The art of the sketchbook
Weekend-long practical course
Friday 7 July - Saturday 8 July 2017
The Life Room, Royal Academy Schools
£420. Includes all materials, lunch and a drinks reception.
Terms and conditions
Join artist Sarah Simblet for a two-day intensive workshop focusing on the practice of making and filling a sketchbook. Learn how to create an effective, inspirational and useful sketchbook and spend the weekend on drawing exercises and techniques to fill it.
You will also visit the Royal Academy’s archive to see first-hand, in a small group setting, some extraordinary historic and contemporary artists' sketchbooks, taking away with you both exciting new ideas and your own new sketchbook.
Drawing is one of the most direct languages we have for visualising our thoughts and emotions and recording what we observe. Sketchbooks are, for many artists, amongst their most valued possessions. They are working, portable volumes of ideas and collected inspirations; permanent records of time and place, atmosphere and experience. Sketchbooks are central to the practice of looking and seeing the world around us critical for artists and their final artworks. Artists’ sketchbooks offer huge insight into the diversity of the creative process and can provide inspiration and ideas. Filled to the brim, they are a joy to explore demonstrating the dedication and the pursuit of an ideas.
Sketchbooks are also individual and private. They can be closed and put away and offer an opportunity for personal space and reflection. As well as a critical tool for all creative professionals, they provide a wonderful entry point for those who do not draw often or are returning to the practical arts after a time away. Sketchbooks are practical and can be carried in a pocket or bag, and sometimes worked in briefly, to make the most of the small moments in busy lives. Sketchbooks can also be a place for experimenting with new media and and developing ideas for larger projects.
This course explores all aspects of the sketchbook in a practical and theoretical workshop. Professional artist Sarah Simblet will help you develop your own sketchbook, as well as introducing exciting and new ways in which to use it – either as a standalone activity or in relation to other works of art and projects you create.
£420. Includes all materials, lunch and a drinks reception.
Terms and conditions
About the course
Dr Sarah Simblet is a fine artist, writer, broadcaster and anatomist, whose work explores the relationship between science, history and art. The author of Anatomy for the Artist (2001), The Drawing Book (2005), Botany for the Artist (2010) and co-author of The New Sylva (2014), Sarah is dedicated to sharing and encouraging visual intelligence in others through her drawings, teaching and broadcasting worldwide. She is also the Tutor in Anatomy at the Ruskin School of Art (BFA).
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 visit the Royal Academy's library to view artist's sketchbooks from the historic collections
• All practical materials required to make a sketchbook
• Light refreshments and lunch on both days
• A drinks reception at the end of the second day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
This course is suitable for experienced artists and absolute beginners, for those wishing to take up drawing for the first time, or return to it after many years.
This course is for you if:
• 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.
• You would like the opportunity to develop your skills and ideas in a small group setting in the historical setting of the RA’s Life Room.
• You have no prior experience of drawing or using a sketchbook, but are interested in the details of this practise and technique.
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
About the space
The Life Room
The course is taught in the Academy’s historic Life Room, nestled in the heart of the RA Schools and not often open to the public. This unique and important space was designed in the 1860s when the galleries and art school moved to Burlington Gardens. 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 used, then as now, to help to delineate the human figure enabling 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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