About Sketch Odyssey East Bay Workshops

Sketch Odyssey East Bay workshops invite students to go sketch outdoors and on location, capturing what you see from direct observation. These one-day, three-hour workshops combine art instruction with opportunities to create community while encouraging students to discover nearby spaces and places by beginning a sketch practice of their own. These workshops introduce students to basic concepts in drawing and painting while creating opportunities to connect with others in the outdoors.

About the Instructor

Hi, I’m Maria

I live and work in Richmond, CA where I am an educator, writer and artist of color.

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How I Teach

A workshop begins with an introduction to tools and materials, including an instructor-led demonstration of basic color mixing. In the next portion of a workshop, students are led through a step-by-step, hands-on demonstration of basic landscape elements (e.g., sky and ground), including an introduction to aerial and linear perspective (e.g., near and far).

Workshops also include a discussion of basic composition ideas. In the final portion of each workshop, students are given the opportunity to practice concepts learned by beginning an outdoor sketch on their own.

Workshops close with a final ‘show and tell’ of work produced during the learning experience. Through informal and friendly discussion, students are encouraged to share what they learned, what challenged them, and what they want to know more about to continue sketching and painting on their own.

Throughout the learning experience, students are given the opportunity to practice concepts learned with time given to answer questions and build confidence to continue making art as well as create community with workshop participants.

Instructor Contact Information

6451 Hazel Avenue, Richmond, CA 94805
Email: m.tuttle48@gmail.com
Website: https://www.mariaptuttle.com/workshops
Phone: (510) 350-6906

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Basic Sketch Kit includes

Small (3.5 inch x 5.5 inch or larger) watercolor notebook with quality paper
Small watercolor half pan paint set with primary colors and secondary colors
At least one quality watercolor round brush #6, #8, or #10 and/or brush set
At least one flat or wash brush 1-inch or ¾-inch
One 4b and one 6b pencil
Waterproof Aquash Brush with Pigment Ink in black (optional)
Kneaded eraser
Pencil sharpener
Container for water (not included in kit)
Tote bag or backpack to carry materials (not included in kit)

Workshops

Easy Landscape Painting

Easy Landscape Painting in Watercolor is a one-day, 3-hour workshop that introduces students to essential watercolor techniques through the practice of capturing the elegant nature of trees and other landscape elements.
Rather than focusing on producing botanically correct and precise illustrations, this workshop shows students how to capture the character of trees through the practice of a variety of watercolor techniques. Through instructor demonstrations, small group, and one-on-one instruction, students will:
- Learn 4 essential watercolor techniques (e.g., flat wash, graded wash, wet-on-wet, and dry-brush)
- Learn about basic color mixing
- Learn how to capture basic nature-based shapes (e.g., tree shapes)
- Learn about basic landscape composition
- Learn basic aerial perspective and value (e.g., near and far)
- Learn how to start an outdoor sketch
Days of the week: Saturday / Sunday or client-selected day of the week
Hours per session: 3
Age group: 18 - 65
Start / End time: 9 am - 12 pm or client selected start / end time
Participants: Maximum # of students: 15
Prep time needed: 1.5 hours
Student level: Beginner
Workshop cost per student: $45 without Basic Sketch Kit; $65 with Basic Sketch Kit ($20 due to instructor at start of workshop meeting)
Materials to be purchased by students. Please note: students also have the option to purchase their own materials.

Light and Shadow

Light and Shadow in Watercolor builds on skills and techniques first introduced in Introduction to Nature Painting and Clouds and Skies in Watercolor. This workshop is a one-day, 3-hour workshop that allows students to continue to practice previously introduced essential watercolor techniques and adds another important element to achieve believable watercolors–atmospheric perspective. Students will explore how to capture light and shadow by building up a painting through the use of color, value, and expressive brushstrokes.Through instructor demonstrations, small group, and one-on-one instruction, students will
- Review essential watercolor techniques (e.g., flat wash, graded wash, wet-on-wet, and dry-brush and stippling) to achieve expressive brushstrokes
- Learn how to see value in various weather conditions and times of day to understand effective color and value (e.g., atmospheric perspective)
- Review needed color mixtures to capture light and shadow using basic colors and a limited palette
- Practice capturing light and shadow concepts by starting an outdoor sketch
Days of the week: Saturday / Sunday or client-selected day of the week
Hours per session: 3
Age group: 18 - 65
Start / End time: 9 am - 12 pm or client-selected start / end time
Participants: Maximum # of students: 15
Prep time needed: 1.5 hours
Student level / Prerequisite: Advanced beginner; students should complete the prerequisite workshop Introduction to Nature Painting to maximize success in this workshop.
Workshop cost per student: $45 without Basic Sketch Kit; $65 with Basic Sketch Kit ($20 due to instructor at start of workshop meeting)
Materials to be purchased by students. Please note: students also have the option to purchase their own materials.

Clouds and Skies

Clouds and Skies in Watercolor builds on skills and techniques learned in Introduction to Nature Painting. This workshop is a one-day, 3-hour workshop that allows students to continue to practice these previously introduced essential watercolor techniques and adds one more essential technique for painting clouds–the stippling technique. By experimenting with a combination of these watercolor techniques, students will develop their own style for quickly capturing a variety of cloud shapes and skies. Students will also learn how to mix basic colors for clouds and skies, using a limited palette. Through instructor demonstrations, small group, and one-on-one instruction, students will
- Practice 4 essential watercolor techniques (e.g., flat wash, graded wash, wet-on-wet, and dry-brush) and learn the stippling technique
- Learn how to capture basic clouds (e.g., rain clouds and wispy clouds) through the use of negative and positive shapes
- Learn how to capture a variety of skies using basic colors and a limited palette
- Practice new skills and concepts by starting an outdoor sketch
Days of the week: Saturday / Sunday or client-selected day of the week
Hours per session: 3
Age group: 18 - 65
Start / End time: 9 am - 12 pm
Participants: Maximum # of students: 15
Prep time needed: 1.5 hours
Student level / Prerequisite: Advanced beginner; students should complete the prerequisite workshop Introduction to Nature Painting to maximize success in this workshop.
Workshop cost per student: $45 without Basic Sketch Kit; $65 with Basic Sketch Kit ($20 due to instructor at start of workshop meeting)
Materials to be purchased by students. Please note: students also have the option to purchase their own materials.

Book a Workshop

If you have a specific workshop in mind, let’s connect.

Contact Me

My favourites at FLAX

Students enrolled in the workshop will receive a 20% in-store discount for shopping at FLAX. Students should mention that they are enrolled in my workshop.

Students also have the option to purchase their own materials. Students can find all the basic workshop materials at the FLAX Oakland Store. Here are a few of my favorite materials to work with and at different price points available for purchase.