An Imaginary Visit To The American Southwest!

There is no doubt that the American Southwest has some of the most beautiful vistas in the world! Dramatic skies, incredible rock shapes (called hoodoos), gravity-defying arches, views-for-miles and lush, incredible colors! We’ll be visiting the following in our four assignments:

• Antelope Canyon
• Arches National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Zion National Park

We will learn about using complementary colors to create a zing to our pages (think orange and blue!), how to give our pages a finished look, creating suggested texture, when to leave details out and when to add them, how to capture a grand vista that goes on for miles in a short period of time and what we can do to add unity and harmony to our sketchbook pages when we’re traveling and moving fast!

Video demos are provided for all of the assignments. All techniques are shown so that you can “see” when and where they’re used. You have total flexibility as to when you watch the videos once they are posted. The demos are available for the duration of the class and you can watch them as many times as you like. Some “travelers” find it helpful to paint along with the video, pausing it as needed to learn the techniques Laure is demonstrating. Others watch the video and then apply to a photo reference of their choosing.

Our Imaginary Visit To The American Southwest will be delightfully fun and on this extraordinary trip, you'll learn how to:

• simplify complex scenes and eliminate unnecessary details

• work with color in a more confident way

• learn to suggest texture and detail in a quick but convincing way

• mix intriguing color combinations

• capture the essence of a scene in a limited amount of time

• exaggerate and embellish colors and values

• and best of all, you'll "come home" with an extraordinary sketchbook full of all the wonderful places we will visit!

The skills learned in this class help to prepare you for going out on your own to sketch at a location of your choosing. The primary focus of the class is to help you to eliminate the details and overwhelm of trying to capture the essence of a place while focusing in on what really attracts you and to get it down on the page quickly.

Class Format

There are four assignments with video demos and pdf handouts provided so that you can see the techniques used. You have complete flexibility as to when you watch the videos as well as how many times once you've enrolled and the assignment is posted.

Some "travelers" find it helpful to paint along with the video, pausing it as needed to learn the techniques Laure is demonstrating. Others watch the video and then apply to a photo reference of their choosing.

This Independent Learning Class is a great learning style is for those artists who have a demanding schedule, for those not interested in participating in the private blog environment, or feedback from Laure. It is also an excellent format for those artists who work slowly and have no desire to work faster or to work on location.

The artist will have access to the materials for one year from the date of class start* (October 12th, 2017). All handouts can be downloaded and kept. Videos can be watched as many times as the artist wants, but are not downloadable.

*If the artist signs up for the class after October 12th and before November 2nd, the class materials will come online in a weekly format. If the artist signs up for the class after November 2nd, all materials are available upon enrolling.

Art Skills

Students who enroll in this class should have the following:

Basic drawing skills including an understanding of shapes, shading, and values

Basic painting skills including an understanding of washes, values, shaping and shapes (While it is not necessary for you to use watercolor, all demos and techniques will focus on using watercolor as the main sketching medium)

Computer (User) Skills

Use of email (to receive assignment notifications)

Participation in a blog environment if participating in the Interactive or Combination Class (how to post images, how to post comments; instructions are given to get you started)

Computer Technology Requirements

Computer with high speed internet connection

Email (to receive assignment notificationss)

Scanner or digital camera (for posting images) if participating in the Interactive Class