable free-standing folding easel if you have one

Materials Cost

There will be a charge of between £15-£20 per day for life models, depending on the number of students booked. This is payable directly to the tutor by cash or card on the first day of the course.