This evening course is designed for those new to life drawing. Over the span of nine weeks, you will engage in a practical exploration of both traditional and contemporary techniques for depicting the human figure.
Across the workshops you will develop essential skills in measuring proportions, understanding tone, and studying anatomy, all while experimenting with a variety of materials and methods.
Specifically designed for beginners, workshops will start with an introduction to traditional drawing materials through this you will learn some traditional methods for sharpening graphite, how to hold and control your pencil and how to use a putty rubber.
You will learn to set up an easel and drawing board, and through a series of exercises, you will practice techniques for measuring the proportions of the human figure while observing a live, nude model.
Next, you will focus on form and practice a linear drawing technique known as cross hatching, paying attention to the pressure applied through various mark-making methods.
Following this, you’ll explore reductive drawing with charcoal and erasers, which serves as an introduction to tone.
Afterward, you will learn a technique called foreshortening which enables you to create the illusion of depth in your two-dimensional artwork. Concurrently, you will be introduced to the use of conte pencils, followed by pastels. For this, inspiration will be drawn from artists Edgar Degas and Paula Rego.
Later, you are invited to practice drawing with ink utilising both sticks and paint brushes as drawing tools.
As you build confidence in depicting the human form, you will concentrate on capturing the proportions and planes of the head.
Participants can look forward to creating a collection of drawings on paper, up to A1 in size, that represent the human figure.
By the end of the course, you will produce drawings that not only depict the figure but also intuitively reflect your own style in response to the techniques and mediums introduced.
Disclaimer
The University regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time. See our course and module disclaimer for more information.
Learning Methods
This course will be delivered on campus from 18:30 – 21:00 every Wednesday for 9 weeks.
Activity Summary
- Minimum of 8 students, maximum of 15 in the group
- 22.5 hours of teaching in total over 9 evenings, 18:30 – 21:00
Timetable
- Week 1: 15 January 2025 - workshops start
- Week 2: 22 January
- Week 3: 29 January
- Week 4: 5 February
- 12 February - no class due to public holiday
- Week 5: 19 February
- Week 6: 26 February
- Week 7: 5 March
- Week 8: 12 March
- Week 9: 19 March – last workshop
Independent Study
Students are encouraged to create and maintain a personal sketchbook which reflects their own creative practice involving the documentation of processes, inspirations, learnings and basic sketches.
Assessment
This course is not formally assessed.
Staff Delivering on this Course
Catriona Platten is an alumna of Gray’s School of Art and has over 30 years of experience as a professional painter since earning her BA (Hons) in Drawing and Painting. Based in Scotland, she specialises in life drawing and teaches both life drawing and painting in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, where she has been active for 12 years. Platten regularly exhibits her work throughout the UK and is currently preparing for a solo exhibition.
The artist primarily focuses on figurative painting, exploring folklore and symbolism and often places figures within imaginary landscapes. Recently, Platten has been drawn to themes of solitude and isolation, using contrasts of light and dark to depict figures in empty spaces. The artist is currently working on large-scale drawings that illustrate a close friend's cancer journey, reinterpreting Botticelli’s Venus.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course.
This course is suitable for beginners.
Required Age
All students are required to be at least 16 years of age on the commencement of the course.
For Academic Year 2024/2025
Course fee: £270 per person
The fee is to be paid as part of sign up process and prior to the first session.
After completing the registration form, you will be directed to the payment page. Your place on the course is not confirmed until payment has been received. If you have any difficulties locating the payment link or if you have registered for this course but have not completed the payment form, please contact us for a direct link to pay which will bypass registration.
Additional Costs
Essential core materials are provided.
The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees:
Course Cancellation
If minimum participant numbers for this course are not met, the course will be cancelled and participants will receive a full refund.
If you have registered and paid for your place on the course, but now wish to cancel, please email engage@rgu.ac.uk at least 48 hours prior to the first evening session commencing.
Disclaimer
For new intakes course fees are reviewed and published annually for each mode of delivery. Tuition fees are fixed for the duration of a course at the rate confirmed in advance. For further information see:
Any questions?
Get in touch with the Engage Team and we'll do our best to help.