Drawing on Location

About this course

Sessions take place in varied London settings, including outdoor spaces and cultural or architectural locations, with the drawing approach shaped by each subject. Learners work independently while receiving individual guidance and feedback. The course also examines artists’ work, from sketches to finished pieces, considering how they were made and how they affect the viewer. Group show-and-tell sessions provide opportunities to discuss drawings and give constructive peer feedback. In the final studio session, participants use their location sketches as the basis for developing new work from observation.

What you'll learn

• Apply different drawing approaches in response to varied locations and subjects
• Analyse how artists develop sketches and finished works
• Translate observational sketches into new studio-based drawings
• Explain why particular aspects of a drawing are effective
• Use feedback to inform the development of drawings

Is this course right for you?

The course is described as ideal for learners who have some drawing experience, including those who have previously taken an absolute beginners’ course. Sessions involve independent drawing, one-to-one guidance and group discussion, with the focus changing according to the location and subject.

• Work takes place in a different location each week
• Learners split up to draw, then come together for peer discussion and feedback

Before you go

• Participants need an A3 sketchbook, a selection of pencils from 9H to 9B, an eraser, pencil sharpener, biro and ruler.
• Some sessions may introduce colour. Watercolour paint or pencils, brush pens or pastels may be useful, and learners will be informed in advance when colour materials are needed.