Welcome to the Developing Sketchbooks Skills & Approaches online course.

Developing Sketchbook Skills & Approaches aims to inspire and invigorate your sketchbook practice – whether you have been using sketchbooks successfully for several years or are new to sketchbook work. We really hope you find the course useful and we hope you’re excited about your sketchbook journey!

Please read the following carefully as it contains all the information you need to prepare for and access the course. If you have any concerns pls email info@accessart.org.uk

How does it Work?

The Developing Sketchbook Skills & Approaches course is made up of four modules, plus introduction. You can access these modules below:

Introduction

Taking Ownership of your Sketchbook

Collage & Visual Association Exercise

Exercises to Develop Drawing Skills

Giving Your Sketchbook Legs, and Time to Reflect

These exercises have been designed to help introduce you to some basic ideas in terms of sketchbook approaches,  to help develop your “sketchbook habit”, and to provide you with a structured framework in which to practise your skills. The modules contain text, image and video. The video is hosted by YouTube so pls ensure You Tube is not blocked by your provider.

If you would like to print out the module, simple click “Print Friendly” at the bottom of the page.

Tutorial groups and feedback

When you have tried the assignments, you have the option to upload your work for the AccessArt artists and other people on the course to comment on. This is a valuable part of the course so we encourage you to share your work (and your experiences). Please choose any of the tutorial groups marked available at the end of each assignment to upload your work, and follow the instructions below. Please also browse other tutorial groups as we know you’ll find the images posted by other delegates and comments of use. Please feel free to make your comments on the work of others too.

To upload your work

If there is a page in your sketchbook that you would like to share, you can either scan it, or take a photo of it, and save a copy to your computer ready to be uploaded as follows. Please make sure your image is around 500 px wide (not much larger) and is saved as a jpg.

You may upload two images per assignment.

Peer to peer comments are encouraged, and AccessArt artists/tutors will also support you in constructive ways. Equally we would encourage you to comment on other students work if you feel inclined – just hit reply under the image and make your comment. AccessArt will comment on 1 of your images, per assignment.

Comments and images need to be moderated so may not appear straightaway.

Preparation for the course

In preparation for the course, pls ensure you have the following at hand, ready for the assignments.

General:

• Drawing Materials (black pen, pencil, charcoal, rubber etc)
• Paper (all kinds depending on preference)
• Scissors, Glue, Tape, String

Taking Ownership of Your Sketchbook

Either:

• Assorted papers (can be recycled, white, scrap, tracing, graph…)
• piece of corrugated cardboard
• large elastic band

Collage & Visual Association Exercise

It would be good to start collecting a pile of old magazines – if you can get your hands on old gardening supplements or nature magazines, they’ll come in handy and anything from children’s magazines to glamour. The source of imagery for this exercise can be completely random and eclectic, but it would be good to have a nice pile ready for the 25th June.

As well as magazines you can look out for old wrapping paper, printed paper, postcards, old photographs etc..

Exercises to Develop Drawing Skills

Simple drawing equipment as above (pencils and black pen).

Taking your Sketchbook into the World, and Reflecting

No special requirements.

A Celebration of Children’s Art at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge in Response to Jacopo del Sellaio’s Cupid and Psyche

Inspire opens on Tuesday 10 December 2019 to Sunday 22 March 2020

In the Octagon Gallery – Gallery 10, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Inspire is an exhibition of art made by primary school children and celebrates the creativity of our local schools. It champions the on-going importance of cultural learning and the visual arts for children and young people. 

Based on the National Gallery’s Take one Picture, The Fitzwilliam Museum and AccessArt teamed together to offer free CPD (Continued Professional Development Sessions) for Teachers to local primary schools and resources, over the course of a year-long project Inspire 2020, focusing on one painting, Cupid and Psyche by Jacopo del Sellaio, as a source for ideas and inspiration.

Del Sellaio’s Cupid and Psyche will be on display next to the children’s work in the Octagon Gallery. 

With very special thanks to Kate Noble,  Miranda Stearn, Sarah Villis and Holly Morrison for making this project happen and Alison Ayres for her studio assistance.

Here, Sheila Ceccarelli tells the story of how the Museum’s Education Team and AccessArt brought this Renaissance panel to life and how teachers embraced the project resulting in Inspire, a celebration of children’s art at the centre of the Museum.

