Online Class: Watercolor Sketchbook: Designs from Life

Watercolor Sketchbook: Designs from Life   

$125.00 USD 6-week class ~with Jane LaFazio

Click here to get more information about Jane's other ONLINE classes  

"I felt like a door swung open in my mind" Susannah Johnson, a student in "Watercolor Sketchbook: Designs from Life."

Class Description:

We’ll work in our sketchbooks each week with a new theme. From those life-like illustrations, done in ink and watercolor, we’ll create new graphic, stylized images to use for stamps, stencils, or stitched designs. Each week, you’ll draw, watercolor, and create designs and you’ll be given optional methods to use and leverage that design in your own work. This is a great workshop for anyone interested in improving their drawing skills to create original designs for surface design on paper or cloth. At the end of the workshop, your sketchbook will contain a treasury of original images, your own unique visual vocabulary.

(This class is geared for students who have had some experience in drawing. If you're new to drawing, take Jane's "Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style" first.)

Each week, I hope you’ll fill at least one page in your sketchbook with the assignment. Don’t worry if you can’t get to the additional parts of the lesson (like stamp carving or stencils or stitching). I am giving you a lot to do each week, and I understand if you have other commitments—like eating, sleeping, and maybe working. Each week you'll receive an email with a link to the new lesson. The lessons are available 24/7 and you'll receive a downloadable step-by-step pdf to work from and keep forever. There are videos and examples from Jane's sketchbook to support the lessons. Just like in a real classroom, you'll be able to see fellow students' sketchbook pages and will be able to comment and praise their work and they'll be able to see your pages too (as long as you post them!). And you'll get honest and gentle critiques on all your work from Jane. (The step-by-step pdf lessons are yours to keep and the classroom will close 3 weeks after the last lesson is released.)

The weekly themes for the class will be:

Lesson 1: From the flower garden. Flowers and blooms
Lesson 2. From the vegetable garden. Veggies and fruits (optional: stamp carving)
Lesson 3. From the factory. Manufactured tools, gears, wheels (optional: rubbings)
Lesson 4. From the mountains. Leaves, pods, pinecones (optional: stencils)
Lesson 5. From the sea. Shells, seaweed, fish, shellfish (optional: stitching)
Lesson 6. From your life. Your studio, your kitchen, your closet or…

(You'll receive the complete list of materials (with links and descriptions) when you sign up, but basically, you'll need a 9x12 inch sketchbook with watercolor paper, watercolors, a watercolor brush (I like the Niji Waterbrush), and a permanent ink pen, pencil and eraser, glue, a water-soluble pen, water-soluble pencil, and optional stamp carving materials. Don't buy the stuff until you get the actual materials list.) 

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Wondering which class to take and how online classes work?

FAQs:

Q: I don't know how to draw.
A: Take Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style it is perfect for those who need to learn to draw first and a great class to start with.

Q: I‘ve never or rarely painted with watercolor.
A: I'll teach you. I'd suggest you start with "Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style" first. 

Q: Which class should I take?
A: Well, the short answer is all of them! Once you’ve done "Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style" you’ll be ready for any of the other watercolor classes that I teach. 

Q: Will you rerun these classes and what’s the schedule?
A: Yes, I rerun the classes throughout the year. You can get the first notice of my classes by signing up for my newsletter online here.

Q: Do I need to be on my computer at a certain time of day?
A: No, the lessons will be released on Friday mornings, but you can access them anytime, once they are released. And past lessons will be available for you to work from and post anytime during the 9 weeks the class is online)

Q: Is the content downloadable?
A: Only the pdf lessons~ those step-by-step lessons are yours to keep and print out. I suggest downloading them each week.

Q: I can't access my computer during one of the weeks of class?
A: The lesson will be there when you get access to your computer and you can post the lesson anytime during the 9 weeks.

Q: How many pages will Jane comment on?
A: You can share as many pages, from each assignment, as you like. Jane will comment on each one during the 9 weeks the class is online.

