Drawing is a means of communicating your ideas and sharing your observations. Whether you are a professional artist or a beginner, life drawing is like exercise for your eyes, and everyone can benefit from it.

During the Life Class you'll tackle a series of liberating exercises, designed to free you up and be honest about what you see. From blind drawing to negative spaces. You'll get to experiment with a range of materials, draw with chalk on sticks, practice measured drawing, tackle moving poses and find the model amongst a jumble of furniture.

Each week the group is given an exercise, but the critique is always individually focused, with no ‘right’, ‘wrong’ or ‘expected’ outcome, but rather a goal of individual development and original expression. So that beginners and practising artists alike are equally challenged and supported. The outcome being a continuous maturing of skill and confidence, in a relaxing and supportive environment.

We break for cups of tea and biscuits. I aim to end each session with some longer poses so that you have time to do your own thing and put what you've learnt into practice.

COVID Procedures

1) Please enter the building through the sports entrance and exit via the large glass doors (unless you need to leave the class early, in which case please exit through the sports entrance). Please form a socially distanced queue for paper and for the sink. There will be a marked two way system in the corridor.

2) Please use the available hand sanitiser on arrival, before handling paper / jars, and throughout the session.

3) We are not able to share materials as we used to. Instead there will be a drawer of mixed materials next to each easel. Each drawer will include soft pastels, charcoal, pencils, a rubber, watercolour crayons, coloured pencils, Indian ink, wash, clips, a large and small brush, and a bamboo pen. Jars and dishes will be available in the corridor. You are welcome to bring your own materials too.

4) Paper will be available to buy at cost in the corridor. Please sanitise your hands before handling the paper. Please do not return unused sheets, instead take them home and bring them back to use the following week. You can still pop coins in the tin to pay for your paper. Alternatively, you can keep a tally of what you owe and pay by card at the end of term. I will have my (contactless) card machine with me each week.

5) Easels will be distanced 1.5m apart in two groups of six, with 2m between each group. A board, chair and fold up table will be next to each easel.

6) You will need to wear a mask at all times during the class.

7) We will take a break at around 11 o’clock. Unfortunately we won’t be able to share the kitchen facilities so please bring and dispose of your own refreshments.

8) Doors / windows will be open during the break and where possible during the class (the space needs to remain warm for the model).

9) At the end of each session please wash your dirty brushes, jars and dishes in the Belfast sink in the cupboard, and return them to the table in the corridor. Please don’t use the kitchen sink. Please leave boards, easels, chair, fold up table, and your drawer of materials in your spot for me to clear away. Please take all your work, unused paper and any of your own materials home.

10) If you or a member of your household has any COVID symptoms, or receives a positive test, please do not come to the class.