Cupid and Psyche: How a Fifteenth-Century Renaissance Panel Became the Most Loved Painting in Cambridgeshire

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Seasonal Drawings: Observation, Composition and Colour

Taking inspiration from drawing cakes, AccessArt explores how to develop observation, composition and colour to make, beautiful seasonal drawings. These drawings were made over three, one hour long sessions.

Decorated Paper Bowls

Children aged 6 to 10 work with Paula Briggs to bring together their drawing and making skills to make Christmas bowls!

Winter Still Life

Teenagers, from AccessArt’s Experimental Drawing Class, explored building a layered drawing of a winter still life, during a one and a quarter hour session, on a dark, December evening.

Snowflakes

Artist Melissa Pierce Murray leads a festive workshop in which teenagers explore the shapes of snowflakes, then use these experiments to decorate Christmas cookies with designs in icing and egg tempura.

Composite Still Life Studies in Candlelight

With winter’s dark and long nights comes the perfect time of year to explore light and dark in drawing.

Fruit Pinch Pot Project

Ceramicist Rachel Dormor shares a workshop idea suitable for primary or secondary aged children. Working in clay, pupils take their inspiration from drawings of fruit to make simple pinch pot mugs.

Lino Printing Christmas Cards

A useful resource which explores how to use lino printing to make seasonal greeting cards.

Making Felt Sailing Boats by Ruth Purdy

Artist educator Ruth Purdy uses colourful felt in a project sewing boats with adults in care.

Drawing Flames

Guided drawing exercises with Sheila Ceccarelli, exploring mark making to the rhythm of a burning flame.

Painting on Glass

Paula Briggs works with children exploring painting on glass to create hanging roundels with a winter theme.
A fun end of term school project that would also be perfect to do at home – making model Santas with character! Jan Miller share a process to make 3D model Santas using simple materials and processes.

Eraser Printmaking with Morag Thomson Merriman

Artist Morag Thomson Merriman describes how to use erasers for effective and fun printmaking on the kitchen table.

Every now and again we come across a product which we’ve not seen before but which makes perfect sense, and when we first saw these amazing foldable art canvases from Scolaquip we knew a lot of people would love them!

The market is flooded with canvases at accessible prices, which is great, and children and teenagers really enjoy using them. The problem especially for schools, is that they are bulky and take up precious storage space. So whoever thought of creating a canvas which is flat but which folds to a durable frame is a genius!

UK manufacturer Scolaquip is the only supplier of these nifty canvases. They come in two sizes: A4 and A5, and packs of 30.

AccessArt has trialled the canvases with different age groups and they have been a real hit with everyone who sees them. They have lots of great features, including:

• They are so solid. Even when unfolded, they can be used to draw or paint upon without the need for any kind of drawing board behind, even when drawing at an angle. When folded they feel substantial and strong.

• They have a lovely textured surface

• They don’t buckle even with wet paint.

• Easy to store due to their flatness. Light weight.

• Easy to fold – there’s even a video to help you along.

• They bring with them lots of creative potential. You can paint on them before or after you fold them. Use the “canvas” side, or reverse it and use the interior as a frame. Make 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional work.You can also of course paint the edges of the canvas.

• They have ready made holes for hanging.

• 100% recyclable

A new version of this page is available here.

Design Lab: Phoebe Cummings at the V&A

Phoebe Cummings leads students at the V&A, London, over a three month period to create a site-specific group piece from unfired clay which was inspired by the historical 2D designs found on 19th century British tableware in the collection.

Literacy Boost Project: James & the Giant Peach Garden by Cordelia Spalding

In this resource Cordelia Spalding shares her extraordinarily creative ‘literacy’ project which made creativity happen in all sorts of ways in a local school.

The Ludworth and All Saints’ Murals by Tracy McGuinness-Kelly

Tracy McGuinness-Kelly describes her creative process working in two schools to produce an indoor and outdoor mural. Balancing creative journey with outcome, Tracy shares how she uses her skill as an illustrator/designer, combined with her facilitation skills, to create a co-created artwork.

A Cheerful Orchestra and Other Ideas for Drawing Music by Hannah Coulson

Artist and educator Hannah Coulson shares a trio of musical activities!

