The Sketchbook Skills Bundle
with
Shari Blaukopf, CSPWC, AWS
4 Inspiring Courses + 1 full-length demo
to boost your sketchbook abilities and confidence
“Among the best online classes I’ve seen.
Well organized, clear and articulate. Beautifully done by a terrific teacher and wonderful artist.”
Wayne, Vancouver, Canada
Whether you’re new to sketching or looking to develop your personal style, my new sketchbook-intensive bundle is your guide to clean, confident and expressive sketching, both in studio and on location. Think of it as the ultimate sketchbook boot camp:
1. Sketching Techniques with Pens and Inks is deep dive into the foundational skills and tools you’ll need to begin sketching.
2. Sketching Markets in Ink and Watercolour includes exercises and scenes where you’ll learn to lay down clean, expressive colour in busy, vibrant locations.
3. Design Ideas for your Sketchbook combines all you’ve learned so far to create one-of-a-kind sketchbook pages, using design principles and lively lettering.
4. Light, Colour, Shadow: And, now that you’re well on the way, you'll deepen your watercolour mastery with the three fundamentals that make every scene come alive!
Hi, I’m Shari Blaukopf, and I’ve taught urban, studio and travel sketching to many thousands of students around the world.
Why did I create The Sketchbook Skills Bundle?
To answer 5 questions I hear from first-time students:
- “Why do my sketches always seem so flat?”
- “How do I create clean colours that pop off the page?”
- “Why do my sketches look muddy and overworked?”
- “How do I simplify and tackle a complex scene?”
-
“I feel that my skills are almost there. Now how do I take that next big step?”
In THE SKETCHBOOK SKILLS BUNDLE, I’ll share my special techniques for elevating your linework, composition and watercolour practice. You’ll produce bolder, cleaner and more confident sketches — from your first pen stroke and wash to final details.
What’s Included in my skills-and-confidence-building course bundle:
- Over 12 hours of step-by-step lessons, plus a bonus demo
- Ideal for beginners and experienced sketchers
- Lifetime access: watch when you want as long as you want, and revisit whenever you need inspiration or a refresher
- Includes instructor access: post your sketches and ask me questions
- Three camera angles, including closeups so you can see exactly what I’m doing
- Continuous commentary explaining what I’m doing and why
THE SKETCHBOOK SKILLS BUNDLE INCLUDES
Sketching Techniques with Pens & Inks
Learn all about fountain, dip, and water-soluble pens, and how to use them for contour drawing, hatching and shading.
- Then, add colour with expressive ink-and-wash techniques
- Learn to add depth and contrast to make your sketches pop
- Focus on architectural texture and detail
- Build confidence in figure drawing
Sketching Markets in Ink & Watercolour
Capture the energy and colour of urban markets, among my favourite places to sketch!
- Learn to simplify complex scenes, such as crowds and market stalls
- Build from ink line to colour with confidence
- Learn to quickly capture people, for liveliness and scale
- Includes practice lessons in capturing the freshness of flowers, produce and market signage
Design Ideas for Your Sketchbook
Use layout and design principles to build gorgeous sketchbook pages that combine vignettes, scenes and text.
- Combine all these elements into cohesive, expressive compositions
- Practice page composition and lettering
- Learn to use drop shadows that make text and objects lift off the page
- Includes bonus PDF: 25 Inspiring Sketchbook Pages to help you get started
Light, Colour, Shadow
Learn why I call light, colour and shadow “the essential triad” for sketching just about anything.
- Understand how light and shadow define form
- Learn to mix the best colours for a range of subjects in sunlight and shadow
- Master the water-to-pigment balance to create glowing washes
- Includes practice lesson in painting shadow patterns on walls
Includes an urban demo
to keep you inspired!
Inside and Out: A Shop Facade in Ink and Watercolour
In this video demo, I’ll take you through a sketch inspired by a charming little shop I spotted while traveling in the UK. Gurney’s Fish drew me in immediately. How could I resist the beautiful signage, the little chalkboards, the layer upon layer of detail that made this storefront so full of idiosyncratic life and character?
Using ink and watercolour, I’ll show you how I brought this scene to life, from the first loose lines to the final splashes of colour. Whether you’re sketching on location or from a photo, as I do in this demo, you’ll pick up practical tips to help you simplify a busy scene and add just the right touches to make it your own.
What You'll Get in this Bundle
- All four full-length online courses — 12+ hours of instruction
- An urban demo so you can continue practising what you've learned
- Lifetime access to all content
- Step-by-step video demos with narration
- Reference images and downloadable resources
-
Learn at your own pace — start anytime
“I am learning SO much from your classes, Shari. What a generous teacher you are, and so fun to watch. I keep going back for more, and take away something new each time.”
Cindy, Washington State, USA
“Hi Shari, I really enjoy your video classes. I can rerun them as often as I want to get a real understanding of what you are teaching. You present everything very clearly. You helped me open my eyes to the beauty around me.”
Malinda, Arizona, USA
A little bit more about me
I am a watercolour sketcher, painter and co-founder of Urban Sketchers Montreal, and have given workshops at Urban Sketchers symposia all over the world. I am also an Elected Member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour, and a Signature Member of the American Watercolour Society.
My painting and sketching credentials are strong. But what truly sets me apart is my teaching. As a former college teacher and seasoned workshop instructor, I know how people learn. I know how to break down complex ideas and processes into manageable chunks. And how to share my techniques using simple language, clear explanation and hands-on, close-up demonstration.
My ultimate goal? To help you build your skills and confidence. So you to sit in front of a complex scene or complex photo and know immediately how to simplify and capture what’s essential — all in your own expressive style.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will I have access to these courses?
Once you sign up, the courses and bonus demo are yours to watch as often as you like.
Who are these courses for?
These are beginner/intermediate level courses. You should have some basic experience with drawing and watercolour.
What materials will I need?
You’ll need a good quality sketchbook, pencils, pens, a watercolour paint kit and brushes. A full materials list is included in each course, along with a video demo of the recommended tools.
Will I have access to all the lessons at once?
Yes, once you register you’ll have access to all the lessons so you can start learning, drawing and painting immediately.
Can I watch at my own pace?
Absolutely. All lessons are pre-recorded so you can pause, replay and return anytime.
How do I find the courses I am enrolled in?
Go to the top of the page and look for the "My Courses" tab. All the courses you have registered for are right there.
