Create a Sketchbook 5 day online course 10-14 Aug 2026

This is a 5 day course to help you get sketching.  Starting big, we will draw on A2 sized paper, then cut the paper down to size to make an A5 sketchbook, including a card cover.  Then we will spend two more days drawing into the sketchbook, trying out various techniques.  All of this will be based on a theme of your choosing.

It will be delivered online, via a series of videos and pdfs released each day for the five days.  All the videos and pdfs are available to download, so you can watch as many times as you like.

Content

Day 1
Deciding what to draw
Drawing with charcoal

Day 2
Drawing with ink
Examples from my sketchbooks

Day 3
Making the sketchbook

Day 4
Quick drawing exercises

Day 5
Other drawing techniques
Taking your ideas forward

Facebook Group

There will be a private Facebook group where you can post your work and any queries and I will be active in the group for the 5 days giving feedback, advice and adding extra ideas.  The group will be there as long as it is being used, but I can’t guarantee to be as responsive after the course ends.

Who is this course for?

Don’t believe you can draw?  Then this course is perfect for you!  We will cover lots of techniques, achievable by everyone – the aim is not to make perfect drawings but to enjoy the experience, be creative and spark ideas for other artworks or textile pieces.

Already great at drawing?  This course will give you new ideas of how to work into your drawings and making and designing your own sketchbooks.

What this course won’t do:  You are not going to learn how to make realistic, perfect pencil sketches, with beautiful shading and tone.  You will however learn to be free in your approach, learn from your mistakes and create some lovely accidental sketchbook pages which you can feel proud of.

What do I need?

A few weeks before the course begins, you will receive an introductory video, showing supplies and ideas we will be covering.  A full supplies list will also be sent.  A kit of everything you need (bar scissors and a ruler), is available for £27 extra.  It contains sufficient paper to make 2 such sketchbooks (4 sheets A2 160gsm paper and 1 sheet of A2 220gsm paper); tracing paper; 3 sticks charcoal; 3 bottles of artist’s ink; a koh-i-noor set of 24 watercolour paints; a paintbrush; a water soluble graphite pencil; a black fineline pen; a bookbinder’s needle and a metre of linen thread.  Kits will be sent out at least a week in advance.
Alternatively, use what you have and be experimental.

Done this course already?

Many people enjoy this course so much they take it more than once (over half in fact!).  If you’ve taken this course in the past, you will get a bonus book format and a couple of new drawing exercises.  Please contact me for the special discount code specially for you.

This course is equivalent to a two day in-person course in my studio, which would cost at least £180.  Unfortunately, I can’t provide the soup lunches for online courses.  But there may be recipes as an added bonus!