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Thanks to everyone who came to the drawing meet-up in Nottingham last week. It was great to get out and actually see people in 3D! The day had such a positive vibe and there was a great spring feeling of optimism in the air. Looking forward to the next one in London on the 5th June!  I'll leave you with some lovely line drawings of Nottingham by Jess Moulsher. You can see more of her work here   
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Come and join us at Cobden Chambers in Nottingham for our first drawing meet-up since Covid. All welcome! Details below. Hope to see you there! RSVP or for more information email me at mart.art@me.com  Hi, I’m Iga! I came to Spain for a drawing trip with Martyn few years ago. I’ve been approached by Folk Features, a blog that shares uplifting stories. They found me on Instagram and liked the positive vibes I was spreading over the lockdown. Here are a few questions they asked, have a read if you fancy 🙂 click on the image below.  Reflections on lockdown, drawing and travelling by Isabella Mitchell.  Up until April 2020, my practice was firmly rooted in drawing from life. I would take a sketchbook wherever I went, and draw what I could see, be that in a gallery or a park, sitting on a train, or in a pub or cafe. Needless to say, Covid-19 put an end to that; with my IRL subject matter reduced to the confines of my flat (and, thankfully, shared garden).  This shifted my focus back to my studio practice, which in my former fast-paced life, I had cheerfully neglected. Within the confines of four walls, I seized the opportunity to find and expand my horizons. From trying out new materials, to playing and experimenting with mediums I knew well. I took the blank pages of my calendar, and used them to create, learn and escape. I realised the value in drawing the same image multiple times, and using a new methodology or technique with each repetition. I witnessed what happened when I spent half a day on drawing, as opposed to half an hour, and learnt to relish working in a controlled environment, where I set the rules, and need never worry about rain or forgetting my pencil sharpener.  Now, in Spring 2021, and the easing of lockdown measures is in sight, it feels important to reflect back, and focus on the glimmers of hope which have come out of a deeply difficult year. A year in lockdown has given me the chance to make work I’m excited by, in ways I hadn’t before. It has opened my eyes, and filled me with ideas and inspiration which seem pivotal to my practice, and motivate me through my desire to take them further. In other words, I went on an ‘unofficial Drawing Escape’ without leaving my home, and I feel more confident for it. So if 2020 was the year I seized the power of the studio, I hope that the next year is no different, except with an added “official” Drawing Escape, less collective isolation, more exploring new places, and invaluable time spent sketching in the sun. Isabella Mitchell March 2021  Make Good Art - Chris Catalyst (feat. Neil Gaiman) Here's a great little video to keep us all inspired until Covid is beaten!  Happy Christmas to all from Drawing Escapes! This will be a very different Christmas for all of us after a very difficult and frustrating year. But let's be positive! Here's to a better and safer 2021 and let it be a year when we can return to some kind of new 'normal' and get back to work. In the meantime, stay safe and be positive and let's look forward to travelling and drawing again very soon. Best wishes from the team!   Firstly my apologies as it’s ages since I’ve posted anything on the Drawing Escapes website. I’ve been in Spain since September as I feel it’s safer here with more space, sunlight and fresh air to breath. Yes, I’ve been hiding! These times are so uncertain so I have little optimistic news about the drawing trip right now, however, the vaccine is on it’s way and I’m sure we will get back to normality sometime next year. I’ll be getting in touch with everyone who has a booking with an update as soon as I have some positive news about when it will be safe to travel. In the meantime, stay safe and remember that when we do finally escape to do some drawing, it will feel like we have really earned the experience! It wil be a time for celebration and an unforgettable privilege! More soon… Go well, Martyn  We have a brand new online workshop from Drawing Escapes guest videographer Lorenzo Madge.
The new workshop demonstrates a method of using drawing as a design development tool and is particularly useful for A level and first year degree students. This workshop aims to get you thinking creatively and sets a simple exercise that will increase your visual vocabulary. We hope to have more guest lectures from Lorenzo and others in the near future.. watch this space! I found this beautiful quote by Sarah Nelson. It's a great metaphor for thinking about how to use sketch books. “A sketchbook is like soil. As things go into it they become one of two things: seeds or compost. The things that die in that collection become nutrients for future works, the things that thrive, grow beyond the page where it was born. It all has a place." Check out her work here https://sarahnelson.art  Our first 4 workshops will be up and running next month! Launch is scheduled for early September. There will be 3 types of content - workshops, projects and demonstrations. The workshops will take you through core drawing strategies and are based on short University lectures. The demonstrations are just that! They show you how to do and understand certain processes that relate to drawing, and are generally of a more technical nature. And finally, the projects are set to challenge you with specific tasks with specific learning outcomes, in order to advance your drawing skills and methods. This is an exciting new venture for Drawing Escapes.. something good that has come out of lock-down!  |
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