Drawing and Identity: Exploring the Self through Drawing

Drawing is more than a technique—it is a powerful way to connect with one’s identity and reflect on personal and collective experiences. This workshop delves into the theme of identity, memory, and storytelling through visual art, encouraging participants to create works that embody their personal histories. Using various drawing tools and techniques, participants will explore how memories and shared narratives shape identity, examining how the act of drawing becomes a transformative process of self-expression.

Led by Sarah Simblet and Donatas Inis, this workshop explores drawing as a powerful tool for self-reflection, identity, and storytelling. Drawing is more than just a technique—it serves as a bridge between memory, personal experience, and collective narratives, allowing artists to visually articulate their sense of self.

Participants will engage in practical and conceptual exercises, experimenting with various drawing techniques and materials to explore the ways in which memories and shared histories shape identity. Through hands-on guidance from Sarah Simblet, a renowned artist and educator specializing in drawing and anatomy, and Donatas Inis, a classical realism painter deeply engaged with historical and figurative themes, the workshop will provide a comprehensive approach to both expressive and technical aspects of drawing.

This workshop encourages participants to see drawing as a transformative process, helping them develop personal artistic narratives while examining the relationship between identity, perception, and creative expression.

Mentors

Sarah Simblet

Graphic artist, writer and broadcaster, Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, UK

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Donatas Inis

Painter, Educator, Associate Professor and Classical Realism Advocate, Head of Drawing department at Kaunas Faculty, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania

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Identity: Textile Narratives

This workshop, led by Alice Kettle and Monika Žaltauskaitė-Grašienė (ŽALTĖ), explores identity as a visual and conceptual theme in textile art. Identity is deeply connected to memory and storytelling—our personal histories emerge from fragments of experience and unfold in the present. In an era where technology increasingly distances people, the need for creative self-expression becomes even more essential. Through artistic practice, we reconnect with embodied knowledge and collective memory, weaving our individual narratives into the fabric of human experience.

Participants will engage in creative interpretations of identity through textile-based media, analyzing significant works in textile art and developing their own artistic projects. The workshop combines practical and theoretical approaches, guiding participants through idea generation, experimentation, and the creation of exhibition-ready artworks.

Renowned textile artist Alice Kettle will share her expertise, introducing participants to her artistic methods and techniques, while Monika Žaltauskaitė-Grašienė will provide insights into textile-based conceptual storytelling. Their mentorship will encourage participants to explore identity through materials, textures, and visual narratives, expanding their understanding of textile art’s role in contemporary creative practice.

Mentors

Alice Kettle

Professor of Textile Arts, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

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Monika Žaltauskaitė-Grašienė (ŽALTĖ)

Associate Professor of Textile and Fashion, Kaunas Faculty, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania

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Embodied Identity: Painterly Gestures and Visual Thinking 

This workshop, led by Gideon Rubin and Petras Lincevičius, explores identity as a visual and conceptual theme in contemporary painting. Identity is fluid and layered, shaped by memory, perception, and personal storytelling—much like the painting process itself, where each brushstroke transforms the surface, revealing and creating new depths and meanings. Through an immersive engagement with the painting process, the application of diverse pictorial strategies, and a conceptual exploration of identity, participants will critically examine the emergence of personal and collective narratives within artistic expression. 

Participants will engage in creative interpretations of identity, experimenting with surface, layering, and erasure to explore how memory influences perception. The workshop combines practical and theoretical approaches, guiding participants through idea generation, material exploration, and the creation of exhibition-ready artworks.

Renowned artist Gideon Rubin will introduce his distinctive approach to subtle, anonymous figurative painting, exploring how absence and ambiguity shape identity in art. Petras Lincevičius, known for his integration of history, spatial narratives, and material-driven storytelling, will guide participants in experimenting with painterly textures and conceptual depth. Their mentorship will encourage participants to push the boundaries of self-expression, memory, and storytelling through painting, expanding their understanding of identity in contemporary painting.

This workshop will not only provide practical skills and theoretical insights but also serve as a platform for artistic experimentation. Participants will gain valuable experience engaging with both international and local art contexts, discover new ways to visually reflect on identity and memory in painting, and have the chance to present their work in a public exhibition.

Mentors

Gideon Rubin

Multidisciplinary artist, UK

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Petras Lincevičius

Painter, Associate Professor, Kaunas Faculty, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania

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Each workshop is an opportunity to deeply engage with creativity, cultural narratives, and self-expression, offering participants a platform to craft meaningful art in collaboration with World-Class Mentors.