Developing drawing skill Hilary Jean Gibson

Developing Drawing Skills

Drawing / Beginners - Materials included

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Course details

Learn to master the power of the simple line. Working from subjects in and around the studios, create compelling observational drawings and equip yourself with an entirely new creative toolbox.

Developing Drawing Skills

Taught in a small group, you will learn techniques to closely observe and respond to the world around you. You will discover how to use line, how to understand and see tone, acquiring and practicing drawing skills, techniques and visual mark making. Unlock the secrets of this timeless medium and develop a new love for drawing that will last you a lifetime.

Move on to explore an intuitive and experimental approach to mark making that will combine observation with interpretation. You will work in the studio as well as out in St Ives studying the architecture of the town and the rugged coastal landscape. You will be encouraged to interpret your ideas into a sketchbook using different drawing mediums and tools and your tutors will be on hand to give you advice on composition and perspective. This is an ideal course if you are a beginner or an artist that wishes they had stronger drawing skills. It will increase your confidence in a range of approaches, develop vital skills and unlock a new creative passion.

What will I learn?

  1. Create compelling drawings from observation.
  2. Build confidence in close observation and capturing the world around you.
  3. Explore an intuitive and experimental way of mark-making.
  4. Explore different drawing mediums and tools.
  5. Learn how to approach working in a sketchbook.

Who would this course suit?

This course would suit artists at any stage in their creative journey; whether you have an established practice or are just starting out. Ideal if you are looking for ways to increase skills, experience and attitude as well as interests and mobility.

Developing Drawing Skills

Drawing / Beginners – Materials included

Book Selected Date

Taught by

Liz
Luckwell

View Liz’s Work

Liz Luckwell’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in the act of drawing, which underpins her method of working with materials, allowing images to emerge from the process itself. Starting from realistic beginnings—often sketching her immediate environment—Luckwell’s work evolves through a gradual process of simplification, distilling forms into more abstracted, emotive expressions. Her creative journey is infused with early memories of helping her mother craft wreaths and bouquets on the kitchen table, a tactile experience that still informs her approach. Working from her home, the Gardener’s Cottage, she often reflects on her family’s deep connection to gardening, a theme that permeates pieces like her oil pastel on board Summer Weeds, where natural forms are transformed through a nuanced, intimate exploration of colour and texture.

Hilary
Jean
Gibson

View Hilary Jean Gibson’s Work

In 1995 I became a tutor at the St Ives School of Painting. Offering inspiration through my passion for drawing, water-based media and art history, I strive to liberate a creative vision by teaching skills and techniques through direct observation and en plein air.

What to Bring

Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.

Timings and Breaks

The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.

All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.

What our students say

Just the course I needed to give me confidence to start drawing. Taught enthusiastically with interesting references to the St Ives artists and their legacy. 

Oliver Peterken

A big thank you to Hilary and Liz – a fantastic course! I look forward to continuing at home all I have learnt and will certainly be back for future courses. 

Janet Jones

I loved my tutors! The range they showed – between accurate drawing and having fun with different materials – was superb! 

Andrea Huggenberger

Multiple drawing exercises in a short time frame was just what I hoped for and will provide the foundations for further practice and tuition.

Colin Shaw

It was a rare opportunity to focus entirely on drawing, without the distractions of working from home. I enjoyed going over the fundamentals of drawing because there was no thorough teaching of this on my degree course. I will certainly be more aware of these aspects of drawing as I develop my work at home. The course gave me a boost of confidence and i feel inspired to draw more regularly than I had been doing for a couple of years.

Sarah Nelson

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