Wednesdays 10am - 12pm PST

06/11 - 07/16/2025

6-week workshop - $275 All levels welcome.

On ZOOM - class will be recorded and available for viewing on a private YouTube channel.

Imperfect Sketchbook

This time of the year is wonderful for spotting birds. If you love sketchbooks, birds & botanicals, this is a workshop for you. It’s not about perfect paintings or drawings but rather having fun while you experiment with different mediums & techniques. Add to your existing sketchbook or start a new one.

All the drawings will be done in a sketchbook of your choice - preferably one which is suited for wet media, ink, graphite and color pencil. (I love the STILLMAN & BIRN ZETA sketchbook). You are going to mix media on each page, write and play with lettering to make the sketchbook look beautiful. Any style: from expressive to more detailed.

HOW IT WORKS:

Before the workshop starts, I will send out a ZOOM invite for all our lesson together, including reference images for you to work from. I will show you examples of artworks, demo techniques and also create art pieces for you to either follow or be inspired by. Then we sit and paint/draw together. During class you can email me images of your artwork so that I can give you feedback, and advice where needed. We can learn a lot from one another so it’s always wonderful to show your work to others. I strive to make this workshop very interactive.

OUTLINE:

Week 1 - small birds

Week 2 - medium birds

Week 3 - botanicals

Week 4 - bird ecology (birds in nature)

Week 5 - large birds

Week 6 - birds in landscape

WHAT YOU NEED:

Sketchbook best suited for wet media - smooth paper and thicker paper will be ideal. I like Stillman & Birn zeta 8 × 10 sketchbook. If you dislike sketchbooks, you’re welcome to use loose sheets of paper and create your own “book” afterwards. For example, you can use Canson watercolor paper XL.

Medium suggestions:
Graphite pencils - HB, 2B
Pens, such as Micron pens, Pentel brush pen, Pentel Hybrid Arts Technica pen or Ballpoint pens
Color pencils - my favorite are Faber Castel Polychromos pencils.
Watercolors for underpainting or some finishing touches - I love Daniel Smith collection: yellow ochre, burnt sienna, sap green, cobalt blue, indigo to name a few colors.
Gouache - optional but fun for painting opaque layers. For example, white or black.
Brushes - small to medium. Personal favorite: Silver Black Velvet brushes.
Eraser, sharpener

There is a $35 cancellation fee. No refunds for cancellations received less than two weeks before the day of the workshop.

Please email Maja if you have any questions.