Experimental Drawing

There are many ways to tap into your creativity when you are drawing; Would you like to take a line for a walk with experimental contour drawing? How about becoming one with ink while drawing? Experience the art of using your whole being when you draw, and see your drawing expand beyond its current horizon.

Toshiko Oiyama leads you through guided experiments and playful exercises, from unexpected ways of holding pencils, to using the sense of touch in focused seeing, to discover the world around you afresh.  Toshiko introduces the concepts of scale, space, and composition, and helps you gain new skills and knowledge in mark-making, layering, and working with materiality. The palette is limited to monochrome with some unexpected additions, using both traditional and unconventional media and materials.

* Short courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over.

* Drawing and painting short courses may be held in upstairs studios. If access to stairs is not suitable, please contact us at short.courses@nas.edu.au

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below.

Toshiko Oiyama’s art practice revolves around drawing, where she explores the transient nature of all things, both physical and philosophical. The inspirations for her art practice, equally derive from the outback of Australia and the ancient pilgrimage trails of Japan, her country of origin, and various histories she has lived through. Her background includes a long and successful career in graphic design in Europe, the USA and Asia. Arriving in Australia in 2001, she turned to fine art and obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree and a PhD from the University of New South Wales.

Toshiko has undertaken an artist’s residency in Paris and was awarded the Tim Olsen Drawing Prize; she was a finalist in the Dobell Drawing Prize, Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Hazelhurst Art on Paper and Kedumba Drawing Award. Toshiko taught drawing for many years at University of NSW, College of Fine Arts, and joined the National Art School Drawing Department as a sessional lecturer in 2020.

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

• Hahnemuhle paper, 300 gsm, 53 x 78 cm. 2 x sheets of Warm White and 2 sheets of Bright White
• Cartridge paper, 110 gsm. A1 size x 8 sheets and A2 x 6 sheets
• Black drawing ink, small bottle
• 6 pencils with a combination from B to 8B
• 5 sticks of Willow charcoal, medium thickness
• 1 black felt tip pen
• 1 white oil pastel
• A box of mixed crayons
• Masking tape, knife, kneadable eraser, plastic eraser
• Wide brush (around 8 cm) or a large new kitchen sponge
• PVA glue
• Large container for water (1 kg yoghurt container or equivalent)
• 6 small take away plastic food containers, about 10cm in diameter 5cm height, or similar
• 1 roll of paper towels
• Disposable plastic gloves, a few pairs
• 1 flat sheet of Styrofoam, 2cm thick, about A4 size or bigger. Old packing material - find them on a garbage collection day.
• 2 large corrugated cardboard boxes (clean, from recycle bins) for Day 4
• Apron or cover shirt, if desired
• Additional paper can be purchased at Parkers Art Supplies at NAS if required throughout the course.
• Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.