Life drawing mixed media sketchbook: playing with figures

Aimee- negative space In my sketchbook I have been enjoying reworking old and new life drawings into new compositions using collage and mixed media techniques. I used old paintings that I no longer liked or needed and cut them up to create new pieces in my sketchbook using them as backgrounds or parts of the …

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Life drawing- and the start of a mixed media sketchbook

Gil- sad fairy Sketch book collage composition I had a great time drawing the model Gil in a recent life drawing session at Whalley Life drawing group. In this session I enjoyed exploring different mediums including collage, graphite pencil, soft pastels, charcoal and conte crayons. I had pre- prepared a collaged background made from hand …

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Publisher & designer of UPPERCASE, Janine Vangool’s sketchbook revival class

In this Sketchbook Revival session Janine Vangool “explores the creative possibilities of turning your sketchbook into a “text” book, while spending time with your thoughts to create personal messages (and more) using tactile, pre-digital lettering methods.” During this session we watch Janine utilise a myriad of printing tools and techniques to add text and fonts …

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Drew Steinbrecher sketchbook revival class: making work from your environment

As part of Sketchbook Revival 2026 I participated in the class run by mixed media and collage artist Drew Steinbrecher. In this class we were encouraged to go out into our environment whether that be an urban environment or a natural one, and take notice of the shapes, textures, colours and contrasts that interested us. …

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Watercolour butterflies: memories from Florence

This February my family and I took a special trip to Florence, Italy to celebrate my husband and I's milestone birthday. One of the places I enjoyed visiting most during the holiday was the Museum of Natural History, La Specola. This painting is from a photograph I took of one of the museum collections of …

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