Kristen Doty – Drawing & Lettering Sketchbook

Workshop Description:

Learn to draw! Build confidence or brush up on your skills through drawing and lettering exercises. Learn how to create drawings and add unique drawn letters. These techniques can be used later to enhance your own blank books. We 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 watercolor may be used to enhance the drawings. The exercises will be sewn together using a simple Japanese binding, adding unique and functional pocket covers. The finished sketchbook will be a reference of class work and have room for further practice.

Materials/equipment to be provided by students:

• One pad of Strathmore Drawing Paper, Series 400 Medium surface, size 14 x 17 inches (please do not substitute size)
• Graphite drawing pencils: HB, 2B, 4B (any quality brand – a favorite is Staedtler Mars Lumograph). Bring other pencil grades 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-inch 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 1/2-inch flat
• Small water container

Optional Materials/equipment to be provided by students (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 x 17 or 17 x 23 inches)
• 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 definitions and images

Materials/equipment to be provided by instructor:

• Paper and board for covers
• Some colored and special papers
• Linen thread and needles
• Specialty pencils
• Watercolor dot card
• Handouts
• Fresh flower and fruit models

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.

Website: www.kristendoty.com