INSTRUCTOR

Jingo de la Rosa

DESCRIPTION

Some of us like structure, especially when sketching. This workshop is all about setting that inclination aside, and creating beautifully-composed sketches without planning the composition!  You will also be encouraged to draw without the initial pencil sketch.  To help you become more comfortable sketching in this way, this class combines demonstrations with time to practice.  The first demonstration will showcase drawing techniques including blind contour and contour drawing, followed by an observational sketching practice session.  The second demonstration focuses on drawing refinement and composition.  You will then have more time to practice these techniques in the field.

LEARNING GOALS

In this workshop, participants will

• learn to let go, and let their hands do the thinking;
• learn to trust their instincts rather than depending on structure;
• practice drawing loosely first and refine later;
• experiment with different pen and ink techniques; and
• learn how to cover up mistakes.

SUPPLY LIST

• Inking pens in different sizes (for example: Microns 01, 05, and 08)
• Sketch book(s)
• Optional: Markers, watercolor

INSTRUCTORS

Brian Wright & Suzala Zahler

DESCRIPTION

A good painting is one that tells a story, such as, “It was a beautiful spring day,” or “The streets were very wet,” or “It was late afternoon and the shadows were beautiful.”   In defining the focal point, you draw the viewer in, guide them through the painting, and make sure they don’t wander off the page and out of the story.  This workshop explores some simple design techniques to help you tell a story with each sketch.  Composing your sketch effectively can make the difference between a good sketch and one that can transcend the media.  Learning and practicing the art of arranging elements in a sketch will help you achieve a well balanced result and elevate your work to a new level!

LEARNING GOALS:

In this workshop, participants will learn composition techniques including:

• Rule of Thirds:  a great technique that focuses the viewer toward a balanced drawing;
• Golden Proportion:  used for centuries by artists, this technique helps create a more harmonious drawing;
• Leading Lines:  this technique draws the viewer’s eyes towards your focal point;
• Strong Diagonal:  a dynamic view angle can help tell a unique story; and
• Framing:  a dynamic crop can help direct the viewer to what you want them to focus on, your “center of interest”.

SUPPLY LIST

• Sketchbook of your choice
• Sketching tools of your choice

INSTRUCTOR

Barbara Weeks

DESCRIPTION

Watercolor has a reputation for being a troublesome or intimidating medium. This workshop seeks to offer an alternative experience and put the fun in watercolor!  Through demonstrations and exercises, you will explore ways to add life to your sketches by playing with values and color and letting the paint do most of the work.  Specifically, this workshop focuses on creating a range of values with watercolor, choosing watercolor hues, and sketching with watercolor.

LEARNING GOALS:

In this workshop, participants will

• learn how water and the paint can work and play together to create value and color;
• explore creating values in watercolor;
• choose hues in their pallet that play nicely together; and
• learn a few simple tricks to help enjoy the process

SUPPLY LIST

• Watercolor or Mixed Media Sketchbook (at least 5.5 x 8.5 inches or larger)
• Watercolors and brushes/waterbrush
• Pencil (2B or 3B) 
• Small spray bottle
• Paper towels, tissues, or rag for blotting

INSTRUCTOR

Amy Larsen

DESCRIPTION

Are you ready to improve your skill in sketching on the iPad with Procreate and the Apple pencil?  By employing tools and techniques that are particularly valuable for sketching, this workshop will take you from a beginner to an advanced skill level.  Specifically, this workshop will cover:

• Reasons and strategies for using layers;
• Brushes (recommended brushes, modifying brushes, and creating new brushes);
• Blending modes;
• The adjustments menu;
• Perspective grids, assisted drawing, and the drawing guide;
• How to make shapes and straight lines; 
• Gestures, picking colors, color filling, and making color palettes;
• and much more!

LEARNING GOALS

In this workshop, participants will

• gain confidence using Procreate for sketching;
• learn how to make custom brushes; and
• learn the most useful gestures and tools to make using the app quick and easy.

SUPPLY LIST

• Apple iPad
• Procreate App
• Apple pencil

Please note, the workshop will NOT provide technology for participant use.

INSTRUCTORS:

Alex Zonis & MJ Ernst

DESCRIPTION

Learn how to carry little and sketch a lot using fountain pens and ink!  This workshop will cover fountain pen anatomy and use, types of ink and how use them in sketching, and ink washes and special effects. Alex and MJ will talk about their favorite papers and demonstrate their setups. Water-soluble inks will be used to explore values and encourage a more loose, expressive sketching style. Color inks will be used for multicolor sketches for variety and artistic interest. This workshop will also cover the basics of fountain pen maintenance and include a nib tuning demonstration.

LEARNING GOALS

In this workshop, participants will

• explore fountain pens as a sketching tool and ink as a sketching medium
• learn to use a fountain pen for sketching
• learn to paint with ink and ink washes
• observe simple and lightweight sketching pen & ink setup

SUPPLY LIST

• There will be a fountain pen for every student at the workshop.  You are encouraged to also bring 1-2 of your own fountain pens (empty of ink).
• Waterbrush
• Sketchbook with smooth paper
  
• Mini palette (for example: https://www.dickblick.com/products/plastic-10-well-paint-tray/ )

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

• Pencil
• White gel pen

INSTRUCTOR

Aaron Elswick

DESCRIPTION

Chicago views with a local Urban Designer and Landscape Architect. “Fake It Till You Make It” requires confidence, fearlessness, and a hint of madness, but revolves around feeling your way through a drawing with confidence and aims to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with sketching in public. If you have ever wondered how to improve your confidence in your abilities of capturing the urban setting, then this workshop is for you.  The goal of this crash course drawing workshop is for each artist to learn how to accurately and quickly capture an environment while embracing all mistakes that may or may not occur along the way.

LEARNING GOALS

In this workshop, participants will 

• develop an understanding of the basic principles or rules of perspective drawing;
  
• develop a basic understanding of common architectural rendering views and techniques;
  
• learn to view the urban environment as a line drawing and how to break down complex scenes into simple forms
  
• learn to save time and build confidence by not using an eraser;
• learn to create depth with the use of line weight and textures; and
• learn basic techniques for sketching the urban entourage.
  

SUPPLY LIST

• Sketch book;
• Pen of choice; and
• Rendering medium of choice

INSTRUCTOR’S SUPPLY LIST (optional)

Canson Mix Media Art Boards- 9”x12”;

• Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook – 5” x 8”;
• Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Sketchers Pocket Box (8 colors);
• Niji Waterbrush – Medium;
• .01 mm Micron pen