WORKSHOP: Everyday Characters: Observational Drawing Inspired by Sir Quentin Blake: with Julia Midgley RWS

Explore the joy of capturing people and everyday moments with lively, expressive line in this observational drawing workshop. Inspired by Sir Quentin Blake’s playful, character-filled sketches, you will practise capturing the gestures, posture, and personalities of people at large whilst translating them quickly onto the page. Through rapid, responsive drawing on location, you’ll develop skills in observation, proportion, and expressive mark-making, developing your own illustrative language.

This course will begin with direct observational drawings in the morning out on location in Trafalgar Square and St James Park. In the afternoon, you will produce a finished drawing in the gallery, based on the work produced earlier in the day. Throughout this workshop there will be plenty of handy hints and techniques explained, all designed to break down any inhibitions or concerns that drawing movement or people at large is in any way daunting. 

This workshop is designed for all abilities and celebrates honesty, movement, and humour in everyday life, offering a relaxed, supportive space to draw the people and moments around you with energy and expression. Whilst quite high levels of concentration are required, it will be fun, eye opening, and confidence building.

This workshop will take place at RWS Gallery on Whitcomb Street, just off Trafalgar Square.

All bookings are non-refundable.

Workshop Outline

Please note that the materials list is not provided

RWS Gallery

3 - 5 Whitcomb Street

London, WC2H 7HA

*Friend Discount: Must have a Watercolour Artist Friend membership card

** A student discount of £75 is available to students in full time higher education on an art related course. If you are eligible for discount and would like to book onto this course, please send a scan/photo of your student ID and proof of enrolment to info@royalwatercoloursociety.com to recieve a discounted payment link.