Summer Intensive: Pencil Drawing

Open to all everyone, from beginners through too familiar and advanced users, this week-long Summer Intensive course will explore the full potential of coloured pencils.

From preliminary sketches right through to final composition, participants will be individually guided through a range of core pencil principles such as line variation, colour grounding and tonal detailing. With the option of working from still life, personal reference and/or imagination, you will experiment with a combination of traditional and contemporary techniques including burnishing, sgraffito, impressing, gradients, pressure shading, crosshatching, stumbling and stippling. 

Through these activities, participants will not only build technical skill and improve creative confidence, but also produce an extensive collection of unique, high-quality works that highlight the inventive capabilities of this humble, yet incredibly dynamic artistic medium. 

A recommended material list will be provided before the course, however individuals are welcome to bring along existing items from their own collection.

About the tutor

Ronan is a visual artist and researcher based in Belfast, who is currently completing a practice-based PhD with Belfast School of Art. He has trained as a fine artist specialising in research surrounding social class and queer identity within the contexts of contemporary craft.

In 2020 he received a Fellowship to Teaching Award from Ulster University, where he worked across various departments including fine art, sculpture and applied art (textile, ceramics and design). From foundation-level to Masters students, Ronan has presented educational seminars and studio critiques, delivered group workshops and individual tutorials and supervised assessments and grading for students (written and verbal).

He is currently a member of two artist-led studio groups based in Belfast (Flax Studios and Arcade Studios), where he regularly contributes to exhibitions, mentorship activities, production residencies and collaborations. Most recently Ronan was commissioned to develop and independently oversee a public engagement programme for Catalyst Arts, Belfast.