Please find below a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Drawing
Research Network held at Kingston on 22 February 2002 compiled by Steve
Garner and Leo Duff.
If you would like an electronic copy in Word format just send an email to
[log in to unmask] with the subject line 'send minutes in Word'.
(please don't simply hit 'reply' or all requests will go to all list
members!!)
Regards, Steve Garner
Minutes of Drawing Research Network meeting, Kingston, 22.2.02
Apologies Prof. Ken Baynes(Gallery of the Future), Eileen Adams(Campaign for
Drawing - Education), John Aiken(Slade), Vivienne Reiss (Arts Council),
Prof. T Kavanagh (Loughborough), Howard Hollands (Lifelong Learning and
Education), Dr J Steers (NSEAD), Prof A Anning (Primary and Childhood
Studies Centre), Sue Gollifer (Brighton ), Susan Lambert (V&A), Carole
Hodgson (Kingston - Sculpture), Bernadette Blair (Kingston -Director UG
studies), Angela Eames (Camberwell), Kim Merrington, Angela Kingston
(Wimbledon Centre for Drawing Research), Orianna Baddley (Camberwell),
Chair and Introduction (Leo Duff)
Resume of first meeting , Loughborough, June 2001.
Purpose of this symposium to;
* offer opportunity for brief updates and for new members to introduce
themselves and their interests
* establish direction and ethos of the Network and thus aims
* set criteria for next symposium.
Forthcoming events, RCA Drawing Research Centre work in progress 25th to
28th Feb. Drawing -The Process, Conference at Kingston in collaboration with
Plymouth University(Exeter) 28th - 29th Nov. Drawing Lecture Series Kingston
Posy Simmonds May 21st. Lucy Gunning in conversation Wimbledon Centre for
Drawing Research March 7th.
Drawing Research Network JISCmail discussion list (Steve Garner)
The email discussion list currently had 50 members and was potentially an
ideal means for the group to share research activity, news and requests.
Steve Garner had produced a handout giving joining instructions and further
information.
James Faure-Walker (Kingston University)
James provided examples of his own drawing, modelling, painting, printing
and digital drawing work. The presentation highlighted his use of media,
reflections on the process and influences from European artists. The
presentation included recent drawing work with students.
Drew Plunkett (Glasgow School of Art)
Drew outlined recent drawing research activities within the International
Drawing Research Institute including Glasgow School of Art's collaboration
with Sydney University and Beijing University. A colloquium held in Jan
2002 saw 18 presentations on drawing research activity. It was proposed
that drawing research should aim to be clear about the nature of the
conclusions it sought. Too many exhibitions of drawing output were
masquerading as drawing research.
Martin Salisbury (Anglia Polytechnic University)
Martin showed the first two issues of 'Line', the new drawing journal
produced at APU. It aimed to provide a source of publication for authors
researching in the context of illustration. It was proposed that there was
a lack of critical theory in this field. It also aimed to showcase new work
in illustration, overseas practice and educational developments (APU had
developed a new MA in children's book Illustration).
Anita Taylor (Cheltenham and Gloucester)
Anita outlined the Jerwood Drawing Prize and provided some background
history. The 2001 competition generated 1400 submissions within the UK. It
was proposed that the next meeting of the Drawing Research Network could
coincide with the 2002 Jerwood Drawing Prize exhibition at C&G. Responding
to a question on the criteria for selection Anita confirmed that the judges
welcomed many types of submission and encouraged potential contributors to
interpret drawing broadly.
Sue Grayson-Ford (The Campaign for Drawing)
Sue outlined some background history and recent activities of 'Drawing Power
- The Campaign for Drawing'. 'The Big Draw' was held at the British Museum
in September 2001 with numerous regional activities and similar events were
in planning for 2002. The Campaign has an Education Programme titled 'Power
Drawing', run by Eileen Adams. Power Drawing has involved 175 primary and
secondary schools around the UK in its most recent project. 4000 booklets
on drawing have been distributed with more to follow. A series of school
books on drawing is in planning.
George Whale (Loughborough University)
George raised the issue of rigour in drawing research. He appealed for
drawing researchers not to underestimate the importance of the literature
review, the formulation of research questions and the dissemination of
output in a form which is understandable and assessable by the wider
community. The debate from this mirrored discussion in other areas e.g.
design research, in recent decades. To what extent could drawing and
drawings be considered drawing research? What articulation should support
drawing to become drawing research? Should drawing research automatically
seek to work within research paradigms established by other fields or should
its activities be used to define new, more appropriate paradigms. It was
suggested this debate could usefully be continued within the drawing
research email discussion group.
Dennis Atkinson (Goldsmiths College)
Dennis alerted the group to a forthcoming edition of the International
Journal for Art and Design Education for which he would be guest editor.
JADE is the journal of the National Society for Education in Art and Design
(NSEAD) http://www.nsead.org/search/index.html.
The special edition would be devoted to drawing including drawing research.
