Mark-Making and Meditation

Tutor: Katie Sollohub
Level: Suitable for all
Date: A one-day course: Sunday 7 April, 11am – 5pm
Price: £140

Course details
Connect to the process of drawing through meditation using body and breath to respond to the expressive qualities of drawing materials, including charcoal, graphite and pencil, and plenty of paper to work small and large scale. A retreat style day, with all materials provided, suitable for any level, no expectations.

You will be led into the session with an introduction to mindfulness meditation, using body and breath as a focus for your attention, followed by an introduction to the drawing materials you will be using for the day. You will be paying attention to how the materials feel in the hand, the touch on paper, the sound of drawing, the movement of the body, the relationship of your breath to the whole process.

Drawing could be described as making marks on paper. With this idea in mind, you will be making a series of experimental drawings, large and small, making marks in response to sensation, more than observation. This approach aims to keep you present to the process, rather than focused on the outcome. It doesn’t have to look like anything, and you do not have to be good at drawing to enjoy this course and benefit from it. Whatever your experience, the practical exercises are designed to enable you to let go of self-judgement and expectations. You will be encouraged to play and experiment.

For example:
• Drawing with charcoal across a large page, one mark per breath, notice what you notice
• Making marks as you move, with pen and pencil on tiny pieces of paper held in the hand
• Making large gestural marks on a larger piece of paper with the eyes shut, following a meditation
• Draw from observation, taking a line for a walk, looking around you and not at the paper, to remove judgement and expectation
• Rub out, or rip up a drawing, collage it back together again

You will go home from this course with an experience of drawing, rather than finished drawings. You may choose to leave all the work behind and trust that the impact of the process, the way of looking, of paying attention to your subject and your materials will be long lasting and affect the drawings you make in the future.

Materials to bring

• A notebook and pen/pencil

Materials included
The college will provide all materials, including two large rolls of Fabriano paper, cartridge paper, 2B pencils, rubbers, charcoal, compressed charcoal, masking tape and fixative to share amongst the group.

Equipment provided
All necessary equipment will be provided for use on the course.

About the tutor
Katie studied Anthropology and Fine Art. She teaches freelance and, in 2014, she received an Arts Council Award for a residency at Turner’s House and again in 2021 for a project about sea swimming. Working in charcoal, mixed media, watercolour and oils, her work has been shortlisted for the Jerwood Drawing Prize, the Lynne Painter Stainers Prize and the RA Summer Show. In 2020, she was awarded first prize in the Derwent Drawing Prize.

General information
Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over.
The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments
Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are plenty of local venues to purchase food locally, if needed, though we recommend that you bring a packed lunch.

Refunds and cancellations
Cancellations are permitted up to 6 weeks before the start of a course and subject to a £35 cancellation fee. Refunds will not be given for cancellations less than 6 weeks before the start of a course.

Students who do not attend due to illness, personal or professional commitments do not have the right to a refund. For this reason, we recommend that students take out personal insurance against any unforeseeable circumstances before the start of their course. It is not possible to transfer to future courses.

We reserve the right to cancel a class in unusual circumstances. We try to avoid this where possible, but sometimes it is unavoidable. In this situation, a full refund will be given. We’re sorry that we cannot be financially responsible for extreme weather conditions, travel disruption or any other situations that are outside our control.

Access
If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: bookingsoffice@westdean.ac.uk

This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety
Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Disclaimer
The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.