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I do hope you are enjoying the summer and making the most of all this fantastic sketching weather? Although I love sketching all year round, we all find it more pleasant in warm and dry conditions. This is reflected in the take up of my sketching workshops - the summer events get filled quickly, The upcoming Poole Old Town workshop is fully booked and the very popular Pamphill workshop in August is filling up too - please see below for details and booking.
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Plus, if you are looking for a regular, affordable and indoor sketching class during the autumn and winter, see the base of this email and express your interest in joining me…
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This month's Top Tip
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Scrap Paper Sketching
Never miss a spontaneous sketching opportunity, ever again! Having found myself without my sketching kit a few times recently, I was forced into scribbling on some folded up scrap paper unearthed from my jacket pocket, with a ballpoint pen or pencil discovered in my wife's handbag. But once I'd folded the paper into a little concertina booklet and freed myself of all my 'must-have' kit - I totally loved the experience! I found using the humble ballpoint pen very liberating and the tiny but flexible format was fascinating.
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Now, I always have an A4 sheet of paper folded into a 16 page emergency 'sketchbook' tucked in my back pocket. And a ball point pen.
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Another benefit of this micro method, is that it is so discrete - I find myself invisible, sketching all around me from a café table, or in a bar, on the beach, wherever! And, because it all feels so quick and disposable, the process brings the added bonus of loosening up one's style.
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Without wanting to replace 'proper sketching', I find this small and quick way of sketching is a very convenient way to ensure getting a few ten-minute bouts of sketching into my life, once or twice a week. It's like taking your hand and eye to the gym!
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I urge you to give it a go - and please do share your 'scrap paper' sketches with me…
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Kit recommendation
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This mini paint dryer is like a palm-sized hair dryer which, I have been using to speed up the drying process of those very wet-in-wet watercolour areas. When sketching out on location, time can be of the essence - with light changing before your eyes, I like to aim for a two-hour completion window - so it's good to get things moving along. This compact device measures just 11 x 8 x 3cms, it is USB charged and seems to last me for a good few trips before needing a recharge. It has 3 speeds and a timer - plus a hand strap and clamp to fix it to to your belt or kit bag. Don't expect to get blowtorch performance from it, but it definitely speeds things up. This model is available on Amazon (sadly), at £15.99 see it here.
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Linktree: one place for all my key content
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Linktree gives a home to all my essential content - with simple links consolidated into one single source. This is the easiest 'one-stop' route to anything you need to know about my Workshops: the next bookable workshop, the schedule for the year, an overview of what to expect, and more… Find it in all of my social biogs or bookmark it to go direct in the future:
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https://linktr.ee/shaunforwardartist
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Next bookable workshop: Pamphill, August
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My most popular workshop - book now to avoid disappointment.
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With my Poole Old Town workshop now fully booked, the Pamphill workshop on Tuesday 25th August is the next available workshop to book.
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What to expect: My campervan will be our base for introductions and an overview of equipment and techniques, over coffee. I will then coach everyone individually and as a group as we focus on sketching the church's smaller details as well as the bigger picture - practicing different ways to make our marks, as well as grasping perspective etc. We'll then aim to explore the cottages, estate workers' buildings, the dairy - and aim to reach the quaint Vine Inn for a drink and sketch. With continual coaching, endless subject matter and good company, you should take home a lovely set of sketches.
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Watch a video of the recent June Pamphill workshop here or here.
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Booking open! Click here for more details and the option to book. As usual, this will be a small, friendly group with basic materials supplied and full coaching, suitable for all abilities.
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Winter Sketching
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If you would like to join me for regular sketching sessions (or a one-off) during the autumn and winter months, I will be offering an indoor workshop to practice drawing skills and explore materials - in the warm and dry! Please click here to let me know if you'd like to express an interest in this.
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