Sketchbook Challenge

What is the project?

  • Work along with Laura to fill your sketchbook
  • Eight practical video workshops
  • Inspirational ideas
  • Technique demonstrations
  • Choose your own theme
  • Use art materials that you already have

I’m so pleased you’re interested in the Sketchbook Challenge. Here’s a bit more about what it’s all about:

I thought it would be great fun to take an empty sketchbook and see if we could fill it! Originally I set this challenge over a one month period with two video workshops each week. You can follow that timeframe or work entirely at your own pace. When you purchase the workshops, all eight classes will be immediately available, and you get to keep them forever. Take the challenge of filling a sketchbook in a month, or take your time, it really doesn’t matter!

I’ll guide you through selecting your book, those important first steps including losing the blank white page, establishing a theme, and strategies for getting things done. Along the way we’re going to play with paint, print, collage, stencils and drawing. Don’t be nervous though, you can be a complete beginner and I’ll show you everything you need to know. If you are already an avid sketchbook keeper I hope you’ll enjoy the structure of the sessions and my take on how to approach working in a sketchbook.

Sign up here..

The Sketchbook Challenge was first offered at the special price of £12 to cheer us all up during the first Covid Pandemic lockdown. We’ve decided to keep this discounted price!

What do I need?

I’ve tried to keep the materials requirements for this challenge as simple as possible, and I know the list still looks quite long! Please bear in mind this is what you’ll need to try everything in the challenge, you might want to leave some techniques out if they don’t suit you, or you don’t have the materials and that’s absolutely fine. I would really encourage you to use what you already have to hand. Now is the moment to use up that acrylic paint that you have somewhere! Inevitably though you may need to get a few things, especially if keeping sketchbooks is a whole new adventure.

The essentials are:

A sketchbook
An assortment of loose papers, this can be magazines, envelopes, packing paper, tissue
Acrylic matte gel medium ( I like Liquitex or Golden)
Acrylic paints (to include white)
Glue stick, ruler, scissors or craft knife and cutting mat
Paint brushes
Thick card or old credit card
Stencils (anything you already have, or some paper to make one)
Solid graphite stick
Tracing paper
Pens (artist drawing pen, or any permanent marker like a Sharpie)
Any alphabet stamps you already own (homemade or commercial)
Acrylic ink or drawing ink (just get black)

For the monoprinting (session 6):
Gelli plate
Laminate plate (a piece of laminated paper)
Oil based printing ink (I like Safe Wash Relief Ink by Cranfield which is cleaned up with water, no solvent required)
Printing roller
Kebab skewer or ball point pen
Photocopies of your subject matter
Thin paper (tissue/pure greaseproof/deli paper)

Optional extras:
Sewing machine and thread
Watercolour paint
Acrylic glaze medium
Oil pastels/Inktense blocks/Neocolor (if you already have them)

The classes...

Join Laura in the studio for the first session in the Sketchbook Challenge. She'll start by showing you through a few of the many sketchbooks in her collection and share her tips on what to look for when choosing a sketchbook. Next, make a start on your book working along with Laura to quickly lose the white pages by integrating other papers. These will be the perfect background for working onto later. To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
Sketchbook

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 1

Join Laura in the studio for the first session in the Sketchbook Challenge. She’ll start by showing you through a few of the many sketchbooks in her collection and share her tips on what to look for when choosing a sketchbook. Next, make a start on your book working along with Laura to quickly lose the white pages by integrating other papers. These will be the perfect background for working onto later.

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
Join Laura in the studio for the second session in the Sketchbook Challenge. This time it's all about getting a first layer of colour down on your sketchbook pages. Laura will demonstrate a variety of options using acrylic and watercolour.  To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
Sketchbook

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 2

Join Laura in the studio for the second session in the Sketchbook Challenge. This time it’s all about getting a first layer of colour down on your sketchbook pages. Laura will demonstrate a variety of options using acrylic and watercolour. 

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
Let's start to build some structure into your sketchbook pages. I'll start with sharing some examples, then show you how you can use stencils and rubbings to add a layer of pattern. We'll also use larger simple shapes as a compositional device to help with constructing the layout of your pages. To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 3

Let’s start to build some structure into your sketchbook pages. I’ll start with sharing some examples, then show you how you can use stencils and rubbings to add a layer of pattern. We’ll also use larger simple shapes as a compositional device to help with constructing the layout of your pages.

