Overview

This two-week course will introduce you to the essential first principles of drawing and help you develop your own practice and individual vision.

Each day you'll explore particular aspects of drawing and experiment with a variety of techniques and materials.

The course runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm each day. You'll also have the option of attending extra-curricular events such as talks and exhibitions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Course content and structure

The course is tightly structured and involves tuition in groups and one-on-one.

Each day you'll explore a particular aspect of drawing, for example:

• traditional methods of working such as observing objects, the human form and light
• the use of line, measurement, scale and proportion
• materials and surface, organising pictorial space
• investigating transcription and translation of existing art works
• contemporary ideas about spontaneity, memory, imagination, abstraction and construction
• recording the creative process

In the second week you'll be encouraged to explore and nurture ideas through drawing. You'll develop your own art practice and personal vision at your own pace.

You'll experiment with a variety of techniques and media, including pencil, ink, paint, white chalk, willow and compressed charcoal.

A short critique of work will be held at the end of each week, and at the end of the course you'll have a chance to discuss your future plans within the group.

Who this course is for

This course is suitable for complete beginners as well as those who have some practical drawing experience and want to develop more confidence in their practice.

Certificates

You can request an attendance certificate after completing the course. These can only be supplied during the year you take the course and can't be produced retrospectively.

Cost

This two-week course costs £800.

A 10% discount is available for UCL current students and staff. You'll be asked to enter your UPI number (available on your UCL ID card) when booking.

Course fees must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Only basic materials will be provided. Once you've been accepted onto the course you'll be sent details of the materials you'll need.

Slade Summer School

The Slade Summer School offers a unique opportunity for you to work within the studios and vibrant atmosphere of the Slade - a world-renowned school of fine art. 

You'll become part of a wider community of artists and will have a real sense of studying in an art school environment among Slade students and alumni. You'll test your abilities while learning new skills and different approaches to making art.

You can also take part in a lively range of extra-curricular activities, including: 

• art history lectures and artist talks introducing the varied contexts and histories of fine art
• exhibition openings and talks by Slade undergraduate and postgraduate students about their work
• a series of artists' projects run by Slade tutors, alumni and recently graduated student residents - you'll be invited into these studio spaces to discuss the works with the artists 

Evening events take place at 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Take an extended programme of multiple courses

Many different one, two and three-week courses are available. You can build a personalised programme of study by taking a series of short courses over the ten-week period. 

Please call the Summer School team if you'd like do this - they have detailed knowledge of the curriculum and can help you plan a programme.

All the Summer School courses available are listed on the Slade website.

Further information

Read more about this and other Summer School courses on the Slade website, which provides information about booking and cancellations.

Course team

All tutors are practising artists

Course leader: Ian Rowlands

Course information last modified: 30 Nov 2022, 15:59