Sketching and Painting Animals from Life

In this unique workshop you will divide your time between sketching animals at West Place Animal Sanctuary, and painting at the Guild. Professional wildlife artist Alison Nicholls has been teaching her sketching and watercolor techniques on African Art Safaris since 2011, and in this workshop she will demonstrate how to quickly and accurately sketch animals, and how to use your sketches to create expressive paintings.

On Day 1 we will spend the morning at the Guild, practicing quick sketches using simple shapes and lines, before moving to West Place Animal Sanctuary in the afternoon for live sketching of cows, goats, pigs, chickens and other farm animals. Sketching animals from life requires speed and confidence, and acceptance of the fact that many of your sketches will remain unfinished because animals move around, but the aim of this workshop is to help you loosen up and get comfortable creating numerous sketches in a short period of time.

On Day 2 we will spend the morning sketching at West Place Animal Sanctuary, then return to the Guild in the afternoon where Alison will give a watercolor demonstration and you will start to create a painting based on your own sketches from the Animal Sanctuary. Alison will show you how to use loose watercolor washes, and will explain how to use values, edges and details to create a focal point in your painting.

Day 3 is a half day and will be spent in the Guild continuing to work on your paintings.

Materials List:
You will need sketching materials and painting materials for this workshop. Easels are not needed, but folding stool/chair will be useful for sketching at the Animal Sanctuary. For painting, water-media is preferred, as this is Alison’s primary medium. Students can use their own existing supplies and do not need to buy the exact brushes, paints or papers that Alison suggests below, but please ensure your materials are professional (not student) quality. In addition to the art materials suggested below, please bring a hat, sunblock, drinking water and any other items you will need for sketching outdoors.

Sketching materials: 

• A variety of pens & pencils of any kind (graphite, colored).
• Sketchbook with 20-30 blank pages. Any kind of sketching paper is fine, as are colored papers, but please do not sketch on watercolor paper. Your sketchbook should have at least 1 hard cover for support and should be 8”x11” or similar size. Good options are Cachet sketchbooks by Daler Rowney, or Artists Loft sketchbooks.
• Eraser, sharpener, & clips to hold your pages down.
• Painting materials:
• Watercolor tubes in a variety of colors. Alison’s palette includes Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Lavender, Indigo, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Magenta, Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Naples Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Sepia and Titanium White. You do not need these specific colors but please bring a variety.
• 3 or 4 sheets of 140lb cold press watercolor paper, 9”x12” or similar size. Arches or Strathmore Watercolor pads are a good option.
• Watercolor brushes in a variety of sizes. Using larger brushes is one of the best ways to loosen up your watercolors so don’t skimp on the larger sizes. You will need: a good flat/wash brush (1.5” or 2” wide); rounds for general detail (eg. Winsor & Newton Cotman 111 sizes 10 and 14); mops or oval washes for smaller washes and details (eg. Princeton Neptune Oval Wash ¾ inch); and an old brush for mixing colors (so you don’t ruin the points on your other brushes). If your rounds come to nice sharp points you won’t need anything smaller than a size 10 for detailed work.
• Water containers
• Paper towels
• Palette

Student Experience Level: Advanced Beginner and up

Donation to West Place Animal Sanctuary: $24 per student (collected during registration) will be given to West Place Animal Sanctuary.