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
In this workshop we'll explore collage in our sketchbooks. Work from your stash of made and found papers to add colour, pattern and shape to your pages. Consider working with photographs and photocopies and learn how you can edit them for a more thoughtful result in your composition.  To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 4

In this workshop we’ll explore collage in our sketchbooks. Work from your stash of made and found papers to add colour, pattern and shape to your pages. Consider working with photographs and photocopies and learn how you can edit them for a more thoughtful result in your composition. 

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
Let's work into those sketchbook pages. We'll use drawing and mark making with pens, pencils and pastels. I'll show you how you can use tracing and stencilling to build your confidence with drawing and get started quickly. To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 5

Let’s work into those sketchbook pages. We’ll use drawing and mark making with pens, pencils and pastels. I’ll show you how you can use tracing and stencilling to build your confidence with drawing and get started quickly.

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
Experiment with adding monoprint to your sketchbook. Laura will show you two methods of monoprint that extend ideas from the drawing session last time. Use your gelli plate to print from your stencils and create silhouettes you can draw into, and use a linear traced monoprint using oil-based inks. Laura also shares ideas for taking work you've already done and making it work harder for you by making copies to build new pages from. To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 6

Experiment with adding monoprint to your sketchbook. Laura will show you two methods of monoprint that extend ideas from the drawing session last time. Use your gelli plate to print from your stencils and create silhouettes you can draw into, and use a linear traced monoprint using oil-based inks. Laura also shares ideas for taking work you’ve already done and making it work harder for you by making copies to build new pages from.

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
Let's explore adding text to your sketchbook. Maybe you'll use your book as an art journal to document your daily life, as a notebook to jot down reference information, or perhaps you'll use text as a decorative element. Laura will show you lots of examples and demonstrate different techniques for adding text, from collage, to handwriting and stamping. To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 7

Let’s explore adding text to your sketchbook. Maybe you’ll use your book as an art journal to document your daily life, as a notebook to jot down reference information, or perhaps you’ll use text as a decorative element. Laura will show you lots of examples and demonstrate different techniques for adding text, from collage, to handwriting and stamping.

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.
In the last session of the Sketchbook Challenge join Laura to see how you can edit your sketchbook using paint and cutting. Consider composition and ideas for creating rhythm and cohesion through your pages. Finally, take a page-by-page look through Laura's book. To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.

Sketchbook Challenge – Session 8

In the last session of the Sketchbook Challenge join Laura to see how you can edit your sketchbook using paint and cutting. Consider composition and ideas for creating rhythm and cohesion through your pages. Finally, take a page-by-page look through Laura’s book.

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Challenge.

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To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook to Textiles: Interpreting Marks.
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To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook to Fabric.
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To access this post, you must purchase Adding White.
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To access this post, you must purchase Rubbings: Frames and Windows.
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To access this post, you must purchase Printmaking: Trash to Treasure.
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Concertina Sketchbook

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Handpainted Gouache Resist

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To access this post, you must purchase Handpainted Gouache Resist.
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ATC Book – Night and Day

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To access this post, you must purchase ATC Book – Night & Day.
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Working in ATC Books

Join Linda in the studio for a page-by-page tour of her ATC sketchbook inspired by insects. She’ll share her tips and techniques for filling the tiny pages.

To access this post, you must purchase Working in ATC Books.
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Trying Caran D’Ache Neocolor II

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To access this post, you must purchase Trying Caran D’Ache Neocolor II.
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Making ATC Books

What are you going to do with all those ATCs? In this workshop Laura will show you several ways to use them including making tiny sketchbooks!

To access this post, you must purchase Making ATC Books.
See how Linda's combined ideas from two workshops for great results. She's using techniques from Plants in Altered Books and working into her Plant Printing pages.

In the Mix – Plant Printing and Plants in Altered Books

See how Linda’s combined ideas from two workshops for great results. She’s using techniques from Plants in Altered Books and working into her Plant Printing pages.

Free - Take a quick flip-through tour through Laura's sketchbook. This one isn't finished, but we hope you enjoy seeing how the pages are shaping up so far. This book makes use of a lot of monoprint, collage and drawing with pen.

