Tutored Life Drawing: Getting Started

At this fully tutored life drawing class we cover a new topic every week – drop-in as a one off, or attend weekly for a full course. All abilities welcome!

This week’s topic is: Getting Started

Tutor and artist Lancelot Richardson will guide you through a different aspect of life drawing; you can drop-in to one-off sessions to get help with specific aspects of figure drawing or come to them all for a more complete course. If you’re keen to get more time practicing, you can stay on for Lancelot’s 1-3pm untutored life drawing session in the afternoon.

What to expect

The class begins with a 20-minute tutored segment on the topic of the week followed by a series of exercises where we draw from an unclothed model. There will be a short break for hot drinks and biscuits in the middle of the session and there will be plenty of time to draw from the model, with Lancelot on hand to provide assistance and feedback through the session. You can choose to prebook here or arrive on the day and pay by card. The session is suitable for complete beginners and for anybody aiming to improve their life drawing.

What you need to bring

You can turn up empty-handed but we encourage you to bring your own materials – some basic drawing materials will be available for free and paper can be purchased in the studio. Easels, chairs, drawing boards and small tables are all provided on a first come-first served basis.

Termly topics

09/01/2025 - Getting started
16/01/2025 - Proportions
23/01/2025 - The head & neck
30/01/2025 - The torso
06/01/2025 – The back
13/02/2025 - The legs
20/02/2025 - The arms
27/02/2025 - The hands
06/03/2025 - The feet
13/03/2025 - The joints
20/03/2025 - Line
27/03/2025 - Shape
03/04/2025 - Volume
10/04/2025 - Weight
17/04/2025 - Tone
24/04/2025 - Hatching
01/05/2025 - Foreshortening
08/05/2025 - Depth & space
15/05/2025 - Long poses
22/05/2025 - Gesture
29/05/2025 - Movement

Getting to the studio

Approach New England House from the New England Street side of the building and walk up to the blue double doors next to the sign for the ‘Building Manager’s Office’ where you can come right in and take the stairs of lift to the studio on level 5. Come to 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!

Host or Publisher Draw Brighton