Short course

Drawing into colour: life drawing summer school

Art making summer school

29 August 2023 10.30am - 5.30pm30 August 2023 10.30am - 5.30pm31 August 2023 10.30am - 5.30pm1 September 2023 10.30am - 5.30pm2 September 2023 10.30am - 5.30pm

Clore Learning Centre | Burlington Gardens

£1,900. Includes all materials, light refreshments each day and drinks receptions throughout the week.

Friends of the RA book first

Bring your figure drawings to life by incorporating colour during this five-day summer school with artist Mick Kirkbride.

Please note: this is an in-person event only

From the first coloured pastel drawings in the 16th century by Federico Barocci, to the vibrant compositions of Impressionists like Mary Cassatt, no artistic understanding of the figure is complete without considering colour. In this five-day summer school, participants render the human figure in colour by exploring a range of image making skills and methodologies, while employing a variety of wet and dry coloured media. Working directly from life models and props at the RA, participants experiment with collage, layering both chalk pastel and coloured pencil and will also paint in distemper, an ancient technique that uses glue as a vehicle to mix and disperse raw pigment.

Each day of the summer school focuses on a different medium and technique and will begin with a demonstration supported by art historical references and supplemented by visits to the RA’s Collection and Library. Throughout the week, participants develop their colour mixing strategies, tonal awareness and visual perceptiveness, while focusing on the human figure. By the end of the course, participants use the skills and knowledge gained throughout the summer school to construct a final composition with two models.

The course covers:

• Working from live models and developing figure drawing skills

• Learning the techniques and procedures for creating and using distemper

• Growing skills in other coloured dry mediums such as pastel, coloured pencil, and chalk

• Understanding how to employ colour in limited and more expansive palettes

• How to render the figure in a spatialized context

• The construction of a final two-figure composition in colour

Mick Kirkbride is a graduate of the RA Schools, and for many years he was Senior Lecturer in Visual Studies at the London College of Fashion. Mick has taught drawing at all levels, most recently as drawing tutor on a range of post-graduate specialisms at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Minimum age 18. If you have any accessibility needs, please contact Public.Programmes@royalacademy.org.uk

Terms and conditions

£1,900. Includes all materials, light refreshments each day and drinks receptions throughout the week.

Friends of the RA book first

Join now

Courses and classes at the Royal Academy

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.

Moses Harris , Prismatic Colour Wheel/hand-coloured etching by Moses Harris, published in M. Harris, The Natural system of colours, London (detail)

Give this course as a gift

All of our courses can be purchased as a gift for a friend or family member – giving the gift of education and a remarkable experience. To arrange a personalised Gift Voucher, please contact the Public Programmes Team by emailing public.programmes@royalacademy.org.uk