Venue:

Date & time:

Tutor: Nick Penn

This course is intended for all skill-levels and is an opportunity to explore new ways of using a sketchbook whether as a day-to-day journal, a record of days-out, a memento of a holiday or as preparation for a painting.

The emphasis will be on travelling light - finding a 'tool-kit' that is so compact that there is no excuse not to have it with you! And then on working quickly to capture the essence of a place without the worry of needing to produce a masterpiece: if it goes 'wrong' just turn over the page and have another go.

Weather-permitting we will work outside for most of the day.

• materials - sketchbooks and mark-making gear
• composition - ideas on framing a view to make a dramatic composition
• medium - choosing a medium to suit the image
• where to start - how to fit the image onto the page
• mark making - expressive marks inspired by the subject
• tonal drawing - using a full range of tonal values to build a strong image

Your favourite sketchbook. My favourite is a stitch-bound sketchbook (rather than spiral bound) as big as you can fit into an easy-to-carry bag. I'm currently using a Daler Ebony A4 Hardback Sketchbook 150gsm acid-free paper. Has lovely ivory paper with good bleed resistance.

Viewfinder. I use a home-made cardboard viewfinder with a cutout which has the same aspect ratio as my sketchbook. I have embellished it with a criss-cross made of elasticated cotton.

Mark-making implements. The course will focus on the use of line and tone and we will be working in monochrome. Bring along whatever you have in the way of pencils, brush pens, dip pens, inks etc. in black or sepia. There are lots of good brands - at the moment I'm using Tombow brush pens along with a Uniball EYE rollerball UB157 and Palomino Blackwing pencils.

Clothing for a typical 3-season Cornish day i.e. warm clothes, waterproofs, sunhat, suncream etc. We will work within walking distance of the Hall so you can pick-and-mix and won't have to cart all this round with you.

A small mat or cushion to sit on.

A pack lunch