Lafayette Library and Learning Center

Why is water so hard to paint? How do you sketch something that's always moving? Why can you see the bottom of the lake in one spot, but the reflected sky right next to it? We’ll talk a little about the science, look at solutions different artists have used, develop some strategies for analyzing what Read More

Start the Nature Journaling New Year with a look at the most important skills for getting an image on the paper. Using gesture sketching and negative shapes together allows you to block in basic shapes and see fundamental masses. Once you have this down, the details, color, and value can drop onto a framework that Read More

Want to get more of a pop from your watercolors? Wish they were easier to use? Would you like an adaptable system to help you get your paint down on the paper? It is easy to get wrapped around the axle about accurately matching a color. With practice and work you can learn to match Read More

"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well / It were done quickly" -- Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 7 Shakespearean tragedies usually don't involve a lot of nature journaling, but we've all been in situations where there's some fleeting image or precious information we'd to jot down as quickly as possible. By writing Read More

Join the Nature Journal Club for a 1.5 hour workshop to help you sketch marine mammals as you see them in the field. Whether you draw from shore or head out whale watching, this class will help you capture the moments on paper. Learn relevant anatomy for artists and field sketchers to help you draw Read More

When the bird lands in front of you, you must be ready to get the basic form on paper with a few lines. This was the focus of last month's workshop which you can view here. But what do you do then? Once you have this basic shape you are ready to fill in the Read More

Would you like to sketch the birds at your feeder and garden? Learn basic techniques to get the bird on paper while it is still in front of you and how to fill out the drawing from memory and reference once it has flown the coop. In this workshop we will explore drawing songbrids from Read More

“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Curiosity is not a trait you are born with. It is a skill that you can develop and refine with practice.It is more essential than any Read More

Join the Nature Journal Club for a 1.5 hour workshop to round out our exploration of mammal anatomy, structure, and drawing techniques. This will be a fun draw along lecture so bring your sketchbook and pencil. In this workshop we will: Explore ways of rotating a simple mammal model in your head so that you can draw the Read More

Did you ever draw a cow that looked like a dog? Learn basic principles of drawing mammal heads and faces that solve the most common problems artists encounter.  Discover the importance of eye placement and shape. Learn the primary muscles that make prominent bulges and masses on the head. Study the dynamics of common animal Read More