Makings and Musings Community

Recording in the Library

Last night in my community art class we spent the evening drawing a sweet little otter in coloured pencils, inspired by the feeling of signs of spring. It was such a gentle and joyful session, and I loved seeing everyone slowly bring their otters to life on the page.

In this class I guide you step by step through my coloured pencil process. I work a little differently than many people expect. I do not start with a graphite sketch or use an eraser. Instead, I begin with very light coloured pencil lines and slowly build the drawing through layers. By the end, the original sketch lines become part of the finished artwork.

I show you how to start with simple shapes to find the form of the otter. Rather than trying to draw a perfect outline, we search for the shapes first — soft spirals…

You are in for such a lovely, playful session with this one.

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In this class recording, I guide you step by step through creating a mixed media panel drawing made up of three interconnected scenes. We work with a simple but powerful idea of “zooming in” – beginning with a wider view, moving closer, and then finishing with a detailed close-up. In my demonstration, I use a house, some pots and plants, and finally a hedgehog, but you can absolutely adapt this to your own references.

We begin by lightly sketching the layout and planning how the three panels will sit together. I show you how to create rounded corners for a softer, more playful feel, and how to think about visual connections between each scene so the whole composition feels cohesive rather than separate pictures stuck next to one another.

Materials I use

In this class, we paint a frog together using loose and relaxed watercolour techniques.

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I guide you step by step, starting with very simple shapes and then building up layers of colour, so you can follow along at your own pace without feeling overwhelmed. You do not need any previous experience, and you are very welcome to make it your own and explore in a way that feels comfortable for you.

Along the way, I share lots of practical tips, such as how to use different brush sizes, how to create soft and hard edges, and how to add details without overthinking it. I also show you how I use water to create gentle blends and textures, and how working more loosely can help your painting feel more alive and expressive.

This class is all about enjoying the process rather than aiming for a perfect result. We focus…

In this session, we are drawing puppy in coloured pencils. We focused on working with colour right from the start, instead of doing a graphite sketch first.

What I loved about this session was seeing how different everyone’s drawings turned out, even though we were all working from the same reference. Some stayed very soft and gentle, others went bolder with their colours, and all of them felt completely right. It is such a good reminder that there is no one ‘correct’ way of drawing, and that your own way of working is always enough.

This class is a lovely one if you want to feel more confident with coloured pencils, especially if you enjoy drawing animals and adding texture. It is calm, relaxed, and very much about enjoying the process rather than worrying about getting things perfect.

Next week we will be drawing a frog in a much more…

In this January session, I invite you to slow down with me and draw a little cardinal bird, tucked into the quiet of winter.

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We work from a snowy reference photo and take the drawing step by step, building it gently in coloured pencil. I show you how I layer colour, follow the direction of the feathers, and use light pressure to create depth and softness. You create your own version as we go, and there is plenty of space to make it your own.

This class is part of our Winter Quiet theme. It is calm, focused, and perfect if you enjoy taking your time and really getting to know your materials. You can pause the recording whenever you need and work along at your own pace.

Materials used in this class

I loved painting with you tonight. In this session we worked together on a gentle and festive project. We painted a reindeer in watercolour, with a calm wintry background and a few mixed media touches at the end. I guided you through each step so you could follow at your own pace.

We started with a simple sketch. I showed you how to place your reindeer on the page so there was enough space for those wonderful antlers. I talked you through light searching lines, looking at shapes, and using negative space to help you see the form more clearly.

Once our sketches were ready, we moved on to the watercolours. I showed you how to wake up the paints, how to work from large to small brushes, and how to build soft layers. We created a cool blue base to give the painting a winter feel, added shadows, and…

Join me for a relaxed and playful Watercolour and Ink Drawing Class, where I’ll guide you through the line and wash technique.

Watch here: Apologies, the video is a little blurry

I’ll guide you through the line and wash technique. Together, we’ll explore drawing with ink first, then adding layers of watercolour to bring your artwork to life. In this session, we’ll focus on a Harvest-themed tractor drawing, adding charming details like birds, flowers, and even a goose to make your piece whimsical and full of character.

I’ll show you how to use different pen sizes, experiment with wobbly and straight lines, and layer watercolour in a way that is both precise and free-spirited. We’ll also cover tips for creating depth, adding shadows, and leaving white space to enhance your painting. Most importantly, I’ll encourage you to make the drawing your own, adding personal touches and playful details along the…

In this class we drew little mice with colour pencils. I guided you step by step, starting with a simple sketch and then slowly building up the colours and textures. We focused on getting the shapes right first—the body, the head, the tail—and then added all the lovely details that bring a mouse to life, like its ears, nose and tiny feet.

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I showed you how to work with light, gentle lines in the beginning and how to layer colours gradually. We used purples and browns for shadows, pinks and reds for noses and cheeks, and saved black for the very last touches. I also shared how to create soft fur texture, how to make eyes sparkle, and how to add little footprints and shadows to give your mouse character and depth.

This is a calm and gentle drawing session, perfect whether you are completely new to drawing…

In this workshop I share one of my favourite mediums with you – watercolour pencils. They are such a joy because they combine the precision of a coloured pencil with the softness and flow of watercolour paint.

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I begin by showing you different ways to use them: sketching dry, adding water afterwards, and even dipping the pencil straight into water for stronger marks. I explain why these pencils are wonderful for travel sketching and why I prefer starting with colour instead of graphite.

Together we explore a peaceful countryside landscape. I guide you through placing the horizon, hills and a lake, and we add a little sheep in the foreground using very simple shapes. You will see how I block in colours, layer greens and blues to create depth, and keep the sheep light so we can return with details later.

I show you how adding water brings…

Painting Koi Carp in Watercolour

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In this session, we painted graceful koi carp, and I took you through my process step-by-step.

We began with sketching – searching for the right shape and being flexible enough to adjust or erase lines when needed. I showed you how to make the top line of the fish stronger, tilt the tail for a dynamic composition, and even let your drawing spill off the edge of the paper for energy and movement.

We painted some koi last year too: This is the video is that class

BLOB Technique: Mixed Media Swallow

In this special class, I will take you step-by-step through the full BLOB technique to create a little mixed media swallow. I know we have explored this method before, but this time we are slowing down and giving ourselves the time to enjoy the full process—without rushing to finish in just one session.

We begin with a playful layer of watercolour, using the BLOB method to lay down loose shapes that suggest our swallow's form. Once dry, we move on to coloured pencils to bring in finer details and tidy things up. Finally, I use water-soluble oil pastels to cover little imperfections and add that extra character and richness to the piece.

You can use any art supplies you have at home. The focus is on layering, experimenting, and taking our time. It is a relaxing and joyful process, and I cannot wait to see…

Ladybug and Raindrops – Colour Pencil Drawing Class (Replay)

In this session, I showed you how to create a beautiful ladybug illustration with raindrops and leafy details using colour pencils. I guided you step by step through the drawing process, starting with a simple sketch and building up layers of colour to add depth, texture and light.

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Reference photo:

https://unsplash.com/photos/close-up-photo-of-ladybird-perching-on-stem-covered-with-water-droplet-igQx3ETkKZY

Hi everyone, This is an old community class where we made a charcoal drawing of a raven.

Watch here

Download the sketch template here:

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 #Animal #Drawing #Colourpencil #draw #sketchbook #class

You can share your artwork in the comments or in the homework gallery