A Flip-through Laura’s Sketchbook

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Video Workshop - Using the basic Oil Pastel Monoprint technique, Linda's developing the process and using it in combination with wash. You'll already know that oil can work as a resist to waterbased media, see how Linda paints with watercolour adding beautiful fluid washes without losing control of the paint. To access this post, you must purchase Oil Pastel Monoprint & Wash.

Oil Pastel Monoprint & Wash

Video Workshop – Using the basic Oil Pastel Monoprint technique, Linda’s developing the process and using it in combination with wash. You’ll already know that oil can work as a resist to waterbased media, see how Linda paints with watercolour adding beautiful fluid washes without losing control of the paint.

To access this post, you must purchase Oil Pastel Monoprint & Wash.
This is a super technique for your sketchbook, or for use in mixed media drawing and painting. Join Linda to see how to make a monoprint using oil pastels. You can work freehand or make use of your stencils. To access this post, you must purchase Oil Pastel Monoprint.

Oil Pastel Monoprint

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To access this post, you must purchase Oil Pastel Monoprint.
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In the Mix: Rubbings and Drawing

Work along with Laura to bring more confidence to your drawing. Laura will show you how rubbings can be the basis for beautiful tonal drawings. You’ll need only very basic supplies to create great results!

To access this post, you must purchase In the Mix: Rubbings and Drawing.
Laura experiments with her gel plate and an image transfer mono printing technique. It's not foolproof, but it's lots of fun and you'll end up with a fantastic pile of monoprints and collage papers which can be perfect for your sketchbook, mixed media work, journals and altered books. In this workshop Laura demonstrates working on paper, this technique might work on fabric, but we've not tried it - yet! To access this post, you must purchase Monoprint Image Transfer.

Monoprint Image Transfer

Laura experiments with her gel plate and an image transfer mono printing technique. It’s not foolproof, but it’s lots of fun and you’ll end up with a fantastic pile of monoprints and collage papers which can be perfect for your sketchbook, mixed media work, journals and altered books. In this workshop Laura demonstrates working on paper, this technique might work on fabric, but we’ve not tried it – yet!

To access this post, you must purchase Monoprint Image Transfer.
Join Laura to see her completed Photobook including a look at the cover, and a page-by-page walkthrough with an insight into the thought processes and techniques she's used. To access this post, you must purchase Photobook Finishing Touches.

Photobook Finishing Touches

Join Laura to see her completed Photobook including a look at the cover, and a page-by-page walkthrough with an insight into the thought processes and techniques she’s used.

To access this post, you must purchase Photobook Finishing Touches.
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Photobook: First Steps

Now you’ve made your photo book is time to start working into those pages. Join Laura as she guides you through the first steps in her own book, and shares ideas for how to get started with simple media and a thoughtful approach to composition, mark making and colour.

To access this post, you must purchase Photobook: First Steps.
Experiment with layers in your painting and printmaking for sketchbook work using a combination of acrylic and watercolour. Linda will show you how you can exploit the properties of each to create interesting effects. To access this post, you must purchase Mixed Media: Acrylic + Watercolour.

Mixed Media: Acrylic + Watercolour

Experiment with layers in your painting and printmaking for sketchbook work using a combination of acrylic and watercolour. Linda will show you how you can exploit the properties of each to create interesting effects.

To access this post, you must purchase Mixed Media: Acrylic + Watercolour.
Do you have a pile of photo prints that you aren't sure what to do with? Join Laura to bind them into a book that you can use as an album, or treat as a sketchbook.  To access this post, you must purchase Photo Book.

Photo Book

Do you have a pile of photo prints that you aren’t sure what to do with? Join Laura to bind them into a book that you can use as an album, or treat as a sketchbook. 

To access this post, you must purchase Photo Book.
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Inspired by Nature

Find inspiration in nature and see how Linda interprets a photographic source as a mixed media study in her sketchbook. She’ll show you how to use watercolour, charcoal pencils and oil pastel to create rich surfaces sympathetic to the subject matter. Then working from her sketchbook, Linda interprets the mixed media study into a stitched textile. See how she uses opaque and transparent fabric scraps to build painterly layers adding texture with machine and hand stitching. 

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Using Masking Fluid

Using masking fluid can be a versatile method for your watercolour painting both for conventional paintings and in your sketchbook work. In this workshop Linda will show you different ways to apply it for great effect. 

