by Maddie Blake
On Wednesday 10th of June at Devizes Arts Festival, we had the pleasure of a ‘Sketch and Explore’ workshop lead by Karen George, a contemporary artist. Karen is based near Bath, in the UK, and specialises in semi-abstract and contemporary painting of landscape and seascapes in acrylic and mixed media. This informal sketching workshop was held in the White Chalk Gallery, as-well as exploring Devizes Canal to reconnect with our creativity and sketch!!
Karens work was displayed in White Chalk Gallery on the day of the ‘Sketch and Explore’ workshop, and it blew me away at how beautiful her paintings were. I’d definitely take a look on her page.
I’ll admit, walking into the sketching workshop, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The majority of art workshops can come across as daunting and intimidating, especially when you’re surrounded by professional artists who know exactly what they’re doing. However, any worries or pre-judged expectations of pompous artists quickly disappeared when Karen greeted me with warmth and lighthearted humour, and most importantly, the truth about art.
With a room full of about 20 eager artists of all skill levels, Karen confidently presented her finalised work and sketchbooks. Rather than immaculate sketchbooks filled with detailed, polished artwork, Karen’s sketchbooks were filled to the brim with quick, experimental, and wonderfully unfinished sketches. She spoke of how sketchbooks should be treated as a blank canvas, where you can make mistakes, experiment and play on your artistic ideas; they are not meant to be perfect. This was such a refreshing approach that immediately reassured beginners, even those who had rushed out to buy a sketchbook just before the workshop.
One memorable moment was when Karen challenged the notion that great art requires expensive materials. She spoke truthfully about how art can be over complicated, and how it has become marketised into making artists feel they need ‘premium pencils and equipment’ to create something good, which I totally agree with. Karen told us that all you need is ‘the back of an envelope and a biro’ and you can do anything. This really highlighted how art is fundamentally conceptual, and how artists hold their merit through their ideas and philosophy for their artwork, rather than its physical form.
From that moment, I knew this wasn’t going to be a flashy demonstration to impress, but a genuine workshop to remind people of their creativity, showing how art is so accessible to explore and open to everyone.
After discussing the philosophy of sketching, it was time to put pencil to paper. We headed out to Devizes Canal, where Karen had planned three snapshot sketching sessions in three separate locations along the canal. Before letting us loose to begin, she gave us a demonstration of her sketching process. Karen taught us to focus on blocking shapes in first to help with composition and not to worry about detail. She expressed to us how important it is to capture the feeling of our surroundings and encouraged us to ‘sit, immerse and absorb.’
One of the most interesting techniques Karen introduced was mark-making. She explained how different textures can be portrayed through different drawing styles: rough textures, like the grass closer to the stone brick, could be emphasised through harsher and more energetic marks, while lighter textures could be represented through looser and flowing lines, such as the breeze pushing through the branches of the trees. She also encouraged us to record singular words about the environment, sounds and our impressions of the canal. This is what creates individuality within our artwork because everyone sees from a unique perspective. I found it fascinating how different marks could communicate the atmosphere of a place just as effectively as a detailed drawing. This technique helped beginners understand that creating an eye-catching landscape is not always about perfect detail, but about capturing the emotion, movement, and character of the environment around you.
At each stop along the canal, we were given around 15 minutes to sketch and take in the environment. As we settled by the locks and long stretches of glossy water, Karen moved between participants, offering kind encouragement and advice. She also generously shared some of her own art materials, such as Faber-Castell graphite pencils (preferably the 8B due to its rich tonal range!!). Her warmth and enthusiasm never wavered, and she seemed genuinely invested in helping everyone develop their sketching skills, echoing her passion for art. One participant commented that Karen’s exercise had encouraged them to look more closely at unseen details, noticing how the stone and buildings curved perfectly alongside the canal. By the time we reached the final sketching location, the group had become noticeably quieter, not from boredom, but from concentration. Surrounded by reflections upon the water, everyone seemed completely immersed in their surroundings, their heads moving up to observe the canal in front of them and back down to add to their beautifully crafted sketches.
What made this workshop so special wasn’t just the chance to improve my drawing skills, but the atmosphere that was created within this group. Everyone appeared so eager and inviting, it was such a wonderful experience to create new friendships and share stories with those with similar interests in the arts. Despite varying levels of experience, the workshop felt accessible to everyone, and no one felt out of place. This workshop didn’t pressure you to create something ‘perfect,’ but something that captivates your enjoyment and experience of the workshop.
By the end of the workshop and scrambling back to White Chalk Gallery, the room was filled with hearty conversation and smiles. It became clear that Karen’s workshop had resonated with everyone: that art isn’t just about perfection and the most extortionately priced pencils, but about curiosity, passion, and creativity. This Sketch and Explore workshop has taught me not to just focus on finer detail, but to actually ‘sit and absorb.’ Whilst usually spending hours refining paintings and sketches, I have taken away the ability to loosen my sketches and really focus on how to capture the atmosphere of the environment in front of me.
I would wholeheartedly recommend any future workshop of Karen’s to anybody who’s looking to explore their creativity, no matter their level of artistic ability: from a beginner to someone who knows pretty much all!! This was such a memorable part of Devizes Arts Festival, and I shall be taking so much away from this.
Link to Karen George’s website below:
https://www.karengeorgeart.co.uk
devizine.com 