#Sketchbookskool #Bootkamp: The Challenges Continue

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More really great challenges from SBS Bootkamp. I think it was pure genius to offer a bootkamp class after the first three semesters. Revisiting ideas and techniques is a great refresher and all my work the second time around is better as I've had time now to integrate what I've learned.

This challenge was about applying a watercolor wash, letting it dry and then using colored pencils over it for deep, rich colors. 

 

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  In this challenge we were to choose an artist who influences us and then "steal" their style by copying one of their works. Some of my classmates decided to simply do their own sketch in the style of another artists, and I think I'm going to expand this challenge for myself by doing that with Van Gogh's style.

Van Gogh has been a huge influence on me, not stylistically in my paintings (except for very early on in college),but rather philosophically. I find Van Gogh to be the most unique artist that has ever lived. His authenticity, humility, sensibilities, and sufferings show forth an intensely human, extraordinary mind, heart, soul and life.  I have a more natural affinity for his drawings and find his influence sometimes creeping into my own work. So, an original sketch of my own more deliberately in his style is probably in order.

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Rembrandt's works on paper, including his etchings in various stages and his ink and wash drawings have also long held me in rapt fascination. So a small copy of a Rembrandt self portrait was also in order for this challenge.

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The second part of the Influences challenge was to sketch from your personal history. This was a difficult assignment for many of us. Looking back at old family photos, photos of our selves, and of our childhood homes brought up a lot of emotions, and not all of them good.  So rather than get bogged down in all that, especially in the depths of winter when I already have a difficult time with dark moods I decided to sketch all of my beloved dogs past and present.  While bittersweet because I miss them so much, I am still filled with joy when I remember them. They all had happy long lives, even Maggie who was with us ten years before the cancer took her.

Sketching has so many ways that it enriches your life and helps you work things out.  You live with presence and get to know your true inner self through drawing. It's always so amazing to me what  paper and pen can do. 

Sketchbook Skool Bootkamp. I'm In.

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 Sketchbook Skool (SBS) is a terrific online series of sketching classes as well as an online community of sketchers.  It's the brainchild of Danny Gregory (Everyday Matters, The Creative License, An Illustrated Life,  An Illustrated Journey, Art Before Breakfast) and Koosje Koene   

I highly recommend it, it's worth every penny, particularly if you're new to sketching, or don't have a local group to meet and sketch with.  That said, there's plenty there for more seasoned sketchers.

I've complete the first three classes Beginnings, Seeing, Storytelling, (6 weeks each, 6 teachers each) that are available and enjoyed them all, learned lots and most importantly for me, I was inspired.

Two of the lessons from Storytelling in particular got me over my fear of / resistance to sketching people, and now it's a subject I fascinated with, even a little obsessed with!

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People have asked me about the work load etc. and keeping up with assignments. SBS is designed with busy people in mind. The videos (which are the core of the instructional aspect of SBS) are reasonably short about 15 min. give or take depending on the teacher, so it's very easy to watch them all during the week.  Usually there are two homework assignments per week, occasionally a third. I haven't always done all the assignments. But hey, that's my choice, and you get lifetime access to the materials so I can go back at any time and complete what I left undone.

The heart and soul of SBS is the community aspect. You can upload your assignments to the galleries in each lesson and give and get feedback, there's a Facebook Group which is called the playground, where further camaraderie and sharing goes on, with students often creating drawing challenges and activities to keep things going between semesters, there's a blog also that's got great info on it including a free sample class .  Did I mention that a semester is only $99? It's really a bargain.

Anyway, I've completed all three semesters and if you did that then as a bonus you got invited to Bootkamp for free!  I'm actually enjoying Bootkamp a lot. maybe even more than the regular semester classes, possibly because I'm overwhelmed with family issues right now and Bootkamp is very focused, concentrating on one specific thing at a time and I'm liking that focused time. SBS in general offers so much in each semester that it can be a bit overwhelming, which is why you have to remember that you get lifetime access and there is a break between semesters so you can catch up before moving on.

The first two challenges were very interesting and fun,  more fun than I expected. They're certainly making for a very interesting sketchbook this month, challenging me to do things that I normally wouldn't and that's good. In fact it's one of the primary reasons I like SBS, it challenges me to try new things.

So, check it out. I don't earn a thing from promoting SBS, just spreading the sketching happiness!