The Gentle Art of Sketchbooking Workshop

Artist: Amanda McLean

Create your own handcrafted sketchbook and fill it with creative possibilities in this inspiring two-day workshop that combines traditional bookbinding with practical sketching techniques.

On the first day, you will construct a beautiful art journal using Coptic stitching, a durable and elegant binding method that allows your book to open completely flat, making it ideal for drawing, journaling and painting. You’ll learn the fundamentals of creating your own sketchbooks from scratch, giving you the skills to continue making books in any size or format using your favourite papers. Each sketchbook is a unique, handcrafted work of art in its own right.

On the second day, you’ll bring your new sketchbook to life through a wide range of sketching exercises and creative techniques. Discover why sketching is the foundation of artistic practice and how maintaining a sketchbook can strengthen your drawing skills, develop creativity and support a lifelong artistic habit.

Through demonstrations and guided exercises, you will explore pen and ink, tonal studies, mixed media and gouache, learning to sketch with confidence both with and without preliminary pencil work. Subjects may include natural history, landscapes, buildings and perspective, people and faces, as well as opportunities for en plein air sketching where conditions permit.

Whether your interests lie in travel journaling, urban sketching, landscape drawing, natural history illustration or developing a regular creative practice, this workshop offers a rewarding and practical introduction to sketchbook making and sketching.

Please note: Good manual dexterity is required to fully participate in and complete the bookbinding component of this workshop.