Mixed-Media Sketchbooks
Mixed-Media Sketchbooks
Winter 2026 dates (live via Zoom): five consecutive Tuesdays, 6 January - 3 February, 6-8pm UK time
Start 2026 with this five-week invitation to explore materials and develop ideas for your art. We’ll experiment with drawing, painting, collage, and more over the course of five live Zoom sessions, with optional assignments for you to complete in between sessions.
The live Zoom sessions are delivered in a small, welcoming group with ample opportunity for interaction and questions. Each live session combines demonstration, guided exercises, group discussion, and individual working time. Whether you're looking to establish a regular sketching habit, break out of a creative rut, or simply play with new materials, this course offers a supportive space to experiment without pressure. All levels welcome—from complete beginners to experienced artists seeking fresh inspiration.
This course is not about perfection or ‘finished’ work. It's about curiosity, process, and building a sustainable creative practice that fits your life. Shake off the winter doldrums and revitalise your creative practice while discovering your own personal approach to keeping a dynamic, experimental sketchbook.
Recommended Materials
Don't feel you need to run out and purchase everything on this list, but it would be good to have at minimum some drawing, painting, and collage materials to hand. Feel free to message Julie if you have any questions.
Sketchbook(s) of your choice - at least one that is A4 or larger (and at least one that handles wet media—140lb/300gsm paper or heavier). You can also work on loose sheets of paper (watercolour or similar).
Drawing materials: pencils, charcoal, conte, or other preferred drawing tools
Water-soluble drawing materials: Inktense blocks or pencils, watercolour pencils, or Neocolor II, etc.
Pastels: soft or oil pastels
Ink: India ink, drawing ink, acrylic inks
Paints: watercolour, gouache, or acrylics (even a basic student set is fine)
Brushes in various sizes, water jar, paper towels or rags
Collage materials: old magazines, paper scraps, printed papers, tissue paper
Glue stick and/or matte medium, scissors
Gesso (white, black, clear), white gel/paint pens, markers, anything else you'd like to experiment with
