Drawing Hands

If you struggle to draw hands well, this one day workshop is your chance to sort that out! The one-day crash course is suitable for beginners and anyone who is keen to brush up on hand drawing. Through a series of tutorials, exercises and demonstrations we will explore the observed structure of the hands and looking at practical challenges that often come up when drawing them. By the end of the day you’ll feel confident approaching hands as a subject in themselves or as part of a larger drawing.

What to Expect

Morning: We will warm up with some loosening up exercises, and look at the observed structure and anatomy of the hands. This will involve working from our own hands for some close up studies and using mirrors to capture a wider range of angles.

Afternoon: We will draw from a clothed life model, looking at how to draw hands in the context of the figure and the role hands play in the gesture of the arm as well as exploring how to draw hands at smaller scales.

Perosnal assistance and feedback will be available throughout the day. The workshop runs from 10am-5pm with a 1 hour break and additional shorter tea breaks.

What to Bring

All materials are included with this workshop. You may wish to bring a sketchbook for taking notes and a folder for taking home your drawings or your own preferred drawing materials in addition to those provided.

Getting to the studio

Approach New England House from the New England Street side of the building and walk up to the locked blue double doors next to the sign for the ‘Building Manager’s Office’. Wait to be let in or call the number on the door for entry - the studio is on level 5, Unit 1 South, just knock and walk in. There is parking at London Road car park, Elder Place & Trafalgar St car parks; Brighton station is a 5 minute walk from the studio

Discounts

The discounted rate is available for anybody on low income, students or Draw Patreon supporters. Become a Draw Patreon supporter by signing up to the Draw Patreon from just £3.60 per month. You’ll get the in-person concessionary rate, plus Patreons get tiered access to a wealth of resources including our extensive artist’s photo reference library, live online life drawing & portrait drawing classes, online recorded courses and much more. Whether you are a Patreon supporter or not, you can post your drawings on the Draw community Facebook group and tag @draw_brighton and #drawbrighton on Instagram.

Safety & accessibility

If you have any accessibility needs, please do let us know beforehand on info@draw-brighton.co.uk and we will do everything we can to make sure you can enjoy the classes here. The building has a wheelchair ramp at the North side of the New England Street entrance and lifts up to level 5 with gender-neutral toilets & accessible toilets on floors 4 & 6 accessed by lift.

The studio itself has diffuse overhead panel lights for drawers with a spotlight directed at the model. Fixative spraying is not allowed in the studio and is done outside; oil paints are allowed in the studio and there is a small chance they may be used at this session - our air purifier and good ventilation help control fumes. We keep the studio a safe environment by providing:

• Monitored ventilation (aiming for <900ppm CO2)
• Air purification with HEPA filters
• Sick pay for our freelance life models
• If you have covid, flu or bad cold symptoms we ask you not to attend - you will receive a refund as well as our appreciation!

Cancellations

Bookings are non-refundable. If you are unwell with a contagious illness you may not attend the class - you can request a refund here on Eventbrite and we can issue a full refund, minus Eventbrite's fees. If you are unable to attend, please do get in touch with us on info@draw-brighton.co.uk to discuss the options for transferring your place to another attendee.