Kristen Doty – Drawing and Lettering Sketchbook

Workshop Description:

Learn to draw! Make illustrations or drawings in books, add unique drawn letters to the pages, or transform blank books into sketchbook journals. Build confidence through drawing exercises. Participants will practice line quality, textures, and how to see and draw objects and various letterforms. Light effects and shading techniques will be studied to give the illusion of form. Most of the work will be done in graphite, but color may be used to enhance the drawings. Class exercises will be sewn together using a simple Japanese binding, adding unique pocket covers. The finished sketchbook will have room to add more drawings and sketches.

Materials/equipment to be provided by students:

• One pad of white/off-white drawing paper size 14×17” (20+ sheets, please do not substitute size)
• Graphite drawing pencils: HB, 2B, 4B (any quality brand – a favorite is Staedtler Mars Lumograph). Bring other pencils if already owned e.g., 2H, 3B, 6B, etc.
• Woodless graphite pencils: HB, 2B
• Pencil sharpener (handheld or battery operated)
• Pentel Clic Eraser or equivalent (soft white, retractable, pen-sized) and/or a Staedtler Mars Plastic white rectangular eraser
• Ruler -minimum 12” or 35cm (a ruler with cm/mm markings will be very helpful, but not absolutely necessary)
• X-acto knife or snap-away knife
• Round watercolor brush, medium size (e.g., #6-#8) or ½” flat
• Small water container

Optional materials:

(bring only if already have)

• Bone folder
• Other graphite drawing pencils on hand or want to try
• Mechanical pencil with graphite lead
• Paper stumps and/or tortillons
• Artist’s quality colored pencils and/or water soluble colored pencils
• Pigma micron markers, eraser shield
• Cutting mat (11×17” or 17×23”)
• Desk lamp and extension cord (only if driving or easily packed–portable swing arm or goose neck – prefer incandescent or halogen light bulb, if available)

See Materials Glossary for detailed descriptions.

Materials/equipment to be provided by instructor:

($30 Material fee included in the price above)

• Paper and board for covers
• Some colored and special papers
• Linen thread and needles
• Fresh flower and fruit models
• Special pencils
• Handouts

Prerequisite Skills:

• How to thread a needle and wax the thread.
• How to fold paper using a bone folder and assemble signatures.
• How to determine paper grain and match the grain of different book components.

Instructor Biography:

Kristen Doty has a passion for drawing, painting, and calligraphy, and delights in using a variety of media. She is inspired by beauty and detail seen everywhere around us. Her works have been included in juried exhibitions and published in art magazines and books, as well as prints, posters, greeting cards, logos, and book titles. She enjoys sharing her passion by teaching workshops and at conferences across the USA and abroad.

Web page: kristendoty.com