Ask nearly any artist “what is the most important thing to have with you at all times?” They’ll say a sketchbook. It’s a place for ideas, notes, and practice. It’s also a place where we can explore and try new things without pressure. A sketchbook page doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, it’s just a sketch, a piece of an idea. There’s no expectation of perfection, and it can be shared, or as private as a diary.
I met with Pfeiffer a while back to talk about his class ideas, and he brought a pile of his sketchbooks from when he was a teenager. They were worked hard, each page warped and crinkled from layers of wet media, scraps, scribbled notes. Book after book after book filled with sketches! They were colorful lasagna time capsules. Below are a few selected pages he was willing to share.
Sketchbook Project
The League is starting a sketchbook project to carry us through quarantine times. We’ll send out details soon!
Online art classes with Keith Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer is teaching a mini sketchbook class. We got cheeky and called it “Advanced Doodling.” See below.
Digital Painting, Wednesday, April 1, 7:00-8:30. $5 Quickie
Beginning Figure Drawing, 3 Wednesdays starting April 8, 1:30-3:30. $65
—> Advanced Doodling, 2 Thursdays starting April 9, 6:30-8:30. $35
Digital Landscape Painting, 3 Wednesdays starting May 6, 10:00-1:00. $95
Digital Portrait Painting, 4 Saturdays starting May 9, 10:00-1:00. $95
Alla Prima Sketch in Oil by Shane Wolf Before I begin, I assemble my brushes. For an alla prima sketch of this size (canvas size approximately 20×15) these are the brushes I’ll likely use. You’ll notice mostly flats. For the male figure I use mostly flats; I like the planal, sculptural strokes they provide. For female figures I’ll …
PAINTING FROM PHOTOGRAPHS We put a lot of pressure on artists (on ourselves) to be original. We think we should be able to turn that blank canvas into something no one has seen before, something totally authentic, illuminating and wondrous. Truth is, people aren’t very good at being original. Inventing totally new things from scratch …
This is a new online glossary of painting terms. More to come! Alkyd (“Call me Al, kid”) Oil Painting Alkyds are synthetic resin replacements for slow drying natural oils. When added to oil paint they speed up the drying time. Examples: Liquin, Galkyd, and many more. Some paints like Quick Dry White, Gamblin FastMatte, and W&N Griffin Paints …
In most dynamic compositions, the artist uses contrast and diagonal or serpentine pathways to lead the viewer in and around the painting. Morandi did the opposite with his still lifes. He grouped similar dust covered objects together to become one object instead of several interacting objects. He minimized differences to create a sense of quiet …
Keith Pfeiffer: Sketchbooks
Ask nearly any artist “what is the most important thing to have with you at all times?” They’ll say a sketchbook. It’s a place for ideas, notes, and practice. It’s also a place where we can explore and try new things without pressure. A sketchbook page doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, it’s just a sketch, a piece of an idea. There’s no expectation of perfection, and it can be shared, or as private as a diary.
I met with Pfeiffer a while back to talk about his class ideas, and he brought a pile of his sketchbooks from when he was a teenager. They were worked hard, each page warped and crinkled from layers of wet media, scraps, scribbled notes. Book after book after book filled with sketches! They were colorful lasagna time capsules. Below are a few selected pages he was willing to share.
Sketchbook Project
The League is starting a sketchbook project to carry us through quarantine times. We’ll send out details soon!
Online art classes with Keith Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer is teaching a mini sketchbook class. We got cheeky and called it “Advanced Doodling.” See below.
Digital Painting, Wednesday, April 1, 7:00-8:30. $5 Quickie
Beginning Figure Drawing, 3 Wednesdays starting April 8, 1:30-3:30. $65
—> Advanced Doodling, 2 Thursdays starting April 9, 6:30-8:30. $35
Digital Landscape Painting, 3 Wednesdays starting May 6, 10:00-1:00. $95
Digital Portrait Painting, 4 Saturdays starting May 9, 10:00-1:00. $95
Related Posts
Figure Painting Demo by Shane Wolf
Alla Prima Sketch in Oil by Shane Wolf Before I begin, I assemble my brushes. For an alla prima sketch of this size (canvas size approximately 20×15) these are the brushes I’ll likely use. You’ll notice mostly flats. For the male figure I use mostly flats; I like the planal, sculptural strokes they provide. For female figures I’ll …
Impressionists and Photography
PAINTING FROM PHOTOGRAPHS We put a lot of pressure on artists (on ourselves) to be original. We think we should be able to turn that blank canvas into something no one has seen before, something totally authentic, illuminating and wondrous. Truth is, people aren’t very good at being original. Inventing totally new things from scratch …
Glossary of Painting Terms
This is a new online glossary of painting terms. More to come! Alkyd (“Call me Al, kid”) Oil Painting Alkyds are synthetic resin replacements for slow drying natural oils. When added to oil paint they speed up the drying time. Examples: Liquin, Galkyd, and many more. Some paints like Quick Dry White, Gamblin FastMatte, and W&N Griffin Paints …
Day 10: Morandi #30SAL
In most dynamic compositions, the artist uses contrast and diagonal or serpentine pathways to lead the viewer in and around the painting. Morandi did the opposite with his still lifes. He grouped similar dust covered objects together to become one object instead of several interacting objects. He minimized differences to create a sense of quiet …