De Montfort University

Description

“To Draw (virtual life drawing): open to students and staff, building a drawing community, a platform for research and exchange”.

To Draw is an open access, external resource for the students (Foundation in Art & Design, Fine Art, Photography, Design, Architecture) and staff of De Montfort University to engage with life drawing via a safe and secure online portal for 2020-21 (MS Teams), To Draw established the progression of regular (alternating Wednesday evening) drawing practice. Instigated, designed, and delivered by Alex Roberts working in partnership with Drawing Projects UK.

“Drawing Projects UK is dedicated to research and public engagement in and through drawing and during lockdown worked with Alex Roberts to support the development of online life drawing sessions, which continue to be an effective way to learn to draw in addition to life drawing 'in the real'.” Drawing Projects UK.

To Draw’s aim, deliver quality educational support and implement a virtual drawing community of practice leading to increase research partnerships. A drawing platform that seeks to spark inquisitive forms of social exchange by:
- an active (interdisciplinary, non-hierarchical) LD drawing space.
- a forum for nurturing drawing research, networks, collaborations, and discourse.

Outcome, the To Draw, DMU art and design students created a digital showreel of their productivity, that has been screened on monitors at De Montfort University. The presentation marks a snapshot the students’ experience of life drawing and creating a drawing community during the recent sensibilities of lockdown.

Impact, research environment, core knowledge share, fostering partnerships for future forms of cross-institutional drawing exchange. Request for more virtual life drawing, and to build upon the pilot of To Draw workshops. Exchange opportunities and discussions between Alex Roberts, Drawing Projects UK and DMU in foundation stages.

Period	4 Nov 2020 → 10 Mar 2021
Visiting	De Montfort University