Capturing the Likeness of Trees

December 5, 2024 / Closed
11 am – 2:30 pm (ish)

Mid-Island Tract Park
Parking off of Union Cemetery Rd near where it intersects with Rt 278, Hilton Head Island

Rain date: December 6th / same time

Mid-Island Tract Park
Parking off of Union Cemetery Rd near where it intersects with Rt 278, Hilton Head Island

Rain date: December 6th / same time

Goal: Learn how to capture the likeness of trees with simple techniques

Here in the lowcountry we have many signature tree species: sable palm, loblolly pine, live oaks, water oaks, sycamore, sweet gum, tupelo, lower canopy trees including redbay and horsesugar. Now that winter is closing in, many have lost their greenery. It’s a perfect time to study tree structure that will aid in capturing the likeness of trees with just a bit of study and observation.

We’ll sketch with pencil, water soluble pencil and then work our way up to sketching directly with watercolor. This is a learning class. We will give our sketchbooks a good workout. Our focus will be on oaks and palms.

Skill Level

Pam welcomes all levels of experience. Nature Journaling is quite different from studio painting. If you are familiar with plein air painting, this experience will widen your understanding of the landscape you love to paint. Newbies, don’t be shy. You will create journal pages that show your love for Nature. All you need is the desire to do so.

Suggested Supplies for Capturing the Likeness of Trees

  • Your favorite journal suitable for light watercolor washes – suggest it be no larger than 9×12
  • Mechanical pencil – suggest 7 or 9mm lead as it breaks less. HB is fine, but 2B or softer is even better. Or, a regular 4B pencil and sharpener plus a baggie to put your pencil shavings in.
  • Water soluble pencil. Can be a black or dark brown watercolor pencil or a water soluble graphite pencil: Derwent Dark Wash 8B or Faber Castel graphite aquarelle 8B
  • Waterproof pen – suggest Micron, Faber Castell Pitt or Sharpie fine point
  • Travel set of watercolors or watercolor pencils
  • Waterbrush – Pam likes Pentel and Niji brands
  • Paper toweling or rag to wipe brush on
  • Convenient easy to carry bag or backpack
  • Camp stool
  • A lap desk that you can easily carry
  • Dress for weather and wear closed-toe shoes
  • Hat / sunscreen / bug spray
  • Bag lunch and drink

Terms & Conditions

Registration is your commitment to attend. 
No refunds given unless Pam cancels the workshop.

Fee: $80.00.
Minimum of 4 participants need. Class capped at 8

“You are very sweet and generous with your time and you clearly exude a love of nature in your art that rubs off on your admiring students in a wonderful way. Your classes this winter and spring have added a  richness to my life and I thank you for that!”

~ Clare Ellis

Please Note:

As with all Pam Johnson Brickell Studio workshops, it’s up to each participant to properly prepare for the class, be aware of their surroundings, watch their step, be respectful of other participants and to be responsible for their own actions.  As the instructor, Pam will not knowingly put any student in harms way nor be held responsible for any accident or unknown natural or man-made incident causing individual harm during an art workshop or plein air art workshop or Lowcountry Field Sketching class.