Usher Gallery Art School
Usher Gallery Art School
Usher Gallery Art School - Autumn monthly workshops
Ages 16+
Guided by experienced Art instructor/Artist Jane Frederick (and winner of the Usher Gallery Trust Lord Cormack award 2025), you will learn how to adopt a playful and relaxed approach to drawing from observation. Each workshop can be attended as a stand-alone workshop or join us for the full programme.
The autumn course will help you to build confidence in your use of dry drawing media including charcoal, conte crayon, graphite and chalk. Taking inspiration from artwork in the Usher Gallery collection, each session will help you to observe and interpret light and tone and encourage you to be bold and playful with your own approach to drawing, enabling you to inject your work with depth and visual impact.
These sessions will be concentrated, but relaxed and quiet.
Sunday 5 October, 10am – 1pm: Understanding tone
Sunday 2 November, 10am -1pm: Seeing tone
Sunday 7 December, 10am – 1pm: Shadow play
Sunday 4 January, 10am – 1pm: Exploring texture
Sunday 1 February, 10am - 1pm: Exploring reflections
Upcoming workshop, details:
Sunday 5 October, 10am - 1pm:
Understanding tone: a practical introduction to drawing light and shade in a still life set up and making your own tonal scale on paper to help you 'see' and interpret light and shade.
In a range of short and longer exercises, participants will be invited to use willow charcoal of various thicknesses, conte crayon and an eraser to build atmospheric tonal drawings of selected objects in the studio.
They will learn how to directly observe and interpret subject matter in the studio and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 2 November, 10am - 1pm:
Seeing tone: Learning to describe weight, mass and form and create the illusion of objects in a space.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will be invited to work with a wider range of tones and achieve sensitivity in their handling of charcoal and how to use an eraser as a drawing tool.
They will learn how to observe and interpret subject matter in the studio and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 7 December, 10am - 1pm:
Shadow play: Understanding the behaviour and role of shadows in tonal drawing.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will be invited to build their own folded 'paper architecture' to draw with charcoal, conte and an eraser. They will explore how to create shadows and windows of light with folded card and paper.
They will also learn useful techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 4 January, 10am – 1pm:
Exploring texture: Exploring techniques for interpreting how light behaves on different surfaces.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will be invited to study different shaped/textured objects and make a range of marks to reflect their surface qualities.
They will also study how other artists have described texture in their work and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 1 February, 10am-1pm:
Exploring reflections: Learning how to interpret and draw objects with shiny and reflective surfaces.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will invited to observe how light behaves on shiny and reflective surfaces and find ways of drawing the effects using charcoal, conte crayon, chalk and an eraser.
They will also study how other artists have described reflections in their work and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
What to expect:
This workshop is taking place in the Clore Learning room at the Usher Gallery. The Clore learning room is accessible by the entrance of the Usher. To find the Clore learning room, enter the Usher gallery by the glass extension entrance and go to the main door on the left. There are ramps and wide doors to accommodate wheelchairs, and a disabled access toilet oppositive the Clore learning room door, behind the reception desk.
This session will run from 10am till 12pm (Summer programme) and 10am till 1pm (Autumn programme).
In this event you will be invited to try different techniques and art materials.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples. Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Some elements of this workshop may be challenging if you have difficulty with dexterity, however our experienced instructors will be available help you. This session will be concentrated, but relaxed and quiet. We have noise cancelling head phones and fidget toys available, please feel free to request this upon your arrival or throughout the session.
Here at Lincoln Museum and Usher Gallery, we welcome all participants; if you still aren’t sure whether this workshop is accessible for you or someone you care for, please email us at lincolnmuseum@lincolnshire.gov.uk and we can discuss your access requirements
Ticket options
Usher Gallery Art School
Usher Gallery Art School - Autumn monthly workshops
Ages 16+
Guided by experienced Art instructor/Artist Jane Frederick (and winner of the Usher Gallery Trust Lord Cormack award 2025), you will learn how to adopt a playful and relaxed approach to drawing from observation. Each workshop can be attended as a stand-alone workshop or join us for the full programme.
The autumn course will help you to build confidence in your use of dry drawing media including charcoal, conte crayon, graphite and chalk. Taking inspiration from artwork in the Usher Gallery collection, each session will help you to observe and interpret light and tone and encourage you to be bold and playful with your own approach to drawing, enabling you to inject your work with depth and visual impact.
These sessions will be concentrated, but relaxed and quiet.
Sunday 5 October, 10am – 1pm: Understanding tone
Sunday 2 November, 10am -1pm: Seeing tone
Sunday 7 December, 10am – 1pm: Shadow play
Sunday 4 January, 10am – 1pm: Exploring texture
Sunday 1 February, 10am - 1pm: Exploring reflections
Upcoming workshop, details:
Sunday 5 October, 10am - 1pm:
Understanding tone: a practical introduction to drawing light and shade in a still life set up and making your own tonal scale on paper to help you 'see' and interpret light and shade.
In a range of short and longer exercises, participants will be invited to use willow charcoal of various thicknesses, conte crayon and an eraser to build atmospheric tonal drawings of selected objects in the studio.
They will learn how to directly observe and interpret subject matter in the studio and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 2 November, 10am - 1pm:
Seeing tone: Learning to describe weight, mass and form and create the illusion of objects in a space.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will be invited to work with a wider range of tones and achieve sensitivity in their handling of charcoal and how to use an eraser as a drawing tool.
They will learn how to observe and interpret subject matter in the studio and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 7 December, 10am - 1pm:
Shadow play: Understanding the behaviour and role of shadows in tonal drawing.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will be invited to build their own folded 'paper architecture' to draw with charcoal, conte and an eraser. They will explore how to create shadows and windows of light with folded card and paper.
They will also learn useful techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 4 January, 10am – 1pm:
Exploring texture: Exploring techniques for interpreting how light behaves on different surfaces.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will be invited to study different shaped/textured objects and make a range of marks to reflect their surface qualities.
They will also study how other artists have described texture in their work and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Sunday 1 February, 10am-1pm:
Exploring reflections: Learning how to interpret and draw objects with shiny and reflective surfaces.
In a range of short and longer drawing exercises, participants will invited to observe how light behaves on shiny and reflective surfaces and find ways of drawing the effects using charcoal, conte crayon, chalk and an eraser.
They will also study how other artists have described reflections in their work and learn techniques to understand proportion and scale as they draw.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples.
Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
What to expect:
This workshop is taking place in the Clore Learning room at the Usher Gallery. The Clore learning room is accessible by the entrance of the Usher. To find the Clore learning room, enter the Usher gallery by the glass extension entrance and go to the main door on the left. There are ramps and wide doors to accommodate wheelchairs, and a disabled access toilet oppositive the Clore learning room door, behind the reception desk.
This session will run from 10am till 12pm (Summer programme) and 10am till 1pm (Autumn programme).
In this event you will be invited to try different techniques and art materials.
The tutor will introduce the activity verbally, they will provide advice, help and guidance throughout the session. They will also provide written notes and visual examples. Participants are free to ask questions and discuss what they are doing with tutor and each other throughout the session.
Some elements of this workshop may be challenging if you have difficulty with dexterity, however our experienced instructors will be available help you. This session will be concentrated, but relaxed and quiet. We have noise cancelling head phones and fidget toys available, please feel free to request this upon your arrival or throughout the session.
Here at Lincoln Museum and Usher Gallery, we welcome all participants; if you still aren’t sure whether this workshop is accessible for you or someone you care for, please email us at lincolnmuseum@lincolnshire.gov.uk and we can discuss your access requirements
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