It's Plein Air Season!!

And to celebrate, I have put my "Watercolour on Location" DVD on SALE for 50% off. Back by popular demand! From altering the scene to tell YOUR story, choosing a palette, materials, techniques, all the way to the finished painting, this professionally filmed video has it all.There are only 20 copies left, so get one while they are available. After they are gone, there will NOT be any more. To purchase one, simply go HERE  and follow the prompts.

You might notice that this email looks a bit different than in the past. Blogger has discontinued using Feedburner for their subscription service, so I have moved to Follow.It. Hope this service works even better than before. If you have any trouble, please let me know!!

Blessings

Sharon

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"The Illustrated Life: Journaling in Ink & Watercolour" online course is opening!!

I hope this finds you well and happy! I am excited to let you know that I am once again opening registration for 'The Illustrated Life: Journaling in Ink & Watercolour' online course. NOW is the perfect time to take your sketchbook outdoors to capture what you are loving. Registration for the course begins on Tuesday April 20 and runs only until Saturday April 24.

Inside the course there are SIX full demonstrations broken down into manageable sections, making them easy to follow along. There are also lessons on finding inspiration, complete supply explanations, lessons on colour mixing, and SO MUCH MORE!

In addition, there is a very active free Facebook group where you can see other's sketches, post your work, and get encouragement for the journey. I respond to every post, so you get continual access to me to help you, answer any questions you might have, and to make helpful suggestions and support you on your sketching path.

You will find out all the information on the course you need HERE. There is a video there that explains how the course works, as well as FAQ's to answer any questions you might have and more.

As well, I have decided to do a LIVE ZOOM CALL to talk about the many benefits of plein air (outside) sketching, and to take questions about the course. The call will be on Tuesday April 20th at 7pm Mountain time. If you would be interested in joining me for the live call, please click HERE to register. The call will be recorded if you are unable to join live, you only need to email me to ask for the replay.

TESTIMONIALS

I have had 75 people go through the course now and this is what some of them had to say:

Dorothy S. said " What appeals to me is I get to learn how to draw quick and simple sketches to help me capture my adventures. I am not good at retaining memories and the feelings that I felt.  Sharon's explanations of using the pen to make containers for the shapes, and what to look for as the focus of your sketch, was fantastic. The lessons on colour mixing were a wonderful thing for me. I struggle with consistent mixing and the cool/warm colour stuff.  I get and understand the instructions because her delivery is easy for me to understand. I have learned so much from just these videos." 

Beth H. said: "I think your course is a good entryway into experiencing art, the creative process, even for those who have not been creative in the past.  Participants can be surprised by what they create with line and colour, especially if their stumbling block is, "I don't know how to draw".  I'm not sure what group this taps into, but when I think about this past summer, top of mind is the afternoon spent in the backyard, being outside and painting a sketch.  It was a way to enjoy my environment, made me feel like a kid again, even though I now have some physical limitations.  I'm wondering if gardeners, would be a group?  I spend time making my yard look beautiful, I finally had a way to experience it in a new way; to keep enjoying it and take it in. There is something about the process that is very therapeutic; increases mindfulness.  Mindfulness is a popular buzzword, so somehow it creates a path to mindfulness for the super busy woman sandwiched between children and aging parents. .... like my daughter.  It's like the Calgon bath that takes them away.  Also can give them a fresh perspective on their surroundings (that they might be tired of or feel trapped in) or remind them of why they used to enjoy something..."

Finally, Nancy said "The simplification of the sketching process was key for me.  Although I have taken a sketchbook when travelling, I often got bogged down with too much detail. This method with the watercolour works so well.  I have taken other courses from Sharon and enjoy her style of painting and instruction."

 

I sincerely hope that you will join me on the call, and then to join the course. See for yourself how relaxing, meditative and life-giving pen and ink sketching can be!

Blessings,
Sharon

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Workshop Demo Paintings

"Summer Reflections", 5.75 x 8.5", watercolour
This is one of the demos I did at my recent watercolour workshop in Invermere, BC. I was trying to show the class how to make clean and lively darks by knowing how dark you want them to be and then putting them in at that value to begin with using wet and rich pure colour. The demo started with the light bank -it is also important when placing lights onto white paper that you make them lighter than you think they should be, so they will pop when the darks go in. It is tricky to judge their value on the white paper.

"Sandra's Poppies", 10 X 14", watercolour
Another example of putting in the colour in the intensity that you want it to be and having that all important first wash to be lively and fresh. The second washes are only to define things inside the flowers a bit and to pop out some of the leaves, while leaving as much of the original washes untouched. This requires judging each stroke as it goes down to see if it is the correct value, shape and intensity, and determining if it should have a soft, broken or hard edge. The importance of S.E.C.'s again (shape, edge and colour).
Enjoy!

"Canyon Bridge", plein air oil painting

"Canyon Bridge",8 x 10", plein air oil painting
I did this painting overlooking the Castle River just outside of the Crowsnest Pass. I was sitting in the grass on the brim of a hill in a farmers field while gusts of 50Km were nearly knocking me over. Needless to say, I worked as fast as I could, and it shows!
I am off to teach a watercolour workshop in Invermere, BC this weekend so will post some pics of that when I return.
Enjoy!

Plein Air Sketching Workshop

These are some of my students in rapt attention to their pen & ink and watercolour sketching at the workshop I taught yesterday at the Leighton Centre. We were very lucky that we had super weather all day -the first day like that in the past couple of weeks.

This is one of the sketches that I did as a demonstration for the class. That accordion shaped foothill is John Ware Ridge, a favorite painting site of mine. It was a really fun day and a good time was had by all.
Enjoy!

A Grande Prairie Adventure

"Trembling Aspen", watercolour, 16 x 12"
SOLD  
 
This past weekend I taught a three day workshop in Beaverlodge, 30 minutes outside of Grande Prairie. It was held at the homestead of well known Alberta artist Euphemia McNaught (1902-2002) which is being restored by the McNaught Historical Preservation Society. The workshop was titled "Watermedia -Indoors and Out", but we only worked with watercolours outdoors, and we did some pen & ink and watercolour sketching as well. This is my first demonstration painting. It has been a while since I have painted such a large watercolour outdoors in the sun and the wind, but all in all I think it turned out OK. The participants loved to hear about the 'joy of S.E.C.s' -pronounced 'sex' so you can remember -to work the Shape, Edge and Colour of an object in that order. (see my DVD for details)
Enjoy!

Upcoming Plein Air Workshops

Many years ago (1995 to be exact) I began to take a sketch book, sharpie marker and a small watercolour kit on location to capture the beauty and colour of my surroundings when I did not have the time to commit to a full watercolour painting. Since then I have taught this technique to hundreds of artists and non-artists. I have NEVER had a person who was unable to do their own sketch that they were happy with. Of course, practice makes 'near' perfect! Once again, I am offering a plein air pen & ink and watercolour quick sketching workshop at the Leighton Art Centre. As the first workshop on May 23rd has filled up with a waiting list, I have agreed to do a second workshop there on June 20th. Please call the Leighton Centre at 403 931 3633 for more information or to register.
Hope to see you there!