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Workshop Descriptions and Supplies Lists

Download a recommended workshop supplies list PDF.

Mike Daikubara · COLOR first INK later (Loosen Up Your Watercolors)

Workshop Description: Sketching a complex scene can be intimidating at first, requiring lots of planning, lots of underlying line work, and lots of time. It might even make you give up starting with the thought of all of this. But there’s an approach to make this go all easier using the “COLOR First INK later” approach. Contrary to the approach of line work followed by adding color, broad watercolor washes of loose color are applied first using a mop brush to get started. Since details are hard to control with this brush, it ultimately makes sketching easier and less intimidating since you’ll give up trying to control the colors. You’ll also quickly find out that it’s really hard to make a mistake at this stage since the colors perform their magic by mixing on their own and thus, you’re actually controlling the colors. Once the initial layer of the color wash has dried, ink brings the details and the focus of the story to life, followed by additional colors and highlights to finish the sketch. This is all done using limited tools in a limited amount of time. The results?! The sketches are more vibrant, dynamic, and overall, just fun! 

Workshop Goals: By the end of the workshop, you will have learned to: 

  1. Jump into sketching a complex scene with broad watercolor washes without hesitation
  2. Let go of trying to control colors in direct watercolor, and thus learning to control it as a result
  3. Bring focus to the sketch story in tightening up the sketch through lines, additional colors, and highlights.

Supplies:

  • Sketchbook with paper that can take a good amount of water. Recommended: Stillman & Birn Beta series
  • Waterproof ball point pen or felt tip pen. Recommended: Sakura Pigma 01 (or any other waterproof thin-lined pen). The instructor will be using the Uniball Signo 0.38 pen.
  • Mop brush that can hold lots of water. Recommended: Davinci #2 Mop brush
  • Small water container or jar. Recommended: Nalgene container
  • Water brush. Recommended: A medium tip brush
  • Watercolor kit. Recommended: Sakura Koi intro kit
  • Grey markers. Recommended: Sakura Tombo N75, N65, N55 markers
  • White gel pen. Recommended: Posco White and Sakura Gelly Roll pens

Mary Jo Ernst · Simplify with Soluble INK

Workshop Description: In this class you will learn how to capture a moment or scene, on location quickly using only a water brush, soluble pen, white highlighter, and a sketchbook. Soluble inks allow for sketchers to carry little while creating more and will be used to explore values and encourage a more expressive sketch style. This workshop is an excellent introduction to linework and values for beginners and for seasoned sketchers that are striving to loosen up with their artwork.

Workshop Goals: You will leave the workshop knowing how to assemble an easy, inexpensive setup and having expanded strategies to create more balance, drama, and movement in their artwork.

Supplies:

  • Blue Pilot pen
  • Watercolor paper block or sheets
  • Pentel water brush
  • White highlight pen
  • Painter’s tape
  • Handout to take home
  • Magnetic binder clip


Yuki Hall · Expressive Pen & Wash



Workshop Description: In this workshop, you will learn how to capture the essence of the scene by simplifying the complex subject matter into simple shapes using a pen and watercolor. You will also learn how to avoid a rigid coloring-in style of painting and instead, how to execute it with expressive pen lines with confident brush marks which bring out the true quality of watercolor medium such as freshness and spontaneity. The method of blending colors on the paper to create excitement in your painting will also be discussed.

Supplies:

  • Sketch book or loose watercolor paper. Recommended: A watercolor or mixed media sketchbook made with heavier weight paper that can take quite a bit of water and stay in reasonable shape. Recommended: Arches or Saunders 140LB loose watercolor paper, rough or cold press, cut in 1/8 of a sheet, and approx. 11” x 7.5” is recommended. Loose paper should be mounted on a board with masking tape.
  • A pen that you normally use. It should have permanent ink that doesn’t bleed when a watercolor wash is applied. Recommended: Sakura Micron 08 or Faber-Castell M pens in black or sepia. The instructor will be using a Sailor Fude fountain pen with black permanent ink.
  • Small palette with colors that you normally use and that are suitable for sketching. Tube paints are recommended.
  • Travel or regular brushes that are an appropriate size for your sketch book or paper. The instructor will be using a small mop, size 12, 10, 8 round travel brushes plus a liner.
  • Portable folding chair or stool (strongly recommended)
  • Water container. Recommended: a small collapsible water container.
  • 2B-4B pencils. Recommended: 0.9 mm, 2B lead mechanical pencils. Hard lead pencils, such as HB ~ 6H, are discouraged since they make marks on the paper that are hard to erase.
  • Other recommended items: hat, kneaded eraser, scrap paper for testing, Kleenex


