Sketch Club With Sabine

Sketching is a quick drawing method that aims to capture the essence of an object or a larger visual scene. We might make a sketch before creating a more detailed piece. 

Sketching is a skill that can be learnt by all. If you use a ‘grid’-method to copy photographs or other people’s artwork, then sketching is for you because its techniques will make you independent from other two-dimensional reference material and instead focus on observing things in the three-dimensions, and allowing you to engage with your own observations and ideas.

We will learn two methods for drawing things and situations. Firstly, a ‘constructing’ method – where we use straight lines to subdivide an object into its main parts, show their sizes and shapes relative to each other and against the background. With practice, this method allows us to produce precise proportions.

We will also work with ‘continuous line drawing’, where we draw a weave of interconnected lines that organically link together what we observe. This is a particularly useful method when we are faced with seeing a complex scenario, e.g. a scene outside. ‘Continuous line drawing’ is a great method to use when the complexity of what we see seems overwhelming and we need to make decisions about what to draw and what to leave out.

Both methods are essentials techniques that all visual artists and designers use to draw from observation. We will also explore how to add darker tones and colour to some of our drawings, using hatching with pencils (and coloured pencils) or watercolour washes. With both, pencils and watercolours, we will make additional layered shadows. As an alternative to working with pencils we will also use a black fine-liner.

We will practice the above techniques in regard to still-lives and singular objects (grown and constructed ones), an outdoor scenario and the human head.

The course highlights the practical and professional advantages of sketching, making it particularly valuable for those pursuing a creative career. For anyone aged 16 and above who is interested in developing their practical creativity in drawing, painting, or sculpture, sketching is an essential skill to acquire.

We begin on Monday 5th January 2026 for six weeks

Learners need to bring:

Soft pencils, e.g.  4B 

Medium hard pencils, e.g. 2 B or HB

Pencil sharpener

Paper – any A4 size paper of larger will do.

Sabine has got A2 cartridge paper at 25 p/sheet that you can by in our session, should we need some.

Watercolours, a water container, a backing board. (for our first sessions, watercolours are not needed)