Teacups
Learn how Liz creates her famous teacup sketches and then apply the techniques to sketching teacups in your own style
Does this sound like you?
“I want to know how you get all those amazing watercolour effects in your teacup sketches”
“I don’t have a lot of time to sketch”
“My ellipses are always wonky”
“I want to take my sketching to the next level but don’t know where to start”
Teacups has been designed to address these common struggles
Why learn to sketch teacups?
Teacups will develop your sketching skills!
Plus, the act of sketching a teacup helps you escape the busyness of your day and generates calm.
They have a nicely tricky form (concentric ellipses) and come in an endless variety of patterns—from simple to complex. The more difficult patterns invite play and experimentation so that you can sketch the same cup over and over again.
All the important observational and drawing skills can be learned by sketching teacups, plus you get to use all the colours in your palette!
If you think that fancy teacups are intimidating, this course will break down every step you need to sketch them in your own style!
In this Teacups course you will learn to:
– apply the core concepts drawn from my Foundations and Watercolour courses specifically to teacups
– draw ellipses with confidence but not worry about being too perfect
– increase your control of water – whether using a precise style or working looser and taking risks
– learn how to simplify teacup patterns
– paint them in lively vibrant watercolour washes with lots of pigment parties!
By doing a deep dive into one object (teacups!) you’ll learn skills you can apply to anything you paint.
You’ll love creating beautiful paintings that will fill you with joy — using everyday objects!
Who is the course for?
Teacups is for sketchers of all levels of experience who want to create lively sketches full of watercolour magic.
ARE YOU A BEGINNER?
If you are a beginner, this Teacups course will introduce all the most important drawing and painting skills you need to sketch anything. You’ll understand which skills will help you develop confidence as a sketcher, and can explore those skills in my Foundations and Watercolour courses.
DONE FOUNDATIONS AND WATERCOLOUR COURSES?
Teacups will be a great way to take your drawing and watercolour skills to the next level as you re-visit core concepts and apply them to an everyday object.
WANT TO EXPERIMENT AND DO MORE WET-IN-WET WATERCOLOUR?
If you are a more experienced sketcher, this course will show you how to work wet-in-wet, take more risks, and create lots of watercolour magic!
The Teacups course is focused on teacups, but you’ll learn concepts that apply to any sketching. The course is designed to complement Foundations and Watercolour.
How will the course work?
Start today and work at your own pace
- All lessons are available when you purchase the course so you can work through the lessons at your own pace
- Share your work and interact with other students inside the custom-designed classroom galleries and forum
- Ask Liz questions related to the course in the dedicated question section for each lesson.
Work through the course with a group
- Each year Liz hosts a number of Group Self-paced or Live Versions for selected courses.
- A Group Self-paced Version allows you to work through the lessons as a group with weekly emails to prompt you to move onto the next lesson.
- A Live Version will include bonus live teaching sessions with Liz (private YouTube Livestreams) as you work through the lessons with a group.
- If you’ve purchased the course at any time you can join these group events for free. See FAQ below for more details
Ready to build a solid foundation for your sketching?
How you'll learn
Custom-designed classroom
Interactive Livestreams
How you'll learn
- over 9 hours of on-demand video lessons, each lesson building on the previous, so you can make steady progress in a systematic way
- theory sections that clearly explain the essential concepts so that you can apply them to your own style and way of working
- downloadable PDF handout so you can quickly review the key elements of each lesson when you need it
- specific assignments designed so that you really understand and know how to use the concepts from the lesson – these can be done from photos of Liz’s teacups or your own.
Custom-designed classroom
- specially designed private classroom with dedicated assignment galleries and forum so that you can connect with and be inspired by other sketchers from around the world who are working alongside you
- ability to ask Liz questions about the lessons you are working through so you can get help when you need it
- livestreams during Live Versions – which will include mini demos, bonus material and a chance to have your questions answered in real-time
- full transcripts for all video lessons so you can easily follow along
- lifetime access to all course content and any future group events
Interactive Livestreams
- A very special part of SketchingNow courses is the interactive livestreams that are hosted during Live Versions.
- These live Q&A sessions include additional mini demos and a chance to get all your sketching questions answered in real-time!
"This was my very first course of yours, Liz, and I could not be more pleased. I loved how that apparently narrow focus led us to explore a wealth of concepts and a great amount of techniques. "
Laura
“This was a lot of fun, and as usual, I appreciated the mix of detailed content and level of enthusiasm you brought to each lesson. I particularly appreciated the demonstrations of the different approaches to intricate patterns, as well as the reminder that we can make alterations to suit what we’re trying to achieve.“
Lee
“I really enjoyed this course. I wasn’t sure how I’d go sketching the same subject over and over. But I loved the way Liz demonstrated so many different styles and techniques to approach teacups. I feel like I now have a go-to subject anytime I am stuck for something to sketch!”
Lottie
"In my many years as an online learner I've come across lots of terrific artists and have taken several others' online courses and am confident that Liz's are the richest in content and usefulness."
Katie
"Receiving positive feedback helps boost my confidence, and offering feedback to others helps me think more clearly about the lesson’s objectives. I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience."
