Drawing the expressive portrait
Weekend-long practical course
12 May 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm13 May 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, Royal Academy Schools
£420. Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception.
From Life
Terms and conditions
This practical course explores the descriptive and expressive possibilities of the drawn portrait using a range of materials and aesthetic approaches
As an ancient form of image creation dating back thousands of years, portraiture has often been seen as an ideal genre to record and capture an individual’s essence. However, with its capacity to elicit a deeper emotional truth and gestural statement, the drawn portrait can be much more than a visual record. It can provide insight and an emotional, timeless connection with its subject.
This course explores expressive drawing within the context of portraiture, which can help unlock some of the barriers to describing the subject that one is concerned with portraying. Applying different techniques, media and scale to a work in a physical and active way allows for unexpected outcomes, investing the work with an emotional component which more controlled approaches often fail to capture.
Artist and member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the New English Art Club Andrew James leads this exclusive workshop based around the concept of expressive portrait drawing.
Participants will work from two models, placing them in a broad variety of poses, employing different aesthetics, drawing materials and drawing styles. The course is an excellent opportunity to explore the descriptive and gestural possibilities contained within the portrait, using charcoal, chalks and graphite and to develop the skills and understanding to draw the portrait.
About the course
A mixture of poses and set-ups will help participants to develop an understanding of how creatively engaging with a model can elicit very diverse and dramatic outcomes.
The intense practice of these skills over the two days will enable participants to leave the course having a deeper and richer appreciation of portrait drawing.
Working in the RA’s historic Life Room will further add an evocative atmosphere to the challenge of this artistic endeavour.
This course is suitable for all levels, preferably with some prior experience of drawing, painting or creative practice in general.
This course is for you if:
• You have some prior knowledge of drawing and/or painting and would like to extend your skills in the practice of working from both perception and direct observation, as well as developing skills in the use of graphite and charcoal
• You would like a new perspective in your approach to drawing the portrait
• You would like to experiment with new methods and techniques
• You would like the opportunity to develop your skills and ideas in a small group setting in the RA’s historic Life Room
• You have no prior experience of portrait drawing but an interest in the history, theory and practice of art more widely
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
Price: £420
Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 May 2018
10.30am – 5.30pm on both days
Includes:
• An introduction to the Academy with particular reference to relevant works in the Collection
• The opportunity to work from different life models on each day
• All practical materials
• Lunch and refreshments
• A drinks reception at the end of the first day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the tutor
Andrew James NEAC RP
Andrew James is a practising artist working predominately in oil paint. He is a member of the New English Art Club and Royal Society of Portrait Painters and was formerly its Vice President (2008-2014). Winner of several awards for his portrait painting, Andrew works in a very direct way, with a strong emphasis upon the gestural and expressive quality of oil paint.
With work in public and private collections, Andrew has also exhibited extensively in the UK, including the BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery. He has also had his work broadcast on the BBC1 series Star Portraits, and has been teaching portraiture for over ten years. Awards include the Carroll Foundation Award (1998), The Artists Award (2011) and The Changing Faces Award (2013).
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.