Students will meet at ARTspot for a brief indoor overview before heading out on foot to explore Downtown Edmonds through sketching

Class Description

In any creative pursuit, and at every skill level, a persistent focus on fundamentals will lead to stronger, more satisfying work. Musicians play scales to initially develop and then to maintain their dexterity, chefs must first learn and then continue to hone their knife skills, artists do much the same through regular figure drawing sessions, etc. If you are a beginner, attention to fundamental skills will help you build a strong foundation for further development. If you’re already accomplished, regular attention to fundamental skills can be the most effective means of maintaining your abilities and even challenging your established habits and limitations. Regardless of your sketching skill level, this workshop will help you develop and subsequently maintain a sound focus on the fundamentals of our craft.
How we seek out and select subjects for drawing; how we make decisions about subject scope, sketch size, media, and the time spent sketching; how we translate essential observations into marks on the page; how we build a drawing through compositional and/or perspective methods; and how we further indicate three-dimensional form by developing a value scheme; how we learn and grow from studying the work of other artists. These are the fundamental processes and practices of sketching from observation, and are therefore the subjects of this workshop.

We will focus mainly on graphite as the most effective medium for developing fundamental sketching techniques, but the principles discussed will be effective regardless of personal media preferences. Throughout the workshop, simple and highly practical tools and methods will be demonstrated for participants, and we’ll share our respective ideas through group discussion and individualized instruction.

The Fundamentals of Sketching starts at ARTspot at 9am. Matt will give a short overview before your group heads out to sketch! Workshop outdoor location will be within walking distance of ARTspot. Exact location TBD. Matt will select where we draw based on Saturday’s weather, etc.

Matthew Brehm is teaching a second workshop, “Brush Moves Water, Water Moves Pigment” all about Watercolor!
Sunday, June 29 10am-1:30pm. Register for both for a full weekend of art and save $30!

Discover the magic of watercolor by letting water lead the way. This workshop focuses on mastering brush and water control to create luminous, fluid, and dramatic sketches, using the white of the page as your light source. Through guided exercises and hands-on practice, you'll learn to achieve clarity, precision, and luminosity in your work. Learn more here!