What a great group of people for my first Outdoor Sketchbooking Workshop! Well done to everyone for the progress made today!
We chatted a lot about sketching and enjoyed each others company as we basked in Wimborne’s sunshine. Thanks also to Sadie and Harry at the BEAR for providing such great service in your lovely host venue. We’ll be back!
Although the workshop was intended for 6-8 sketchers, (with some unable to commit on the day), perhaps having only three sketchers on my first workshop was a blessing in the end. It meant I was able to give a higher level of attention to each and I feel the dynamics of the group as a whole we better for it. I am offering a range of Sketchbooking Workshops to choose from, aimed to suit different levels of ability and interests.
The base venue at the BEAR in Wimborne’s High Street is a fantastic venue – offering a choice of two, technically-equipped upstairs rooms, excellent food & drink – served to us, and a super sunny courtyard. The team, Sadie, Harry and chef were all extremely helpful and accommodating. This provided a wonderful base for us to start our Workshop with introductory chat, getting to know each other, me establishing each sketcher’s ability level and gaining an idea of their expectations for the day and what type of sketching they aspired to.
We then set off to the Minster Green and we all decided as a group to sketch the same scene – the tall ‘Number 9 café’ building – so we could better appreciate each others work and measure our own progress. After ninety minutes enjoyable sketching of and social interaction, we headed back to the BEAR to appraise our efforts so far, whilst our tasty lunches were being prepared. Having discussed the good work we’d individually achieved and discussed where we could improve and what different media we’d like to try next, we headed round the corner to East Street and set about sketching ‘The East Street Deli‘. Simon from the Deli came out to chat and shot some great pics and video of us sketching his shop, we reciprocated by poping in after, to purchase some great coffee beans and cheeses! The girls from the adjacent ‘Happy Blossoms‘ florist also came out to chat and admire our wonderful sketches – in fact, we drew a crowd all day long, chatting with admiring passers-by…
Our final sketching scene was to turnaround and look at the sun-dappled river Allen running beside an interesting mixture of ancient and modern buildings. Following this, our day was nearly at a close. We popped back to the BEAR one final time to have a final appraisal of our progress, where I made recommendations for ongoing skill improvements to each individual sketcher, some advice on materials and opportunities to look out for regarding sketching groups; Urban Sketchers Bournemouth & Poole being one such group.
It was a very rewarding day for all involved, we all reaped enjoyment and the benefits from the interaction in so many ways. Thank you so much to Simon, Ted and Pauline for choosing me to help them on their sketching journeys – I will be here to. offer my help if needed and look forward to seeing their sketchbooks blossom!
