OCA’s Big Draw

As part of the Campaign for Drawing OCA has registered to take part in the Big Draw 2015. The theme this year is Every Drawing tells a Story.
We are holding several sketchcrawls throughout the month of October in various venues around the UK – both indoor and outdoor. As we know drawing isn’t exclusive to Fine Art so we hope students across disciplines will get involved – you could take a series of photographs, it could be drawing in stitch, it could be collage or sculpture, the main objective is to get out and get creative and meet your fellow students.
So far the confirmed dates and venues are as follows;
3 October
OCA’s Jim Cowan has proposed A River Thames Sketchcrawl for the Big Draw that would take in views of the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, The Oxo Tower and Blackfriars Bridge towards Tate Modern. We would be following in the footsteps of Monet and Derain and if not directly using their viewpoints they would certainly inspire us.
3 October

Textiles tutor Priscilla Jones will be at Tate Liverpool to explore the work of Geta Bratescu. Take inspiration from her vivid practice which has manifested as performance, textile work, paper collage and film, showcasing her commitment to the drawn line, whether created in fabric with a sewing machine, by the body performing through space, or found within her detailed classical draughtsmanship.
10 October
Join Hayley and Annabel for a fascinating day at the Natural History Museum. The museum is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 80 million items within five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology. Not forgetting the beautiful building itself, you may choose to concentrate on the architecture.

11 October
Explore the galleries of the Manchester Museum with OCA tutor Mark Clough. There are Dinosaurs, Mummies and live animals to inspire you along with other great stuff from the natural world and different cultures.
17 October
Join Jim Unsworth in his studio in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Ensure to bring lots of drawing materials and a variety of paper and sketchbooks, you will experience drawing in different media on varied scales using the environs around Jim’s studio as source; this includes garden, farmland, architecture and a beast! We will work outside and in the studio also. Participants will be encouraged to challenge themselves in terms of ambition and method to develop a series of drawings made in a day.

Meet the OCA tutors: Jim Unsworth from Open College of the Arts on Vimeo.
17 October
Join Visual Communications tutor Jo at the Museum of Liverpool. Whether you want to draw the exhibits, the distinctive building and location with it’s bustling atmosphere, or the spectacular architecture of Liverpool Dock, the museum offers an opportunity to work within a stimulating (and warm!) environment.
24 October
Join OCA’s Joanne and Leanne at Yorkshire Sculpture Park where we will explore the contrasting landscape. Be ready to combine culture, exercise and fresh air! There will be an opportunity to view and make drawings from the iconic Poppies: Wave sculpture which is coming up North.

Sketchcrawling the Yorkshire Sculpture Park from Open College of the Arts on Vimeo.
25 October
Join Julie Davis in Aberystwyth, Wales to sketch from the castle, the seafront and the ‘camera obscura’ with amazing views over the whole town and seascape. In the case of very bad weather, there are a number of historical buildings where we can seek shelter and continue to work.
31 October
Join photography tutor Wendy at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The diverse collections will take you on a journey of discovery through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature and world cultures. Inspired by the use of animals in the work of Portuguese painter Paula Rego, we will spend the day drawing from life in the animal taxidermy collection. Wendy has also worked extensively with this collection and will discuss her work also.
1 November
Join Clare at Abney Park for a spooky sketchcrawl on Halloween weekend. Abney park is one of the ‘magnificent seven’ London cemeteries. It is a historic parkland and nature reserve where you will find exotic species such as The Indian Bean tree alongside native Hornbeam and Oak. Amongst the trees and shrubs are monuments, neglected graves and statues and a disused gothic chapel. Explore the hidden corners and overgrown paths to make drawings.

Students can sign up for any visit regardless of discipline, there may be an opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers also. Don’t be afraid to use a variety of media, we will give further advice on drawing plein air before the event. Places will be limited but it is possible to sign up for more than one event.
Students will need to dress appropriately for the October weather if the event is outdoors, if conditions are too bad to work in we will have backup plans.
To reserve your place please email enquiries@oca.ac.uk