Back to Madeline Island

In July, I had a fabulous time exploring Minneapolis and a bit of the state of Minnesota with my dear friend Aleta before heading into Wisconsin and staying for a few nights on the bank of Lake Superior. This is so massive - a fresh water ocean - and just beautiful day or night.

Highlights included seeing some gorgeous bald eagles and the amazing caves as we kayaked along the rocky cliffs of the lake. Another was the island cruise, going around many of the 22 Apostle islands.

Study of 4 of the lighthouses we saw.

I finally headed to Madeline Island - the largest of the 22 islands, accessed by a ferry - in time for the Fourth of July parade and fireworks. It was then time to prepare for a 5 day workshop with Eduardo Bajzek, Oliver Hoeller and Nina Johansson. We explored the island, sketched together and finalised our plans for the week.

It was run by the Madeline Island School of the Arts, which is a stunning purpose-built school with very comfortable and attractive student accommodation on site. 

The meals are amazing - colourful and fresh and exceptional quality. The salads alone would be worth painting for those who love sketching food!

Our fabulous students had a wonderful time, spending a day with each of us and the final day working all together. We also had fun events for some of the evenings.

We're going to return next July, 21st - 25th, with new workshops to make the most of the school and the island locations. Last time, I focused on working with primary triads to depict some lovely botanical subjects. This time I'll be exploring another passion - line and ink - based in the school and in the fabulous Madeline Island Museum. 

Eduardo concentrated on atmospheric trees in graphite this year. Next year he'll work with perspective and creating studies of buildings and extending to toned paper with white chalk for greater contrast.

Oliver worked on creating a story of a place in the museum with great layouts in pen and watercolour this year and next year he'll be based on the campus and add acrylic pens and coloured pencils to the lineup.

Nina took everyone on a trip to Bayfield this year, to capture the spirit of the town. Next year she'll be working on campus looking at some fabulous old cars from unusual angles!  

Here's the full information. We've limited the numbers so please apply early.

Urban Sketching and Beyond – Solid Foundations, Exciting Applications

Some of my sketches from Madeline Island.

Quick sketches from to boat, trying to capture the caves in the rocks. Twilight cruise.

Cropped sketch of a tree, sitting in a car with Eduardo to avoid the sprinkling of rain, 

with a Kakimori nib and Jane's Grey watercolour. See Eduardo's sketch here

Studies in the museum.

An old General Motors car Nina and I sketched together.

The Madeline Island Museum

Tom's Burnt Down Cafe - the hot spot of Madeline Island and a must visit! 

Have a look at all our sketches on Eduardo's post here.

Hope to see you there 🙂

Brush markers - watercolour and permanent pigmented ink

I've been working through a number of different brands and styles of pigmented fine-line markers and previous posts and on mu YouTube channel. I use these a lot in my sketchbooks, especially for writing or for fine drawing when I want to add watercolour and not have a pencil line that may smudge over time.

I'll now look at a number of brush tip markers. These are not something I tend to use very often, but many others do so I'll share what I have come across. Some are water-soluble watercolour markers and others are waterproof pigmented ink.

Winsor & Newton Promarker Watercolour markers

W&N Pomarker Watercolour maker tips. (from the W&N website)

Winsor & Newton released a range of 36 watercolour markers in the Promarker range a few years ago and I had the opportunity to try them all out in a Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook. I'm finally sharing them here. 

I don't own many of them, so the full range is shown in much smaller swatches than usual, but the colour scan is pretty close to accurate so it should be helpful.

They have two tips - a sharp bullet tip and a brush tip. The ink is described as water-based pigmented ink. They will active with water, and reactivate when dry.

Here are some swatches created with the brush pens I actually own. I've drawn around the outside of the square with the bullet-tip, then brushed marks into that square with the brush tip, then washed water into the square. The rectangle is filled with the brush tip with no water application.

Winsor & Newton watercolour markers.

While my preference is to work with traditional watercolour and brushes, these are an option that some may really enjoy as they are water-soluble and intermixable. They didn't bleed through the 150gsm Alpha paper - unlike many other markers, including the W&N Brush Markers - and the colour range is pretty good.