Q: I'm not very comfortable with the computer. What’s involved?
A: You'll need to be able to photograph or scan your sketchbook page as a jpeg. You will then upload it, from your computer or iPad to the online lesson. There is a video when you
start class, which explains how to use the online classroom. And support at Ruzuku (the classroom platform) is very helpful! You might want to watch this video, by Ruzuku, to see how the online classroom works.

Q: Do I have access to the classroom and videos forever?
A: No. The step-by-step pdf lessons are yours to keep and the classroom will close a few weeks after the last lesson is released. I like to create a community of students and to comment on each and every posted page, so the classroom time is limited.

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A few reviews of Watercolor Sketchbook: Designs from Life online class

• I am so sad our class is over. Really! It was my reward every night to unwind and re-balance my life. The projects were just the right size, and there was just the right number. Very manageable. I really appreciate how the projects built on each other, employing past skills and adding new ones for every lesson. I learned so much about good teaching from Jane, who structured the class well and gave such regular and supportive feedback. Jane, you saw the best in each of our works AND you encouraged us to improve with your feedback and tips.

• By the last lesson, I can say that my drawing skills improved. I was much faster in doing a realistic observational drawing. I also got a sense of my own strengths and where I need to keep developing: my technical skill with watercolor.
  Jane, a great teacher sets up a community where the whole experience is supportive, and you totally did that. I was so uplifted by honest, supportive feedback from my peers in addition to your terrific feedback. This was an incredible class and I am so thankful that I got to be part of it. Thanks for EVERYTHING!

• Jane, this has been an amazing class. It has definitely taught me how to look at things differently and to see designs within designs. I struggle all the time with choosing a subject matter and page layout. This workshop has helped me immensely in improving those skills. I think you are amazing. You are so sweet and giving to everyone in sharing what you know. Without a doubt, you are a master at sketchbook drawing and painting!
  Your style is unique to you and you make it all look so dang easy! Thank you for a wonderful online class.

• I have to admit I was not sure how an online format and watercolor instruction would go together BUT was so pleased and glad I took the class. The one thing that made the difference was Jane LaFazio. Her calm and nurturing style came through in her videos and comments. This course was an excellent resource for someone like me who needed a way to see the world through a different lens. The bits and pieces of watercolor instruction I had accumulated over the last few months suddenly came together in Jane's class and I am motivated, more than ever, to keep pushing myself and paint as often as possible!
  Thank you Jane for taking the time to comment on each student's upload. It made a difference.

• For so long, I've shied away from drawing, then transforming those drawings into other projects. Your simple, straightforward techniques have opened that door for me. It has also been VERY helpful to see everyone's journal pages - their progress (and mine) reminds me that -Yes, Virginia, you too can get "there"!!!! WHAT a GIFT!!!

• I've learnt that everyday things make great art! You don't even have to leave home. Expanding on simple subjects now seems do-able, the design elements add such a lot to a page. Thanks Jane for all the downloads, a treasure of information.

• I love your classes! This time I learned about design (especially learned a ton with the grid) and again bumped to try to understand watercolors. The more I draw the more I feel like time slows down and parts of my heart get activated and my head slows down. LOVE your class.

• Well, Jane, all of us seem to agree that we gained a lot from your gentle guidance thru all these new places you presented and encouraged us to attempt. I can echo that I was challenged and also felt safe to share my drawings/watercolors...even though it’s all-new territory. I treasure my downloaded binder with all your techniques and beautiful sample...I will refer to it for years! And your videos were wonderful...I wished for more each week! I must also say that now the world around me is FULL of wonderful things to put onto paper...and I used to say, "I don't know what to draw." Thanks so much for new eyes and new skills!

• This class builds so well upon the base I got from your Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style class. I'm enjoying the challenge of tackling what I think of as more difficult subjects. Your process of really looking at what you are drawing and then taking it part by part works. Since flowers and other natural forms are my favorite subjects, I think I'll be doing this for a long time and, thanks to you, I'll be a lot happier with the results.