Expressive Life Drawing

A 10-week course with artist and expert tutor Scott Bridgwood, exploring the more expressive means of depicting the human figure.

Through line quality and mark making, both experimental and traditional, and using a variety of tools, we will, in due course, feel more comfortable drawing the figure in an expressive way. This course is concerned with moving towards reflecting greater expression, mood and poignancy in your life drawing to create vivid, powerful figure paintings.

You will learn a wide range of beginners to advanced drawing techniques to use in life drawing, including line and tonal drawing, gesture and movement, and new charcoal techniques. By experimenting in line, tone and shadow in a variety of methods we will discover new ways to depict the figure in space.

We will look at the tutor’s own work and the work of other contemporary artists alongside historical artwork to instruct and inspire.

Each session will begin with shorter poses, using media such as Indian ink, charcoal or pastel, and lead to longer poses, where you will be encouraged to depict the figure in a more expressive or poignant way.

Some of the drawing techniques we will look at include; subtractive, the smudge and the envelop method, directional line, focal point drawing and saturated light.

Although the initial stages of the course will be mainly focused on drawing skills, we will soon include painting (acrylic) techniques. These will include painting with value, colour theory, desaturated colour, simultaneous contrast and the use of colour as a means of self-expression. We will model with colour, tone and expressive brushstrokes.

You will be asked to set goals and in order to reach them, the tutor will ask who your favourite artists are, your favourite paintings and what kind of art you would most like to create.

The course will culminate in a final, more sustained painting. The final two sessions will be given over to a single pose/painting, where you will have the opportunity to create a more finished or sustained piece of work.

Tutor Scott Bridgwood is a working artist with over 30 years experience after graduating from Chelsea School of Art in 1992. He worked and taught art in Rome (Italy) for 10 years before moving to Leicester. It was during his time in Rome that he developed his passion for drawing/painting the human form, which continues to the present day. Scott has taught at Attenborough Arts Centre for nearly 20 years. He also teaches Life Drawing at De Montfort University and from his home studio in Leicester.

All materials will be provided.

Participants must be aged 18+.

The course will run for 10 sessions on Friday afternoons, 2pm - 4:30pm, starting onFriday 9 May and ending on 18 July 2025.

Please note: no session on Friday 6 June 2025.

Please ensure that you agree to our updated TERMS & CONDITIONS before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome - just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email, pop in or call, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.