Drawing and Mindfulness; Sculpture and Space: weekend workshop at The British Library

Practice mindfulness while appreciating the beauty of sculptures

Read the course outline (PDF)

Through close-looking, drawing and contemplation, this two-day course invites you to take time for yourself and engage deeply with sculpture. From Barbara Hepworth to Antony Gormley, our collection is displayed across the architectural spaces of the Library and piazza.

Led by lecturer and artist, Karly Allen, and mindfulness teacher, Lucia van de Drift, the course bring mindfulness approaches to the experience of being present with sculpture, both indoors and outdoors. Encounters with sculptures can be a wonderful opportunity for mindful exploration. Through an enhanced focus on body and space, we become more aware of our personal responses to it. We can go beyond any initial likes or dislikes in order to discover something more about self and other, materiality and creativity.

While paying attention to the senses, you’ll be encouraged to experiment with drawing materials as a meditative practice, including observational drawing and abstract mark-making. We’ll explore drawing as a tool to bring us into mindfulness: when we’re drawing, we come into the present moment, aware of the touch of the pencil on paper and our shifting sensations of sight.

By the end of the weekend, you’ll have made a number of drawings in response to the sculptures and spaces we’ve encountered, practised mindfulness meditation (both sitting and walking) and explored mindful practices for viewing and making art in the future.