The second intro exercise is to do a similarly colored set of items, and sketch them three ways–with edges, in shapes, and with volumes. Apparently sketching my glass and water bottle is my go to for this exercise!
Previewing Edges, Shapes, Volumes
Category Archives: Classes
Three Items
The first intro exercise is to sketch three everyday objects. I see that I have been a big fan of sketching my sketchbook and pen over the years!
This lesson always reminds me how much I enjoy looking back on sketches of objects. They seem so boring and mundane in the moment, but the sketch later always reveals so much about the moment in time. Like the pen, and how it’s a different one for each year!
Foundations Number 6
I have started Sketching Now Foundations six times. I have never finished. I am determined to finish all the exercises this year. The sixth time is the charm, right?
Naturally, I’m immensely curious about what did I do previously? So let’s find out, shall we?
The first thing for every class is to post a “current sketch” and I always try to pick something I’ve done very close to that date, and that is also what I considered my best work at the time.
2019 – Elephant jade. 2020 – Wine bottle. 2021 – Fountain pen. 2022 – Christmas gnomes. 2023 – Tea cup. 2025 – Pumpkins and leaves.
Foundations 2023
July 2023. I believe this was a group run through, not a live run. It was after the Teacups class, which really energized me and I felt I had really leveled up in my skills. I hit some health issues in August, which is why I fell off with my exercises.
However, despite being done from a photo, that shapes painting of the ruins at Casa Grande is one of my all-time favorite sketches!
Foundations 2022
January 2022. I am particularly fond of the work I did for these exercises. I was feeling better, and sketching well. I got through lesson two.
Foundations 2021
Apparently this was in March 2021. My third attempt at Foundations. These are as far as I got with the exercises, half-way through lesson 1.
Foundations 2020
January 2020. Continuing my series on previous work I’ve done for Foundations. I don’t even remember what pen I used for those line drawings, but I like it!
Foundations 2019
As Foundations begins again, and I embark on my sixth journey through it, I thought I’d create A Series to look back at my previous attempts at Sketching Now Foundations.
April 2019. I did not get very far, but I loved what I did at the time!
Sketchbook Design October 2024
I did this class as an independent study. I’d really looked forward to it when it was scheduled, but then the schedule changed, and I wanted to do the class anyway so I stuck with it. Here is the wrap-up:
Hmm, apparently I haven’t uploaded many of the remaining pages for these either. Interesting. So here is some of it. I may have to edit this page at some point in the future.
Adding Elements pt 2
Adding elements really does round out a sketchbook page. One of my favorite elements to add are maps!
There is a public walkway next to a golf course that I like to walk at when the weather is cool enough. They have a manmade pond that attracts birds and other wildlife. Since the temperature dropped down to 93F/33C (finally!) I took a walk. The one-mile round trip walk from the parking lot to the end of the pond is a perfect map to draw for the sketchbook, and for this sketchbook design element.
Color Blocks are another one of the Sketchbook Design elements we are working with in Sketching Now Sketchbook Design class. Here I’ve used a simple color block to balance and add interest to this minimal page of the stickers I’d placed in my book.
I’m working my way through the seven elements. So far I’ve done one for text, white space, color blocks, and maps. Three more to go!
Jamie's Sketchbook 