Sketchbook Skool

"Sketchbook Skool" (yes, that is the correct spelling) is an online class from the wonderful and amazing writer/artist and keeper-of-extraordinary-illustrated-journals, Danny Gregory. I've followed Danny for ages, so I was really excited to sign up. I've never been disciplined enough to keep a sketchbook, despite my best efforts, so we'll see how it goes!

So far, the class is definitely pushing me out of my comfort zone—my safe, cozy, pencil-ly, dry-media comfort zone. Yes, you heard right:  Sketchbook Skool is a "NO PENCILS" zone, at least for now, so I'm getting reacquainted with pens and wet media—sometimes it's a blast, and sometimes, well, it's a real challenge. Sketching a little preliminary drawing under the ink is a no-no; you have to just put that pen on the paper and commit.

I'd been drawn to their class klass description of sharing the experience and the artwork with the other students but I had no idea how many they'd have—I think it's over 700 at the moment! I exchanged emails with Danny about that issue, and he was very gracious about it; hopefully future sessions will be divided into smaller "study groups" or "studios" or something. So for now, I'm just watching the class videos and sketching away. It's refreshing to do a drawing that takes 15 minutes instead of hours and days...

Here are my first two pages. (I'm already sorry that I chose a spiral binding, but I love the paper in the 6 x 9 Bee Paper Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook.)  No judging please, or I swear I'll make you look at another Pinecone Progress pic.