Marcelo Albagli

Where are you based?

I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

What were you doing before joining the Online Drawing Development Year (ODDY)?
I worked in design for years, but just before joining the ODDY I taught drawing and worked on my own projects.

What appealed to you about the course?
There were many aspects I considered. The most important one was that I wanted to gain new insights and experiment with approaches and methods which were different from mine at the time. The ODDY offers a vast variety of options, and that was very appealing to me.

Which courses did you most enjoy or learn most from?
I am halfway through the course, so there is a lot yet to come. So far, I learned a lot from Transforming Observation: Memory and Imagination, Drawing Topographies: Internal and External, Drawing: Observation and Imagination, and Evening Contemporary Portrait. I also enjoy the Digital Streaming Studio sessions which are offered as an extra weekly course to ODDY students for free.

How has the ODDY impacted your practice?
I had an ambitious project before applying, and the ODDY is helping me refine my thoughts around that. The courses offered me new paths, and I am taking the opportunity just to try out subjects I didn't have the chance to experiment much with before.

Is there anything that surprised you about the course?
It is not uncommon to be surprised in our sessions! On many occasions, the final work came out quite differently from what I expected at the beginning. I am not worried at all about achieving resolved drawings during these classes, but rather just to follow the prompts and be very experimental.

What are the benefits of learning online?
Quite a few, actually. Of course, I would not be able to join the School if it wasn't for the online programme, as I am not based in the UK. On the live model sessions, it is possible to zoom in on specific parts of the body, such as hands and feet. That is really helpful. I also enjoy drawing in any room I want, and sometimes even outside in the street. This allows an approach which would not be possible in the studio.

How has the School supported you?
We have tutorials and mentoring sessions regularly. On these occasions it is possible to discuss projects with different artists and tutors, which is quite helpful to advance our practices.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about applying to the ODDY?
It is really important to consider that you are going to get really busy. The courses are many, there will be a lot of extra sessions, and you still need to find the time to draw on your own. It is a lot of work indeed. Besides that, I would recommend having an open mind and not worrying about achieving final / resolved drawings. In my opinion, the ODDY is really about having the chance to try out different approaches and methods. So relax and enjoy it!

Do you have any plans for after you've completed the course?
I will keep working on my drawings and apply for two or three residencies I already have in mind. There are a couple of ideas I want to develop as well, which I discuss regularly during the mentoring sessions and tutorials. Finally, I am also planning to get back to teaching, which I really enjoy.

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