2025 Workshop 1

Sketching: The Foundational Artistic Skill

Started March 3rd, 2025
Sketching is the gateway, the first step in the art making process. It is the fastest way to communicate visually, the fastest way to translate an image in your head into something that you can share with the world. Sketching is the most basic tool in an artist’s toolkit. There are no rules to sketching, no right or wrong way that universally applies to every artist. This workshop will go over how I like to sketch, how I like to incorporate sketching into my practice, how it can be used for idea generation, practicing and learning new concepts, and just having fun in general.

Sketch by Jordan Rhodes — Artwork by Jordan Rhodes

Lesson Info

Started March 3rd, 2025

Lesson 1: Sketchbook Practice, Warming up, and Building dexterity.

Instructions

Sketchbooks can have many different purposes and use cases. While the most attention-drawing sketchbooks tend to be polished and clean, sketchbooks can also be a place to let go, loosen up, and improve skills. In this lesson we will cover some exercises that can improve your line quality and dexterity.

Started March 10th, 2025

Lesson 2: Sketching Skulls from Life (or 3d Models).

Instructions

As a portrait artist, drawing the skull is a go to subject that is the building block responsible for the appearance of a face. Practicing drawing skulls can improve your understanding of the underlying structure of the face. Skulls are a lower pressure, more forgiving subject that are just plain fun to draw.

Started March 17th, 2025

Lesson 3: Timed Portrait Sketches – Loosen Up!

Instructions

Loosening up can be difficult for artists, especially when using a reference. One helpful technique is using timed studies in pen. With timed studies, the short deadline forces you to be decisive and let your arm go. Don’t expect amazing results, but every now and then flashes of your natural tendencies will reveal themselves, which you can use as inspiration to further develop your own style.

Starting Match 24th, 2025

Lesson 4: Random Idea Generators to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone.

Instructions

Sometimes it’s hard to come up with an idea of what to draw. Sometimes I get stagnant opting to draw comfort zone subjects and what I know I am good at already. But it can be a fun challenge to try something new. If you look up some art prompts and idea generators, you can get random ideas of things to draw that you might not have thought of.