Join Dorset artist, Shaun Forward, on his newly formed Outdoor Urban Sketchbooking Workshop.
The first workshop will take place in Wimborne town centre on Tuesday 20th May 2025 between 10:00am – 4:00pm. Watch teaser video…
LATEST! Only two definite space remaining! (as of 16th May)
Limited to just 8 places, this is suitable for anyone from complete beginner through to improver – members of this friendly small group will gain an immersive insight to Urban Sketching and Sketchbooking – which is a very portable, affordable and popular art form. Participants will acquire a skill which can be easily taken anywhere – and enjoyed for a lifetime. Sketching from life outdoors is unbeatable – you absorb the feel of the location and retain the sounds and smells… (this is just not possible when simply using a photo as your drawing reference).
The format
During our six-hour workshop we will gather initially in a hired function room above a town bar where coffee, cakes, lunch snacks and drinks may be purchased and consumed in our workspace.
The first hour will be dedicated to grasping the objectives of outdoor sketchbooking, handling and experimenting with various materials and sketchbooks – and examining the wide range of sketching styles. I’ll answer any initial questions and we’ll chat to establish the range of abilities within the group.
Stage two will take see ourselves going out into the town to sketch outdoors. Although we might all choose slightly differing locations or viewpoints, I will circulate constantly, to guide and tutor as required. I’d expect us to spend one-to-two hours on this, depending upon the group, weather etc.
Stage three will see us return to our indoor workspace for lunch and having a ‘throwdown’ – where we all lay our sketches together on a table and compare how we all got on. We’ll have a friendly and constructive critique to help us learn from each other, whilst we enjoy a brief social lunch.
Final stage will be a second outdoor sketching session. The aim will be to build upon the achievements of our morning sketching session and implement our improved skills or different approaches, (perhaps something you’ve liked from a fellow sketcher). This will cover between one-to-two hours and culminate in a second ‘throwdown’ back at our indoor base and critique.
Round up and FAQs will form the final 20 minutes, where I aim to field questions that have arisen through our days’ session, and hopefully offer helpful advice to guide you onwards with your sketching journey. This might result in your wishing to take a progressive workshop with me in the future or simply in the recommendation of various art stores and suitable sketching equipment to suit your particular needs.
We bid each other ‘adieu‘ in the knowledge that we have made some new friends and started out on a new and rewarding artistic journey…
Expect to Discover and Learn this in Workshop #1:
DISCOVER:
• Various styles of sketching…
• Progressing to perfect your preferred style
• Explore numerous techniques
• A range of different media and mediums
• Create characterful mark-making
• Experiment with papers and surfaces
• Confidence to sketch in open spaces
• Urban, coastal and rural sketching
• Sketchbook Journaling/Diary
• Your local Urban Sketching Chapter
LEARN:
• Observational skills
• Composition
• Spotting key details to include/exclude
• Perspective
• Scale
• Linework and mark-making
• Rendering textures
• Tonal values
• Loose and tight styles
• Representative and impressionist styles
Complete details will be issued upon enquiry, and specific questions will be answered upon request – but please see foot of page for an outline of more general information, which answers a number of frequently asked questions.
#1. Outdoor Sketchbooking Workshop
Option #1: Join this group starter workshop of around eight fellow sketchers for a one-off intensive taster session, of six hours, as described above. (includes one-hour working lunch critique). Tuesday 20th May 2025. Non-inclusive refreshments and lunch options available. Workshop fee: £60pp
Other upcoming workshop options
#2. Group workshop, 6 week program
Option #2: Join a group of fellow sketchers for a series of six, half-day outdoor sessions (10.00am-1.00pm), building upon skills and knowledge developed throughout the six sessions.
Fee: £35pp/session (£210 total).
#3. One-to-One bespoke workshop
Option #3: A bespoke and personal session, six hours as option #1 but tailored to suit you, your abilities and your requirements. Includes one-hour working lunch critique).
Fee: £280
#4. Concertina Sketchbooking Walk
Option #4: Enjoy working in a multi-page concertina sketchbook (included in cost) as we walk from point-to-point exploring a local town. This will be a tutored and guided half-day workshop (10.00am-1.00pm), working in a range of mixed media and opting to complete as many pages for each sketch view as we wish!
Fee: £45pp/session.
#5 Campervan-based Sketchbooking
Option #5: My campervan will provide the host venue for these full day (10.00am – 4.00pm) tutored workshops, offering the facility for brewing up tea & coffee, as well as a focal point for sketch ‘throwdown’ appraisals. Destinations range from; Baiter & Poole Quay, Mudeford Quay, Kimmeridge for boat sheds & Clavell Tower. Bring a picnic lunch and folding chair. Fee: £55pp/session.
Sketchbooking workshop enquiry
To express an interest in a workshop or to find out more, please contact me using the form below.
You can book and pay for the Tuesday 20th May 2025 workshop in the ‘Buy art‘ online store.
Thank you, Shaun 🙂
Which days, times & workshops suit you best?
Please click button to launch the Google form and submit your preferred days, times and workshops.
No obligation, I’m just interested in what is most popular. Thank you.
General outline information
All-abilities welcome. Tutoring matched to each personal level within the group. A positive and friendly attitude is encouraged. Own transport needed to join given location(s). Always sketching outdoors from life, unless very wet, when an indoor public venue will be switched to. Bring own equipment, but occasionally some materials supplied or available to try for experiment with. Basic typical equipment; cartridge or watercolour paper/pad, pencil, eraser, fineliner pen(s) or fountain/ dip pen & ink, watercolours or coloured pencils/pastels, or charcoal. Lightweight carryable seat.
NB: Choice advice on all materials will be given upon booking, as well as in the workshop.
Cancellation: To avoid 50% non-returnable cancellation fee, notice is required at least five days prior to the event day.
A wide choice of refreshments, drinks, cakes, snacks, soft and alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase at our base venue.
There is no on-site parking at the venue – but plenty of car parks in easy walking distance. Venue is also mere minutes away from main bus stops.
All participants are responsible for their own belongings, safety and wellbeing.
