Creative Sketchbook: Landscape

Weekly: Tuesdays 2pm-4.30pm

Dates:
10-week course
13, 20, and 27 January
3, 10, 24 February
No class on 17 February for Half-term Break
3, 10, 17, 24 March

Creative Sketchbook is a drawing and mixed media course using a sketchbook and would appeal to those who enjoy experimenting with a range of media and approaches.

The project for this course will specifically look at landscape in its widest form from rural scenes to urban views. Topics will include how to describe mood, light, space, distance and how to find the essentials when composing a scene.

You’ll explore the above through a range of approaches which include collage, watercolour and ink drawing. The work of other artists will be referenced throughout the course for inspiration. Universal skills of composition, design, tone and aerial perspective will be explored through a mixed media lens. Although the focus is on landscape, the approaches can be transferred and adapted to other subject matter.

Who’s this course for?

• Beginners with some basic knowledge
• Intermediate learners with some experience
• Advanced, proficient learners with regular practice

What you’ll explore:

• Shape-based, collaged composition
• Aerial perspective (distance) explored through ink drawings then watercolour studies
• Diverse approaches for visually analysing and depicting trees
• One landscape, different interpretations: traditional and unconventional ways of composing the same view
• Making your own 3D landscape (inspired by Gainsborough) from which to draw
• Depicting skies with watercolour
• Texture and atmosphere: a more subjective sensory response to a landscape

Learnings you’ll walk away with:

• Finding the essentials within a scene
• Using tonal values to create focus and interest
• Increased vocabulary of mark-making techniques and ways of describing texture
• Describing distance with different media
• Improving your perception of shape, tone and negative spaces
• Using strategies for depicting trees and skies
• Enhancing your creativity with composition
• Becoming more confident in developed in your personal artistic style.
• Becoming more confident and skilful with watercolour, ink, collage and charcoal

Materials and supplies required:

• A4 or A3 cartridge hardback sketchbook
• Approx 4 sheets of tracing paper
• Approx 8 loose sheets of A4 drawing paper
• Approx 6 sheets of A4 cold-pressed watercolour paper
• Pencils
• An eraser
• Dark-coloured drawing or fibre-tipped pens in at least 2 different nib widths (optional but recommended: dip pen with drawing nib)
• Masking tape
• A ruler
• Glue
• Scissors
• A selection of coloured media which could include: water-soluble pencils or crayons, pastels, or felt pens
• A set of watercolour paints
• 2 watercolour brushes: 1 wash brush and 1 medium (size 5-8) brush
• A palette
• A bottle of dark coloured Indian or acrylic ink
• Willow charcoal
• Optional: lolly stick or emery board, old toothbrush, hairspray or fixative
• Any other personally preferred materials, e.g., inks, pens, paints, conte. A craft knife/ scalpel and recycled papers are sometimes useful.

N.B. For the selection of coloured media, shops such as Tiger, Sostrene Grene or The Works often sell inexpensive pastels, crayons, etc which would be of adequate quality for this course. For brushes, pens, paints and watercolour paper, specialist art suppliers or a good stationer’s would be a better option if your budget allows.

What to bring to the first class:
Please bring your sketchbook, loose sheets of drawing paper, pencils, 2 sheets of tracing paper, paints, brushes, a small selection of coloured drawing media, and masking tape.

Emily can advise on other materials at the first session. You’ll be given a syllabus at the first class which will tell you which materials to bring each week.

What to wear:
Something you don’t mind getting a bit messy or an apron.

About the tutor:
Emily Burton holds a BA in Graphic Design, specialising in illustration, and an MA in Drawing. With nearly twenty years’ experience teaching a wide range of art courses, she brings both expertise and enthusiasm to her classes.

Emily enjoys working with adults of all levels, valuing the humour, life experience and curiosity they bring. Her teaching is clear and structured, yet responsive to the needs and individuality of each student. She aims to create a supportive environment that nurtures confidence while also challenging those with more experience.

In both her teaching and personal practice, Emily encourages rigorous observation and creative experimentation.

Testimonials:
‘Emily Burton was an excellent tutor – a really well structured and organised course, catering for all levels, either as an introduction or as a refresher’. –Rod E

‘I have attended several art classes that Emily Burton has tutored. I have always found her to be inspiring, helpful and very knowledgeable on any of the subjects she tutors. Her classes are light-hearted and supportive of individual needs’. –Glynis B

‘Emily is the best teacher anybody could ever have!’ –Jutta O

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