For Pam, it’s all about sharing techniques and…

…Teaching art skills for keeping any type of illustrated journal, and guiding folks on individual art journeys. Whether the focus is on nature, travel, garden or urban sights, Pam’s workshops nurture creativity, one mark and one journal page at a time.

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What is an art journey like?

Get ready for fun! Sure there are times when you will step outside of your comfort zone, but have no worries! The safety net of a sketchbook will cradle your experiments and help you grow your mark making skills. You’ll begin to notice things you never looked at before. If your concentration is on nature journaling, the tiniest wonders will open up to you and in the process, you’ll develop a calmness inside that will keep a smile in your heart.

Does the transformation of capturing what’s in front of you match what’s in your head right away? Nope… It’s a journey. The ‘P’ word is involved… P L A Y. I urge my students to have the mindset of ‘play’ and ‘discovery’ – Take your pencils, pens, brushes and paints out for a spin. See what they will do. Again, we are working in a sketchbook. There is no pressure to create a finished piece of art to frame. That will come. But first, and foremost, let’s play!

What does keeping a sketchbook journal do for your art practice?

Working often in a sketchbook, especially taking advantage of little snippets of time, helps you keep your ‘hand’ ~ Eye / hand coordination continues to grow, as does your experience working with watercolors, various brushes and paper.  You become a confident sketcher, design skills grow and best of all, when time comes your way to paint a large piece, you can get right to it.  No more reinventing the wheel!  Amazingly, keeping the ‘practice of illustrated journaling’ alive and well benefits so much more than art skills. Get ready for peace and calm.  Take a ‘Goodness Break’ and sketch! 

Workshop Terms and Conditions

How did I develop my sketching and painting skills?

While college gave me a great base and introduction to various media, it was my own exploration, and over the years, taking  workshops with a few highly skilled watercolorists that gave me most of my inspiration to keep going on my creative journey.  I wanted to paint large watercolors.  But guess what?  Whenever I carved out a good chunk of time to paint, it had been sooo long since the last time, that I had to keep reinventing the wheel.   Sound familiar?

Along the way, I began to keep a Nature Journal.  At that point I was strictly a studio artist and intimidated at the thought of working plein air.  Then I began to sketch and paint outside using easy to carry watercolor  pencils.  “Hey!  I can paint plein air!”  Working plein air and sketching my chosen subjects live versus from photographs is now my chosen way to creatively respond.

My approach to creating a journal page…

I love using line and color to capture moments in time.  Watercolor and ink are my go-to mediums.  While I sometimes create in the studio, my main focus is sketching from life and usually outdoors. I love responding on paper to the life energy in front of me.  My personal goal is to quickly capture what’s before me, ofttimes in multiple vignettes, telling a story and creating a sense of place.  Moments on paper that can be relived and enjoyed each time they’re viewed.

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, I 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.