To access this post, you must purchase Using Masking Fluid.
Add metallic gleam to your sketchbook and other work on paper using foiling. Linda will demonstrate a number of ways to use the foil creatively to add shapes and painterly areas of metallic. To access this post, you must purchase Foiling on Paper.

Foiling on Paper

Add metallic gleam to your sketchbook and other work on paper using foiling. Linda will demonstrate a number of ways to use the foil creatively to add shapes and painterly areas of metallic.

To access this post, you must purchase Foiling on Paper.
Be inspired by nature around you and collect leaves to use for plant printing. Linda will show you how to make beautiful contact prints on paper. Laura will demonstrate how to make simply structured, but endlessly creative concertina books to house your prints. Finally Linda shares her ideas for working back into your plant printed sketchbook to edit, refine and add detail. The result will be a truly unique record of the plant material you've collected and a fabulous sketchbook for inspiration and further development.

Plant Printing

Be inspired by nature around you and collect leaves to use for plant printing. Linda will show you how to make beautiful contact prints on paper. Laura will demonstrate how to make simply structured, but endlessly creative concertina books to house your prints. Finally Linda shares her ideas for working back into your plant printed sketchbook to edit, refine and add detail. The result will be a truly unique record of the plant material you’ve collected and a fabulous sketchbook for inspiration and further development.

Collage is the perfect technique for design work. In this workshop Laura will show you how you can use your painted papers, or create ones from your fabrics, to make designs that could be ideal for informing your next quilt. She'll show you how collage can be used to make the basis of your design with painting to add extra colour.  To access this post, you must purchase Designing with Collage.

Designing with Collage

Collage is the perfect technique for design work. In this workshop Laura will show you how you can use your painted papers, or create ones from your fabrics, to make designs that could be ideal for informing your next quilt. She’ll show you how collage can be used to make the basis of your design with painting to add extra colour. 

To access this post, you must purchase Designing with Collage.
Drawing is often the best way to start a watercolour, acrylic or mixed media painting, but what if you you feel your drawing skills aren't strong, or maybe you just want a fast and effective way to get your image down on paper so you can quickly get started with your painting? In this workshop Linda will demonstrate her technique for creating that drawing which will be the perfect foundation for your painting.  To access this post, you must purchase Inktense Traced Print.

Inktense Traced Print

Drawing is often the best way to start a watercolour, acrylic or mixed media painting, but what if you you feel your drawing skills aren’t strong, or maybe you just want a fast and effective way to get your image down on paper so you can quickly get started with your painting? In this workshop Linda will demonstrate her technique for creating that drawing which will be the perfect foundation for your painting. 

To access this post, you must purchase Inktense Traced Print.
Work along with Linda to make your own visual diary to document your observations and collections. Linda's focussing on one of her favourite subjects, moths, but your diary can document anything you like! In Linda's book you'll see a selection techniques used in combination to record what you find. There are three workshops in this collection.

Moth Diary

Work along with Linda to make your own visual diary to document your observations and collections. Linda’s focussing on one of her favourite subjects, moths, but your diary can document anything you like! In Linda’s book you’ll see a selection techniques used in combination to record what you find. There are three workshops in this collection.

Do you find yourself with a stash of inspirational photo prints, or numerous photos on your phone waiting to be printed? Photographs can be an exciting component of your sketchbook pages. See how Laura's been using photographs in her books as a layer in her collage and mixed media process.  To access this post, you must purchase Photographs + Sketchbooks.

Photographs + Sketchbooks

Do you find yourself with a stash of inspirational photo prints, or numerous photos on your phone waiting to be printed? Photographs can be an exciting component of your sketchbook pages. See how Laura’s been using photographs in her books as a layer in her collage and mixed media process. 

To access this post, you must purchase Photographs + Sketchbooks.
Gloriously coloured papers are a joy to use in your collage, mixed media, sketchbook and paper and stitch work. In this workshop Linda will show you how to upcycle basic materials into beautiful painted papers that will be perfect for use in a variety of projects. To access this post, you must purchase Beautiful Painted Papers.

Beautiful Painted Papers

Gloriously coloured papers are a joy to use in your collage, mixed media, sketchbook and paper and stitch work. In this workshop Linda will show you how to upcycle basic materials into beautiful painted papers that will be perfect for use in a variety of projects.

To access this post, you must purchase Beautiful Painted Papers.
Make your own beautiful painted papers with this easy batik technique. They'll be perfect for using in your sketchbook and mixed media work. To access this post, you must purchase Polka Dot Papers.

