Historic approaches to life drawing
Weekend-long practical course
10 March 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm11 March 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, Royal Academy Schools
£420 Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception.
From Life
Terms and conditions
Explore traditional teaching methods and historic approaches to drawing in this weekend-long course led by award-winning artist and Head of Fine Art Processes for the RA Schools, Mark Hampson.
“I can recommend nothing better… than that you endeavour to infuse into your works what you learn from the contemplation of the works of others.”
Sir Joshua Reynolds, PRA
Course participants will experience drawing directly from life using models as well as introductions into drawing from the antique and supporting anatomical techniques. Delivered in the RA Schools' historic life drawing room, the course environment echoes the experiences of generations of Royal Academy students, including such notable Alumni as John Constable RA, William Blake, JMW Turner RA, Edwin Landseer RA, George Stubbs RA and Sir John Everett Millais PRA.
"You must have no dependence on your own Genius. If you have great talents, industry will improve them, If you have modest abilities, industry will supply their deficiency"
Sir Joshua Reynolds, PRA
Led by Mark Hampson, Head of Fine Art Processes for the RA Schools, participants are offered a rare and exclusive opportunity to experience working in the RA Schools. Experience practical tuition intended to be a palpable historic echo of the RA’s creative and practical artistic methodologies. This will include introductions to working from the original antique classical cast, an insight into basic anatomy techniques, and drawing from both male and female life models in the atmospheric and historic setting of the Royal Academy life drawing room. The course will also include a group visit to the From Life exhibition to view relevant works on display from the RA's historic collection.
Situated at the heart of the Royal Academy campus of galleries and exhibition spaces, the RA Schools is the creative centre of its many activities. Housed in a series of purpose-built 19th-century studios, the Schools offer a unique insight into the attitudes and atmosphere of the working life of an historic art school experience. Central to this is its historic Life Room, resplendent with its collection of antique casts and statues. These were originally purchased by the Academy in the mid-18th century as teaching aids for its students. Today they still function as such, but additionally act as reminders of the artistic lineages that have influenced ever-evolving approaches to art education at the RA for nearly 250 years.
£420 Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception.
From Life
Terms and conditions
About the course
Beginning with the traditional teaching methods of the RA Schools as an entry point of focus, participants will be introduced to drawing from the antique using examples from its historic cast collection. Drawing in pencil, chalks and charcoal from these will naturally evolve into the advanced study of drawing from both male and female life models and the skeleton. Technical approaches will include observational drawing, rendering, tonal and colour work, compositional organisation, and the associated roles of memory, imagination and interpretation within drawing.
The course is designed to provide peer group influence, intimate specialist tuition with tutor feedback, and maximum teaching time to study directly from the RA’s unique teaching collection.
This course is suitable for enthusiastic and curious beginners, and also those with previous experience of drawing who wish to further develop their understanding, technique and ability, informed by historical approaches.
This course is for you if:
• You are curious to learn traditional and historic approaches to drawing that are rooted in observation from the model and wish to do so in a creative, experimental and supportive professional environment.
• You wish to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of drawing.
• You want to explore creative approaches informed by both a rich historical context and also a contemporary art school experience, delivered by a sympathetic expert tutor who is committed to working in the related specialism.
• You would enjoy an intimate and intense insight into the approaches and atmosphere of an historic art school environment.
• You would appreciate learning to develop approaches to drawing amongst a group of like minded individuals in a focused, relaxed and supported manner.
• You have some prior knowledge of drawing and/or art practise and would like to expand upon your skills.
• You would like a new perspective in your approach to drawing and painting.
• You have no prior experience of drawing or painting, but are interested in the details of these practises and techniques.
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
Price: £420
Saturday 10 - Sunday 11 March 2018
10.30am – 5.30pm on both days
Includes:
• An introduction to the Academy with particular reference to the history of the teachings of the RA Schools
• Exclusive access to the RA Schools historic life drawing room
• Access to both male and female professional life models
• A group visit to the From Life exhibition
• All practical materials and equipment
• Light refreshments and lunch each day
• A drinks reception at the end of the first day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the tutor
Mark Hampson, Head of Fine Art Processes
Award-winning painter and printmaker Mark Hampson has held over 40 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 200 international group exhibitions. His work has been seen throughout Europe, Asia and the United States at museums, galleries and in site responsive installations. Recently these have included the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the William Morris Gallery in London and the Kunst Museum in Vienna. In 2012 the RA hosted his solo exhibition, Almost Real Art following his two-year artist residency in the RA Collections and Library. Drawing, the figure, narrative, and humour are all crucial and constant aspects of his art, leading him to be described as a “contemporary Hogarthian conceptualist”.
In addition to his professional career as an artist, he has had a prolific teaching career that has embraced the teaching of drawing, printmaking, sculpture, painting, graphics, illustration and fashion. As part of this he served as senior tutor in printmaking for 14 years at the Royal College of Art, before joining the RA Schools in 2013 as Head of Fine Art Processes, running the sculpture, printmaking and digital media areas. In 2007 he was made a senior fellow of the RCA.
His work is represented in numerous private and public collections including the V&A Museum, The Arts Council of Great Britain, Hyundai Arts Collection, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, Krakow Museum, and the Osaka Prefectural Government collection.
About the space
The Life Room
The Royal Academy’s historic Life Room sits at the heart of the RA Schools. Usually closed to the public, this unique and significant space was designed in the 1860s, when the galleries and art school first moved to Burlington Gardens.
The semi-circular seating arrangement, based on an ancient design, traces its British history back to Hogarth’s Academy in St Martin’s Lane, c.1730. Directional light is used to enhance the delineation of the model’s musculature and aid life drawing, which has been practised in this room by generations of Royal Academy artists and students.
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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