Vivian

June 23, 2020 at 8:44 AM

I was so enthused about this class that I did about 98 percent of the homework and pushed everything else out of my life. It was two months very well spent!

I learned how to decide on story and I’m now careful to leave out what doesn’t help the story. 
I learned how to research something I don’t know how to draw. Previously I always thought I had to take a workshop on each element, so you’ve saved me lots of money and time! And I also 
I learned how to use a grey scale and a thumbnail to determine where the lights and darks go. I have always wanted to learn how to do that! Now I do.

Next to your Edges course, this course is now my very favorite. I sing your praises all the time, Liz. Thank you for the ton of work you put into this. Truly outstanding!!

Vivian

April 11, 2017 at 1:29 PM

What a great online class Edges was! And I do not say that lightly because I am an online instructional designer by trade. Loved that you had 3 or 4 well defined objectives each week. Loved your transitions between lessons. You were always able to relate the material from the previous week to the current week.

The videos were fantastic! Your peppy demeanor made them engaging along with additional scenes of people walking in the park etc. It was like a story, not just a tutorial! The over the shoulder shots were a godsend. The handouts were wonderful summaries. (I felt like I got a free book with this class!)

You were always engaged with the the question and answer area. And finally your feedback was quite detailed. You were truly present and listening. Thank you for such a wonderful class!

Julia

April 11, 2017 at 12:20 PM

Before the Buildings course, I was struggling with seeing and defining tonal values. I didn’t know how to distinguish between shades and shadows nor how to translate them into watercolors on paper. Buildings would often look flat and life-less.
In the course, I also learned how to think in volumes, whereas before I would cling to the outlines hoping to get the angles right.
Obviously, I catch myself slipping back into old patterns, so it is important for me to regularly review and practice the concepts. It’s so much more fun and relaxing to sketch when having a framework.

Thank you for the wonderful course, Liz! I very much enjoy the variety in which the material is presented (handouts: structured theory, videos: virtually accompanying you on the assignments and all the additional information given at the feedback sessions. It’s a treasure box! But most importantly, what shines through every line you write and say is your enthusiasm and energy and your joy for experimenting and for taking your sketching a step further. So motivating!!!

Larry

April 11, 2017 at 12:17 PM

Liz, I love your drawing and you’ve been one of my heroes for some time. But your ability as an instructor is par excellence. I relate so much better to how architects think than those coming from a more ‘pure’ art background.
You actually analyze why and how to do art and your Foundations class really reflects this. It’s amazing. You have a way of showing people much more than the lesson you’re teaching. What you are teaching are lessons that I could not learn from books, mostly because while the concepts are often presented, the rationales are not, but also because there is more to it than just ‘here’s a blind contour drawing..i it’ll make you gooder at art’. You are filling in those gaps nicely.

Tabitha

April 11, 2017 at 12:13 PM

Thank you Liz for such an excellent course – this has stretched me way beyond what I thought I could achieve! I have learnt to see shadow shapes and to manipulate colour, tone and hue, achieving the focus and effect I want, without getting hung up about the realism of the sketch. I also started working in a looser way, not being afraid to try different tools and techniques in one sketch.

I have learnt to see shadow shapes and to manipulate colour, tone and hue, achieving the focus and effect I want, without getting hung up about the realism of the sketch. I also started working in a looser way, not being afraid to try different tools and techniques in one sketch.

Chris

April 8, 2017 at 10:39 AM

SketchingNow Buildings completely exceeded my expectations!

The material was organized and presented in a such a beneficial, beautiful way for learning. I now have the confidence to sketch buildings in public – and in low light which we often have in Seattle. Your depth of knowledge of buildings and sketching is so impressive – and your personality shines through the demos and reviews. It was a great privilege to be part of this class.

Thank you for putting so much heart into this class! I loved it.

Jules

April 8, 2017 at 10:08 AM

As someone who is entirely self-taught, though; what I valued most of all In Foundations was the way in which you made us stop and think about what we were doing, and why – and to question and consider with each core concept. This helped me understand why some things are not working for me – and enabled me to develop and to change my technique without fear of ‘doing it wrong’. The whole class, content, teaching, flow, pace, homework prompts have been excellent, and so enjoyable.

Since taking SketchingNow Foundations I have continued to question ‘how’ I am approaching my subject – and to try new techniques and approaches. Previously, I always worked in a very structured, detailed way – but now ‘embrace the wonkiness’ has become my strapline! To add to this, I got the confidence, together with a friend, to start up a new Urban Sketchers Group for Bristol and the South West UK, and we have our second sketch crawl this weekend! So not only did Sketching Now help me – it is also helping other sketchers in the area – which is a pretty good result all round.