Drawing pictures - Practise Room

The workshop will begin by examining a range of drawings and photographs, identifying their shared characteristics, differences and particular visual tendencies. These observations will establish an intellectual framework from which students can begin to develop their own drawing practice. Students will be introduced to a variety of starting points, including observational drawing exercises, working directly from photographs and experimenting with other forms of image-based material. 

Throughout the workshop, students will be encouraged to question the conventions and assumptions surrounding the act of copying an image, particularly in relation to the distinction between drawing from observation and working from photographic sources.  This will open up discussions around authentic and inauthentic experience, and the ways in which our understanding of the world is increasingly shaped by images. 

Students will also explore the relationship between the real image and the meta-image, considering the broader implications of these ideas for contemporary drawing and art-making. The workshop aims to broaden students’ understanding of what drawing can be, challenging established barriers and preconceptions about its nature, origins and legitimacy. By examining the relationship between drawing and the visual material that permeates everyday life, students will be encouraged to recognise new possibilities for making work that feels relevant, cohesive and connected to the wider language of contemporary image-making and representation.  

DAY ONE 

The aim of the day is to introduce myself and my approach to drawing, opening up key discussions and conversations that will inform and inspire our initial drawing activities. Students will engage in a range of short exercises and practical experiments within a creative, supportive environment, encouraging curiosity, exploration and the development of individual ideas. There will be opportunities for students to share their work, reflect on their outcomes and participate in constructive group discussions and peer critiques. I will also demonstrate my own drawing techniques and practices, alongside a selection of original works that students can view, discuss and learn from. Through this combination of practical activity, observation and shared dialogue, the day will encourage students to 

explore drawing as a means of thinking, experimenting and developing their own creative language. 

DAY TWO 

The aim of day two is to deepen students’ understanding of photographic imagery and introduce the concept of the meta-image as a means of drawing and image-making. Students will be encouraged to consider their drawings as contemporary documentations of the world around them, exploring how context, meaning and perception can be shaped through the selection of specific details, material qualities and modes of presentation. 

The day will also explore the use of technology, particularly the smartphone, as a tool for looking more closely and developing a deeper connection with the subject. Through photographic investigation and close observation, students will be encouraged to adopt a more forensic approach to surface, texture and detail, considering how these discoveries might inform and extend their drawing practice.  

DAY THREE 

The aim of Day three will be to consider composition from filmic and photographic perspectives using language borrowed from cinematography such as ‘the close up’ natural and directed lighting, diffusion and hypodermic focus, foreground and background, incidental actors, main character and extras. Students will discuss setting and gather a series of images from which to base their own compositions. I will work alongside the students in an atelier style delivery discussing ideas techniques and approaches informally when required. There will be short regroup sessions and opportunities for students to discuss their ideas.

DAY FOUR 

The aim of the day is to produce a range of resolved drawings, using photographic materials as a starting point for the construction of new and original artworks. Through this process, students will draw together the ideas, techniques and approaches explored throughout the course, developing a more considered understanding of drawing as both a practical activity and a means of critical enquiry. 

The final group critique will provide an opportunity to bring these discussions together, establishing an intellectual framework through which to consider how different methods and attitudes towards drawing inform the wider critical discourse surrounding the discipline. Questions of classicism, traditional approaches, authenticity and the relationship between drawing and contemporary art will be explored, encouraging students to reflect on the values and assumptions that shape our understanding of the medium. Ultimately, the discussion will invite students to question what constitutes a successful drawing, considering not only its technical qualities but also its ideas, 

intentions and relevance within contemporary practice 

Please note: Discount as student/unemployed/retired is available only for residents of Copenhagen Municipality proper, and we are obliged to obtain documentation for your eligibility.