fabrics can give form and structure to a painting: falling in folds of drapery; hugging the figure, or moving wildly and freely. Clothes are an extension of the body, and an expression of the person inside them.
We fashion ourselves in particular ways.”
~ Katie
Images: left and right - Eve modelling her own costumes at the Seawhite Studio. Centre - Eve researching costume at the National Gallery
Dear Visitor
Oh my!Do we have a treat for you in December.For three days Katie Sollohub will be joined by Emily Ball and her daughter Eve for a gorgeous jewel-like course that is guaranteed to offer fresh ideas about what working from the human form is all about.
Embellishing the Body – Costume and Poise will be led by Katie with Emily participating as artist-in-residence and with Eve dressed in her own dynamic and inspirational costumes.
“Having worked with Emily and Eve over the last few years, I think it is an extraordinary opportunity to watch an ongoing relationship that is both intimate and personal (a mother’s gaze), whilst also dynamic and creative. These sessions have always been a joy to lead, working with a mother and daughter team, full of the combined energy of their work and ideas, as well as all the other participants who each bring their own passion and perception to this timeless subject.” ~ Katie
Image: sleeve detail, National Gallery
The course is a wonderful opportunity to become immersed in figure painting, with the added dimension of fabric and all the colour, contour and pattern that it offers.This one is not to be missed! Read on to find out more – including feedback from previous participants and thoughts from Katie, Emily and Eve about what they are looking forward to.Or, to head straight over to our website and book your place right now, click on the button below:
With Katie Sollohub as Tutor and Emily Ball as Artist-in-Residence
10 – 12 December(Wed- Fri), £330
Image: costume detail, Eve Stuart
Embellishing the Body is about making confident and expressive drawings and paintings that explore the poise and character of the model and the rich sumptuous fabrics that make up her costume. It is as much about exploring colour, texture and pattern as it is looking at the shape and form of the body.
There are many aspects to this course that make it exciting and a little bit special.To start with it is lead by Katie Sollohub, who will encourage you to play and experiment, so that you are not relying simply on observation.As a resultthe paintings you begin to make will be fresh and exciting, open to change.
Images: Tudor portraits, drawing and collage (Eve Stuart)
“What I love about this course is the way personality is conveyed through costume and pose. There is life and movement in every pose, and every painting. Each person’s
response to the subject is part of the conversation and dance between artist, sitter, and the paint. It is a joy.” ~ Katie
Another reason that this course is special is because Emily will be in the studio painting alongside the other course participants, providing an inspiring example of how to work from the figure throughout the course. And you can be sure that she will be providing perceptive input into any group discussions that take place.An additional poignant dimension to Emily being there is the fact that the clothed model and costume designer for this course is her daughter, Eve.
"I have been wanting to make a lot of new paintings about Eve. She is so beautiful to draw and paint, so this opportunity to have Katie lead the course and for me to make my own paintings is such a treat.Commissioning this costume and the planning and design work has been happening over many months. To see it all come together is going to be inspiring." ~ Emily
Image: drawing of Eve, Emily Ball
Eve is currently studying Costume Design for Stage and Screen at Wimbledon College of Art. She has worked with fellow costume design student Holly Wright to design and make the costume that she will model for the course. Eve and Holly's outfit is a reflection of who Eve is as a modern young woman. During the course, the poses she creates will work with her creations to convey the character of ‘Embellished Eve.'
"I am looking forward to seeing my designs come to life as a finished costume, that I can enjoy wearing. I am excited to see the artists' interpretations of this character of 'Embellished Eve' and how they will respond in drawing and painting." ~ Eve
Images: Studies for costumes, Holly Wright
Eve’s designs take inspiration from Medieval and Elizabethan portraits and costumes but with an added contemporary twist. These portraits show an unconventional beauty of the women. The clothing speaks volumes and the head is often framed, pale and beautiful. These images - with their deep patterns and contrast - reflect the independent strong women gazing back at us.
Image: Queen Elizabeth 1, drawing and collage Emily Ball
“For me, the clothing and costume that Eve has created elevates this from the usual figure drawing workshop - it becomes about time, about being a young woman now, and witnessing her become herself, performing her self.”
~ Katie
Images: reserach at the National gallery Eve Stuart)
Painting from the clothed figure means looking at colour, texture and pattern as much as form and flesh. In this course, Katie will encourage you to celebrate the way fabric adorns the figure: how it changes as it wraps around form, offers glimpses of flesh, how the features of the face emerging from folds and frills.To start with, you will be invited to use innovative creative processes to make a series of quick studies from the figure in movement; reacquainting yourself with the body as a subject using the fluidity of paint to express its lyricaldance-like qualities.
“I found using paint from the beginning of the course enabled me to experiment more, and feel more confident about the paint.” ~ Kate Jerred
Image: Emily Ball painting Eve during Figure, Fashion & Frills, 2024
You will then start two or three longer paintings in which you will start to use the language of paint to describe the texture, direction and weight of cloth; how it shrouds, conceals, and reveals the form underneath. Throughout the course, Katie will refer to artists such as Matisse, Bonnard, Vuillard, Chantal Joffe, Alice Neal, and Jennifer Packer for inspiration.
By the end of the course, you will have two or three finished paintings, grown in confidence in expressively capturing the character of the clothed figure in paint and will come away with a host of approaches and tools that can be used in your creative practice in the future.
“I think Katie’s teaching was very good. Interesting exercises and very gentle but thought provoking feedback tailored to our individual interests. The studio space is fantastic. Great to have so much space and to able to work so large and so messily.” ~ Janina Maher
“Katie is so inspirational and with her abundance of knowledge together with Eve as such a creative model made it a very special three days for me.The many exercises and new approaches Katie gave us gave me so much useful information to take away.” ~Julia Schultz
To find out more or to book a place, please click on the link
Images: Emily's work station during Figure, Fashion & Frills, 2024
TAKING IT FURTHER
Join us for another creative adventure
If you would like to experience more of Katie’s innovative teaching style when working from – or with - the figure, why not join her for one of her forthcoming courses at the Seawhite Studio?Please note, these courses take place before Embellishing the Body.
Dancing & Drawing
17 November 2025 | £100
Using meditation and some informal freeform dance exercises and music to connect with the body, and the senses, you will be encouraged to move the body and make marks, with ink, paint and charcoal, without being restricted by expectations and outcomes.
An experimental 2 day drawing course embracing the physicality of drawing on a large scale - using your own body, gesture and sensation as your subject. Using the generous space of the Seawhite studio there is almost no limit as to how large you can go.
To enjoy more of Emily’s approach to painting and drawing people, take a look at these pre-recorded courses.These short courses are full of exercises, ideas and inspiration – and the brilliant thing about them is you chose the time and place to do them, making them wonderfully adaptable.
Drawing and Painting the Head – Self Portraits
£120
Emily will lead you through processes that help you become confident at painting a self -portrait, suggesting ways of layering marks and shapes taken from observation to help you invent more expressive ways of making the features of the face.