Polka Dot Papers

Make your own beautiful painted papers with this easy batik technique. They’ll be perfect for using in your sketchbook and mixed media work.

To access this post, you must purchase Polka Dot Papers.
A flip-through video two concertina books made using plant printed pages. See how Linda's worked into the plant prints with collage, drawing and painting.

Plant Printing Concertina Books Flip-Through

A flip-through video two concertina books made using plant printed pages. See how Linda’s worked into the plant prints with collage, drawing and painting.

Extend your monoprint technique library with this collection of video workshops. We'll show you how to create a painted monoprint, work with stamps to create pattern and a great method for monoprinted frames. All of these techniques are ideal for working on paper or fabric.

More Monoprint

Extend your monoprint technique library with this collection of video workshops. We’ll show you how to create a painted monoprint, work with stamps to create pattern and a great method for monoprinted frames. All of these techniques are ideal for working on paper or fabric.

A traveller's journal or notebook is an ingenious idea of a refillable cover which can hold a range of booklets. In this collection of workshops we'll show you how to make your own beautiful fabric cover and binding. Next you'll learn how to make booklets to pop inside and we'll share ideas of what to fill it with!

Traveller’s Journal

A traveller’s journal or notebook is an ingenious idea of a refillable cover which can hold a range of booklets. In this collection of workshops we’ll show you how to make your own beautiful fabric cover and binding. Next you’ll learn how to make booklets to pop inside and we’ll share ideas of what to fill it with!

Who can resist a touch of gold? Discover how to add that metallic gleam to your paper and fabric projects. In this workshop collection we'll show you how to add gold using a variety of media from pens to ink and gold leaf. Learn how to apply gold to your sketchbook pages and to fabric.
Altered Books

A Glint of Gold

Who can resist a touch of gold? Discover how to add that metallic gleam to your paper and fabric projects. In this workshop collection we’ll show you how to add gold using a variety of media from pens to ink and gold leaf. Learn how to apply gold to your sketchbook pages and to fabric.

Do you have a set of Derwent Inktense pencils, or blocks? In this collection of videos we'll demonstrate a diverse approach to using them in your work on paper and fabric. See how to make rubbings, use them to colour fabric, add colour to your altered books and even print with them. There are four workshops in this collection.

Working with Inktense

Do you have a set of Derwent Inktense pencils, or blocks? In this collection of videos we’ll demonstrate a diverse approach to using them in your work on paper and fabric. See how to make rubbings, use them to colour fabric, add colour to your altered books and even print with them. There are four workshops in this collection.

In this collection you'll find a selection of workshops exploring the use of ink. We'll show you how you can combine acrylic ink and acrylic paint, use gouache as a resist for Indian ink, and make mixed media drawings with watercolour pencils and writing ink.

Ink Painting

In this collection you’ll find a selection of workshops exploring the use of ink. We’ll show you how you can combine acrylic ink and acrylic paint, use gouache as a resist for Indian ink, and make mixed media drawings with watercolour pencils and writing ink.

Experiment with a range of different media with your drawing approach. Try a painterly style with oil pastels, restrict yourself with a limited range of media for a sketchbook study, and experiment with layering in your drawing using pen, coloured pencil and wash.

Mixed Media Drawing Techniques

Experiment with a range of different media with your drawing approach. Try a painterly style with oil pastels, restrict yourself with a limited range of media for a sketchbook study, and experiment with layering in your drawing using pen, coloured pencil and wash.

Finding inspiration from a collection of objects, Linda works with bleach, ink and soft pastels to create a sketchbook page before developing the ideas onto fabric with fabric pastels and stitch. There are three workshops in this collection.

Sketchbook to Stitch: Collection Box

Finding inspiration from a collection of objects, Linda works with bleach, ink and soft pastels to create a sketchbook page before developing the ideas onto fabric with fabric pastels and stitch. There are three workshops in this collection.

Take a page by page look through one of Laura's sketchbooks as she describes the media, techniques and ideas she uses. Get a feel for the different ways you can use a sketchbook and be inspired to start your own. To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Stories.
Sketchbook

Sketchbook Stories

Take a page by page look through one of Laura’s sketchbooks as she describes the media, techniques and ideas she uses. Get a feel for the different ways you can use a sketchbook and be inspired to start your own.

