About the course and what is included

About the course and what is included

This course is made up of five workshops. Each workshop tackles an important technique for ink sketching in a loose, expressive style. We will focus heavily on the power of the continuous line, mastering the economy of line, and learning how to confidently simplify complex scenes.

Inside each workshop, you will find sections on core concepts, with sketching studies to help you explore the ideas, before ending with a fun challenge that ties it all together. The workshops build on one another, so by the end of the course, you will have the skills to tackle any subject without overworking it (or stressing!).

Extra support

Every workshop breaks the sketching process into clear, manageable steps. You will understand exactly what we are doing and why, from placing those first light, searching lines to strategically adding bold ink for structure and contrast.

When it comes to our challenge scenes, we use composition to find our focus and then sketch with confidence. Each scene has a downloadable reference, as well as an example of how I interpreted the shapes, and photos of my progress through the sketch.

Finally, we explore how to use water-soluble ink and simple washes in a way that feels playful and does the heavy lifting for your shadows. These foundations will help you take on scenes that once felt overwhelming and turn them into something beautifully simple and personal.

It's not just videos though!

Along with each video, you will find plenty of extra written information: key points from the lesson, step-by-step guides, and a bit more detail on the concepts we cover. The reference photos are all downloadable, as are examples of my art along the way. I have designed it this way so you can easily come back to each workshop, review a specific perspective trick or composition rule, and really absorb the learning at your own pace.

Feedback is vital

As part of the course, you can post questions, share your art and comment on each others art. I check in on the course regularly to make sure I'm responding to everyone. If you feel I've missed a comment or question of yours, please post it again so I get a little notification. More about the feedback is in this video...

There is a guide for how to post photos just here: https://www.sketchloose.co.uk/blog/post-photos

A key tip from your fellow sketchers

One tip: the people who got the most from the course said they found it helpful to watch each video first, then take on the task, scene or challenge themselves. That way, you’re not just copying, you’re actually practicing how to think like a sketcher.

Take your time with it, don’t rush through and enjoy the process. That’s where the real progress happens.

Ink Sketching: The Sketch Loose Method

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Welcome to the course

  • About the course and what is included9
  • Course FAQs and Guides
  • Supplies you might need6
  • Please Read - Posting photos, getting feedback, and notifications!

Goals and introductions

  • 0 - Aims, objectives and structure of the course30

Workshop One: The Foundations of Ink Sketching

  • 1 - Let’s get to know your pens62
  • 2 - Fountain pen care and recommendations25
  • An extra note!
  • 3 - Accuracy and measuring techniques54
  • 4 - From shapes to purpose46
  • 5 - Developing your grip25
  • 6 - Challenge One31
  • 7 - How did you find that workshop?22

Workshop Two: Depth and Texture: Mastering Hatching and Value

  • 8 - Understanding value and tone in ink sketching (+ how to fill a waterbrush)14
  • 9 - Planes and depth22
  • 10 -Developing your hatching style16
  • 11 - Understanding hatching and textures18
  • 12 - Your second challenge18
  • 14 - How did you find that workshop?16

Workshop 3: Finding the Flow: The Art of the Continuous Line

  • 15 - Continuous lines, a starter11
  • 16 - Key continuous line concepts14
  • 17 - Continuous lines tips and tricks7
  • 18 - Revisiting our scene13
  • 19 - Soluble ink and simple lines8
  • 20 - A tall challenge10
  • 21 - How was that workshop?8

Workshop 4: Less is More: Sketching with Economy and Purpose

  • 22 - Economy of line and finding focus7
  • 23 - How to vary your lines6
  • 24 - Using composition for economy of line5
  • 25 - Challenge 4, do less8
  • 26 - Wrapping up the workshop6

Workshop 5: The Big Picture: Taming Complex and Challenging Scenes

  • 27 - Selective sketching and drawing only what matters6
  • 28 - Looking up to find new perspectives6
  • 29 - Radical simplicity and experimentation4
  • 30 - Sketching in reverse (fluid process)6
  • 31 - Mini review4

Closing thoughts

  • 32 - Sharing, creating and continuing