Class Description
“Y” is For Yellow!
(And no, we won’t paint everything yellow!)
In 2016 we ran “Y is for Yellow” as a year-long class, and it’s now available as a self-study class. By giving it to you all at once, you can pick and choose the lessons that are particularly interesting to you to start, and leave the rest for later (you have forever access!). In this class we will march through the alphabet as a fun way to move through our lessons (“P” is for Picasso! “C” is for Collage!), while tackling the more serious question,
“How do you create a body of work?”
As mixed-media artists we are always trying new media and experimenting with new techniques — which is awesome! But what can happen is we don’t take the time to focus long enough on the things we really love so that we can create a cohesive series that is uniquely ours.
I have found a lot of value working in series over the years; choosing and sticking with one media/subject matter for a period of time really has helped me… and I will share with you what I can about the process.
Are you ready to work hard in a fun environment? Let’s refine, focus, and create a body of work this year!
Lessons A – J
10 Drawing Assignments • 4 Mixed-Media Lessons
Lesson K – R
8 Drawing Assignment – 3 Mixed-Media Lessons
Lessons S – Z
8 Drawing Assignments – 3 Mixed -Media Lessons
As a shorter, self-study program, I think participants can decide to approach it two ways:
1. Focus more on the series aspect of the class. Spend the six weeks going through the stages of researching & playing, resting, focusing & deciding, working (in tandem with a few others for support and accountability), and finishing!
2. Focus more on just playing in the studio with the drawing and mixed-media assignments. There are 26 drawing assignments and 10 mixed-media assignments… so much content! But you are invited to pick and choose the assignments that speak to you the most and leave the rest for self-study later.
Please consider joining the fun… great lessons for families, too!
Carla
Following is a very general supply list for the “Y is for Yellow” online class.
Hopefully you will already have many of the items already, or can easily substitute with what you have on hand.
Sketchbooks: You will need one large journal to take notes and/or do the drawing exercises. I will be using several Canson Mixed-Media Sketchbooks (sized 9″x12″ and 7″x10″); they are inexpensive and can take a beating. I also like to draw on card stock from an office supply store). In the end, just choose a size/brand that you like to work with!
Substrates: My favorite go-to paper is Fabriano Artistico hot-press 140# watercolor paper. You might need the equivalent of three-four 22″x30″ sheets for the class (excluding what you might need to do your series). You can also use cold-press paper (which is rougher), or any other paper you feel comfortable working with that can handle wet media, such as watercolor, acrylics and gel medium.
Paint: For watercolors, I use a small set of Pelikan watercolors, but any set — pan or tube — will work fine. For acrylics, I use Blickacrylics and some Golden paints.
White Gesso: I prefer Golden, as it’s a little thicker than many other brands.
Mediums: You will need a matte and a gloss medium (“regular” fluidity).
Brushes: My favorite watercolor brush is a #12 round (any brand). For acrylics, I like flat brushes in various sizes.
Pencils, Pens, Erasers: I like inexpensive mechanical pencils, ballpoint pens and Sharpies, Microns, black Tombows, soft vine charcoal, and water soluble markers (any brand, even inexpensive ones). We’ll also work with colored pencils (any brand). I mostly use a kneaded rubber eraser.
Also, we might use pastels (any kind) and crayons.
Carla Sonheim
Carla Sonheim is a painter, illustrator, and creativity workshop instructor known for her fun and innovative projects and techniques designed to help adult students recover a more spontaneous, playful approach to creating.
Carla is the author of three instructional art books, including Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun; Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals: A Mixed-Media Workshop and The Art of Silliness: A Creativity Book for Everyone. In 2012 she co-authored Creative Photography Lab with her husband, Steve Sonheim. They live in Seattle, WA.
Nuts & Bolts
- This class is now available as a self-study class.
- Immediately upon class signup, you will receive access to the class videos and corresponding materials.
- A private Facebook group will be available for you to (optionally) share your artwork and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. You may also email your teacher directly with questions or feedback.
- You will have indefinite access to this class.
