Drawing from Film

Drawing from film puts students in the directors’ chair, responsive to the intersecting arcs of pictorial construction and psychological insight.

Drawing from Art
Drawing from Imagination

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Course details

Dates

Fridays
1 May – 3 Jul 2026

Times

18:00 – 21:00

Duration

10 sessions

Fees

£287.00 Concessions available

Location

Online

Tutors

Liza Dimbleby

Leon Pozniakow

Overview

Great films, like great paintings, are rich resources for visual ideas. The great genius of modern photography Cartier Bresson spoke of the Decisive Moment: an instant when composition, choreography, spatial effects, narrative and emotion come together.

By stopping the film where they choose and drawing for a limited period students will become aware of the ephemeral wonder of each frame. Exploring a film through drawing, the way we might explore a Rubens or Poussin, gives us the opportunity to see through those great filmmakers’ eyes.

Each session will begin with a tutor’s introduction to the film, it’s director and noteworthy aspects of its filmmaking or art references. Tutors will introduce students to a range of media and processes: episodic concertina books, over-laid tracing paper montages, miniatures to large format poster maps. Each week students can draw either from stills or from the film in motion in these fast-paced sessions.

Who is it for

Artists, creatives and image-makers of all levels welcome, including beginners.

What’s provided

For our online courses, you will receive prior to the start of the course access to our Padlet Noticeboard where you will be given course details, material lists and some references, as well as our Padlet Gallery where you will be able to upload and comment on work created during the course.

What to bring

For our online courses, you must provide your own materials. Feel free to use any that you would like to during classes, however other suggestions may be posted on the Padlet noticeboard throughout the course by tutors. This is a suggested list of what may be needed:

-Drawing Pencils
-Conté Crayons
-Pastels
-Ink Pens
-Coloured Pencils
-Putty and Hard Erasers
-Pencil Sharpener
-Sketchbook

Concessions

We offer a range of discounts. To apply, email admin@royaldrawingschool.org with the required proof. Please wait for confirmation before booking.

Available discounts

NHS Staff: 20%
Send a photo of your NHS staff badge.
Full-time Fine Art BA Students: 75%
Students on design or applied arts degrees may also be eligible. Send your student ID and proof of enrolment.
Art and Design Teachers and tutors, from Primary and Secondary to Further and Higher Education: 50%
Send a letter from your headteacher, dean, or head of art department on headed paper.
Jobseekers: 50%
Send a recent DWP or JobCentre Plus letter confirming you receive Jobseeker’s Allowance. Appointment booklets are not accepted.
Disability Benefit Recipients: 50%
Send proof that you currently receive this allowance.
Tower Hamlets and Hackney Residents: 25% (Shoreditch courses only)
Send a copy of your most recent council tax bill.
Tower Hamlets and Hackney Businesses: 25% (Shoreditch courses only)
Send a staff ID, business card or a letter from your line manager.
Over 60s: 10%
Send a photo ID as proof of age.
Alumni: Postgraduate Programme or Foundation Year: 50% off short courses
Online Drawing Development Year: 50% off online short courses

Before you apply

Documents must be dated within the last 6 months (or 12 months for council tax)
Your name must be clearly visible
Accepted file formats: PDF, JPG, DOC or DOCX

All our courses are subsidised.

Image: 'There are many ways to live in a tragedy 1' by Keziah Mornin

Tutors

Liza Dimbleby

Tutor, Drawing Year Alumna, 2005

Leon Pozniakow

Tutor, Drawing Year Alumnus, 2013