Workshop: Urban Sketching with Paul Alcock

Saturday, 23rd March 2024

10:00am to 4:00pm

Charles Morris Hall, Tyttenhanger Green, Tyttenhanger, ST ALBANS, Hertfordshire, AL4 0RN

The hall has plenty of free parking.

The Workshop:

A one-day workshop covering different aspects of the ways Paul approaches sketching and  painting on location. Topics will include materials and equipment, drawing; people, buildings, cars, street furniture, interiors; as well as the dynamics of sketching in public (while being observed); handling the public, Urban sketcher worldwide movement and Urban sketchers manifesto.  The course will be relaxed and flexible regarding location (indoor and outdoor options possible), suitable for beginners as well as artists experienced in urban sketching.

The Tutor: 

Paul has been sketching pretty much all his life and is an avid observer of the world around him, which provides him with key inspirations for his artwork.  Consequently, Paul sketches and paints a wide range of subjects including urban and natural settings, animals, people, objects, interiors and cityscapes, so pretty much everything.  Paul works from direct observations as much as possible, aim to create art works that are a lively response to life  and his surroundings.  He is an experienced art teacher to adults and regularly runs workshops. In 2018 Paul was a semi-finalist in the Sky Landscape Artist of the Year competition.

What you need to bring:

• Your lunch and a mug for drinks which will be provided.
• A sketch book - Maximum size A4
• Pens or Pencils or coloured pencils to draw with.

Optional:

• Water colours or inks if you'd like to use colour.
• A few brushes or brush pens if you want to use water colours or inks.

If you would like to work outside:

Please make sure you bring warm clothes and a chair good for outdoors (such as a portable folding chair). A lightweight tripod or easel are welcome additions too. * Paul can bring a few stools if anybody wants to borrow one.

For participant’s information, this is the equipment and material list that Paul usually uses for his own urban sketching:

1. An A4 , A5 or A6  toned or white cartridge paper sketchbook, (I use a few different sketch books depending on the occasion,
2. some are toned paper, some white ranging in size from A4 to A6)
3. 3 Unipin fine liner pen black or grey
4. Tombow brush pen N75
5. Tombow brush pen N55
6. Tombow brush pen N35
7. White pastel pencil
8. Water colours and a tube of white gouache in a watercolour box with a pallet lid
9. Brush pens and a few water colour brushes.
10. Jar for water and a rag for wiping brushes.
11. Lightweight foldable stool or tripod and small drawing board
12. Warm and weather proof clothing (very important as I work outdoors throughout the year)