Schedule and Topics for Class, September – December 2021

Welcome to my class schedule for the next few months.

Everyone is welcome, whatever your level. Because you follow along with me, you won’t get lost. My aim is to encourage you to LOVE making art – whether you’re an old hand or a total newbie!

Make sure to read the materials list carefully…and if you have any questions please email me to sketchwith roisin@gmail.com.

I invite you to read on!

Calendar, Days and Times

No class on certain days in the next few months, as follows: 

Times and Days of Class 

Saturdays at 4-5.30pm, Tuesdays 7-8.30pm Both Irish time, allow extra 20 minutes runover time in either.
Class dates and topics are as follows:

Saturdays 4.00pm to 5.30pm Irish time 4th September – 6th November
1. Drawing Basics

Drawing Basics will challenge you to examine your lines to be as exacting and as accurate as you can. This is a training session to really get you as sensitive as possible to the nuance of distances between points. We do this through faithfully copying some of the most beautiful work ever produced!

Materials needed: 

• Fountain pen (fude 55º or straight), fineliners or pencil.
• If you want to paint then the usual artists’ quality watercolours will be great, and of course GOLD in gouache or acrylic for the fancy bits!
• Watercolour paper, preferably 200g +
• Black, brown or grey waterproof ink if you want to paint what you draw – I use De Atramentis Document Ink

4th, 18th September – Ukiyo-e
25th September, 9th October – Russian Icons
16th, 23rd October – Ancient Egypt
30th October, 6th November – Leonardo da Vinci

All of the above will be recorded (some helpful person from Zoom permitting) and will be sent upon purchase, as will my version of each of the models we are copying will be sent, so that you can refer to them. You will need to download any recordings as they are only available for a week each.
Other beautiful drawings by notable artists will be suggested for those who want to practice outside class. These can then be discussed within the Sketch With Roisin Facebook group.

Tuesdays 7.00pm – 8.30pm Irish time 7th September – 2nd November
2. Playing With Colour

Playing With Colour is exactly that – you’ll get to try out lots of colour combinations that you may not have done before. In playing, we will come across many practical ways to handle colour. Therefore the class will be very useful too – but with no lovely scenery, that will be another class! This class is just for fun. 

Materials needed: 

• Fountain pen (fude 55º or straight)
• Artists’ quality watercolours will be great, in 12 colours.
• Tubes of watercolour that you have bought because you like the colour!
• Watercolour paper, preferably 200g +
• Black waterproof ink: I use De Atramentis Document Ink
• White gel pen
• Watercolour brushes sizes 8 upwards
• Letter stamps and inking pads – optional 

(For Love Your Larder you can follow my subject or choose your own. Colour will be followed either way.)

7th (choose something green in a jar), 14th (red or orange), 21st (dark) September – Love your Larder 
28th September, 5th, 12th October – Humans in Harmony (12th October TBC)
19th, 26th October, 2nd November – Vintage Posters and Signs

Saturdays 4.00pm-5.30pm Irish time 20th November to 18th December
3. Watercolour Rules

In Watercolour Rules my aim is to give you some slightly more formal techniques, such as glazing, wet-on-wet, smooth washes, colour mixing & blending, troubleshooting and creative colouring. I will share some of the beautiful scenes of the West of Ireland near me, encompassing water (sea and rivers), skies and clouds, foliage and stone. I will also use scenes I captured in Dublin during the making of my latest book: students might like to purchase the book in order to practice outside of class. There will be an emphasis on plain air and urban sketching in this section.

Materials needed: 

• Fountain pen (fude or straight), fineliners or pencil.
• Artists’ quality watercolours, in 12 colours. My choice or yours is fine.
• Watercolour paper, preferably 200g +
• Brown, black or grey waterproof ink: I use De Atramentis Document Ink
• White gel pen
• The best sable or natural/synthetic travel brush you can get your hands on – I love Rosemary and Co. Sizes 8 – 12 plus a rigger if possible
• Magnetic or bulldog clips for outdoor work
• Outdoor easel – optional (weather permitting)

20th, 27th November and 4th December – West of Ireland Weather and Water
11th & 18th December – Scenes of Dublin

Tuesdays 7.00pm-8.30pm Irish time 9th November – 14th December

4. Creative Playground

In this module we look at true creativity: this class will be largely self-inspired. For example, we will be making a map, but you’ll be choosing the city, what to highlight and so on. We will also look at light and contour but it will be in a context of imaginary scenes. You will have a large input here.

Materials needed: 

• Fountain pen (fude or straight), fineliners or pencil.
• Colouring pencils
• Gouache (optional)
• Artists’ quality watercolours will be great, in 12 colours.
• Tubes of watercolour that you have bought because you like the colour!
• Watercolour paper, preferably 200g +
• Black waterproof ink: I use De Atramentis Document Ink
• White gel pen
• Letter stamps and inking pads 

9th, 16th 23rd November — Making a Map
30th November and 7th, 14th December – Light and Contour in Imaginary Scenes and Characters
That completes the schedule until Christmas.

Cost

Class costs €5. No refunds or credits for any reason, unless I have to cancel class.You will not be able to purchase class within half an hour of the start, to allow time for your link to arrive, and so that I can send reference material.

Recordings

I will do my best to provide recordings of the class. These will be available for download for a period of time, after which they’ll be gone (but you will have it as long as you like once it’s downloaded. 

NB: even if I don’t sort out the recording feature for a while, the cost and terms won’t change, ie no refunds, credits, etc. 

But I won’t stop working on it until I do figure it out – Etchr do it so I know it’s possible.

Class references

These will be sent before every class, where appropriate, to the email address supplied.

Feedback

Class will be quiet this term! You will not show your work in class: firstly it doesn’t suit everyone, and I sometimes find it difficult to see your work. Also – more importantly – I want you to know for certain that this class is a private space where your work is for you alone. If you want to share and chat about it, and receive critique if you ask for it, you may do so, in the Sketch With Roisin Facebook group (available for those who have attended at least one class). As soon as a better platform comes along, we’ll migrate!

The written chat function will be available throughout class but no speaking – too many times people forget to keep the room silent and it makes my nerves jangle! I also think it is nice to know no one is going to leap on you to contribute, and you won’t stand out if you don’t feel like chatting.

Instagram Live

For an hour or so on Fridays from 6pm Irish time, you can join in a very fun and freestyling drawing event. Your chance to comment and watch or sketch along, as you prefer.

Any questions please send them on via sketchwithroisin@gmail.com, and not via Instagram (and please don’t use any other email address!)

In Facebook the Sketch with Roisin group is best for questions as I often don’t see Messenger