It is recommended that you work on watercolour paper with watercolour brushes.

Faber-Castell Watercolour Markers

Faber-Castell also has a range of watercolour markers in their Albrecht Dürer range. The colour numbers match other Albrecht Dürer products so watercolour pencils, fine liner pens, watercolour pens, regular pencils and so on can all be chosen to match each other across the range. The website has a terrific colour wheel and some instructional videos on these markers.

Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour marker. Image  from the Faber-castell website.

I have only tried a few, but will show those swatches here.

Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer watercolour markers

Faber-Castell Pitt brush pens

Faber-Castell also has a range of Pitt brush pens, which are pigmented and waterproof - a totally different medium. These come in 60 colours, as full sets or special purpose sets. I have only tried half of them but here is a look at these waterproof brush-pen swatches.

Faber-Castell Pitt brush pens

Faber-Castell Pitt brush pens

Faber-Castell Pitt brush pens

Faber-Castell Pitt brush pens

Faber-Castell Pitt brush pens

I have a few other individual brush pens to add over time. Feel free to share your favourites in the comments.

Madeline Island Workshop

In July 2024, I'm looking forward to participating in a really exciting group workshop (like a mini symposium!) at the Madeline Island School of Arts in Wisconsin USA.

Sketching Haven: A Summer Retreat with Four Internationally Renowned Artists.

I'll be joined by three terrific sketchers from the Urban Sketching community - Eduardo Bajzek from Brazil; Oliver Moeller from Austria and Nina Johansson from Sweden. We'll be exploring the island and the Bay Area, working in our sketchbooks in pen, pencil and watercolour.

This is a 5-day workshop, with gorgeous facilities and a varied itinerary so you can explore many ways of looking and recording what you see. Eduardo Bajzek's workshop focuses on capturing trees and landscapes using graphite. My workshop specialises in colour and botanical sketching. Oliver Hoeller guides participants in telling the story of Madeline Island through sketching. Nina Johansson immerses you in everyday life in the coastal harbour village. On the final day we'll have some great whole team activities.

With diverse techniques and personalised guidance, these workshops offer a comprehensive learning experience for participants to refine their skills and explore various aspects of sketching and painting.

Dates 8th July - 12th July 2024. Here is the link for more information, artist galleries and booking links :-)