There would be approx. 12-15 papers, each between 2000 - 4000 words
(illustrations particularly welcome). Outlines for papers should be
submitted as soon as possible to Dennis at [log in to unmask] The
NSEAD also produced the A'n'D paper which members might want to consider for
publishing information on drawing research.
Bridget Egan (King Alfred's College)
Bridget outlined her PhD research work into drawing by very young children.
Questions explored the findings of the work in relation to current theories
of perception and cognitive processing.
Simon Bell (Lincoln Institute of Theology)
Simon introduced his recent art therapy work undertaken with cancer
patients. Discussion of the roots of this work were illustrated with
reference to drawings by John Ruskin. The research was particularly
interested in the interplay between interpretation of drawings by the viewer
and the realisation of intent by the maker.
Ian Storer (Loughborough University)
Ian shared a selection of images taken from his own portfolio of work in the
field of industrial design. He was seeking to establish a research
direction and to articulate particular research questions. Drawing in
designing seemed to be the central field. The particular focus might be
communication via drawing.
Howard Riley (Swansea Institute for Higher Education)
Howard used his presentation to question suppositions and ontological
constructs on which the teaching of drawing is often based. He defined
models of teaching practice commonly found in HE and highlighted issues
regarding the social construction of perception. This was aimed at
provoking new perceptions of theory and practice. There may be references
that can be shared with the group at a later date.
John McNorton (University of Wales Institute)
John introduced recent work that focussed on drawing as performance. There
is a performance element in all drawing activity but he was particularly
interested in collaborative drawing production and the implications for new
technology to support the remote choreography of collaborative drawing
activity. Recent activities had included remote collaboration between
groups of drawers where the sounds of drawing were used to inspire shared
activity.
Vavara Shavrova
Vavara had undertaken work with students on the MA Drawing as Process course
at Kingston. The presentation gave an insight to other professional drawing
activities that explored the physicality and the process of drawing with
reference to large temporary drawings and smaller studies on canvas and
paper. The interaction between memories of stimuli and the process of making
drawings was discussed.
Roger Towndrow (Falmouth College of Arts)
Roger gave a presentation of some of his recent drawing practice where
perceptions of space and recognition of component parts informed the
process.
Stewart Mealing (University of Plymouth)
Stewart provided an introduction to his research interest in machine
drawing. This clearly had parallels with other research areas such as
robotics and machine vision (some members offered contacts which might
assist Stewart's work). There was some important research to be done, which
explored the relationships between acquiring knowledge and mark-making etc
in human drawing and machine-made drawing.
Mel Blain
Mel outlined his work that he intends will contribute to a future PhD
submission. The work concerns an examination of cognition with regard to
life drawing and the process of looking. It is intended that the research
will culminate in a series of computer generated life drawings the making of
which is informed by the research findings.
Following on from the presentations the meeting addressed the issue of aims
of the Drawing Research Network:
Discussion overall identified the strength of the network being its
accessibility, fluidity, openness.
Cross-level and cross-disciplinarity of information considered to be
valuable.
Three aims emerged from the discussions:
i To act as a network.
This would include the construction of opportunities to share
information (such as conferences, exhibitions and meetings) and to attempt
to distribute information where it might be relevant. It was also felt the
group had a responsibility to discuss and determine what types of fora might
be relevant to such a network given the nature of drawing activity.
* The email discussion list seemed ideal for supporting such a
dialogue.
* Other computer based tools for the support of networks
should be explored. A synopsis of member's research along with limited
images could thus provide all with overview and a base to build from in
* terms of collating active research nationally. Steve Garner
offered to construct some example web pages for the Network for
consideration at the next meeting.
* The network should offer a supportive environment to other
drawing-related activities by groups and individuals.
ii To increase knowledge regarding drawing and drawing research.
For example, to offer definitions of drawing research today and to
be able to comment on current issues in drawing research such as
practice-based research.
* To respond to requests for information regarding drawing
research.
iii To develop and publicise a database on drawing research.
This might consist of information held at particular sites (e.g. placed on
university computer servers by members) and it might include specially
assembled information held by the Network. Such information might include
bibliographies, images, research statements, and information on members and
presentations on research in progress by members or students.
TO FUNCTION AS A NETWORK AND SHARE, DEVELOP AND DISSEMENATE RESEARCH ON
DRAWING.
Next Meeting;
Cheltenham and Gloucester, to coincide with the Jerwood Drawing Prize
exhibition, approx. 16th - 20th September.
Suggestions re format of next meeting;
Members of the network could circulate, on a given framework, (max A4
/equivalent) synopsis of their research plus limited images
A speaker be invited to talk about research funding.
Debate on the nature of drawing research and development of new paradigms.
New members only to present brief overview of their interests.
All attending to bring examples of research for 'instant' exhibition.
Any further thoughts on the agenda of the next meeting to be forwarded to
Anita Taylor.
SG/LD 1.3.02
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