Valentine’s Day for Art Lovers at the Royal Academy
Practical Workshop and Private Tour
Sunday 14 February 2016 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, Royal Academy Schools
£480 per couple. £260 per person. Includes all materials, lunch and drinks reception.
Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse
Terms and conditions
Treat yourself or your loved one to a luxurious Valentine’s Day and behind the scenes visit to the Royal Academy of Art. Enjoy life drawing, a tour of the library, archive and RA Collections, an exhibition visit, and refreshments in the exclusive settings of the Academicians’ Room.
Your day will start with an art historical introduction to the Royal Academy and presentation of how artists have portrayed love across the centuries.
The day will include a life-drawing workshop in which participants will try out a range of fun, stimulating drawing exercises designed to encourage quick observation, spontaneity and collaboration. Shorter poses will be followed by longer poses allowing for participants to build confidence in their decisions, dexterity and drawing skills. You will have the opportunity to work with each other as well as professional life models over the day.
A Valentine's Day lunch will be served in the Royal Academy’s Private Members Club – The Academician’s Room – with a special Valentine’s theme.
After lunch, you will have the opportunity to see the Academy’s remarkable library and Masterpiece Drawings archives. In a tour inspired by stories of love and adventure, our expert archivists will select unique artworks providing first-hand access and back-stage stories of some of the treasures of the Royal Academy.
In the late afternoon, you will have the choice between returning to the Life Room for a second Life Drawing session to build on your work in the morning or enjoying a guided tour of the Academy’s Spring Exhibition, Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse.
Complete your Valentine’s Day in the Belle Shenkman Room for a final glass of Champagne and refreshments and enjoy your own artwork to take home as a memory of a special day.
This course is set in the historic Life Room, the Library and Archives, the Academicians' Room and with access to Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse.
About the course
For centuries the Royal Academy has trained and inspired artists – with some of the greatest artistic masterpieces of all time emerging from stories of love and lovers – real, imagined, reciprocated and unrequited.
In a unique Valentine's Day experience, be creative and try your hand at Life Drawing, working with a partner, or our professional models, guided by our expert art professors. Enjoy an insider’s guide to the many treasures of the Royal Academy – inspired by stories of Love.
This course is for you if:
• You are interested in the history of the Royal Academy and its artists
• You want to learn more about the art of Life Drawing in a small-group, friendly environment
• You already paint, draw or practice art, would like to develop your skills with our expert art professors in a special setting working with your partner
• You want to try something special in a unique and historic setting on Valentine's Day.
This course is suitable for all levels as bespoke guidance is provided to each couple and participant.
The number of participants is strictly limited to 14 people (or 7 couples) in order to enable detailed feedback and small group tours.
£480 per couple
£260 per person
Includes:
• An art historical introduction to the Academy, art and artists - inspired by stories of love
• Practical Life Drawing workshop with expert art tutor and practicing artist
• All practical art materials
• Specialist course learning materials
• Private, small group tour of the Academy’s library and archives Guided Tour of the Academy’s Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse exhibition
• Lunch and drinks reception in private Member’s Club, The Academician’s Room
About the space
The Life Room
Set in the Academy’s historic Life Room, nestled deep in the heart of the RA Schools, this unique and significant setting was designed in the 1860s when the galleries and Schools were first constructed, purpose built to accommodate the study of the human form in art.
The semi-circular seating arrangement is based on an ancient design and can trace its British history all the way back to the 1730s and Hogarth’s Academy in St Martin’s Lane. The lighting is also of ancient design and is used (then as now) to provide directional light to aid the delineation of the figure’s musculature – significantly enhancing the use and study of colour and light in art.
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.