Summer School: Tonal Life Drawing with Caragh Savage

We are delighted to welcome Caragh Savage back to the Draw studios to teach a three-day Summer School exploring a tonal approaches to life drawing. Under Caragh’s guidance, we will move away from tonal ‘colouring-in’, and will instead be working with a sculptural approach that doesn’t rely so heavily on outlines. We’ll be working from a variety of models over the three days.

Please note: We will be working with charcoal for the full three days.

This course is suitable for people with some life drawing experience and is designed to encourage the development of new ways of looking, with plenty of support and guidance from Caragh throughout the three days.

What to Expect

Day One: We will start by exploring basic tonal block-ins to see tonal shapes using charcoal, working through a series of exercises with a life model. We will look to see how we can differentiate between local tone and the effects of illumination to describe light & shadow on form.

Day Two: Building on our learning from the first day, we will start to consider 'continuous tone' across an image, which leads to judging relative values, noticing edges and being sure to avoid outline.

Day Three: As you become comfortable in establishing the whole, we will move towards an 'extension project' of making decisions about focal points and emphasis. We will really start to consider their own artistic intentions, and our own part in manipulating our use of tone, for your own individual purposes.

What to Bring

All materials are included with this workshop. You may wish to bring a sketchbook for taking notes and an A1 plastic folder or art tube for taking your drawings home.

Getting to the studio

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 & Trafalgar St car parks; Brighton station is a 5 minute walk from the studio

Discounts

The discounted rate is available for anybody on low income, students or Draw Patreon supporters. Become a Draw Patreon supporter by signing up to the Draw Patreon from just £3.60 per month. You’ll get the in-person concessionary rate, plus Patreons get tiered access to a wealth of resources including our extensive artist’s photo reference library, live online life drawing & portrait drawing classes, online recorded courses and much more. Whether you are a Patreon supporter or not, you can post your drawings on the Draw community Facebook group and tag @draw_brighton and #drawbrighton on Instagram.

Safety & accessibility

If you have any accessibility needs, please do let us know beforehand on info@draw-brighton.co.uk and we will do everything we can to make sure you can enjoy the 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 & accessible toilets on floors 4 & 6 accessed by lift.

The studio itself has diffuse overhead panel lights for drawers with a spotlight directed at the model. Fixative spraying is not allowed in the studio and is done outside. We keep the studio a safe environment by providing:

• Monitored ventilation (aiming for <900ppm CO2)
• Air purification with HEPA filters
• Sick pay for our freelance life models
• If you have covid, flu or bad cold symptoms we ask you not to attend - you will receive a refund as well as our appreciation!

Cancellations

Bookings are non-refundable. If you are unwell with a contagious illness you may not attend the class - you can request a refund here on Eventbrite and we can issue a full refund, minus Eventbrite's fees. If you are unable to attend, please do get in touch with us on info@draw-brighton.co.uk to discuss the options for transferring your place to another attendee.