I’m excited to announce that I’m offering another workshop on Cockatoo Island in February next year.

This time I’m expanding it to 2 days so that we can include sketching with edges as well as shapes. It will also give us more time to learn how to create lively watercolour washes and combine edges with shapes.

Here are the details…

Sketching with Edges and Shapes

2 day workshop on Cockatoo Island: Thurs 19 – Fri 20 Feb 2026

Learn how to simplify complex scenes and create sketches with lively colour!

When starting urban sketching many people think they have to draw everything they see before adding colour. They keep drawing and drawing (possibly getting lost in the details) and never get their watercolour paints out or if they do, their washes become murky and their sketch feels overworked.  They also can get discouraged because they know their sketch doesn’t look right but don’t know how to fix it. 

This workshop has been designed to address these common struggles! 

You’ll learn how thinking about edges and shapes will make your sketches more lively and also at the same time more accurate.

The varied scenes of Cockatoo Island is a perfect location for exploring how to sketch with edges and shapes.

On the first day we’ll explore how to look for important edges, and how to measure angles and lengths. This will not only improve the accuracy of our sketches but will also help us create a focus, so we don’t have to draw everything we see.

We’ll also learn how to apply simple lively watercolour washes to our line drawings and use watercolour pencils for added texture and interest. 

On the second day, we’ll explore different ways of sketching with shapes (big shapes, negative shapes and shadow shapes) and learn how to use them to simplify scenes and create bold sketches.

“It was such an amazing day. Liz is so generous and sharing her knowledge with us very effectively.

Finally, I understand what “Shapes” people keep talking about. Liz can convey and explain the “why” and “how” shapes work. I learned a lot from other participants too!

My mind and eyes are upgraded to a new version now!“

– Tiney, Sketching with Shapes workshop, Germany August 2025

Programme

Day 1

 
In the morning we will do a number of line exercises (using pens and watercolour pencil) to learn how to find important edges, measure angles and lengths and train our eye-hand coordination.

During the afternoon session we’ll explore how to create lively washes with watercolour and how to combine them with watercolour pencils. We’ll then add a few shapes to a line drawing.
 

Day 2

 
In the morning session we’ll do  a number of shape exercises using watercolour pencils  – simplifying a scene into similar coloured shapes, starting with negative shapes and looking for shadow shapes. 

In the afternoon we’ll explore ways of combining edges and shapes using ink, watercolour and watercolour pencils – putting together all the techniques we’ve learnt during the previous sessions.

Sketching with Edges and Shapes

2 day workshop on Cockatoo Island : Thurs 19 – Fri 20 Feb 2026

Price: $441.67 AUD ($380 + Eventbrite fee + GST)
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00pm
Minimum Participants: 6
Maximum Participants: 12

This workshop is suitable for beginners!

REFUND POLICY: If you cancel before 5 February 2026 (2 weeks beforehand) you will receive a refund less a $25AUD cancellation fee. After that date, if we are able to fill your spot we will refund 50% of the workshop fee.

Sign up for workshop (via Eventbrite)

” I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the workshop yesterday. You were so welcoming and everything was so well organised.

I felt very comfortable asking questions and sharing my work, even though I’m obviously not as experienced as many of my fellow artists.

The workshop has given me a new and interesting way to approach sketching and I’m looking forward to developing my skills.

Thank you very much for a wonderful day.”

– Susan, Sketching with Shapes Workshop, Cockatoo Island April 2025

Materials List

• Paper/sketchbook suitable for ink and wash – A5-A4 size.
• Permanent ink pen
• Dry (or quick drying) media for shape exercises: A small selection of coloured or watercolour pencils, markers (such as Tombows) in a range of light. mid and dark values. Specific colours are not important – more details will be provided closer to the workshop date.
• Watercolour – bring your usual watercolour palette – no specific colours are requirements
• Waterbrush or sable brush and water container.
• Any other materials you have in your bag!
• Small portable stool or something to sit on.
• Hat, sunscreen, extra layer, rain protection etc.

Any questions?

 
Please email us via the contact form here.

I’m really looking forward to an expanded version of my popular Cockatoo Island workshop and would love to see you there!

Here is the Eventbrite link one more time.