Drawing as Expanded Practice 5-day course | Summer School: 13/07 - 17/07

Dates: 13 - 17 July 2026

Time: 10:00 - 17:00

Fee: £614

Level: Beginners (18+ years)

Tutor: Ana Vicente

In this five-day intensive course, we will take drawing in its rawest sense and explore ways to connect with it to understand, record and reframe being in the world. Together we will take drawing as a process and not as a fixed outcome; and expand it in the direction of movement, sculpture, writing and performance. We will focus on the importance of creative experimentation as we engage with a range of materials, sites, processes and ideas. We will explore the possibilities of drawing as a language, as a way of thinking and as a way of imagining a world.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will be structured by posing a series of propositions devised to ignite your curiosity for exploration and for thinking through making. The course aims to create a space where you develop your own definitions of what drawing is for you, free of expectation, judgement, or conceptually accepted norms. We will use methods and materials that may not be immediately associated with drawing in its most traditional sense. Some of our methods will include walking, asemic writing, sensorial mark-making, choreographic scores and others. You will work individually as well as collaboratively.

At the end of the course, you will have explored a set of approaches that you can use in your own practice. Such approaches will develop your confidence in employing creative ways of understanding, recording and reframing the world underpinned by an expanded drawing practice that is personally meaningful to you.

What to expect

Looking at a range of examples of drawing as expanded practice, discussions, themed propositions and associated guided ‘exercises’, lots of playfulness, experimentation with materials, scale and movement, working with embodied and somatic methods, working with process-based approaches not always resulting in a finished outcome, working collectively and exploring own individual interests independently.

No experience of art or drawing is necessary, but a sense of curiosity and openness to play and explore both individually and as part of a group is essential. This course will be useful for anyone interested in exploring/ reigniting their creative practice therefore it is also suitable for (but not restricted to) artists, designers, architects, filmmakers, dancers, writers and performers.

What’s included: all teaching, materials and tools specific to the different daily activities

What isn’t included: your meals, and we advise you to bring a sketchbook/notebook, pens, pencils, scissors and any other mark-making materials of your choice. A camera or mobile phone for taking photographs and/or video is also advisable but not essential. You may be asked to source own objects to bring for specific sessions.

FAQs

Is there wheelchair and stairs access? Yes

Is there space for storing mobility aids? Yes

Is there access to gender neutral toilets? Yes

What seating will be available? The course will be a mixture of sitting, standing, moving around depending on each person. Some working on the floor will be encouraged however it's totally possible to participate seated.

Is there access to refreshments?

The Art School café will be open throughout the week, where you can buy hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks.

Is the space suitable for participants who need to socially distance?

Masks are welcome. Please test for covid if possible and do not attend with symptoms or a positive test.

10% discount available for City & Guilds of London Art School students, alumni and staff. Contact summerschool@cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk to receive the discount code.

Please note: in accordance with Eventbrite's Terms of Service, Eventbrite's fees are non-refundable. Any refunds made for Summer School bookings will have Eventbrite's fees deducted, unless we cancel the course. For more information, please see our terms and conditions.

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Any queries? Take a look at our FAQs page and for further help, please contact us at summerschool@cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk