Life drawing: proportion, form and space
Weekend-long practical course
5 May 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm6 May 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, RA Schools, Piccadilly
£420 Includes all materials, lunch and wine reception.
Terms and conditions
This practical life drawing course focuses on the importance of proportion, form and space led by award-winning painter and figurative artist Andy Pankhurst
Proportional measurements in art are concerned with the aesthetics of beauty and what works pictorially, rather than the literal - for however much artists from the Renaissance onwards concerned themselves with portraying the perfect anatomy and a muscular ideal, Michelangelo-esque proportions rarely exist in nature. In fact, the aesthetic ideal is a point of departure and leads the way, rather than being a literal aim.
"Without measurement there can be no art"
Fra Luca Pacioli, from De Divina Proportione, 1496-7
Andy Pankhurst, the figurative artist leading this course argues “as humans we are fascinated with ‘ourselves’ over any other natural form and it is through this fascination and by studying the human form over time that we have gained aesthetic judgement through questioning: What is the proportional height of the model in relation to their width? Is the head too big or too small? With time and experience we grow and build a personal sensibility towards proportions, most importantly either feeling right or wrong when we draw. Therefore, the meaning of what is right is ultimately what works for your drawing.”
This exciting weekend-long life drawing course aims both to explore such ideal concepts through an understanding of proportion, form and space and develop classical ideas further while working under the guidance of painter and expert tutor Andy Pankhurst.
About the course
Based on the conceptual and abstract language of drawing handed down to us from the Old Masters, this weekend-long life drawing course will offer participants the opportunity to work from both male and female life models with a structured combination of both long and short poses while using a variety and choice of drawing mediums both wet and dry.
Day one: Proportion and form
Day Two: Form and space
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 model, 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 likeminded 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 5 – Sunday 6 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
• Access to both male and female professional life models
• 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 tutor
Andy Pankhurst
Upon graduation from the Slade School of Fine Art in 1992, Andy Pankhurst had won first prize for the Windsor and Newton Young Artist’s Award, and was represented by leading gallery Anthony Mould Contemporary Ltd.
In the same year, he was awarded the Richard Ford Scholarship through the Royal Academy, with which he travelled to Spain to study the old masters within the Prado. He subsequently became a committee member of the award himself in 2003, nominated by Christopher Le Brun PRA, and alongside former Keeper of the Royal Academy, Maurice Cockrill RA (1936-2013). Through the Boise Travel Scholarship, he later lived in the Veneto area of Italy, studying primarily Giotto and the Venetian School.
As a figurative painter, Andy Pankhurst is known as an artist and teacher working from the life model. Andy has work represented in various public, corporate and private collections and museums in the UK and USA. Andy currently exhibits with Browse and Darby in London, with his most recent show of paintings and drawings in 2014. He is the co-author with Lucinda Hawksley of the book What Makes Great Art, published in 2012 by Apple Press.
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.