In this book, we bring together workshop outlines and reflections from many of the contributors to the 2015 Thinking through Drawing symposium, We All Draw, which was held on 6 – 8 November 2015 in the Bargehouse at Oxo Tower Wharf, London. The practical workshops have always been the most popular and memorable parts of our symposia, so we wanted to celebrate this with three days of masterclasses, workshops and performances, which we invited our distinguished panelists to discuss.
Some of the workshops were filmed, and can be viewed on our Thinking through Drawing Vimeo channel. We challenge you to draw along with the video with Kim Sloane’s masterclass ‘drawing as an act of generosity’ and create your own ‘atomic balls of string’.
The best way to share good practices is to do them, so we have included in this publication many workshop outlines, with the intention that you can recreate them, or, better still, share them with your own students or community groups. We would love to hear about it if you have tried any of these ideas, so please write to us and tell us how you have adapted them for your own groups and what happened.
We hope you enjoy this book and its contents as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. We’re thrilled to have such a diverse mix of people contributing, and we hope to see you all again before too long.
Michelle Fava, Angela Brew, Andrea Kantrowitz
drawingandcognition@gmail.com
Contents:
Editorial: We All Draw Together
i Reflections on the drawing masterclasses, Barbara Tversky
ii WORKSHOPS
Drawing as an Act of Generosity, Kim Sloane
In which we draw “atomic balls of string” with charcoal on newsprint, and something brand new jumps out
Thinking Space/Drawing Space, Andrea Kantrowitz
In which we draw the process of unfolding origami boxes, making three dimensions become two, and back again
The Ambidextrous Drawing, Merrie Koester
In which we explore the bilateral symmetry of insects using both our hands, and the rest of our bodies too.
Drawing Gym, Michael Namkung
In which, we draw on the wall while sitting on it and we become quite tired, but very happy.
Both/And Drawing, Angela Rogers & Duncan Bullen
In which we explore ambiguity and polarised thinking through collaborative drawing, then we negotiate, surrender and share control
Navigating Irreducible Humanity (with a pencil), Thomas Bosket
In which we create tasks for others to follow in drawing humble objects from observation, we start off silently, and then continue quietly
Verbal Drawing, Joanna Neil
In which we describe an object with words before drawing it, as talking and drawing go hand in hand.
Collaborative, Narrative Drawing, Lucy Lyons, Philippa Lyon & Patrick Letschka
In which narratives are read out loud as participants draw, and we use our imagination.
Makers of Imagery, Susan Beniston & Cynthia Hellyer Heinz
In which a collaborative 3D installation using both traditional and non-traditional materials is made as our drawing jumps out of the page.
Collaborative Network Drawing, Clare Scanlon & Paul Grivell
In which we points and lines are connected and so are we.
Explore Where You Are, Rosie James & Marcia Teusink
In which we draw and stitch a collaborative mural based on observations and historical photos, to slow down and reflect on the place where we are.
On Loneliness and Contact, Emma Fält
In which we make a large scale, collaborative floor drawing with ink on paper, and are alone with others.
A River Runs Through Us, Jill Journeaux
In which quick sketches at the river’s edge prompt metaphorical drawings of the self the river inspires us, and we feel whole.
Animating the Bargehouse, Sara Schneckloth
In which many drawings create an animated projection, then we all go up to the attic and it comes alive.
Embodied Anatomy, Emily Sheehan
In which we pull faces while we draw them
DRAWING EXPERIENCES:
‘Totem’, Erica Bohr
In which Erica sees a Hyena and becomes a Wizard
‘Feet Face Feet’, Saranjit Birdi
In which Saranjit learns to draw with his feet, and helps others ...
THINKING DRAWINGS: THE EXHIBITION
The drawings