watercolor – Jamie's Sketchbook

Travel Sketching Class Takeaways

What a great class this has been, and I’ve learned so much!

The final demos I did a crazed, loose sketch-along for these locations in Melbourne.

My takeaways from the class are many. I vastly enjoyed this class and learned so much. I feel I significantly leveled up in my understanding of practical applications, as well as in how to manage my overwhelm in the moment. So helpful! Here are my takeaways:

The fastest, loosest sketch will still capture the memory and scene.

Start with 7 lines, 5 shapes, or 3 layers when overwhelmed by a scene. It will still be clear enough to know.

I really like shapes and do better with them—that’s my personal go to beginning a sketch.

Onward! Though the group run through of Sketchbook Design is no longer happening, I intend to do the class myself. It aligns nicely with my desire to get back to a daily sketchbook habit.

R1 Wardrobe

I focused on achieving patterns, so my colors are off. I tried to use the granulation of Lunar Black to make the all black items have a little life in the sketch. I’m pretty happy with my results.

Sketchbook 2 – Watercolor

When I started Liz Steel’s Watercolor course, I started this sketchbook. This one is a Stillman & Birn Beta 3.5 x 5.5 inch (8.9 x 14.0 cm) Softcover.

I wanted to do the lessons with two different palettes. I had purchased Marc Taro Holmes Direct Watercolor Palette, but I had never used it. I figured using two different palettes would really teach me about color. It did! So I did the same exercises twice, and in this sketchbook, volume 2, I did the Watercolor assignments using this palette.

Of course I put the palette on the first page!

Watercolor Course 2020

When I started Liz Steel’s Watercolor class in August 2018 I chose the Stillman & Birn Beta, size 5.5 x 8.5 inches (14.0 x 21.6 cm) Softcover. I bought her palette colors, and loved the idea of painting the palette to start the sketchbook.

Why is this Sketchbook 1B, instead of 2? Well, when I was trying to round up my sketchbooks by the time I had several of them going, I numbered this one 1, but ended up finding the earlier sketchbook, so it became 1A, and this one became 1B.

The very first palette I set up myself! I was so proud of my filled half-pans, and of my color labels right here on page one! Great way to start a sketchbook!

The first lessons of the course were to experiment with the marks ones brush can make, and how to test the properties of the paint, and the paper. What a revelation this was to me! Not all paper is the same? Not all pigments behave the same? Not all brushes brush the same?! Mind blown!

I loved every lesson I did, and learned so much.