Finally Taking Edges

There’s a sketch in my files from 2019 — a small, loose drawing of a little elephant jade plant I’d just bought for the yard. I was proud of it at the time. It was my “current sketch” for Sketching Now Edges, Liz Steel’s intermediate drawing course, which I was just about to start.

I did not start it.

Life happened, as it does. The class ran again in 2021, which was not a good year for me. I kept thinking I’d wait for the next live run. And then I kept waiting. And waiting.

This year I decided I was done waiting.

This is my current sketch for 2026 — a book cover drawing I did in late January, a thorny heart with thorns digging into its edges. And honestly? Other than assignments for my watercolor course, it’s just about the only thing I’ve sketched all year. That’s not a confession I make proudly, but I’m making it anyway, because it’s exactly why taking this class right now matters.

My drawing skills feel weak to me. I want them better. I’m probably too hard on myself — but wanting more is also what keeps me moving forward.

So here we are. Finally taking Edges.

What is Edges?

Sketching Now Edges is Liz Steel’s intermediate drawing course, and it’s built around one deceptively simple idea — that understanding edges is the key to convincing, expressive drawing. The four lessons break it down:

• Lesson One: Edges as changes in plane versus changes in color
• Lesson Two: Hard versus soft edges
• Lesson Three: Prioritizing edges in line
• Lesson Four: Prioritizing edges in tone

If you’ve spent any time around Liz’s work or teaching you’ll have heard her talk about lost edges — edges that disappear, that suggest rather than define. That concept lives especially in Lesson Four, and it’s one of the things I’m most looking forward to exploring.

The class is running as a group run right now rather than a full live session, but Liz is doing two bonus livestreams, which is a lovely addition. I’ve taken all of her Sketching Now classes multiple times — except this one. That changes now.

It’s going to be a good class. Even if it took me seven years to start it.