Drawing another person, both as the artist and the sitter, creates a special connection. I wanted to explore this unique type of conversation in a workshop.
I have facilitated this workshop as part of the Ageing Well Festival for Time to Talk Befriending, run it for Evolution Arts and offer it as a workshop for work teams as a way of connecting in a creative, fun way, boosting and building professional relationships.
The workshop is about connecting with each other through drawing and looking, about observing and making marks in the company of other people, and the calm enjoyment that comes from that. Participants are paired with other attendees, and they face and draw one another. We complete several drawing exercises together – the aim of these is to have fun, engage with one another, and to be absorbed in the act of observational drawing – not to create a finished portrait.
Past participants have described the experience as “intimate”, “connecting”, “surprisingly peaceful” and providing “a new perspective”.
“Very very very good. Thank you. Challenging, new and fun. I was so engrossed in looking that I didn’t worry about being looked at.”
“It’s quite a beautiful experience, one we so rarely get to enjoy in everyday life – a proper joy!”
“We were all a little nervous about the prospect of drawing each other, but admiration and laughter at each other’s attempts helped bond us together. Words of encouragement to each other flowed naturally amongst the group... a very positive experience.”
“Lovely relaxed vibe. Very well thought through and organised. Very enjoyable. I learnt alot. “
“It was extremely inspiring and an enjoyable experience. I feel that I got to know the person I was drawing in a fresh and meaningful way.”
“It’s sometimes easier to chat and connect in this kind of concentrated, mindful atmosphere.”
“Very enjoyable, I forgot I was being looked at after the first exercise. The companionable silence was lovely, very relaxing.”
“It was a very pleasant experience, calm and relaxed friendly connections.”
“Very clear, low pressure environment making us all feel really comfortable. Was a wonderful way to spend time…”