Karen
"These courses have given me different ways of approaching my sketches, they have improved my observational and drawing skills, and increased my enjoyment and confidence. They have taught me to "see better"! I can't recommend them enough! "
Ionne
Course Outline
Introduction: Why teacups
- Why I love sketching teacups so much
- My teacup collection
- Teacup selection guide
- My teacup collection
- Teacup selection guide
Part 1: Understanding teacups
1 week
- Feeling Edges
- Abstracting Shapes
- Constructing Volumes
- Measuring
- Adding Patterns
- Teacup Variations
Plus
- Exercises
- Questions
- Takeaways
- Abstracting Shapes
- Constructing Volumes
- Measuring
- Adding Patterns
- Teacup Variations
Plus
- Exercises
- Questions
- Takeaways
Part 2: Teacups and watercolour
1 week
- Watercolour Components
- My approach to Patterns
- Watercolour Patterns
- Patterns and Shadow shapes
- Watercolour and Edges
Plus
- Exercises
- Questions
- Takeaways
- My approach to Patterns
- Watercolour Patterns
- Patterns and Shadow shapes
- Watercolour and Edges
Plus
- Exercises
- Questions
- Takeaways
Part 2: Teacup Demos
2 weeks
- Ink and Wash: Drawing first and then adding paint
- Ink and Wash: Alternating ink and wash with grey fude
- Watercolour Pencil: Loose sketch with coloured outlines
- Watercolour Pencil: Pencil shapes and minimal watercolour
- Paint Only: Three views with simple details
- Paint Only: Shadow shape and details
- Paint Only: Dark background, watery washes
- Paint Only: Complex Pattern
Plus
- Exercises
- Questions
- Takeaways
- Ink and Wash: Alternating ink and wash with grey fude
- Watercolour Pencil: Loose sketch with coloured outlines
- Watercolour Pencil: Pencil shapes and minimal watercolour
- Paint Only: Three views with simple details
- Paint Only: Shadow shape and details
- Paint Only: Dark background, watery washes
- Paint Only: Complex Pattern
Plus
- Exercises
- Questions
- Takeaways
Join the Teacups Course today
Money back guarantee
We offer a money 7-day back guarantee for Teacups. If you are unhappy with the course for any reason, let us know and we will refund your payment within the first 7 days of the course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teacup collection to do the course?
While it’s not essential to have your own teacups, you’ll get the most out of the course if you are sketching from life and have a cup that brings you joy!
But you don’t have to buy anything. Maybe you have a family member or friend that you can borrow a few cups from. A fine china teacup is not needed – any plain cup and saucer or patterned vessel can also be used. In addition, photos of the cups I use for the demos and exercises are provided.
Refer to my Teacup Selection Guide for suggestions.
But you don’t have to buy anything. Maybe you have a family member or friend that you can borrow a few cups from. A fine china teacup is not needed – any plain cup and saucer or patterned vessel can also be used. In addition, photos of the cups I use for the demos and exercises are provided.
Refer to my Teacup Selection Guide for suggestions.
Is the course live or pre-recorded?
Teacups contains pre-recorded videos which can be watched at any time.
During a Live Version (which only happens every 12-24 months) there are some bonus livestreams. Replays of previous livestreams are available in the classoom.
During a Live Version (which only happens every 12-24 months) there are some bonus livestreams. Replays of previous livestreams are available in the classoom.
Can I work through the course at my own pace?
Yes! All SketchingNow courses are available as self-paced courses at all times. All you have to do is signup and you can start working through the lessons straight away!
- You have full access to all lessons on enrollment within the custom-built SketchingNow classroom.
- You can interact with fellow students inside the classroom, comment on each other’s work in the homework galleries and discuss all kinds of art topics within the forum.
- You can ask Liz questions related to the course in the dedicated question section for each lesson.
- If you want some accountability in working through the lessons, you can sign up to receive weekly lesson reminder emails. Each week you will receive a new email to prompt you to move on to the next part of the course.
- You have full access to all lessons at the time of enrollment and free access to all future Group Self-paced and Live Versions for that course.
- You have full access to all lessons on enrollment within the custom-built SketchingNow classroom.
- You can interact with fellow students inside the classroom, comment on each other’s work in the homework galleries and discuss all kinds of art topics within the forum.
- You can ask Liz questions related to the course in the dedicated question section for each lesson.
- If you want some accountability in working through the lessons, you can sign up to receive weekly lesson reminder emails. Each week you will receive a new email to prompt you to move on to the next part of the course.
- You have full access to all lessons at the time of enrollment and free access to all future Group Self-paced and Live Versions for that course.
Will I have lifetime access?
Yes! Once you sign up you have lifetime access to all the Teacups lessons, the classroom (including assignment galleries and forums) and all livestream replays (with chat replays as well).
What materials will I need for the course?
Like other SketchingNow courses there are no specific requirements for Teacups. It is best that you use materials that you already have and currently use.
Basic Requirements:
- a pencil HB or B
- permanent fineliner or fountain pen with permanent ink
- watercolour paints – use your normal palette. The only colour that is recommended is Quinacridone Gold for gold trims (any brand will do)
- watercolour pencils in colours to match your teacups
- a few markers (these are optional and used for one exercise)
- average size brush (#6 or #8 round) and a smaller brush (#2 or #4 round)
- sketchbook with paper suitable for watercolour – use whatever sketchbook you normally use.
Download Materials List for more details.
Basic Requirements:
- a pencil HB or B
- permanent fineliner or fountain pen with permanent ink
- watercolour paints – use your normal palette. The only colour that is recommended is Quinacridone Gold for gold trims (any brand will do)
- watercolour pencils in colours to match your teacups
- a few markers (these are optional and used for one exercise)
- average size brush (#6 or #8 round) and a smaller brush (#2 or #4 round)
- sketchbook with paper suitable for watercolour – use whatever sketchbook you normally use.
Download Materials List for more details.
Do I need to have any special social media accounts?
Everything you need to access the lessons, post homework and interact with others is contained within the SketchingNow classroom.
The only exception are the Livestreams (during Live Versions) which will occur on Youtube. A YouTube account is needed to interact with the live chat but without it you can still watch the livestream and send your questions via email. Replays will be available.
The only exception are the Livestreams (during Live Versions) which will occur on Youtube. A YouTube account is needed to interact with the live chat but without it you can still watch the livestream and send your questions via email. Replays will be available.
