- This workshop has passed.
EXPRESSIVE & EFFECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL SKETCHING – with Tom Pajdlhauser
August 17, 2022 - August 27, 2022
$3650
Join Tom on an immersive field sketching adventure in the towns, villages and country sides of Umbria. You’ll work directly in your sketchbook, documenting 10 days’ worth of travel experiences in Umbria with pencil, pen, and watercolor, filling your sketchbook with everything from the landscapes and townscapes you visit, to the folks you meet and the food you eat.
Tom will focus his instruction on fundamental drawing techniques that will help students confidently understand the basic structure of what they are observing. In doing so, they will be able to let go of the fear of trying to copy an image, and learn instead to embrace and enjoy all the little accidents and variables that come with observational sketching in the wild.
I love sketching in the field. Being immersed in the environment. Taking in all the sights, smells and sounds. Chatting with folks that come and go. These experiences and energy find their way into my sketchbook and create lasting memories for me to flip through, for years to come. I must admit, It was quite frustrating getting started. I was overwhelmed by the information I was observing and simply couldn’t get the results I expected. I was using incorrect paper, poor choice of colour palette, terrible planning..basically a proper recipe for disaster..but fun, nonetheless. Over a decade and tens of thousands of line miles later, I’ve developed a personal style, consistent approach, harmonized colour palette and a short list of materials that help me get to the good stuff quicker. This is what I’m hoping to share with you to help get you started on your journey with a leg up.
Each day’s sketching will be done in the field, starting with a full demonstration by Tom. He will explain his process every step of the way: what he observes, how to decide what to sketch, and how it will live on his page. Students will spend the rest of the time sketching their own scenes and moments, with interactive instruction and feedback from Tom.
All skill levels are welcome, although students with a basic understanding of perspective and life drawing will benefit the most. You can refer to the downloadable materials list for suggestions on what to bring with you.
About Tom
“Captain Tom” Pajdlhauser is an artist and Creative Director based in Ottawa, Canada and co-owner of Birling, a local skateboard shop. By day, he works as an Art Director and Production Designer on animated TV shows and movies and has worked with clients including Netflix, Disney, Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, and Mattel. In the last 15 years of working between animation production and pre-production, he’s experienced the majority of departments and brings to the table not only outside experience and influence, but a thorough understanding of developing story serving artwork and design solutions to budget, schedule and production challenges.
“I’ve always been interested in the tactile and physical process of design work and in recent years have shifted my personal art focus from digital commercial design to projects that highlight my love of travel and adventure. My personal work is based primarily on my lived experiences captured on-the-go in sketchbooks, and have been working on sharing this through books, exhibits, and educational workshops.”
As La Romita School caters to multiple levels of instruction and various forms of the arts, prices will vary by session, season, instructor, and offerings.