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
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!
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
- 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.
- 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
- 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!
- My teacup collection
- Teacup selection guide
- Abstracting Shapes
- Constructing Volumes
- Measuring
- Adding Patterns
- Teacup Variations
Plus
- Exercises
- Questions
- Takeaways
- My approach to Patterns
- Watercolour Patterns
- Patterns and Shadow shapes
- Watercolour and Edges
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.