5 Exercises by Henry Ward

Artist and educator Henry Ward presents 5 activities which he has used successfully to inspire creativity with pupils.

Drawing as Support Activity

Artist, educator and co-founder of AccessArt Paula Briggs describes how she enables an exploration of drawing as an activity to support other artforms, in this case sculpture.

In-Depth Drawing Experience for Teenagers by Betsy Dadd

Artist and educator Betsy Dadd shares how she inspired teenagers to enjoy an in-depth exploration of drawing resulting in working on a large scale and finally animating their work.

The Drawing Machine – A Workshop in Perspective and How to Look by Drawing Machine and Sarah Wright

Sarah Wright from the Drawing Machine shares a wonderful and engaging technique for introducing children, teenagers and adults to perspective.

Making an Urban Landscape Painting by James Nairne

Artist and teacher James Nairne demonstrates how sketchbook drawing and photographs can be used to develop a painting of an urban landscape.
Artist and educator June Nelson shares how she used photography, collage and iPads in Towner Contemporary Art Museum, Eastbourne to encourage looking, collaborating, and telling visual stories.

Making Sensory Drawings by Gillian Adair McFarland

Artist Educator Gillian Adair McFarland shares how she makes drawings to be sensed through touch.

The Cardboard Project by Andee Collard

Artist and teacher Andee Collard sets a challenge to his D&T students to make a cardboard structure to hold a 1KG weight.

Page to Panel – How to Make Manga by Irina Richards

In this fabulously illustrated resource, Cambridgeshire-based artist Irina Richards shows AccessArt how to make manga.

Working WITH and IN the Landscape by Frances Hatch

Artist Frances Hatch describes her magical process of collecting and using materials from the landscape to make art.

Layers in the Landscape by Emma Davies

Artist Emma Davies shares her education work in this inspirational resource about interpreting landscape.

Tomorrow, Today by Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope

Acclaimed artist duo Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope share how they achieved one of the most physical and ambitious contemporary art projects seen in Cambridge in the creation of a model village of the future NW Cambridge development.

Newspaper Animal Heads by Sharon Gale

Textile and graphic artist Sharon Gale shows students in the Art Cabin at Northaw CE Primary School in Hertfordshire, how to make Newspaper Animal Heads.

Responding to Place by Claire Louise Mather

Claire Louise Mather works with pupils at St Thomas C of E Primary School, Oldham in Lancashire, to create an artistic response to the place in which they live using drawing, collage and stitch.

Memory Mining and Drawing on Dreams – Ideas for Working with Early Years by Rosemary Cronin

Rosemary Cronin describes her process for working with early years using dream work, cameras and projected images.

Relief Printing and Plaster Casting with Ursula Kelly

Ursula Kelly takes 12-15 year olds on a two day creative relief printmaking project of monumental scale and ambition.

Beyond the Hedgerow by Sara Dudman

Sara took pupils on an incredible creative journey. Loosening up and enjoying using colour and paint is central to this activity’s aims. This resource provides examples, inspiration and support for creating long collaborative, scroll-style, hedgerow paintings based on drawings and sketches taken on a walk outside and responding to the local environment.

Exploring Portraits with Eleanor Somerset

In this resource artist Eleanor Somerset shows how she led students in the little Art studio, Sheffield, to explore and discover portraiture through various media.

Making Big Monotypes by Sheila Ceccarelli

Sheila Ceccarelli shares how she gave teenagers the opportunity to explore expressive mark making and monoprinting on a large scale.

Rollers and Rhymes (A Poetry and Printmaking Project) by Ann Bridges

Printmaker Ann Bridges shares her process her love of potery and printmaking in this illustrated resources which enables children to make imagery inspired by poetry.

Constructed Space by Anne Harild

In this stunning post Anne Harild shows how she integrates sculptural construction, time, photography and animation in a one day workshop for the Frieze Art Fair.

Detached and Timeless Painting Workshop by Sara Dudman

Artist and educator Sara Dudman shares examples, inspiration and support for working creatively from video to capture movement and a sense of place in painting.

Shoe La-la Project by Lala Thorpe

Artist Educator Lala Thorpe shares her process for making shoe sculpture with teenagers from clay.

