HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thankful!

Meijer Gardens Patio Fountain

​Thank you all for giving me and Dale this gift of teaching Pocket Sketching.  It’s been friends, purpose and a continual project. It is so rewarding to have you get excited about discovering you can enjoy sketching.  You have learned a skill and we have earned friendship and pride in your achievement.  You keep us going and excited.  YOU are why we are still teaching!  Thanks
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Season 5 Filming

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.

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Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Japanese Garden Falls

Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Japanese Garden Pond

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REMINDER

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.

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Franciscan Life Process Center - 5th Graders

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The Scholar - Manhattan Cocktail

Testa Rosa - Hostess

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Tip

Here’s your TIP for this blog.  Jan asked how to get practice for sketching people.  One way is to practice on your own feet.  They’re always there, a perfect distance from your hands.  You can turn them, dress them, etc.  They are anatomy.  Do them in proportion and out of proportion.  Add background.  Give it a go!

My foot

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Upcoming Events

BASIC WORKSHOP

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

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ONLINE BASIC WORKSHOP

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

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COUPEVILLE BASIC WORKSHOP

July 10, 11, 12  Coupeville Washington.  Basic Workshop. https://pacificnorthwestartschool.org/product/macaulay-6642-july-10/
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COUPEVILLE REFRESHER WORKSHOP

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.

Happy Sketching & Happy Thanksgiving