Follow the Line: Drawing Stream of Consciousness

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge of the subject is assumed and is suitable for students with little and some drawing skills.

Optional Pre-course Work:

Read or browse the recommended reading and web sources.

Start keeping a sketchbook to make a series of improvised quick drawings while responding to: listening to a speech on the radio, watching TV, in a darkened room or wearing a gauze over your eyes with music, talking to someone on the phone, at a lecture or talk.

Special Information

Essential materials you will need to bring to the first class:

• A Hardback sketchbook, pencils, pen, charcoal, water-based inks with suitable brushes, eraser,

• A Digital camera or phone camera

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

• Large Sheets of newsprint

• Black inks and sticks

• Masking tape

Materials and equipment available for purchase during the course: 

• A range of papers, cards and supports

Content of Course

Day 1

1. Warm up icebreaker – make a group drawing which reveals something about each participant.

2. Short Slide Talk looking at how artists and art use stream of consciousness as means of developing ideas.

3. Introduction to practical exercises and range of drawing techniques

4. Quick-fire drawings in response to: Drawing while speaking, listening to noises, music, words, prose, film etc. Being interrupted and depriving sensory perception – such as blind fold and earplugs, wearing thick gloves.

5. Group discussion: What do we think the drawings have revealed? What do the marks and images suggest? How can we harness this as visual research to create artworks?

Day 2

6. Following the line - Using intuitive and subconscious responses to the ideas revealed and interpreted meaning from day 1 as a starting point, the group will work on a series of larger drawings which will form part of a collaborative but unplanned improvised installation. New media and drawing methods will be introduced throughout the day – such as monotype print, using overhead projectors, drawing with wire and thread. Images, sound and music will also be used to interrupt and divert participants flow states.

7. Stop Drawing, think, interpret and reflect! - The group will start the final session making decisions on how their combined drawings are working as an installation and making judgement through discussion and negotiation what to edit out, what to select and what needs to be added.

8. Waking up! - Does the process of reflection and editing move us from a subconscious flow state into a self-conscious state? And if so does that inhibit our judgement or is this ‘waking up’ an essential part of the creative process?

9. A final installation will be completed followed by a group critique and visual recording of the finished installation.

Teaching method(s)

The courses in delivered in a large art and design studio over two consecutive days with access to a range of traditional and experimental drawing, mixed media and multi-media equipment and materials. Teaching is lead by the tutor through group introductions, demonstrations, discussion and one to one discourse.

The teaching throughout the two days will be fluid and dynamic and will include stage managed and improvised interventions as the character and meaning of the work takes shape.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical and contextual awareness and practical understanding of ways contemporary drawing can be used to reveal hidden meaning.

• Make a series of related drawings from a stream of consciousness using both traditional and experimental medium in response to set briefs and as part of a collaborative experience.

• Present and reflect the hidden meaning and value of drawings undertaken.

Sources

Core Readings

• Michael Craig-Martin, (1995). Drawing the Line: Reappraising Drawing Past and Present. First Edition Edition. Distributed Art Pub Inc (Dap).

• Langer, S. William J. W: 2001 ‘Art and the Dynamics of the Stream of Consciousness’,

• The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Vol.15(4), pp.272-285 https://muse.jhu.edu/article/18187

• Treib, M. (2008) ‘Drawing/thinking: confronting an electronic age’ London ; New York : Routledge

Web Sources

https://feltmagnet.com/drawing/Unconscious-Creativity

https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/surrealism/tapping-the-subconscious-automatism-and-dreams

http://www.drawing-research-network.org.uk/the-inner-self-drawings-from-the-subconscious/

http://www.buckleynow.com/streaming-accessing-flow-states-stream-of-consciousness-drawing-workshop/

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00119253.1969.9938231

http://www.themindfulword.org/2014/making-marks-open-imaginations-floodgates-stream-drawing/

Class Handouts

Class handouts will be provided via email on enrolment and during the class.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.