Introduction to Illustration using Pen, Ink and Watercolour for beginners to advanced with Tania Mason

Have you ever wanted to turn those little doodles into something bigger like an illustration? Well, let’s get started by exploring the variety of techniques that can get you there! This course will allow a beginner and intermediate student to explore all types of illustration image making and very useful all round basic techniques of illustration.

Tania Mason aims to create a warm and inviting introduction to illustrative material such as ink, pen, watercolour. The aim is to develop a style and good technique. Learning drawing techniques and exercises, looking at traditional and modern ways to create marks and image based work using artline, ink and watercolour.

Tania will cover an introduction to finding your subject, they are important in illustration and it’s a great way to get inspiration, how to relate this inspiration from ideas to paper and how to develop one’s own style based on a subject.

The final aim is to have students thinking about how to create composition from one single image on paper to building many images on paper. Allowing for happy accidents to create an amazing composition they will be happy with.

Image: Illustrations by Tania Mason

What students will achieve

• Material Introduction to the various types of ink, pen, watercolour, maybe gouache.
• Introduction to our favourite types of illustration; form 18th century to now.
• Experimenting with different techniques and approaches.
• Explore and create abstract and figurative methods.
• Learn various methods of expressive ways to create images.
• Develop a series of compositions from quick sketches to longer more developed pieces.
• A variety of illustrative subjects: plant life, still life, nature, illustrations will be supplied as well as still life set ups of flora, fauna old illustrations and new illustrations to explore/study.
• Discuss, Explore and create a variety of ways of creating a final composition.
• learn to critique work positively.

Is this course right for me?

This course is suitable for beginners through to more advanced students.

Materials Required

• Lead Pencil HB/Staedtler preferred.
• 1 Arches or Canson water colour paper pad (185gsm Preferred, smooth A3 size)
• Cheap A3 sketch book
• Hard Eraser
• Masking tape
• Artline technical drawing system /set of 9 pens. (size 0.05 to 0.8)
• Windsor and Newton Drawing Inks: Black
• Four little jars with lids
• Rags/old tea towel.
• Water colour brush set ( a mix of round/pointy and flat brushes) (cheap).
• Water Colour Set: Koh-I-Noor water colour discs (cheap) or Reeves Water Colour tube set (cheap) preferred.
• Pack of sanitizing wipes to clean your space as a covid safe measure for other users.

About studio classes

Our class sizes are small, ensuring you receive the individual tuition you need. We have a maximum of 12 students per class.

Unless otherwise noted, prices *exclude* art materials. Click here to see a list of local art supply retailers.

To learn about our studios, kitchen facilities and how to get there, click here.

Use Vouchers and Save

Art Est accepts the NSW Creative Kids Voucher, Parents NSW Voucher, and Australian Partners of Defence member discounts. You must use your voucher or membership at the time of booking. To book with a Service NSW voucher, you will need to book over the phone or with our voucher booking form. Please note: we cannot accept the Service NSW vouchers via our online checkout. 

To find out what vouchers or discounts you can use on your class and how to book with these, visit our special offers page:

Special Offers  

More Information

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