Pointillist is a much-loved portrait prompt at our live events and introductory workshops, but it’s been 3 years since we did it on Zoom! SO, we’re going for it this Sunday - with a 2-hour Sunday Session dedicated to drawing portraits (of each other) using only dots!

Whilst we love a line here at Sketch Appeal, it’s always fun (and challenging!) to experiment with creating portraits in this way - dot, by dot, by dot! We’ll be drawing 8 minute poses/portraits and take a break half-way through.

NB: It’s best to use felt or other round-tip pens for this technique - POSCAs work well.

Tickets offered on a sliding scale - pay what you can, if you can.

NB: This session will take place on ZOOM and you’ll receive the link on the day.

Join us for some fashion sketching fun with guest Artist Elyse Blackshaw!

To coincide with London Fashion Week, this week’s Sunday Session is a chance to play and experiment with mixed media approaches to fashion illustration and portraiture. Get set for some fresh inspiration and energy, as Elyse gives us an insight into her dynamic work and demonstrates how she does it.

We’ll have a go at drawing mixed media illos of some hot-off-the-catwalk looks, before settling into drawing portraits of each other in 8 minute fashion-inspired poses!

We recommend you bring some collage papers + a mix of drawing materials (e.g. markers, pastels, oil pastels, coloured pencils) to play around with. None are essential - just bring what you can!

Optional dress code = VOGUE!

Tickets offered on a sliding scale - £0, £5, £10, £15. You’ll receive the Zoom link on the day of the event.

Ahead of V/Galentine’s Day, come share your love of drawing at this 2 hour portrait sketchfest! After some speedy warm-ups, we’ll be drawing 8 minute portraits of as many willing muses as we can. Wear red, or something you love!

Tickets offered on a sliding scale - pay what you can, if you can.

NB: This session will take place on ZOOM and you’ll receive the link on the day.

Cat Faulkner is the iconic Illustrator behind Jelly Armchair - an independent card company based in Cheltenham, which she runs with her sister Liz. Or as they say, “small family business - big silly puns!”

Cat’s work is full of charm, character and wit - the same joyful, playful energy that Cat radiates as a person. She draws her heart and soul into her work, and it shows!

When not generating new designs and working at Jelly Armchair, Cat’s a sought-after live event illustrator - painting portraits of guests at weddings and other celebrations. How does she manage it all? I’m not sure even Cat knows the answer to that!!

We’ll be talking (and generating!) puns, style, live illustration, avocados and more! Cat will give us a peek inside her sketchbooks and a demo of her process, before setting us a fun illustration challenge, inspired by her work. Then we’ll draw portraits of each other - option to avo-go at avocado portraits!

A small selection of Jelly Armchair’s Valentine’s collection, designed by Cat

One of Cat’s beautiful wedding illustrations, painted live.

Cat’s awesome sketch of our 5th Birthday Party - drawn in about 10 minutes!!

Cat has been an amazing cheerleader of Sketch Appeal from day one, first by contributing artwork and this interview to our magazine!

I loved having Cat (and giant snail) at our Oxford Street pop-up in November 2021, and I am forever grateful to her for having faith in my ideas and making this world a sunnier, punnier place!

Join us for the second in our brand-new series of Sunday Session on Zoom, with special guest Judy Andrews!

Judy Andrews doesn't just "do" graphic art, she lives it. She describes her work as a scrapbook of life–colourful snippets of typography dancing with bold affirmations. For Judy, blending journaling with art is like breathing. It's how she stitches together the past with the present, the real with the imagined. Creativity is her way of life.

Judy’s two decades in design are brimming with stories, lessons, and little 'aha!' moments. Over 5 years ago she founded design agency, Tickety Boo Creative, an agency that helps brands and businesses to build their confidence. It was around this time that she met Dulcie, and created several iconic artworks for Sketch Appeal!

Judy is currently writing an intentions guide, to help people live a life with intention, clarity, and confidence. Come and hear more about it (and all of the above!) at this week’s Sunday Session!

What to expect:

1. Hour 1: A 20-30 minute chat with Judy, with chance to ask questions. Judy will then invite you to select, explore and creatively manifest your word of the year. You could draw and illustrate the letters, draw things associated with it, or articulate it in entirely abstract form! This is a chance to create a piece of work just for you. We'll also explore vision and values, and get you thinking about your purpose and how you fulfil it - or could in the future. 
   

2. Hour 2: Pret a portrait! We’ll draw 8 minute portraits of volunteers from the group, to a banging 90s playlist (because Judy loves the 90s too!)
   

Tickets offered on a sliding scale - £0, £5, £10, £15. Pay what/if you can.
You’ll receive the Zoom link on the day of the event.

We’re excited to kick off a brand-new series of Sunday Sessions with award-winning Artist, Curtis Holder!

Curtis’s work is intricate, delicate and soulful beyond words, and through it comes rhythms and observations beyond and beneath what even his sitters can see. If you’ve seen him on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, or in any other context, then you’ll know that - as well as his exceptional artistic talent and vision - he has the most incredible energy and power to connect. Trust us - this session will leave you high for weeks!

In the first half of this session we’ll be chatting to Curtis about his past, recent and future work - including his residency at the National Theatre and Leeds Art Gallery. We’ll also delve into his motivations, his approach, his backstory and - without doubt - his thoughts on the personal and social impact of drawing.

Once we’re all talked out, we’ll tackle a challenge set by Curtis then spend the last hour sketching each other - drawing 8 minute poses/portraits of as many volunteers from the group as we can!

Tickets offered on a sliding scale - £0, £5, £10, £15. Pay what/if you can.
You’ll receive the Zoom link on the day of the event.

Sure, Curtis has done some slightly more high profile gigs, but some of us will remember him well for his appearance at our 2022 SKETCHFEST!