My New 2017 Calendar - The Gulf Islands of British Columbia

I just created a new calendar of my photos of the Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands of British Columbia
Yours to enjoy all year long

Urban Sketching Workshop with Artist Don Colley

My sketch of Granville Island

with Faber Castell Gray brush Pens

Don with two workshop participants

On Tuesday April 19th I was lucky to attend an Urban Sketching Workshop at Granville Island with a fantastic Chicago artist Don Colley. Without question this was the best workshop that I have ever attended.

Don spent the first hour discussing tips, tricks, and methods and best practices with the subject of Urban Sketching. We were fortunate that he brought several of his sketchbooks with him so that we could view them up close, while flipping through the pages as he spoke to us. And I must say that photos just don't do justice to the images in his sketchbooks.

In the first hour he gave a great demonstration using Faber CastellFaber-Castell - Pitt Artist Pens Set Of 6 Brush Tips-Shades Of Grey

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Brush pens, and did a quick portrait study of one the folks in our group, talked at great length at how to use the pens with different values and how to apply them to various types of paper, including toned paper.

He is very energetic and enthusiastic when he is sharing his knowledge with everyone, and you just can't help but getting inspired to get out there and paint. He was also willing to share every bit of his knowledge with us and answer any and all questions that we had.

All and all it was a wonderful creative experience that I shall always remember and cherish. If you have a chance to attend a workshop with him by all means "go for it"!!!

Watercolor Sketch of Venice

Am very happy, that for the first time have finished a Watercolor Sketch in one session that I am happy with......things are looking up.

This is a Watercolor of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice after the photo by "Franklin", on Paint My Photo website.

8" x 5" Watercolor & Micron Pen on Moleskine 90LB Art Watercolor Journal 

Live online watercolour demonstration by Tim Wilmot from 7th May 2015 - ...

Here is my favorite Video Watercolor Demonstration by Tim Wilmot.

I really enjoy his loose and expressive style of watercolor painting, and his way of just putting a suggestion of detail in the panting as opposed to trying to fit in every detail of the seen before him.

You might enjoy taking a look at more of Tim Wilmot Watercolors

Vancouver Urban Sketchers Meetup

In March I joined the Vancouver Urban Sketchers at the Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. It is a huge long building with great architectural elements that was fun to sketch.

My challenge was that within the time allotted (3 hours), I only completed the pencil drawing of the structure, and applied only the sky color in the sketch. This was done in a 11.5" x 8" Moleskine Art Journal. The paper weight is only 90LB, and it cockled and warped even though I had alligator clips on three sides to secure the paper.

It started to rain, and we had to pack up all of our stuff and head inside to the station, where we showed our work to each other and chatted about the days efforts.

After I got home, the drawing was inked with my Lamy Safari pen, and I finished the remainder of the watercolor.

In terms of the future there are two elements that need to be worked on.......First will have to go earlier to each meetup, perhaps a couple of hours earlier, and Second to use 140LB paper from now on so that the paper does not cockle and warp when watercolor is applied.

All & all it was great fun with the group, and for those of you who want to give Urban Sketching a try, you will find that the goal is not to create a masterpiece, but just to enjoy the sketching experience with a group of great creative people.

My First Urban Sketch

Had a great afternoon sketching with the Vancouver Urban Sketchers meetup. We gathered together at the Atrium in the Vancouver Public Library main branch in downtown Vancouver BC.

I was with a really fun group of people, very supportive and creative, and well worth going to a wonderful venue that I will visit again. Plus borrowed two good Watercolor books as well.

Inside the Library Atrium

8" x 5" Watercolor Sketch

on Strathmore 140LB Cold Press

Art Journal

Really looking forward to my next Urban Sketching meetup.