Nancy Lick · Ink Rendering Techniques

Workshop Description: This workshop will explore different ink techniques for both line and ink wash that will bring your drawings to life! You will learn to create textures, establish light and dark values, and develop points of interest in a drawing. Perspective and the use of negative space will be covered to help strengthen your compositions. Traditional techniques as well as experimental methods will be demonstrated. Working with ink is often intimidating due to its permanency, but you will receive tips on how to plan your sketch and fix the parts you want to change, allowing you to approach the medium freely and with confidence.

Workshop Goals:
  • Learn a variety of ink techniques that are both experimental and traditional
  • Strengthen your compositions and the use of perspective
  • Create volume using light and dark
  • Learn to manipulate materials to create textural effects and points of interest
Supplies:

  • A few sheets of heavyweight watercolor or multi-media paper
  • Small bottle of India Ink (waterproof)
  • Drawing pens (permanent, waterproof). Recommended: Microns (01, 03, and 05 suggested), fountain pens, or Sharpies. You can also use a traditional dip pen.
  • Pencil
  • Water container
  • A few round watercolor brushes, detail and medium-sized
  • Pencil and eraser
  • X-Acto/utility knife
  • A few photo references of outdoor settings
  • Watercolors (optional)


Marlene Steele · Your Sketchbook: Thumbnails, Value Comps, and QuickDraws

Workshop Description: The 5 Value puzzle: It’s all in the middle values! What role does value structure play in a concept? Does it really matter what you do with middle tones? I have an exercise for you…

Sketchbook examples:
  • Where I find inspiration: Why I love my inner urban studio!
  • Demolitions/renovations
  • Urban denizens
  • Business as usual—markets, barbershops, lawn concerts, etc.

Workshop Goals:

  • Incorporate the thumbnail practice into your preliminary process.
  • How to Think SHAPE
  • Maximize the thumbnail with assigned value options. VALUE = IMPACT
  • Encourage personal pursuit and freedom as an individual growth goal 
Supplies:
  • Sketchbook
  • One ebony pencil or carpenter pencil. Recommended: Color pencils, pastel pencils, watercolor, and/or graphite
  • The instructor will supply a handout for the 5 value discussion.


Jeff Suntala · Soften That Sketch. Embrace The Moist!

Workshop Description: Use non-waterproof pens and watercolor pencils to zing up your sketches. Contrast the use of soft and hard edges and dull and bright colors when sketching quickly.

Workshop Goals:

  • To become aware of the nether zone of the moist, where all good things happen.
  • Learn new ways of using fun tools.
  • As always, drawing and perspective tips are given, so you will become a better draftsperson.
  • Your sketches will become more vibrant, yet in control.
Supplies:

  • Pilot Precise V5 pens of assorted colors (blue, red, and green are the best)
  • Regular pencil. Recommended: BIC Mechanical #2 Pencil 
  • Waterproof black pen. Recommended: Uni-Ball UB-150 is a good inexpensive one.
  • Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Brown or Chocolate Brown (brown fine liner water soluble pens) 
  • Watercolor pencils
  • Misting bottle
  • Watercolor palette and brush
  • Small water cup
  • Good paper (100% cotton if possible)

Jose Pablo Ureña · Strong and Expressive Lines: Enhancing the Character of Urban Landscapes

Workshop Description: This workshop is about exploring strokes with ink to enhance the whole elements that make up the urban landscape. You will use drawing tools to achieve a confident, striking, playful and expressive line, encouraging your personality as artist. You will also use drawing resources to analyze the environment and create dynamic compositions on paper that accentuate rhythms and tensions with attractive visual paths.

Workshop Goals:

  • Analyze the urban landscape and learn to highlight the elements you want in your drawing.
  • Compose scenes with well-organized dynamic visual rhythms.
  • Explore ink as a powerful drawing medium and one that requires determination when drawing.
  • Achieve a strong and attractive line—made with confidence—that enhances the perception of the urban landscape.
Supplies:

  • Chinese ink or similar
  • Nib pen preferably, if not a fountain pen
  • Bold marker or brush pen
  • Watercolor or any other medium if you want to color the sketches
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