Into The Wild

Class Is open

WHAT IS STUDIOWORKS CREATIVE ACADEMY?

Join me as we go Into the Wild through the lens of ink and watercolors!

Together, we'll explore how to create captivating journal pages that reflect the wonder of the outdoors.

I'll guide you through the art of laying out a journal page—finding the balance between text, illustrations, and white space to create visually stunning compositions. You'll learn what to include in your nature journal, from detailed observations to personal reflections, capturing the essence of your experiences with nature.

I'll also share my process for using watercolors and ink to bring these pages to life. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, you'll discover techniques that will enhance your skills and help you express the beauty of the natural world on paper.

Get ready to unleash your creativity and connect with nature in a whole new way. Let's embark on this journey together and fill our journals with inspiration from the outdoors. Happy journaling!

See you in class!

Warmup lesson

We’ll kick off class by going over the supplies you need and we’ll also talk about what type of supplies you can pack in your field kit.

Before beginning our warm up lesson I’ll touch on a few layout and composition ideas and how and where to source even more.  I’ll provide you with a little cheat sheet you can add to your own journal so you’ll always have a place to start.

 In our warm-up lesson, we'll dive into the essentials of color mixing using a limited palette. Using a photo reference as our guide, we'll explore how to blend and combine colors effectively to capture the essence of our subject. I'll guide you through the process of achieving a range of hues and tones from just a few primary colors, allowing you to create vibrant and harmonious compositions. Additionally, we'll discuss techniques for creating textures using ink, adding depth and interest to our sketches. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a good foundation for our nature journaling journey ahead.

Main LESSOn

Plum Blossoms Line & Wash

We'll begin this lesson by sketching a plum branch and its intricate details, followed by outlining our sketch with ink to define the shapes. Then, we'll use watercolors to add color and bring our plum branch to life. I'll show you how to mix all the colors you'll need using a primary palette, making the process easy and enjoyable. As part of our composition, we'll include a simple background to complement our botanical subject.To complete our nature journal page, we'll add some fun text and border elements in ink. By the end of this lesson, you'll have created a captivating nature journal entry that combines sketching, painting, and lettering elements.

Looking forward to seeing your creations!

BONUS LESSON 

A Neighborhood Walk

In this bonus lesson we’re going on a walk in my neighborhood!  I’m taking my dog Maisie along on this sketching adventure as we gather photos for our journal spread.  I’ll show you how easy and fun it is to create a map of your walk and how to include the moments you captured on the way.  We’ll ink our sketches before adding a wash of watercolor and finally finish everything off with text.

WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?

This nature journal class is perfect for anyone with a love for nature and a desire to express their creativity through art. Whether you're a seasoned artist looking to deepen your skills or a beginner eager to explore the world of sketching and painting, this class is designed to inspire and guide you. You'll learn foundational techniques in botanical sketching, watercolor painting, color mixing, and texture creation—all while connecting with the beauty of the natural world. No prior experience is necessary; just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm, and let's embark on this artistic journey together!

Watercolor -              

• Daniel Smith Introductory Set + Burnt Sienna

Brushes

• Round Brushes in sizes 4, 8

• I’m using an inexpensive travel set

Watercolor journal

• I’m using  5.5x5.5”, 140 LB, Tumuarta 25% Cotton Paper, Cold Press journal.  If you can find a journal with 100% cotton paper it will improve your painting experience, the one I’m using is only 25% cotton and does the job too.

White Ink or Gouache

• PH Martin’s Bleed Proof White Ink

• Feel free to use white gouache, acrylic gouache, paint pens or white gel pens

• Pencil - 2H or other hard lead for sketching

• Pens - Micron Pens (or other waterproof pens) sizes 005, .1, .2, .5

• Eraser

• Water

• Paper Towels