A short reflection on the just-finished Season Five filmed in Grand Rapids.  The crew was excellent.  The weather and the locations were perfect,  It was such fun staying with Jan and Norm and having Eva and Tom help us on both ends of the travel.  Some of the sketches turned out marvelously.  Then there were others.  Not every sketch is a jewel.  In fact three were so unfortunate, Zack let me add to them after the shoot in hopes of improving them.  One got better, two stayed just as poor as before.  We all get some bombs!

The sketch with the stream had one good part.  By darkening the rocks in front and adding dark branches above the good part, you are forced to see it.  The Japanese pond just didn’t do well before or after!  Often, when you ‘fix em’, it’s obvious what’s wrong (color, contrast or focal point), and you get a great result.  Sometimes nothing works.  I get these too.  I can say I wish they weren’t part of a public TV program, but that’s reality.  Perhaps that’s part of the excitement of plein air.

Do you remember that I taught you to neither talk nor listen to your language while sketching?  I'm talking through every sketch.  You automatically flip into the left side of your brain (the logic language side) and away from the meditative creative side.  Here you see some of the results.

January 9, 10, 11, Tucson, AZ live in our ‘home-studio’.  This is limited to 7 or 8 people.   Come learn enough to play for a lifetime.  Hours are 10:00 to 4:00 each day.  Price is $400 plus supplies, if you don’t already have them.  Ask us about hotels.  
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CONTACT
[email protected]
520.318.9291

MORE INFO
https://www.pocketsketching.com/basic-workshop1-178342.html

Jan 16, 19, 22, 25, 28.  Online Basic Workshop via ZOOM  Each session is 2 hours, interactive with demonstration, you work, evaluation, homework and recorded for two weeks.  These are amazingly effective for learning.  The price is $290 plus $65 for supplies.

CONTACT
[email protected]
520.318.9291

MORE INFO
​https://www.pocketsketching.com/basic-workshop.html

July 10, 11, 12  Coupeville Washington.  Basic Workshop. https://pacificnorthwestartschool.org/product/macaulay-6642-july-10/
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July 20, 21, 22  Coupeville, Washington, Refresher Workshop (This is advanced and totally in your grasp; just more fun techniques with a bit of review of basics).
​https://pacificnorthwestartschool.org/product/macaulay-6643-july-20/

​Both are at the very well-run Pacific Northwest Art School, on gorgeous Whidbey Island west of Seattle.  The town is darling, right on the water with shopping and restaurants:  perfect to chill out and relax.

In Grand Rapids we stayed with Jan and Norm for a few days before filming. She’s the person who had me go to WGVU to film Pocket Sketching in the first place. Because I felt very rusty and the entire Season Five was to be filmed plein air, I sketched in their yard. Norm is a gardener. This was all safe and delightful. The frog’s book is ‘Good Night Moon’.  We chose his yard for the first three episodes when we filmed. ​

The second day we filmed in the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park where we were joined by our “Mystery Donor” for a day of live shooting. She is delightful and I think she really enjoyed the experience of filming. Sketching plein air does not necessarily go as planned. With pressure and an exact time frame of 26 minutes, the sketches leave a bit to be desired. However, I talk all the way through with all the decisions. One particular location involved looking through a fence to get the sketch with a live person sitting on the fence providing my shade. Not the best sketch. I will love to hear your reactions when you see Season Five. ​

The next day was at the lovely Franciscan Life Process Center in the country near Lowell, Michigan. It is a perfect, meditative retreat location. The last day was on the Allendale campus of GVSU. The crew was wonderful. Filming was exhausting. We had fun with friends. And on the flight home we both caught Covid. And after that was over, I taught a Teacher’s course here in Tucson for five days. I am ready for a break! ​

There are still two openings. The dates are October 26 (half-day) through the 31st (full days) at my home studio in Tucson. This workshop is limited to five (5) people. It includes everything I know about teaching and doing Pocket Sketching. If you have considered the fun of teaching Pocket Sketching in your town (or on cruises, retreats, resorts or as a fundraiser for your favorite not-for-profit, this is your chance to have a lot of fun, purpose and even an income.

THE BASIC WORKSHOP November 7-9 is filled. I will probably do a few over the winter here in Tucson, including the Basic and the Refresher (live) and some onlines through Zoom. Nothing is scheduled yet. ​

​Would you be interested in a regular ZOOM class where I demonstrate some piece(s) of technique that you want to learn? That could also include Q & A's. Send me an email with your interests: [email protected]