Botanical drawing
Weekend-long practical course
19 May 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm20 May 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, Royal Academy Schools
£420. Includes all materials, lunch, and wine reception.
Terms and conditions
Learn the fundamentals of botanical drawing with fine artist and author Dr Sarah Simblet.
This two-day introductory course in botanical drawing is led by Dr Sarah Simblet, fine artist and author of Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants, 2010, Dorling Kindersley, and The New Sylva: A Discourse of Forest and Orchard Trees for the Twenty-First Century, 2014, Bloomsbury Publishing.
Botanical drawing has a history in both art and natural science; it is concerned with both the aesthetics of its subject matter and the systematic and accurate recording of specimens. The practice is not only about beauty, but also about observation and understanding, and as such it is a fitting introduction to the discipline of drawing from life. Through a series of practical drawing exercises, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of botanical drawing, including learning how to see, understand and differentiate between a selection of common plants and how to create expressive drawings of them. Over the two days the course will be broken down into studying roots and stems, leaves, flowers and fruits, whilst looking at structure, form, surface, texture, gestural mark making and lighting.
Each day Sarah will bring into the Royal Academy's historic Life Room an abundance of fresh, seasonal plant material collected from the landscape surrounding her home in rural Oxfordshire. She will include the flowers and fruits of native and naturalised tree species, a range of grasses including corn crops and also diverse specially grown broad-leaf plants from a garden and water meadow. Sarah will use these plants to demonstrate the essential elements of plant structure and form, taking participants step by step through the analysis of contrasting species and how to capture them in drawings.
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).
This course is suitable for enthusiastic and curious beginners, and also those with previous experience of drawing who wish to further develop their understanding, technique and ability, informed by historical approaches.
This course is for you if:
• You are curious to learn traditional approaches to drawing that are rooted in observation from the object, and wish to do so in a creative, experimental and supportive professional environment.
• You wish to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of drawing.
• You would appreciate learning to develop approaches to drawing amongst a group of like minded individuals in a focused, relaxed and supported manner.
• 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 have no prior experience of drawing, but are interested in the details of these practises and techniques.
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
Price: £420
Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 May 2018
10.30am – 5.30pm on both days
Includes:
• An introduction to the Academy with particular reference to relevant works from the Collection
• Exclusive access to the RA Schools historic life drawing room
• All practical materials and equipment
• Light refreshments and lunch each day
• A drinks reception at the end of the first day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the space
The Life Room
The Royal Academy’s historic Life Room sits at the heart of the RA Schools. Usually closed to the public, this unique and significant space was designed in the 1860s, when the galleries and art school first moved to Burlington Gardens.
The semi-circular seating arrangement, based on an ancient design, traces its British history back to Hogarth’s Academy in St Martin’s Lane, c.1730. Directional light is used to enhance the delineation of the model’s musculature and aid 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.