Intro to Watercolor Sketchbooking

This class is going to be so much fun. Although Shelby is primarily known for her colorful watercolor mountainscapes, she also creates a lot of behind-the-scenes art primarily in her sketchbooks. She wants to share that process with you and why she thinks it’s so important!

In this class Shelby will introduce you to her sketchbook set-up and three primary ways she approaches sketchbooking:

• For memory-keeping
• For creative practice
• For play and meditation

Join Shelby for an exclusive tour inside her sketchbooks

Learn why it is important to have a “safe” space for your creative practice. Shelby will also share:

• all her favorite tools,
• her favorite sources of inspiration,
• what she does when she’s not feeling inspired,
• how to paint on-the-go,
• ideas for mixed media sketchbook play,
• principles for sketching
• practice exercises that will develop your skills and motivation

Additionally, she will guide you through several practice exercises to create your own to put paint to page in your own sketchbook.

Suggested Supplies:

Because using a sketchbook doesn’t require a specific format or specific tools, bring your favorites, or just what you have on hand. Here’s what Shelby will have on hand if you’d like to follow along:

• Watercolor Sketchbook (but if you just have some watercolor paper, that will work, too!)
• Here are two of her favorites: A6 Hahnemuehle sketchbook and Stillman & Birn Beta Series Softcover Sketchbook, 8.5″ x 5.5″, 270 gsm
• Drawing tools: pencil, eraser, and waterproof pen
• Extras: ruler, circle maker, white gel pen,
• Watercolor paints: such as a Sakura Koi, Windsor and Newton, or even Crayola or Prang — just something you can create with!
• Watercolor paint brush (around a size 8 is great, but feel free to bring a smaller and larger one as well)
• Water, paper towels, and a mixing surface
• Extras for fun: washi tape, scissors, brush pens, paint pens, metallic paint, gouache, anything you think would be fun to create with

For links to watercolor supplies and more information, check out Shelby’s guide for watercolor supplies here:

About Shelby Thayne:

Shelby Thayne, owner and artist of Shelby Thayne Art, lives in Idaho with her husband and two wild and wonderful kiddos.

She has a Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and loved her time teaching learners from all around the world prior to being a stay-at-home mom. She started watercoloring to create alongside her children, and quickly rediscovered her long lost childhood love of art. Now she paints whenever she can and especially enjoys playing with colors and perspective to capture the beauty, awe, and majesty of mountains.

As a self-proclaimed creativity enthusiast and a teacher at heart, Shelby finds great joy in teaching watercolor classes for everyone, firmly believing that every person is inherently creative and has beautiful things to offer the world. Her classes focus on joy in the creative process, while providing tools, skills, and knowledge to support your own artistic and creative journey.