Black and White Drawings of Figures, Camilla, students from Camilla Dixon's course, Experimental Figure

Experimental Figure

Mixed Media / Beginners / Figure - Materials included

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Course details

In a small group work with a live clothed model in this experimental and dynamic course designed to loosen your approach to capturing the figure in mixed-media.

Over three-days, see how to capture movement and character in a variety of media. Using the clothed-figure as a starting point, the course is ideal if you are looking for a way to increase concentration, improve observation, rapidly build confidence and develop personal style and expression.

Working from clothed (fashion) models in our Porthmeor Studios, Camilla demonstrates how to work more quickly and intuitively, working the figure towards a more abstracted or fluid form and embracing your own way of working.

Start with graphite, crayon or pastel and work towards acrylic, ink and collage in the following days. Simple exercises make it suitable for beginners as well as practised life-drawers, with the emphasis being on economy of line, understanding of pose, and innovative use of media to express the essentials quickly and confidently. This approach is not only freeing and fun, but enables your individual style to flourish and develop fast.

Camilla brings her expertise as a fashion illustrator for British, Italian and Japanese press following her fashion degree from Central St Martin’s in the early 90s.

Day to day plan

This is a rough indication of what to expect over the course. However sometimes the structure of the days may alter depending on the nature of the group and weather.

Day 1

Working in ‘dry media’ – graphite, crayon, pastel – explore new approaches to line drawing to express different aspects of the model, details, character and clothing, quickly and freely, so the result is fresh and dynamic.

Day 2

Moving into acrylic paint and ink, we will work fast with a focus on movement, weight, balance and 3-dimensional form to capture the attitude of the pose.

Day 3

On this final day, we use cutting, tearing and sticking waste paper and mixed-media in direct response to the clothed model. Working on slightly longer poses, as a culmination of the previous two days, taking your image-making to an even more individually expressive or abstracted level.

What will I learn?

  1. Learn to work more intuitively and expressively.
  2. Integrate a variety of media into your practice.
  3. Capture the figure in a bolder, looser style.
  4. Find your own voice and visual vocabulary.
  5.  Gain confidence in building a composition.

Who would this course suit?

This course is suitable for anyone. If you are interested in finding new ways of capturing the figure, this course is for you. Most importantly, this will be a chance to explore and experiment without judgement.

Experimental Figure

Mixed Media / Beginners / Figure – Materials included

Sorry, this course is not currently available

Taught by

Camilla
Dixon

View Camilla’s Work

I find tutoring to be a constantly evolving project. It supports my creative work as it requires that I not only understand my processes but can apply them in a way that is useful to other people in their quest for creative flow. Harnessing a fluid and responsive working method, can address all sorts of practical or emotional obstacles that students face. It can be quite literally life-changing.

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.

FAQs

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