Come and join us for a playful, exercise-led life drawing workshop which will help you to introduce colour into your work. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Jake Spicer back to the studio for 2 days dedicated to drawing the figure in chalk and oil pastel – come and be taken under the wing of one of the UK’s most accomplished drawing tutors.
In this workshop Jake will be introducing exercises to help you to use colour in your figure drawings confidently and playfully. Using a variety of pastel-based drawing media we will explore the potential of working in colour. You can extend the course by signing up to the add-on life drawing day on Wednesday or sign up to the Portrait course on the Thursday and Friday to make a full week of it!
COURSE DETAILS
DAY 1:
Chalk pastels
We’ll begin the day with material experiments, working from short poses to explore expressive chalk-pastel drawing exercises. Later in the day we’ll move into a longer poses, working at a large scale and introducing pastel pencil and charcoal into our drawings.
DAY 2:
Oil pastel
On day two Jake will introduce oil pastels, and we’ll try several different approaches to using the medium with our model holding short poses. Later in the day we’ll move into a longer pose where attendees can work as they wish in their preferred medium, finishing the day on short poses.
This two day course includes:
- A series of structured demonstrations and exercises
- Drawing from a professional portrait model
- Relaxed & attentive one-to-one guidance for every student
Suitable for?
Anyone, regardless of experience – we generally advise 14 years old+ though.
What is included in the price?
- Two full days’ teaching (10am-4:30pm)
- A professional portrait model
- Tea, coffee, biscuits
- Drawing materials including access to top-of-the-range coloured pencils
- Use of a beautiful purpose-built art studio with all the equipment & materials you will need
- Beautiful countryside setting
This course is for you if:
- You want to draw with more confidence and develop new skills
- You want to introduce more colour into your drawings
- You want to improve your own artistic practise (even if you normally create in an entirely different medium entirely)
- You want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in a fun, creative environment
- You love creativity
Beyond the course
After the course you will be armed with many new skills to incorporate into your own work, bother here at the Phoenix studio and beyond. Jake also runs online life drawing classes through Draw Brighton – you can sign up to monthly membership to access those sessions from anywhere in the world. We are more than happy to help and advise you in taking those first creative steps, help connect you to the wider creative community.
Signed copies of Jake’s popular book portrait and life drawing books will be available to buy from Jake during the weekend.
Need accommodation?
If you are travelling from further afield and would like to stay in the area for your visit then have a look at our recommended list of local B&Bs and hotels.
ABOUT THE TUTOR

Jake Spicer
Co founder of Draw Brighton and the Drawing Circus, Jake is passionate about drawing and is equally passionate about teaching. Well renowed and respected among the wider art community, Jake has written numerous best selling books about drawing, has a monthly column for Artist & Illustrators magazine and gives lectures and classes on the applications of drawing as a tool for understanding, communication, artmaking and as a vehicle for social good. He is also undertaking a long term study into the fundamental processes of drawing and also paints when he can.
In the past he has worked with the BBC, ITV, Brighton University, The Big Draw, The Old Market Theatre, Creative Futures, West Dean, Playgroup Festival, Brighton and Hove Museums & RAM, The Camden Arts Centre, The National Portrait Gallery among others.
You can have a look at his website here.
I’m always so excited about Jake teaching at the studio – he’s an inspiring tutor, his enthusiasm is infectious and his courses are perfect for any aspiring artists!
James Ort – Studio Manager
I’ve been to many portrait courses and this one superseded them all 🙂
Jake was an excellent tutor. The course was well constructed and I picked up lots of useful tips. Our model – Manko – was the best I have worked from. Not only was she beautiful and very interesting to draw – she held poses and returned to poses with great accuracy. I would recommend this course to beginners or more practised artists.Pam Esseen
Unbelievable that my first drawing workshop was at this amazingly creative and peaceful centre. And more impressive, I was able to draw many portraits in a relaxed and comfortable way. Jake, the artist, was able to develop and extend my skill with much ease. Manko, the model, was superb with her striking poses which were held still as we drew with the most apt background music. The whole centre operated with much ease, love and creativity. Thank you.
Anon


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