Free Drawing Workshops Across Vancouver This Saturday!

Sourced from Big Draw Facebook Page

Sourced from Big Draw Facebook Page

Caught up in the day-to-day demands of work and paying the bills, I sometimes feel like my creative side has all but disappeared. My boyfriend, meanwhile, is hyper logical and spends most of his time coming up with formulas for life. In order words, we’re due to get involved in something artistic and fun together.

I’ve spent the last day or so combing through the many options for the 2016 Big Draw Festival Vancouver, which takes place this Saturday, October 1, 2016.

This marks the seventh year that Vancouverites will come together and celebrate the pleasures and possibilities of drawing. Big Draw is a day-long, city-wide event that invites people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in a variety of artistic workshops. The classes will be held in community centres, art galleries, parks, theatres, and art stores across the city and will be run by professional artists. Best of all, they’re FREE!

Sourced from the Big Draw Facebook page

Sourced from the Big Draw Facebook page

If you’re feeling at all hesitant due to a lack of confidence or ability, don’t be. The workshops are meant to get you excited about being creative and to encourage you to take pleasure in the process and diversity of drawing. All skill levels are more than welcome. Added bonuses are the chance to get to know and engage with some of the unique community and artistic spaces in the city, as well as meet new people.

Sourced from the Big Draw Facebook page

Sourced from the Big Draw Facebook page

And there are dozens of classes to choose from, including one that will get you drawing planets, stars, and other celestial bodies; another that will have you sketching on windows; and yet another that invites you to collaboratively create, draw, and colour in a robot, with the promise of a wearable button to take home at the end.

Here are three more that I’m particularly eyeing:

Blind Drawing Date
Kerrisdale Community Centre (5851 West Boulevard)
1-3pm, October 1, 2016

Sourced from Big Draw website

Sourced from Big Draw website

If you’ve ever tried ‘blind drawing,’ it’s a blast. Basically, you draw without looking and without lifting your pencil from the paper. The technique forces you to let go of your expectations and allow the pencil to take you to unknown and unexpectedly interesting configurations. Led by Natalie Purschwitz and Carey Schaefer, you’ll practice drawing household objects blind and then turn your drawings into wire that you can then display at home. The workshop is bound to get you thinking about how you see and make sense of things and people in front of you.

Fairy Tale Drawing
O’Brien Centre for Vancouver Opera (1945 McLean Drive)
1pm-4pm, October 1, 2016

Sourced from Big Draw website

Sourced from Big Draw website

Vancouver Opera is holding a drawing workshop in their main rehearsal and admin space. Inspired by their upcoming production of Hansel and Gretel, the class will take you on a fairy tale themed drawing adventure, led by visual artist Shannon Leddy. You’ll also get a full tour of the rehearsal space and be treated to performances from singers in the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program. It promises to be a creative, multimedia experience.

Life Drawing with Dancers
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Lobby Area (650 Hamilton Street)
12pm-4pm, October 1, 2016

Sourced from Big Draw website

Sourced from Big Draw website

Vancouver Civic Theatres and Arts Umbrella will guide you through an exercise in life drawing. Just bring yourself and your willingness to draw. You’ll be greeted by dancers in costume who will be your live models for the drawing session.

With so many workshops, you’re bound to find one that suits you. Better yet, if you choose carefully, you’ll be able to fit more than one in! If you attend two or more, you’ll also be eligible to enter a draw for cool prizes. Hopefully, the workshops will get you thinking creatively and collaboratively for the rest of the year.

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