Drawing From Observation

With Neva Bergemann

A 10-day residential drawing course

15-26 March 2026

Athens, Greece

What is it?

A 10-day residential course, hosted by Argo Arts and taught by Neva Bergemann, where students will learn to draw from observation and life.

Neva will teach you fundamental skills, and guide the development of your technique with constructive and honest critique.

During the course, you will select objects and scenes to draw - from nature, in museums, or found objects brought back to the studios - and produce a series of unique artworks.

What will it be like?

Neva’s teaching style focuses on helping you see the world afresh - breaking down the assumptions built into our ways of seeing and allowing you to see (and draw) objects as they truly are.

The course provides a tonic to the mediated experience of seeing everything through the pixellated flatness of our screens. Over the course of 10 days, you’ll have the chance to slow down, work mindfully, and genuinely engage with the things you see.

Who is it for?

The course is suitable for artists of all levels: beginners who are simply curious to learn, professionals who want to get back to the basics, and anyone in between. There are no age limits, and we hope to have to a mix of abilities, ages, and interests.

It will be a small group - between three and seven students. This will allow for plenty of one-on-one guidance from Neva, and opportunities to get to know your classmates at shared dinners and outings.

Students will …

Use simple materials to bring drawings to life on the page.

Engage in the meditative practice of deep observation from life.
Learn and hone skills in observation, perspective, proportion, shading, line quality, and how to create texture on the page.
Work with a range of wet and dry materials: pencil, graphite, charcoal, ink, and collage.
Gather inspiration from the city of Athens:
- Urban landscapes and architecture.
- Objects found in the city.
- Statues and antiquities in the museums.

Neva Bergemann

Neva is an accomplished artist and teacher.

She has been noted for creating art inspired by natural elements deeply rooted in Mediterranean culture. Her work serves as a contemplative portal and a quiet rebellion, inviting audiences to pause, breathe and rediscover.

Neva has a BA in Studio Arts and Art History and MA in Art Education from the University of Minnesota. In 1997, she traveled to Greece to attend the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts on the island of Paros. After settling permanently in Greece she set up her own art studio and founded Artists on the Move, a visual arts program for international students. In 2010, she joined the faculty of the Hellenic International Studies in the Arts (HISA), a study abroad institution with accredited courses for American universities, where she became lead instructor for the department of visual arts.

Neva’s artwork has been exhibited internationally and resides in numerous private collections all over the world.

Accommodation: The Argo Mansions

During the course, you’ll stay in the Argo Mansions, a pair of apartments in a gorgeous neoclassical building from 1928.

All rooms are private, but if you’d like to apply with a friend or partner we arrange a shared room for a reduced price. You’ll share a well-appointed kitchen and bathrooms.

The building stands on the corner of Plateia Agiou Georgiou in Kypseli, a bustling and lovely square full of bars, cafes, and restaurants bordering an impressive cathedral.

You can read more about our accommodation here.

The Studios

During the course, you’ll have a dedicated workspace in our large, light studio complex.

The studios are in Exarchia: our beautiful, grubby, intense, relaxed neighborhood. It’s famous for being a center of political activism and for its vibrant atmosphere of creativity and resistance. It is also dotted with cool bars and cozy cafes, where both locals and visitors chat with friends, sit all day with a coffee and notebook, or party all night.

You can read more about our studios here.

Athens

Athens is a wonderful paradox.

Of course, it is an ancient city steeped in history, known for its classical architecture and archaeological treasures. Amidst the remnants of its past, though, the city boasts a vibrant arts scene, hundreds of contemporary galleries, and cultural festivals. Local artists draw inspiration from their surroundings, blending traditional themes with modern expressions. This unique juxtaposition creates a dynamic atmosphere where history and creativity coexist harmoniously.

Course fees

Cost, per student, for the core course: €1,975

This includes:

Accommodation for 11 days.
Studio access for 11 days.
Basic materials, such as paper and drawing implements.
Three hours per weekday of instruction from Neva, plus one-to-one support outside these classroom hours.
Advice and recommendations on how to make the most of your stay.

It doesn’t include:

Travel, food, or extra materials.

If you’d like to attend the course with a friend or partner, shared rooms are available at a lower rate. Get in touch with us to learn more.

Apply Here

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Apply Here 〰️

Questions? Issues? Prefer a downloadable form?

Contact us here

Or email:

matt@argo-arts.com

sara@argo-arts.com

About You

Name

Artist Name

(if you have one)

Nationality

Date of Birth

MM

DD

YYYY

Email address

Social Media Links, Website, etc.

How do you want to communicate?

Do you have a disability?

If yes, it would help us to know if we can offer support or adjustments for you.

Your Residency

Bio

Tell us a little about yourself. This can be as personal or professional as you like - you may include your artist bio. Where are you from? What are you into? Have you been on residencies before? Do you have a favorite artist / animal / color/ philosopher? How do your friends describe you? Proudest professional achievements? University experience?

Artist Statement

Please describe what the theme means to you. What ideas does it spark? What draws you to this residency? How does it fit into your work?

Additional Support

Please describe any additional support you would like from us during your residency. Do you need specific materials? Connections with local artists or scholars? Will you want to use the woodshop?

Your Portfolio

Please provide up to 5 examples of recent work. These can be images, writing samples, or links to video work. Please be respectful of our storage space and time – images should be no larger than 2mb, writing samples no longer than (approximately) 5,000 words. For audio or video files: send us a working link. If the link is password protected, make sure to include the password for us. Please clearly label the files you send, naming them like this: “First name- Last name-number”. (As in: Yiorgos-Lanthimos-01)

Living with Others

We want to make sure that every resident feels supported and safe during their residency, so it’s useful to know a little about your background and experience.

Have you ever lived with people other than your family?

If yes, can you describe a difficult situation you’ve experienced while living with other people, and how you dealt with it?

How would you describe yourself in one sentence?

Do you prefer to be social most of the time? Do you like to spend time alone? Or some mixture of the two?

There is no wrong answer here, we strive to provide a space where residents can maintain a solitary focus on their work whilst also engaging with a vibrant creative community.

Funding

Are you planning to apply for funding to support you for this residency?

If yes, can you name the organisations you are applying to? Do you need a letter of support from us?

If you don’t receive funding, will you be able to fund the residency yourself?

Information for us

This whole section is optional

How did you hear about Argo?

How would you describe your gender?

How would you describe your ethnic background?

Something else?

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your application? Do you have any questions?