A drawing experience that connects mark making, gesture, spontaneity and flow to the emotional resonance of the human figure.

Course Description:

The workshop gives pupils the opportunity to explore spontaneous statements in response to different visual configurations and rhythmic sound patterns. Participants are encouraged to move away from familiar ‘learned' methods of drawing to embrace the unpredictable and new.

Freshness, being in the moment and responding with truth to the model are qualities that are encouraged so that greater sensitivity to the outer and inner world can be experienced through the drawing process.

Courage, concentration, discipline, sensitivity, open-mindedness and the willingness to surprise oneself are personal qualities developed through the FIGURE AND FLAMENCO workshop experience.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the day's workshop, participants will be able to...

1. Exhibit a wide range of the expressive qualities of the mediums and tools used;

2. Analyse and use ‘masculine' and ‘feminine' line in the creation of form - both on the page and through movement;

3. Respond artistically to the human figure as a physical and emotional entity;

4. Confidently follow intuition and ‘gut feeling' resulting in vibrant and original image making;

5. Explore drawing what cannot be seen - emotional depth, atmosphere, tension and dynamic;

6. Combine previously explored skills and impulses into a composition of figure/s in flamenco context;

7. Discuss, analyse and reflect upon the creative process experienced during the workshop.

Workshop Leaders:

Amarita Vargas - Flamenco dancer and visual artist.

Amarita has been Creative Director of Oxford Flamenco Academy for the past 10 years. She has led flamenco dance workshops in numerous primary and secondary schools in Oxfordshire and beyond. Her sketches of flamenco dancers and artist's books are in the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Danielle Allan - Flamenco dancer and life model.

Danielle's career in performing and teaching physical theatre, improvisation theatre and Flamenco dance runs parallel with her experience as a Life Model for the Royal Academy of Arts Outreach Programme; in each of these apparently disparate strands of her professional life, a framework of techniques (or ‘rules of the game') becomes a ‘playpen' in which creative freedom, spontaneity and originality are generated and released.

Maximum number of students: 30 per workshop

Contact details:

Amarita Vargas

info@amaritavargas.com

01865589395

UK Mobile: 00 44 7904260636
Spain Mobile: 00 34 605292759