Courses

A sketchbook is a priceless personal record of your life, whether you’re travel sketching, keeping a visual journal, collaging, planning projects, or drawing patterns. Sketchbook strategies uses a “choose your own adventure” approach to drawing. It is based on the premise that having a clear picture of your options is a crucial starting point for making creative decisions. Using historical and contemporary examples of informal sketchbook work, we will discuss intention, media, technique, subject matter, and point of view, stopping frequently to experiment, practice in our own sketchbooks, and share our discoveries. Along the way, we will explore perspective, composition, emotion, what is “seeing,” critics (both inner and outer), and fearlessness. Unlike some studio courses that allocate large amounts of time for drawing or painting, this course will be a combination of lecture, discussion, and drawing practice. Upon completing the course, you will have a finished sketchbook (or two!) documenting, in pictures and words, your explorations and skill development. You will have discovered which approaches best fit your intentions and personality, filled your toolbox with problem-solving strategies, and learned how drawing can enrich your life.