Drawing Art History

Drawing allows an artist to develop ideas, record observations and prepare for larger works. In its most basic form, drawing is a way of learning. In this course we will study the artistic process of artists by doing what they do: drawing. This practice will give us a unique insight into how artists think, create and learn. We will look at works by some of art history’s greatest draftsmen/women including, but not limited to: Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Rachel Ruysch, Henry Matisse, John Ruskin, Edgar Degas and Bridget Riley.
We will work directly from the artworks in the galleries and study rooms of the British Museum, V&A, Natural History Museum and the National Gallery. You do not need to be a practicing artist or have any drawing experience; the drawing done in the course will be used to supplement lecture, guide artwork observation and encourage discussion of artistic technique. You will not be taught how to draw or judged on the quality of your drawings, instead you will be invited to use drawing as a tool to learn art history from a new perspective.