This is a structured opportunity to gain fundamental drawing and painting skills, whilst blurring the boundary between drawing and painting by using both wet and dry materials together. Students will explore various ways of seeing, increasing their understanding and confidence to draw and paint. Topics include linear drawing, tonal drawing, composition,  expressive drawing/painting, study of natural forms and personal project. A fun and intensive course that will leave students with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own artworks. Please be aware that on Friday the class finishes at 4.30pm.  

This is a structured opportunity to gain fundamental drawing and painting skills, whilst blurring the boundary between drawing and painting by using both wet and dry materials together. Throughout the week, students will be using a limited pallet keeping the focus on tonal painting. By looking at still life, interior/exterior and portrait, students explore various ways of seeing, increasing their understanding and confidence to draw and paint. Topics include linear drawing, tonal drawing, composition, sketching outdoors, expressive drawing/painting, study of natural forms and portrait painting. A fun and intensive course that will leave students with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own artworks.  

A wonderful opportunity for people with all levels of experience to explore the skills of drawing and life drawing. Throughout the course you will work to a variety of themes to learn fundamental drawing skills, including composition, tonal drawing, measurement and movement. Once mastered students are encouraged to develop a creative approach interjected with urban sketching, exploration of different lines, contrasts, compositions, materials and techniques. This is a structured informative, yet fun and stimulating, course that teaches essential drawing skills whilst encouraging a creative approach.

Both a vital stand alone discipline and arguably the foundation for all other types of art, drawing and the ever-fascinating world of portraiture collide in this inspiring five day portrait drawing course. In this beginner's course drawing fundamentals will be addressed throughout each day while. Working mainly from portrait models, students will first explore portrait through a practical and structured approach to observation. The skills of anatomy and measurement will be complemented with more experimental ways of working, critical analysis of various artworks and group discussion, all with aim of instilling the confidence needed to marry physical likeness with personal artistic expression. A vibrant and supportive studio environment will be created by your tutor Zoe who will encourage you to explore and push yourself through both the discipline and subject. This course is a must for anyone interested in improving their portrait understanding, furthering their interest in drawing through the focus of portraiture, and those wanting to progress to create portraits in other disciplines, such as painting. We recommend completing a beginners drawing course or having basic drawing skills before signing up for this course.

A wonderful opportunity for people with all levels of experience to explore the skills of outdoor sketching and urban drawing. Over the five days, students will draw on location at various sites near the Art Academy. Students will tackle the architecture of the Southbank, explore busy Borough Market, sketch the serene view across to St Paul's and much more. Each class will begin with a brief introduction to the day’s subject, showing examples of the work of artists who have depicted similar scenes to the ones which the students will experience. Each day the tutor will introduce a new material or drawing technique for the students to explore over the day, in their sketchbooks or on larger sheets of paper.  

Understanding the structure of the human figure and the way it is situated within a space is an essential practice for anyone keen to develop their drawing and observational skills. Each day you will have a different theme to explore, working from the model with guidance from our highly experienced tutor. With an encouraging focus exploring your own approach to drawing, you will work through a series of exercises using a wide range of materials including charcoal and graphite. This course teaches skills and expressive drawing in a unique way to bring your drawing on most effectively and is suitable for more advanced drawers as well as beginners.