Drawing the portrait
Weekend-long practical course
28 October 2017 10.30am - 5.30pm29 October 2017 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, Royal Academy Schools
£420. Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception at the end of the second day.
Terms and conditions
Artist and member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Andrew James leads a practical course exploring the descriptive and expressive possibilities contained within the drawing of the human head, using charcoal and graphite.
As an ancient art form going back at least to the early Egyptian period, portraiture has flourished for almost 5,000 years. Before the invention of photography, the painted, sculpted or drawn portrait had been the primary mode of representing an individual likeness. But portraits have always been more than just a record. They have been used to show the power, importance, virtue, beauty, wealth, taste, learning and other qualities of the sitter. Since the early Renaissance period, portraits have almost always been used by leading artists as their preferred genre, often becoming their core artistic output.
No artist has been able to fully understand the scope and scale of making art without first getting to grips with the realities of drawing from life. In all of its beautiful simplicity, the discipline demands a highly focused study of observable information along with a playful and imaginative interpretation of those facts.
Artist and member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the New English Art Club, Andrew James will lead an exclusive workshop based around the concept of portrait drawing. Participants will work from two models, placing them in a broad variety of poses, employing different lighting conditions. The course is an excellent opportunity to explore the descriptive and expressive possibilities contained within the drawing of the human head, using charcoal and graphite.
£420. Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception at the end of the second day.
Terms and conditions
About the course
Over the two days the practice of portrait drawing will be analysed and broken down into its constituent parts; studied equally as objective fact and as creative activity.
A mixture of shorter and longer poses as well as a variety of lighting conditions will promise to help participants to develop an understanding of just how engaging the pursuit of portrait drawing is.
The intense practice of these skills over the two days will enable the group to leave the course having a deeper and richer appreciation of portrait drawing.
Working in the RA's historic Life Room will further add an additional spirit to the challenge of this artistic endeavour.
This course is suitable for all levels, preferably with some prior experience of drawing, painting or creative practice in general.
This course is for you if:
• You have some prior knowledge of drawing and/or painting and would like to extend your skills in the practice of working from both perception and direct observation, as well as developing skills in the use of graphite and charcoal
• You would like a new perspective in your approach to drawing the portrait
• You would like to experiment with new methods of experimentation
• You would like the opportunity to develop your skills and ideas in a small group setting in the RA’s historic Life Room
• You have no prior experience of portrait drawing but an interest in the history, theory and practice of art more widely
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
Price: £420
10.30am – 5.30pm on both days.
Includes:
• An introduction to the Academy with particular reference to relevant works in the Collection
• The opportunity to work from different life models on each day
• All practical materials
• Lunch and refreshments
• A drinks reception at the end of the second day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the tutor
Andrew James
Andrew James is a practising artist working predominately in oil paint. He is a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and was formerly its Vice President (2008-2014). Winner of several awards for his portrait painting, Andrew works in a very direct way, with a strong emphasis upon the gestural and expressive quality of oil paint.
With work in public and private collections, Andrew has also exhibited extensively in the UK, including at the New English Art Club, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery. He has also had his work broadcast on the BBC1 series Star Portraits, and has been teaching portraiture for over ten years. Awards include the Carroll Foundation Award (1998), The Artists Award (2011) and The Changing Faces Award (2013).
About the space
The Life Room
Set in the Academy’s historic Life Room, nestled deep in the heart of the RA Schools, this unique and significant space was designed in the 1860s when the galleries and schools were first constructed, purpose built to accommodate the study of the human form in art.
The semi-circular seating arrangement is based on an ancient design and can trace its British history back to the 1730s and Hogarth’s Academy in St Martin’s Lane. The directional light is also of ancient design and is used (then as now) to provide directional light to aid the delineation of the figure’s musculature – significantly enhance the use and study of colour and light in art.
Our courses and classes programme
Our programme of short courses and classes offers the opportunity to explore a range of subjects, led by expert tutors and practising artists.
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