Introduction to Portrait Drawing Weekend Workshop

This weekend workshop introduces the basics of portrait drawing through a series of exercises guided by tutor and artist Lancelot Richardson.

This workshop is designed for beginners who want to start drawing from a clothed portrait model or as a refresher for anyone who wants to tune up their observational drawing skills and experiment with new approaches.

What to Expect

• Day 1 – We’ll start with finding the major shapes of the head, moving on to an introduction to facial proportions and three-dimensional approaches to drawing tilted heads.
• Day 2 – Covers more expressive, gestural approaches to the portrait and composition, with lots of inspiration from artwork.

There will be lots of opportunities to practise by drawing from the model in the workshop, and tutor Lancelot Richardson will be on hand to provide assistance and feedback.

The workshop runs from 10am-4pm on Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th February, with a 1-hour lunch break from 1-2pm. There will also be extra tea breaks throughout the day.

What you need to bring
Easels, padded and backed chairs, drawing boards, and small tables are provided for all students, and materials are included in the cost of the course. However, you can bring your own favourite materials along, and you may wish to bring a folder or art tube to take your drawings home in.

Getting to the studio
You may arrive at 9:45am onwards. Approach New England House from the New England Street side of the building and walk up to the locked blue double doors next to the sign for the 'Building Manager's Office'. Wait to be let in or call the number on the door for entry - the studio is on level 5, Unit 1 South, just knock and walk in. There is parking at London Road car park, Elder Place, and Trafalgar St car parks; Brighton station is a 5-minute walk from the studio.

Safety and accessibility
For the wellbeing of everybody at the class, please don't come to the class if you are ill with contagious symptoms. If you have any accessibility needs, please do let us know beforehand, and we will do everything we can to make sure you can enjoy the life classes here. The building has a wheelchair ramp at the North side of the New England Street entrance and lifts up to level 5 with gender-neutral toilets and accessible toilets on floors 4 and 6 accessed by lift.

We keep the studio a safe environment by providing:

• Monitored ventilation
• Air purification with HEPA filters
• Sick pay for our freelance life models
• If you have COVID, flu, or a bad cold symptoms, we ask you not to attend - you will receive a refund as well as our appreciation!

None - beginners welcome!
  All materials are included, including paper.
The model is included in the course price.
Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available for free during breaks. Optional - Notebooks or sketchbooks for taking notes, folders for taking drawings home in.