Creating Decorative Designs From Birds: Mark Making, Texture and Pattern by Andrea Butler

Artist Andrea Butler shares her process from sketchbook to textile design. Beautifully illustrated decorative designs.

Intuitive Art- Freedom to Paint by Natasha Day

Painter Natasha Day shares her workshop for life learners called “Intuitive Art-Freedom to Paint” using intuition to explore paint and making marks on canvas.

Painting a Still Life and Seeing Colour by Emma Copley

In this beautifully illustrated resource, Emma demonstrates how she teaches a step-by-step method for producing a painting of a shell, or similar object in gouache.

Painting the Savannah: Horizons, Colour, Printing and Painting by Chloe Williams

In this workshop Chloe Williams introduces children attending a workshop at Back Lane Artspace in West Yorkshire, to colour and printmaking on an ambitious and energetic scale.

Art for the Square with Susie Olczak for Futurecity

Susie Olczak worked with students at Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge, on a two year project exploring the relationships between art, architecture and public space through a series of workshops. The project was supported by Futurecity.

Working Collaboratively in School: Cell Design – Pattern Making and Process

Artist Karen Wicks guides pupils through a complex, collaborative project initially inspired by looking at cells and then learning how to build up an image using different processes in ‘layers’.

Exploring Cyanotype by Maru Rojas

Maru shares the beautiful process of cyanotype. The project can be adapted to any theme and works well with teenagers and adults, resulting in stunning images.

The Polymeric Approach by Julie De Bastion

Julie de Bastion shares a wonderful workshop called “Draw in a Drawer”, in which participants from Escape Workshops in Stratford-upon-Avon took part in the making of delightful “Story Boxes” involving 3D drawing with flexible black wire, and drawing with mono-printing.

How to Run a Life Drawing Class by Hester Berry

Artist Hester Berry decsribes how to set up and facilitate a life drawing class with adults.

Putting Yourself in the Picture by Anna Linch

Anna worked with children from the Educare Small School, Kingston-upon-Thames. The whole school and curriculum were given over to her for an intensive few days when every child (aged 3-10) learnt about the history of self-portraiture and took part in photography, drawing and mixed media activities.

Post Office by Rosalie Schweiker

Working with pupils from Frances Bardsley Academy in Romford, Rosalie turned the art room into a post office, requiring all involved to become design/makers and writers. The project promoted a “can do” attitude and nurtured communication and creativity across the whole school.

Wild Imagination by Caroline Wendling and Deb Wilenski

Artists Caroline and Deborah enable children to enjoy a woodland exploration, using art and imagination as their discover tools in collaboration with Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination.

Tins Ain’t What they Used to Be By Maria Whetman

Adaptive Re-use is the theme behind this workshop, where students can have fun creating a wearable graphic-art composition badge by reclaiming metal from unwanted tins that once contained such products as tea, treacle, biscuits and mustard.

Welcome to the Developing Sketchbook Skills and Approaches Online Course.

Introduction and Welcome!

How this Course will Work in terms of Delivery and Feedback

We want to really inspire you and help you create the time and space to invest in your sketchbook skills. In addition to the online assignments which we’ll be delivering each week for the next four weeks, this course provides you with the opportunity to upload images of the sketchbook work you make, and to get feedback from both artists and peers. We really hope you’ll take advantage of this facility – this is one of the most inspirational parts of the course.

The course consists of four online modules, which will contain an assignment in the form of text, illustration and video. You can access each module from the main Developing Sketchbook Skills & Approaches page on the AccessArt website. Once you’ve absorbed the information in each module, and had chance to try the activity for yourself, pls do upload up to 2 images of your work per assignment.

We have split the workshop delegates into 3 tutorial groups. When you upload images, pls choose a tutorial page from the links at the bottom of each assignment. Uploading images is easy – just have your images saved onto your computer (at a size no larger than 600 pixels wide), and then upload them via the comment box at the bottom of each tutorial group page.

All the content will stay online for a period of at least one year from the beginning of the course, allowing you plenty of time to take part. You can also print out a PDF version of each assignment by clicking the “print friendly” button at the bottom of each assignment page.

We hope you enjoy the course and that this is just the start of your sketchbook journey!

Back to main “Developing Sketchbook Skills and Approaches” page

Onto Assignment 1: “Taking Ownership of your Sketchbook“