Workshops
Hands-on sessions in drawing, printmaking and object study, led by artists and museum educators.
Learning by looking and making
Harris Museum workshops begin with the collection. Participants spend the first part of each session with a real object, whether a Victorian watercolour or a taxidermied bird, before moving to the studio to test what they have noticed.
Sessions are small by design, usually no more than fourteen people, so that tutors can give individual feedback. No previous experience is needed, and materials are supplied for every booked workshop.
What to expect
Each workshop runs for two to three hours. Tutors set a clear focus at the start and leave time at the end for participants to share what they made.
- Introductory object study in the galleries
- Guided practice with supplied materials
- Closing discussion and a take-home sheet
I came to draw one vase and left understanding how it had been made, and why the glaze was so hard to reproduce.
Printmaking and drawing
The printmaking course uses the museum's own print collection as a starting point. Participants cut, inked and pressed their first blocks over four weeks, finishing with a small edition.
The drawing series focuses on observation. Tutors work from the decorative arts galleries, asking students to record proportion, surface and shadow before adding colour.
Gallery of recent sessions
For dates and prices, see the calendar, or read more about what to bring and how booking works.