Monday 19 May 2014

Sketchbook Skool

Over the past six weeks, I've been attending skool...
Sketchbook Skool to be exact.

Sketchbook Skool is an online course for sketchbook artists of all skills,
 from Beginners right through to Advanced.



Sketchbook Skool - the film from DannyGregory on Vimeo.

Their first semester is called 'Beginnings'
and you can read more about it or sign up for it HERE.

This course encouraged us to
step outside of our comfort zone and try new things.
It encouraged us to make sketching a part of our daily lives.
It gave us access to a fabulous online community of like-minded artists.

The course teachers were absolutely AMAZING!!  
Week 1 - Danny Gregory 
Week 2 - Koosje Koene 
Week 4 - Jane LeFazio
Week 5 - Roz Stendahl 
Week 6 - Tommy Kane

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I had seen Danny's 'Art of Breakfast' video once before but, this time around,
I felt inspired to sketch one of my own favourite breakfasts. 
My first time using a dip pen in my journal, not to mention contour drawing too.


Medium - Pen and watercolour 
Paper - Moleskine 5" x 8" journal


Below, is Danny's 'The Art of Breakfast' video,
just one of the wonderful things we were treated to in his klass.


The Art of Breakfast: a film about Danny Gregory from DannyGregory on Vimeo.


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 Koosje's klass was wonderful too.
She took us out on location to do some sketching.
I feel it tied in well to my own recent outings with the Urban Sketcher's Brisbane group.
This was a sketch I did during one of those sketch-outs.
Sorry, not the best lighting on the day I took the photo of my sketch.


Medium - ZIG Millennium 005 pen and PITT 'Shades of Grey' pens.
Paper - Moleskine watercolour notebook approx. 5" x 8"


Koosje also offered some tips on using coloured pencils and gave a great demo too.
I confess that I still haven't managed to do all of my homework for her klass yet
but I'll post my efforts here when I do.

In the meantime,
here is a coloured pencil demonstration by Koosje
shared from her YouTube channel.




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Prash's klass was a sheer delight!
I fell in love with his happy-go-lucky attitude from the start.
He spoke about his love of journalling
and how it has become an integral part of his life.
I want to achieve that too.
You all know I've whined often enough about finding time
to develop a habit of daily sketching in my journals.
Prash reignited that desire within me so now I'm more determined than ever.
I loved his watercolour demo and all that he shared with us.

Here is one of Prash's videos that I came across on his blog.
In this video, Prash takes us on his sketching tour of incredible India.


Madhya Pradesh - The heart of incredible India from luv kalla on Vimeo.


A bit of homework.



Below, a tree in the distance which I sketched from my backyard;
I was practising gradation of the sky.

Medium - Pen and watercolours 
Paper - Moleskine watercolour notebook approx. 5" x 8"

Stay tuned!
Weeks 4, 5, and 6 to follow....

12 comments:

  1. You and Danny are equals! Both expert artists! You can teach the class, Serena!

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    1. Awwwww, thanks, Julie...that's very sweet of you to say. xo

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  2. Great post Serena! I really enjoyed your recap of weeks 1-3. I've watched some of Koosje's Draw Tip Tuesday videos but I need to explore them some more, as well as the Prash video you posted. All of your sketches in this post are awesome! (http://jamiegregorysketchblog.wordpress.com)

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    1. Thanks, Jamie! I need to explore more of Koosje's Draw Tip Tuesday videos too. :)

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  3. Peanut butter and tomato on toast my best quick breakfast.
    You got my interest from that. I like quick sketches too.
    Merle............

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    1. It's so yummy, isn't it?! I'll sometimes have tomatoes and peanut butter on sandwiches for lunch too. :)

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  4. Serena, what a wonderful tribute to SBS!! Like you, I also thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved all the instructors - especially Prash! What a delightful, happy, human being. You could just feel the love through the monitor. ;-) Your sketches are amazing Serena... you are fabulously talented and i love how you shared your homework with us. ;-) i'm still behind on the classes, but still sketching, so it's all good. Aren't we lucky to be part of this? i'm thrilled to have joined. LOVE your breakfast page!! Makes this combination look so good, i may even try it! ;-) xx

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    1. Thanks, Pauline. Prash was definitely a favourite of mine too....his love of life was infectious. :) I'm still behind on classes too and need to catch up. Like you, I'm so glad I signed up as it's been such a great experience. Roll on Semester 2! :)

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  5. What a beautiful post Serena. Thanks for sharing Prash's video. Brought back many many memories for you see I grew up in Madhya Pradesh. Unfortunately he did not go to the hill station where I grew up. He would have found many more treasures.

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    1. Thanks, Shashi! I'm pleased to hear it brought back memories for you. I loved Prash's video....what beautiful places he visited. :)

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  6. I watched all the videos. I had seen Danny Gregory's breakfast one quite a long time ago, but it was fun to watch it again. Prash is quite the interesting fellow. I can imagine he'd be fun. Sounds like this was a wonderful experience. Was that what got you to find the Urban Sketchers n your neck of the woods? You do such great work--and didn't have to be told to get rid of your pencil even--LOL! What fun!! :)

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    1. Hi Rita,

      I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. Prash truly is so inspiring....loved his class! I've been a member of Urban Sketchers for many months, well before I signed up to Sketchbook Skool. I have only started going out with the Urban Sketchers in recent months, particularly when the Brisbane Group leader invited me to an event/sketch-out on Facebook. Admittedly, working without a pencil wasn't new to me. lol Sketchbook Skool is fast-paced and full of variety with a different teacher every week and it's so much fun! xo

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