2019 – Jamie's Sketchbook

Finally Taking Edges

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.

A loose direct watercolor sketch of a small elephant jade plant with ink line details, with color swatches alongside, drawn in 2019.

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.

A sketch of half a heart painted in purple and pink with gold thorns twisting around the outer edge and piercing into the heart, drawn from the cover of Losers by Harley Laroux, January 2026.

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.

Japanese Friendship Garden

A landscape, painted on location at the Japanese Friendship Garden.

Testing Products

Time for some product tests!

Comparing the colors of Polychromos, Albrecht Durer, and Derwent Inktense to see how they compare and to find matches.

I had a variety of pens and items I’d received via my Sketchbox subscription, so I tested those out.

I was gifted an old set of Arteza brush pens, so here was my color chart and testing of those.

Testing various shades of grey, grey brush pens and pencils. I do love the warm greys!

Wardrobe Feb 2019

Wardrobe sketches!

I really liked how Liz Steel sketched her garments and I copied it directly to try to figure out what made it work for me. It seems so much more dynamic than my typical wardrobe sketches! I decided the border line really helped, the outlined labels, and the shadows.

Two days later I would sketch some new clothing items I purchased and I used my usual style to compare.

Early Landscapes

Painting landscapes is one of my dream goals. Every time I try it I loathe what I do. Then I go back a few months later and realize I actually like it. Now, a couple years after I made these first attempts I realize something I simply did not get when I started–there is a lot to learn! The learning curve is steep and long, and requires so much practice! Which makes me love these early attempts even more!

A pond in autumn, using the Autumn Palette I’d put together. I struggled a lot with the paper, though I wouldn’t understand that at the time. I think I want to do a lot more wet in wet here, and my paper just isn’t quite right for that.

Here I was doing a color study version, playing with a limited palette and experimenting with Phthalo Blue (green shade.)