Fri 18 Sep-4 Dec (10 wks) | 11.15am-1.15pm | 16+ yrs
A traditional skill that increases accuracy within observational drawing, life drawing feeds into all areas of art practice. An opportunity for people of all abilities to develop drawing direct from a life model.
What will the course cover and how will it be taught?
You will explore techniques that promote good drawing discipline related to working directly from life and be encouraged to have an experimental approach to drawing.
Through a series of observational drawing tasks, you will learn to:
- Understand and apply measuring techniques to life drawing.
- Apply a variety of experimental drawing techniques to life drawing.
- Use a variety of drawing media.
- Appreciate drawing techniques used by other artists.
By the end of the course you will be:
- Drawing from life with more confidence.
- Using some basic measuring techniques in relation to life drawing.
- Using a wider range of drawing media and drawing techniques within your practice.
- Appreciating a wider range of artists’ work.
This class is suitable for both beginners and those with experience of life drawing.
What do I need to bring with me?
Drawing boards and easels will be provided.
- Paper (A2 sketch book) or equivalent size drawing paper
- Willow charcoal
- Putty rubber
- Soft graphite stick or pencil
- Masking tape or clips to attach your paper to a board.
Some different media and materials will also be used and you will be told what to bring on a weekly basis and low cost options will always be given.
When using art materials your clothes could potentially get dirty so you may wish to bring an apron and/or dress for mess.
Are there any additional costs?
No
Important Information
This course will be held in Studio 3. There are no sessions during half term 26-30 October & 16-20 November.
About the tutor
Catherine MacDiarmid brings over 30 years of teaching experience to her role, combining extensive classroom practice with the insight of a dedicated, practising artist. She has exhibited widely, including the BP Portrait Award (2001/02), the New Light Art (2021/22 and 2023/24), and regularly at the Mall Galleries. Her work has received numerous accolades, most recently the Watercolour Materials Award at the Jackson’s Painting Prize in 2023 and the People and Faces Award 2025 at the Lake Artists Society. She is an elected member of the Lakes Artists Society and the Contemporary British Portrait Painters. Catherine has also appeared on Portrait Artist of the Year (2014 and 2018), reaching the semi-finals in 2019.Alongside private portrait commissions, her work is collected internationally, and she is based in her home studio in Kendal.
See all Creative Learning courses here.
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