To access this post, you must purchase Sketchbook Stories.
Variety of art mediums is the way to get lots of mileage from a single source of inspiration in a sketchbook.

Mixing it up!

Variety of art mediums is the way to get lots of mileage from a single source of inspiration in a sketchbook.

In this archive collection of 5 video workshops join Linda and Laura to print, bind and work into your very own sketchbook.

Handprinted Sketchbooks

In this archive collection of 5 video workshops join Linda and Laura to print, bind and work into your very own sketchbook.

We've been experimenting with 3D printers to make rubbing plates. Take a look at how we've been getting on...

3D Printed Rubbing Plates

We’ve been experimenting with 3D printers to make rubbing plates. Take a look at how we’ve been getting on…

In this archive collection of 3 video workshops Linda will show you how simple cardboard can be used to make a print plate which can be inked in a similar way to a traditional etching. See how to print from the plate without using an expensive press, and how you can finally tint the print to make each one unique.

Cardboard Etching

In this archive collection of 3 video workshops Linda will show you how simple cardboard can be used to make a print plate which can be inked in a similar way to a traditional etching. See how to print from the plate without using an expensive press, and how you can finally tint the print to make each one unique.

In this archive collection of 5 video workshops Laura will guide you through one approach to finding inspiration for your next project, from sourcing inspirational images to creating interesting layered sketchbook pages.

Finding Inspiration

In this archive collection of 5 video workshops Laura will guide you through one approach to finding inspiration for your next project, from sourcing inspirational images to creating interesting layered sketchbook pages.

Archive Art Diary

Art Diary

Are you up for a challenge? How about working along with Linda as she records events, people and places in a visual art diary? It’s a fascinating way to approach a creative challenge – you just let your imagination respond to each day as it happens. In this archive collection you’ll be encouraged to collect inspirational material, write, draw, print, paint and stitch – before you know it you’ll have experimented with a huge range of art techniques and you’ll have a sketchbook bursting with ideas to inspire future work!

In this collection you'll discover four video workshops where Linda will demonstrate everything you need to know to use the simple technique of rubbings in a variety of creative ways to make beautiful pages in your sketchbook. Linda will then demonstrate how she uses the sketchbook ideas to inspire a lovely stitched appliqué panel using the same rubbing technique directly to fabric.

Rubbings: Sketchbook and Applique

In this collection you’ll discover four video workshops where Linda will demonstrate everything you need to know to use the simple technique of rubbings in a variety of creative ways to make beautiful pages in your sketchbook. Linda will then demonstrate how she uses the sketchbook ideas to inspire a lovely stitched appliqué panel using the same rubbing technique directly to fabric.

Linda's enjoying more sketchbook drawing and painting today. With spring in the air the garden provides the inspiration.

Drawing and Painting

Linda’s enjoying more sketchbook drawing and painting today. With spring in the air the garden provides the inspiration.

See how Linda is making one of Laura's printed sketchbooks her own!

Working into Printed Sketchbook No. 2

See how Linda is making one of Laura’s printed sketchbooks her own!

Are you always nervous about getting started in a new sketchbook? Do the pristine pages scare you? Let me reassure you that you're not alone! In this collection of three videos you'll learn how to lose the blank, white page quickly and easily. Laura shows how she gets lots of glorious colour on her pages using water based paints, drawing inks and soluble pastels. She demonstrates step by step how she produces fascinating background effects for her sketchbook and art journaling work and how she constantly evaluates and responds to what she's created on the page.

Serendipity Painting

Are you always nervous about getting started in a new sketchbook? Do the pristine pages scare you? Let me reassure you that you’re not alone! In this collection of three videos you’ll learn how to lose the blank, white page quickly and easily. Laura shows how she gets lots of glorious colour on her pages using water based paints, drawing inks and soluble pastels. She demonstrates step by step how she produces fascinating background effects for her sketchbook and art journaling work and how she constantly evaluates and responds to what she’s created on the page.

Take a peek at pages from Laura's sketchbooks.

Sketchbook Pages

Take a peek at pages from Laura’s sketchbooks.

In this collection of three video workshops Laura demonstrates exciting techniques to design and construct your own unique book forms and decorative covers. She explains exactly how to achieve a simple stitched binding, how to create totally unique folded books from multisided geometric shapes and how to personalise the covers of an altered book using a decorative felt wrap. Watch these step by step instructions and you’ll have everything you need to know to make your own highly individual examples!

