Introduction to Life Drawing

11.30-5pm | 16+ yrs

Take your life drawing skills to another level with this introduction workshop. It will cover observational drawing skills and techniques for improving accuracy, measuring, mark making and tone.

What will the day cover, and how will it be taught?

This is an opportunity for people of all abilities to develop life drawing skills in an intensive day workshop, and to dispel some of the fear from this valued traditional discipline.

You will be introduced to Life Drawing through a series of enjoyable exercises that cover a variety of mark-making and observational skills, including measuring for accuracy. Both traditional and modern drawing techniques and interpretations will be covered, with a chance to personalise your learning in a longer pose.

A life model will be present. Through a combination of practical work, tutor demonstration and group discussion, you will:

1. Expand mark-making with a variety of drawing media.
2. Practice and develop measuring techniques within life drawing.
3. Develop the representation of tone and structure.
4. Appreciate the life work of some other artists

What do I need to bring with me?

Drawing boards and easels will be provided.

Please bring:-

• paper (A2 sketch book is good)
• willow charcoal
• putty rubber and hard rubber
• soft graphite stick or black conte (hard pastel)
• masking tape or clips to attach your paper to a board

NB – if purchasing art materials at Youdells, access a 10% discount by saying that you are attending an Art Class at Brewery Arts.

When using art materials, your clothes could potentially get dirty so you may wish to bring an apron and/or dress for mess.

Important Information

This course will be held in Studio 3.

Are there any additional costs?

No

About the tutor

Catherine MacDiarmid has 29 years’ of experience teaching a range of art classes and applying her knowledge as a practising artist to her role as a Tutor.  She exhibits widely, including exhibiting in the BP Portrait in 2001/2, New Light Art Tour 2021/22 and 2023/24 (of outstanding Northern-based Artists) and regularly at the Mall Galleries.  Catherine has won many awards for her art. Most recently being the Watercolour Materials Award in the Jacksons Painting Prize 2023.  She is an elected member of The Lakes Artists Society, the Contemporary British Portrait Painters and appeared in Sky Portrait Artists of the Year 2014, 2018, reaching the semi-finals in 2019.  As well as completing private portrait commissions her work is collected internationally and she works from her home-studio in Kendal.