Watercolor Journaling

A precious record of your life starts here.

Time sweeps by us all so quickly. Learn a way to slow down time, really see your environment and draw your life around you. Once drawn, you get to paint, to make your life all the more colorful.

No matter how experienced or artistic you may or may not be, it doesn’t matter.  All you need is the urge to create.  The goal of my teaching is to give you the tips, tools, techniques, guidance and encouragement to draw what you see in the places you see it.  It could be a chestnut found on the side of the road, or a hand-written sign that captures your fancy, or the fish-shaped bean cake you bought from a street vendor…  All that matters is that it catches your eye, speaks to you in some way and is something you want to hold in your memory beyond that moment.

Together, you will learn to interpret the world through your eyes and your hands.  When you capture an object or a moment creatively, you are experiencing it in a more active way that imbeds more deeply in your memory.  Later, when you leaf through your creative journal, you will remember how that bean cake smelled, the smoothness of the chestnut in your hand, the sun on your face that that temple…

In Watercolor Journaling, Christina teaches the basics of blind contour, box pop, and basic color mixing.

Upcoming in person Classes in 2023
in Tokyo, Japan
“Creativity is Yours” Fall 2023

“Dare yourself to
sow the seeds
of your creative life“

2023 Classes

Watercolor Journaling Two-day intensive:

Class Dates: TBA

Location : Classes will be held at a home in Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and nearby cafe for lunch.

No matter how experienced or artistic you may or may not be, it doesn’t matter.  All you need is the urge to create.  The goal of my teaching is to give you the tips, tools, techniques, guidance and encouragement to draw what you see in the places you see it.  It could be a chestnut found on the side of the road, or a hand-written sign that captures your fancy, or the fish-shaped bean cake you bought from a street vendor…  All that matters is that it catches your eye, speaks to you in some way and is something you want to hold in your memory beyond that moment.

Together, you will learn to interpret the world through your eyes and your hands.  When you capture an object or a moment creatively, you are experiencing it in a more active way that imbeds more deeply in your memory.  Later, when you leaf through your creative journal, you will remember how that bean cake smelled, the smoothness of the chestnut in your hand, the sun on your face from that temple.

This class is meant for anyone: people who haven’t painted or drawn for years and for those who want to learn some new techniques to add to their creative practice. 

SCHEDULE :

Day 1 :

10:00-12:00 Morning class

12:00pm Bring your own lunch, tea provided

12:30pm - 2:00 pm Afternoon class

Day 2 :

10:00-12:00 Morning class

12:00pm Lunch at nearby cafe

12:30pm - 2:00 pm Afternoon class

Minimum 4 students, maximum 8 students.

Morning class takes place in my home in Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo. (I’ll send the address at registration.)

We’ll go to a nearby cafe for lunch. The afternoon class will be held at the cafe.

What will you be learning?

Day One:

• Blind contour drawing: How to quickly get what you see down on the page.

• Watercolor Washes including: Dry brush, wet on wet, Wet on dry techniques.

• Basic design of pages: Headline, Box pop, writing, date

• Salt techniques, Making clouds (subtraction), making trees (addition with sponge)

• How the color wheel works – especially helpful if you have your own watercolor kit.

Day Two:

• Basics of Perspective, and a great way to cheat!

• How to layer colors on your page: How to paint water, how to paint shadows.

• How to design a page: Many design options with images, headlines, the date and your writing.

• Tips and tricks on how to make journaling a part of your regular life.

• I'll have lots of examples of journaling to look through on both days

  
  Price for both sessions : 20,000yen per person

NOTE: If you only can attend one day, come to the
Tuesday, Oct 24th class where I will teach most of the basics.

One-day class: 10,000yen per person

Price includes all materials you will need, sketchbook, pen, waterbrush, and some handy tools in a case.

I will lend a watercolor kit for the day, or bring whatever watercolor kit you have at home.

The recommendations are listed below if you would like to purchase one in advance.

*Please pay at the time of registration either by Paypal or Venmo. Your spot is secured after payment. Please also check our *cancellation policy below.

Payment :

PayPal: christina@lopp.com

Venmo:

*Cancellation policy :

7 days before the event – 30% of the fee

5 days before the event – 50% of the fee

3 days before the event – 100% of the fee

*The cancellation fee will be deducted from your payment.

Register here

Watercolors recommendations :

You can borrow a watercolor kit for the day, or bring whatever watercolor kit you have at home.

If you would like to purchase one in advance I recommend:

Kuretake KG301-1 Fis Watercolor Set, Clear, 14 Colors

¥2,286 tax included

https://amzn.asia/d/dlf3fZE

This is a great set for a great price. Includes a waterbrush and pen!

Register here

ALSO: Drop-in classes

Looking to continue the learning and really see little slices of Tokyo?
We will be meeting informally at places around Tokyo to draw and paint together. Some instruction if requested, but mostly motivation to get our your kit and draw outside with like-minded friends.

Bring your materials, watercolor kits, brushes and pens!

Class time 10:30-12:30. Cost: 2,000yen per person

In past classes we have met in these locations. This spring we will be meeting in new places to draw together.
I will announce the locations for meeting the week before. I like to see how the weather will be and what is in season!

Next meeting TBA!

Past Meetings:

• May 6, We met at Bondi Cafe in Yoyogi (moved from Yoyogi Park because of the weather!)

• May 13, We met at the Hijiribashi Entrance of the Ochanomizu JR Station. We drew a lovely view of the bridges and trains and then going to two wonderful art supply stores that are within a few minutes walk away.

• May 20, We met at the lovely The Tokyo Edition Hotel in Toronomon Hills. It was a rainy day, and a perfect place to learn about design and drawing.

• June 3, Meet at “Horikiri Shobuen Iris Garden” It’s about 1 hour from Hiroo area by train. https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/860/index.html