Handmade Books

In this collection of three video workshops Laura demonstrates exciting techniques to design and construct your own unique book forms and decorative covers. She explains exactly how to achieve a simple stitched binding, how to create totally unique folded books from multisided geometric shapes and how to personalise the covers of an altered book using a decorative felt wrap. Watch these step by step instructions and you’ll have everything you need to know to make your own highly individual examples!

Laura's art kit essentials for sketchbook working on the go.

Art Kit Essentials

Laura’s art kit essentials for sketchbook working on the go.

Get your workspace ready! It sounds like procrastination, but seriously, sharpen those pencils...

Sharpen those Pencils!

Get your workspace ready! It sounds like procrastination, but seriously, sharpen those pencils…

Laura shares her tips for getting started on a new project.

Getting Started on a New Project

Laura shares her tips for getting started on a new project.

Laura's tips for developing a sketchbook habit.
Free Workshop

Developing a Habit – How to start a sketchbook

Laura’s tips for developing a sketchbook habit.

Learn how to use watersoluble pencils on paper and fabric.

Pencilled In

Learn how to use watersoluble pencils on paper and fabric.

Take a look at Linda's drawings of poppies using Derwent Graphitint pencils.
Free

Poppies in Graphitint

Take a look at Linda’s drawings of poppies using Derwent Graphitint pencils.

Find out what Linda's art essentials are for sketchbook work...

Linda’s Art Essentials

Find out what Linda’s art essentials are for sketchbook work…

Learn some simple tricks, cheats and techniques to help improve your drawing skills.

Drawing Tricks and Cheats

Learn some simple tricks, cheats and techniques to help improve your drawing skills.

This is the perfect ice-breaker to tackle those blank white pages in your sketchbook or art journal. Apply colour with this fast and fuss-free approach which is perfect for combining with other layering techniques. To access this post, you must purchase Scraping Colour.
Sketchbook

Scraping Colour

This is the perfect ice-breaker to tackle those blank white pages in your sketchbook or art journal. Apply colour with this fast and fuss-free approach which is perfect for combining with other layering techniques.

To access this post, you must purchase Scraping Colour.
Think of collagraph as a mix between collage and print. In this two-part workshop find out how to make your own collaged plate from simple materials. Then see how to ink and print the plate using nothing more than a pasta machine in lieu of a print press.

Collagraph

Think of collagraph as a mix between collage and print. In this two-part workshop find out how to make your own collaged plate from simple materials. Then see how to ink and print the plate using nothing more than a pasta machine in lieu of a print press.

In Archive 3 you’ll find a lively mix of some of the very first shows we taped for DMTV. Ranging from discharge printing, through altered books and free motion quilting, there’s lots to inspire.

Archive Three

In Archive 3 you’ll find a lively mix of some of the very first shows we taped for DMTV. Ranging from discharge printing, through altered books and free motion quilting, there’s lots to inspire.

Inspired by butterflies, Linda demonstrates creative ways to fill your sketchbook with exciting and vibrant images. Techniques include ink resist, collage, masks and stencils.

Beautiful Butterflies

Inspired by butterflies, Linda demonstrates creative ways to fill your sketchbook with exciting and vibrant images. Techniques include ink resist, collage, masks and stencils.

Linda demonstrates how to make sheets of recycled paper at home using simple equipment.
Free Workshop

Introduction to Papermaking

Linda demonstrates how to make sheets of recycled paper at home using simple equipment.

An extended course of four Modules which includes a printable PDF instructional workbook and over 45 video demonstrations. Sign up any time and work at your own pace.

Creative Sketchbooks

An extended course of four Modules which includes a printable PDF instructional workbook and over 45 video demonstrations. Sign up any time and work at your own pace.

Free Video Workshop - Whether you're nervous of drawing, or are just looking for a new sketchbook technique, why not consider using tracing?
Free Workshop

Don’t Draw? Trace!

Free Video Workshop – Whether you’re nervous of drawing, or are just looking for a new sketchbook technique, why not consider using tracing?

Waxed papers are perfect for paper and stitch projects. Join Linda to find out how to make your own.
Free Workshop

Waxing Papers

Waxed papers are perfect for paper and stitch projects. Join Linda to find out how to make your own.