Mayad’s Sketch School

I enrolled for Mayad’s (https://www.mayadssketchclub.com) beginner and intermediate classes as a package, which when bought together were considerably cheaper than buying separate. Both of these courses taught me a lot and most of all how to embrace watercolour.
First of all Mayad and Claire are great – Claire with all the behind the camera stuff and Mayad with his style of tuition and the time he has for his students.
Mayad’s work is not the loosest of styles so I would not be his usual type of student, I did query this with Claire before I enrolled but felt I would learn so much from his course that I joined anyway and I am really pleased that I did.
The beginner’s course takes you through line marking and watercolour paints, it is for the beginner as you would expect and Mayad explains what to use, how to use it and provides reference material that assists the examples provided throughout the course. I had trouble applying a wash and Mayad gave up most of his Saturday night to help me, it was the night of the Champions League final which I couldn’t access so no harm done to my Saturday football! Anyway his technique for applying a wash is second to none.
The Intermediate Course, surprised me somewhat as it focused a lot on people but drawing them in scenes. This was invaluable and again his technique for drawing people makes it very doable.
Both courses have been meticulously planned and thought out. You can see that his examples have been tried, tested, rejected until Mayad is happy with the example he uses in the course.
One other thing about the course is the use of WhatsApp and Instagram groups. The students sign up for these goups where they can showcase their work and ask Mayad for help; the support from other student’s is also wonderful.
My main takeaway from Mayad’s course was the simple way he broke most processes down and especially his technique for doing washes. Mayad makes no bones that you need to practice a lot, then some more. Nothing is easy or free in this life!
Looking back on my work, I am surprised how much course content there is and my sketches below are just the ones I showcased.

Some of my work from Mayad’s courses below.

And from the Intermediate course: