Plants are our Teachers Workshop 1: The Sap is Rising

“Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart.”

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Over a series of bi-monthly weekend workshops participants will be led on a journey of learning from plants through deep attention. Different approaches to drawing, painting and printmaking will open up new ways of seeing, to build a conversation and kinship with the natural world. Workshops take place at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, working outside or in the shelter of the A+E project space (in the Chapter House). Participants will be expertly guided through different approaches to drawing, painting and printmaking by the experienced artist and teacher Sarah Gittins – with additional input from guest artists and ecologists.

These workshops are suitable for all levels of experience and ability, from beginners to advanced.

The Sap is Rising: making and using earth pigments and green plant inks to celebrate the coming of spring.

With artist Sarah Gittins.

We will grind rocks to make paint and process leaves to create sap green inks. These materials will be used to pay close attention to the form and energy of plants pushing up through the warming earth.

Studies will be made on paper, using brush, reed pens and incorporating collage.

All weekend workshops run from 10am to 4.30pm and cost £120. (Block booking all 5 workshops qualifies for a reduced fee of £100 per workshop.)

The half-day workshop with Ian Edwards runs from 10am to 1pm and costs £40.

All materials are included in the fees.

A limited number of subsidised places are available on each course.

Please contact A+E for further details.