Monday I took a little informal "Travel Sketchbook Workshop" in Healdsburg given by Joanne Taeuffer. Several friends of hers are traveling to Italy next month and they wanted to chronicle their travels with a sketchbook-travelog. So I joined in!
When you walk into Joanne's beautiful home you are met with this.....
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| A Cowgirl (Joanne) with guns raised and attitude! |
Please check out her site at -
http://joannetaeuffer.com/
You will be amazed!
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| Joanne's sketchbook |
There is a certain excitement in trying to capture the energy in a quick gestural sketch.
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Merriam-Webster's definition:
sketchy
adj \ˈske-chē\
sketch·i·ersketch·i·est
Definition of SKETCHY
1: of the nature of a sketch : roughly outlined
2: wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance : slight, superficial <the details are sketchy>
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Joanne was very organized with supplies and several of her own sketchbooks to use as examples. She had reference books and props to get us started.
We began with black & white - pencils & pens.
But I jumped ahead to color a little too soon because I just couldn't resist not making that tube of lipstick pink.
Then we moved on to color - watercolor. Not my thing. But I did try.
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| "Teacher-Joanne" |
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| Watercolors in stick form |
Joanne had some great examples to share.
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| I really love this one! |
It is so the opposite of oil & acrylic painting. You really need to focus on going from light to dark and if you happen to make a mistake - new page - no going over it with new paint!
Hannah's beautiful attempt at a California Poppy growing in the yard.
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| Really amazing |
I attempted Joanne's little studio cottage in her backyard but my painting turned out like a Frank Zappa Fiesta Pizza run over by a car. Not showing you that one!
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| The shady little park square |
After lunch, we strolled down to Healdsburg square to sit in the dabbled shade and sketch people walking by. Only problem was.....they moved! So Joanne was a sport and did several short poses for us.
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| Laurie & Hannah sketching Joanne |
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| Just a 2 minute light-dark composition |
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| I like my various shades of gray, a good camera..... |
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| .....and to travel light. |
A variety of pages from my sketchbook done in France.
It was a fun day and I truly hope Hannah continues with her artwork as she has a great eye for proportion with both buildings and people. For a lot of artists that takes a lot of time to develop!
And on a final note, I hope you take the time (one minute) to watch this guy paint - FAST!
“The
greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.” - Richard
Moss
