WORKSHOPS
I teach fairly regular workshops in Painting, Drawing and Anatomy for Artists. To book onto a workshop or to get further information use the contact form above or please e-mail me at mail@alanmcgowan.com
MY TEACHING BACKGROUND
I have been involved in teaching art for over 25 years and have taught Drawing, Painting and/or Anatomy for Artists at places such as The Royal Academy in London, The National Portrait Gallery London, Edinburgh College of Art, The Royal Hibernian Academy (Dublin), Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art, Leith School of Art, The Bristol School of Drawing, West Dean College (Sussex), The Queens Gallery Holyrood, and other institutions. I have a post-graduate Diploma in Educational Development from The University of Northumbria (1993).
MY TEACHING APPROACH
I believe that a good understanding of the technical processes and challenges in art can lead to greater confidence, and therefore a greater freedom of individual expression in representational work. Learning as I see it is not a restrictive but an enabling thing.
In my teaching I regularly make use of visual reference material, slides and powerpoints, to reflect on how other artists - both historical and contemporary - have dealt with relevant issues in their own work. I may also occasionally do short demonstrations to communicate a point. My intention is to organise the workshop so that each day's work will build upon the chosen subject and topics will lead on to, illuminate and reinforce one another. Group sizes are controlled to ensure a good working environment and time for individual attention and will normally be between ten and fourteen students.
I believe that art is always full of choices. As an educational ideal I would like to enable artists to develop a deeper understanding of the ways we make art and the techniques we use, in order to pursue their own individual paths; rather than for me to prescribe one "correct" way of doing things.
.
MY TEACHING BACKGROUND
I have been involved in teaching art for over 25 years and have taught Drawing, Painting and/or Anatomy for Artists at places such as The Royal Academy in London, The National Portrait Gallery London, Edinburgh College of Art, The Royal Hibernian Academy (Dublin), Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art, Leith School of Art, The Bristol School of Drawing, West Dean College (Sussex), The Queens Gallery Holyrood, and other institutions. I have a post-graduate Diploma in Educational Development from The University of Northumbria (1993).
MY TEACHING APPROACH
I believe that a good understanding of the technical processes and challenges in art can lead to greater confidence, and therefore a greater freedom of individual expression in representational work. Learning as I see it is not a restrictive but an enabling thing.
In my teaching I regularly make use of visual reference material, slides and powerpoints, to reflect on how other artists - both historical and contemporary - have dealt with relevant issues in their own work. I may also occasionally do short demonstrations to communicate a point. My intention is to organise the workshop so that each day's work will build upon the chosen subject and topics will lead on to, illuminate and reinforce one another. Group sizes are controlled to ensure a good working environment and time for individual attention and will normally be between ten and fourteen students.
I believe that art is always full of choices. As an educational ideal I would like to enable artists to develop a deeper understanding of the ways we make art and the techniques we use, in order to pursue their own individual paths; rather than for me to prescribe one "correct" way of doing things.
.
