Interview with Samantha Barnes – Find out more about our Everyone Can Draw workshops

29th August 2023

Do you love the idea of drawing but are convinced that you can’t? If so, you are exactly the right person for our new Everyone Can Draw workshops. We caught up with Samantha to find out more.  

Q1. Hi Samantha, can you tell us more about the Everyone Can Draw workshops, what can people expect?

Samantha: These Drawing Art Lunches and Suppers are coming to Firstsite as they have outgrown my garden studio!

They began early in the Spring after a conversation with a wonderful cook, about how similar the processes of both our work is. On my side in drawing/painting/art and on her side, dreaming up a feast, preparing, and then delivering to a gathered, excited group. Both disciplines require time, and both deliver wonderful results.

These special events bring together the practice of drawing in fun and unusual ways which EVERYONE can do (zero drawing skills are necessary to join us) and then eating a lovingly prepared feast together as a bonded group.

Q2. How do you envision participants benefiting from the unique blend of art and culinary experiences in your workshop?

Samantha: I love food!

I love to enjoy the hard work that has gone into making something special, but when coming together to eat a meal with people I don’t know, I find it hard to relax.

The idea of bringing a drawing group to the table is all down to the magical bonding that happens when we draw together first. My techniques in teaching people to draw are different – what you already know doesn’t matter at all, in fact, the longer it’s been since you did any drawing, the better! The first part of our drawing workshop brings unexpected laughter and joy, which in turn brings human connection to the table. 

Q3. What types of art techniques or projects can attendees expect to explore during the workshop? 

Samantha: As an artist, the root of all my work is in observational drawing.  How we make those drawings though, is entirely up to us. We are free to explore and play, I teach participants to work and trust their hands – and how to turn down the inevitable negative chatter that our mind is so fond of when setting out to do something new.

Together I’ll be guiding you through a number of drawing exercises that are suitable for everyone. They are light in heart, great fun and most importantly, super-charge your confidence when coming to draw.

Q4. For individuals who may not have extensive art or culinary experience, how approachable will the workshop be, and what can they expect to take away from it? And what would you say to people who would like to attend but are nervous to come by themselves?

Samantha: Many of my Art Lunch/Art Supper participants come alone, and I fully encourage this.

These workshops are specifically designed for natural connections to happen by themselves. The social aspect of the workshops is joyful. Above I mentioned my own experience at not being able to relax when eating with a new group of people – these art supper and lunches are designed to bust through those horrible feelings. Just to be sure of total comfort at the table, I’m making some ‘conversation-starter’ cards so you won’t be struggling for long, plus I’ll be around to make sure everyone is ok.

My message to those who are nervous to come along by themselves is this: I FULLY understand. Your job is simply to book in and to turn up – I’ll be doing the heavy lifting and together we are going to have enormous fun. Oh, and as a massive bonus, you will have a whole new view of drawing by the end of the event. 

Q5. Could you share a memorable anecdote from a past workshop that highlights the magical combination of art and delectable cuisine?

Samantha: I’m a specialist at bringing people back to their own creativity – drawing is just the beginning which is why I love to teach and encourage it.

Over my thirty years of being a practicing artist, I have taught thousands of people to draw and enjoy wonderful stories about how attending just one workshop (be it online or in person) has altered long-held thought patterns of our own abilities.

One beautiful story is that of Ruth. Ruth struggled to draw or paint in the usual way and during our time together, I could see and feel her frustration at her perception of not making progress. During our session, I gave Ruth some gardening wire and asked her to draw our still life in wire. Ruth FLEW at this and took to drawing in this 3D way very quickly. Ruth found a new way of creativity and today enjoys a business selling her wire drawings in shops, galleries and online.

As for thought about our eating together as a group after drawing, I can’t tell you the beautiful conversations enjoyed at the table by people that met only a couple of hours before. It’s both heart-warming and life-affirming to witness. I’m only too happy to bringing these Art Lunches and Art Suppers to Firstsite. It’s a wonderful thing that we have outgrown my studio, now we get to share these wonderful events with a wider audience, and I hope that includes you.