4 New Internationally  Renowned Artists Jane Blundell, Australia  Oliver Hoeller, Austria Eduardo Bajzek, Brazil Nina Johansson, Sweden NEW Instructor and a NEW Location Every Day! July 8th–12th, 2024 – Learn More and Register Today – Discover the ultimate artistic adventure awaiting you on Madeline Island! Delve into the captivating world of Sketching with our exclusive 5-day workshop led by four internationally acclaimed instructors. Eduardo Bajzek will unveil the secrets of capturing the essence of trees and landscapes, while Jane Blundell will illuminate the realm of color and botanical sketching. Oliver Hoeller will guide you through the narrative of Madeline Island's story with his expert sketching techniques, and Nina Johansson will immerse you in the charming everyday life of a coastal harbor town.  Experience a journey of artistic exploration like never before, with each day bringing new techniques, new landscapes, and new insights. Join us for an enriching experience where you'll refine your skills and discover the myriad facets of sketching and painting under the personalized guidance of these four renowned international instructors. Did you miss our LIVE Webinar last month with all 4 of these amazing artists?  Click here for the free recording Jane Blundell–Australia Jane Blundell is renowned for her mastery in the realms of color and botanical sketching. With a passion for capturing the intricate beauty of the natural world, Jane's work resonates with stunning hues and meticulous detail. As an experienced instructor, she has empowered countless students to unlock their creativity and develop their own artistic voice. Through her workshops and demonstrations, Jane shares her wealth of knowledge and techniques, inspiring others to see the world through an artist's eyes.  Workshop: Botanical Sketching Oliver Hoeller–Austria Oliver Hoeller's passion lies in telling captivating stories through the medium of sketching. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for narrative, Oliver's work breathes life into the scenes he captures. You will join Oliver in exploring Madeline Island, visiting the museum and surrounding areas, as he effortlessly conveys the essence and character of his subjects. As a seasoned instructor, he empowers aspiring artists to infuse their sketches with meaning and emotion.  Workshop: Sketching the Story of Madeline Island Eduardo Bajzek–Brazil Eduardo Bajzek is known for his ability to capture the soul of nature through his sketches. With a focus on trees and landscapes, Eduardo's work evokes a sense of tranquility and connection to the natural world. His mastery of light, shadow, and texture brings his subjects to life on the page, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the beauty of the outdoors. As a dedicated instructor, Eduardo shares his expertise with aspiring artists, guiding them on a journey to explore and appreciate the wonders of the world around them. Join Eduardo Bajzek on an artistic adventure where every stroke reveals the hidden magic of nature. Workshop: Trees and the Island Landscape Nina Johansson–Sweden Nina Johansson is known for her ability to capture the essence of everyday life with grace and authenticity. With a focus on urban landscapes and coastal scenes, Nina's sketches breathe life into bustling city streets and tranquil harbor towns alike. Her keen observation and meticulous attention to detail transport viewers into the heart of each scene, where every line and brushstroke tells a story. As a passionate educator, Nina inspires students to embrace the beauty and charm of their surroundings, empowering them to find creativity in the ordinary.  Workshop: Everyday Life in a Coastal Village – Learn More and Register Today – FOUR Remarkable Instructors FIVE Fabulous Days! July 8th –12th, 2024 Don't Miss It! Our campus offers tranquil Mission Cottages with three gourmet meals and spacious light-filled studios open 24 hours - the perfect creative environment for our sketchers Sketch the quaint harbor town of Bayfield and enjoy the enchantment of riding the ferry over and back to Madeline Island

Come and sketch with us!

Watercolour Palettes 1 - The Herring Palette - updated

There are so many different palettes available that I thought I'd write a few posts exploring some of them in a bit more detail. Have a look at my website or thewatercolourfanatic for even more!

This plastic palette, based perhaps on the brass paint box, is a great design. I've been using the half-pan version as my sketching palette for about since about 2013. In 2024 I finally 'renewed' it with the exact same model. 

I use the full pan version for my gouache travel palette of full pans. It is from jacksons in the UK. Here is an affiliate link to both versions.

While it is a bit more expensive than some of the other folding palettes, it is so versatile that I have made up a few different versions for my students. I rather like having all the colours in one section so they don't spill into each other when the palette is shut. This also has very deep mixing areas. It is light and strong and big enough to use in the studio but light enough to take into the great outdoors. The catch is very secure and there is a video showing how to open it!

Here is the half-pan option. You can use half pans and change your colours around, or put the watercolour directly into the wells. Standard half pans fit in snugly without rattling about.

Frank Herring : Compact Palette Half Pan : 26x13cm Open 13x8cm Closed

Here is the whole-pan version, designed to take 12 whole (or full) pans. Each pan section will actually fit two half pans if you sand them down a little so it is also very versatile.

Frank Herring : Compact Palette Whole Pan : 26x13cm Open 13x8cm Closed

Here are some options - the first is the whole-pan version with half pans added into some of the the spaces. The second is the half-pan option with 8 additional half pans added into the brush section - great if you want to hold it for plein air. The third is the half pan option with the thumb hole filled in and extra half pans added to the space. This was my plein-air palette for years. Note that a compact water brush fits in well.

The pans can be glued in but I prefer to use blu-tac so they can come out again! Or fill the paint directly into the palette without using half pans if you are sure you won't want to change your colours around!

This is another configuration - designed to have just 8 colours around the outside, with the space to mix other colours in the added half pans. Just a little sanding with fine sandpaper allows two half pans to fit in the whole pan wells, though the Schmincke half pans fit without sanding. The paint was squeezed directly into the full pan well holes though whole pans could be used for ease of changing them.

I really recommend this palette option for sketching or plein air. I've been very happy with it.

You can see a number of other palette suggestions, including more configurations of this one, on my website here.

You can also see a video I crated about this palette here.