To join me on a virtual sketching trip, download a travel sketch-journal here.
I add tutorials to them so you can learn the techniques and details you see in the sketchbooks.

My former workshop students asked me to upload my workshop workbooks to make them available to everyone. So you can also download a workbook and give yourself a workshop! Enjoy!


Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Any one for a workshop in Costa Rica or Hawaii?

I'm toying with two ideas for my next journal/sketching workshop (similar to the one I just did), and I may go for one or both. Let's hear it for a workshop in Hawaii, on the Big Island, in Kona, Hilo, Volcano Village area, or at Kalana Retreat Center. Not sure where or when, but within the year.

OR

July at El Remanso, on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

Do I hear anyone really interested in either/both? Let me know. It's not binding, of course ~ I'm just trolling for interest. If either of these appeals to you, either comment here or drop me a line. If you comment here, you'll encourage others to comment. If you write to me, it's private.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Irene

10 comments:

Jody said...

I have thoroughly enjoyed following your workshop through the blog. I would love to join the Costa Rica or Hawaii workshop, but alas it is not possible this year :-(

I too am a field journal keeper and I have enjoyed seeing the pages of both your own and your students journals. It is very educational to study other's individual "styles."

I have recently purchased you book - Illustrating Nature - it is very good. I find the scientific illustration material a new and nice addition to the other nature journal books that dwell on watercolor technique. Have you considered a book or an online class of your journaling workshop?

I hope that you continue talking about your adventures in sketchbook journaling even though your workshop is over. I enjoy hearing from others that also enjoy this pursuit.

Thanks Irene!

Irene Brady said...

Hi Jody,
It's great to hear from a fellow journal-keeper! I agree -- it's really educational to see how others keep a journal. We all have our strong and weak points, so every such experience can be helpful.

I'm glad you're finding my book _Illustrating Nature_ to be helpful. I use some techniques from it in my sketching/journaling classes.

And yes, I have considered teaching classes online, but preparing for the first class is a steep learning curve. I am planning to take a class with Kate Johnson in the near future (I already paid for a class, but had to miss it, so I'm waiting for that class or another one to come along so I can get on with my education) -- I'll not only learn what she has to teach, but I'll have an opportunity to watch a master in action.

At that point, I hope to develop classes so I can help out people who can't get to my workshops in person. While there's no real subsitute for on-site workshops, a lot can be gained from the online experience if you are dedicated to working hard on the project. Besides, they're fun!

Thanks for commenting.
Irene

Leslie said...

Irene, I would love it if you did an online class. I also wish you'd continue to post on your blog even when you're not in the middle of a workshop. It was a long time between the Hawaii trip and the Costa Rica one!

I'm in the beginning stages of sketchbook journaling and have loved learning from yours. Thank you for posting them!

Nikol said...

Irene,
I would be most interested in a Hawaii workshop. I work at a college so I would need it to be during the summer or over winter break or spring break. Thank you for posting your fabulous journal pages! I love watercolor pencils (especially especially the Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer line) and it is such a joy to see how someone else uses them.

Nikol

Irene Brady said...

Hi Leslie,
I wasn't sure people who keep an eye on this blog were interested in other stuff. The last long hiatus, I was working on the final illustrations and proofing of my Southern Swamp Explorer book, and in fact, I will be getting back to that again this spring as I prepare it for press.

You think people who read this blog would be interested in that?

This weekend I have a local workshop, too, so I'll put up some entries about that.

Thanks for your input. I will strongly consider it.

Irene

Irene Brady said...

Hi Nikol,

When are your Winter Break and Spring Break? And how long are they? And in your experience, are they generally the same dates and lengths for all schools?

I'm giving this idea serious thought....I'd like to do El Remanso again in July, so maybe these would work best.

I know the big time presenters do this every two weeks or so, but they also tend to have someone helping them set dates, make arrangements, and "tend the farm" while they're away, which I don't have.

SOOO glad you enjoy the journal pages. Journaling is a pretty personal thing, so to put it up on the blog is a little intimidating, to be perfectly honest. But the nice comments from people have made it a real pleasure.

Irene

Jody said...

I have to agree with Leslie, I would love to have you make postings to the blog between your workshops. When the blog is active it kind of gives me a jumpstart to find the time to continue with my own sketching.

As far as college spring and winter breaks, I have some feedback. I have two sons in college in two different states and their schedules are really different. A lot depends on if the colleges are on the semester or quarter system.

Leslie said...

Irene, I can't vouch for the interest of others, but I know that I would enjoy seeing some of what you are doing on your book, and I'd definitely love to see your journal entries from this weekend's workshop. :)

As Jody said, when your blog is active it reminds me to sketch and journal.

Nikol said...

Irene,
Spring Break is actually next week for me. I think that schools around the country have completely different Spring Breaks so it would be impossible to get everyone's. Winter Break this year runs from December 20, 2008 to January 11, 2009. Anybody for a Solstice workshop in Hawaii?
Nikol

Irene Brady said...

Dang! And I was hoping maybe I could make it possible for teachers and students to take advantage of breaks. Oh well.....But maybe the winter break is a little more consistent -- most schools have a nice long Christmas break. Perhaps the first part of January?

I listened to suggestions that I blog the workshop, and it's going now. Also, I will try to keep current as I work on The Southern Swamp Explorer. I guess people can just drop out if they aren't interested.....Thanks for the comments!
Irene

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