Drawing Portrait Casts in Graphite with Roy Eastland

When you don’t have access to a model drawing from portrait busts and casts in galleries, museums and the studio can be an accessible way to explore different ways of drawing from the human head. In this two-day drawing course, artist Roy Eastland will introduce his approaches and attitudes to drawing portraits from casts and portrait busts using graphite, using the static subject as a means of thinking about the ways we draw and what drawing means for us.  

Roy Eastland is an acclaimed artist whose work has been featured in the prestigious The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, Jerwood Drawing Prize and ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary exhibitions. This workshop, delivered through demonstration, personal feedback and practical application, is an opportunity to gain an insight into Roy’s approach to drawing and to develop your own portrait drawing process. It also forms part of the graphite drawing term here at Draw.  

What to Expect: 

We’ll experiment with a number of drawing exercises which focus on ways of seeing and ways of making our mark, considering how hand-drawn lines work to say something about our own vision of the directly observed form and thinking about how the way we make our mark can say something about our own presence as the one drawing. The course will include a mixture of short drawing exercises, demonstrations, discussions and longer drawings for one-to-one tuition. 

The workshop is open to all levels of experience.  Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the session and there will be a lunch break half way through the day. Feel free to get in touch on [email protected] if you have any further questions. 

What to Bring: 

All materials are included with this workshop. You may wish to bring a sketchbook for taking notes and a plastic folder for taking home your drawings.  Easels, chairs, drawing boards and small tables are all provided. 

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 [email protected] 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; oil paints are allowed in the studio and there is a small chance they may be used at this session - our air purifier and good ventilation help control fumes. 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 [email protected] to discuss the options for transferring your place to another attendee.  

Host or Publisher Draw Brighton