{"id":825,"date":"2026-07-28T14:05:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/about\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T11:21:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:21:26","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"The Open Sketchbook \u2014 About Mara"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"825\" class=\"elementor elementor-825\">\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10064 section light moa-xl section-opener e-no-lazyload e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a10064\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10063 moa-width-regular e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10063\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1005e e-con-full e-flex bps-glass e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1005e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1005f prehead prehead elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1005f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About Mara<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10060 hero-title hero-title elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10060\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Twenty years of pages, seven years of students.<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10061 hero-subtitle hero-subtitle elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a10061\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Painter first, teacher by accident \u2014 it started with one student and a kitchen table, and grew into a studio run from a converted greenhouse in Paddington.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10062 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a10062\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"\/sketchbook\/courses\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">See the courses<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1006f section light2 moa-lg section-body e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a1006f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1006e moa-width-regular e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1006e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10065 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10065\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10066 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10066\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10067 prehead prehead elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10067\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The story<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10068 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10068\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">It started with one student and a kitchen table.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10069 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a10069\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A neighbour asked for help with skies. One Tuesday lesson became six, her pages went from muddy to luminous, and the look on her face when the first wash behaved was better than any exhibition I&#8217;d hung.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1006a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1006a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Word got around, and one lesson at the kitchen table became six people wanting the same thing. Seven years later the kitchen table is a proper studio in a converted greenhouse, and the method hasn&#8217;t changed: small pages, honest feedback, no ceremony.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1006b elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a1006b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"\/sketchbook\/courses\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">How the courses work<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1006c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1006c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1006d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a1006d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-story-87678f.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-885\" alt=\"Mara teaching a lesson at a kitchen table, where the studio began\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-story-87678f.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-story-87678f-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-story-87678f-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-story-87678f-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10079 section dark moa-lg section-body e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a10079\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10078 moa-width-regular e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10078\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10070 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10070\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10071 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10071\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10072 prehead prehead elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10072\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The approach<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10073 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10073\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Decide less. Look more.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10074 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a10074\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Watercolour is the only medium that keeps painting after you lift the brush. The pigment drifts, the water pools, and the edge you didn&#8217;t plan becomes the best thing on the page. My whole method is learning to leave room for that.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10075 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a10075\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>So the courses teach decisions, not strokes: how much water, which pigment, where the light lives \u2014 then the discipline to stop meddling and let the page finish itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10076 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10076\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10077 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a10077\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-approach-0791b3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-886\" alt=\"A wash of warm colour spreading across blank watercolour paper\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-approach-0791b3.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-approach-0791b3-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-approach-0791b3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-approach-0791b3-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10091 section light moa-lg section-body e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a10091\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10090 moa-width-regular e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10090\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1007a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1007a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1007b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1007b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1007c prehead prehead elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1007c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How I teach<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1007d section-title section-title elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1007d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Four promises to every student.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1007e hero-subtitle hero-subtitle elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1007e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The rules the school runs on, whichever course you pick.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1007f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1007f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10080 e-con-full light2 e-flex section bps-anim-slide-up bps-anim-delay-100 bps-shadow-sm e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10080\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10081 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10081\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u25c6<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10082 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10082\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Process over product<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10083 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a10083\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You&#8217;re graded on pages filled, never on frames earned.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10084 e-con-full light2 e-flex section bps-anim-slide-up bps-anim-delay-200 bps-shadow-sm e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10084\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10085 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10085\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u25c7<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10086\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Small daily pages<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10087 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a10087\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Twenty minutes beats four hours on Sunday \u2014 the courses are built that shape.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10088 e-con-full light2 e-flex section bps-anim-slide-up bps-anim-delay-300 bps-shadow-sm e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10088\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10089 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10089\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u25c8<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1008a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1008a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Honest critique<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1008b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1008b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Kind, specific, and about the page in front of us \u2014 never a template reply.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1008c e-con-full light2 e-flex section bps-anim-slide-up bps-anim-delay-400 bps-shadow-sm e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1008c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1008d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1008d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u2756<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1008e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1008e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Materials you own<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1008f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1008f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Every lesson works with a starter palette. Nothing is taught that needs a shopping trip.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b1 section light2 moa-sd section-body e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a100b1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b0 moa-width-regular e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100b0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10092 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10092\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10093 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10093\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10094 prehead prehead elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10094\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">From the sketchbooks<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10095 section-title section-title elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a10095\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pages, not paintings.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10096 hero-subtitle hero-subtitle elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a10096\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A few spreads from the studio and the student wall.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10097 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10097\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10098 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a10098\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a10099 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a10099\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-sky-239796.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-887\" alt=\"A soft sky-toned wash on a blank sheet of paper\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-sky-239796.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-sky-239796-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-sky-239796-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-sky-239796-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1009a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1009a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sky studies<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1009b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1009b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Module two, every course<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1009c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1009c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1009d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a1009d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-landscape-61cc6b.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-888\" alt=\"A landscape-toned wash on a blank sheet of paper\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-landscape-61cc6b.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-landscape-61cc6b-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-landscape-61cc6b-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-landscape-61cc6b-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1009e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1009e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Landscape pages<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1009f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1009f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From the flagship course<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100a0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a100a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-mixing-9a1edc.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-889\" alt=\"Mixed watercolour blobs along the edge of blank paper\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-mixing-9a1edc.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-mixing-9a1edc-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-mixing-9a1edc-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-mixing-9a1edc-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a100a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mixing charts<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a100a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The starter palette, mapped<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a100a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-prompts-9c2e4d.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-890\" alt=\"A stack of blank watercolour pads on the studio bench\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-prompts-9c2e4d.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-prompts-9c2e4d-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-prompts-9c2e4d-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-prompts-9c2e4d-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a100a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Daily prompts<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a100a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Sketchbook Habit<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a100a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-student-2208ca.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-891\" alt=\"A student at her easel, seen from behind\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-student-2208ca.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-student-2208ca-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-student-2208ca-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-student-2208ca-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a100aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Student pages<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a100ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Marked up and sent back<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100ac e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100ac\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a100ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-greenhouse-a50f9e.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-892\" alt=\"Inside the converted greenhouse studio\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-greenhouse-a50f9e.jpg 963w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-greenhouse-a50f9e-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-greenhouse-a50f9e-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/the-open-sketchbook-skl-greenhouse-a50f9e-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a100ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The greenhouse<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100af elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a100af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Where the classes run<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b9 section dark moa-xl section-closer e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a100b9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b8 moa-width-narrow e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100b8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100b2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b3 section-title section-title elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a100b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Paint something small today.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b4 hero-subtitle hero-subtitle elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a100b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ask about a trial class and see whether the method suits your hand \u2014 no obligation, just one page.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a100b5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b6 elementor-align-center bps-ghost elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a100b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"\/sketchbook\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Ask me anything<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a100b7 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a100b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"\/sketchbook\/courses\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">See the courses<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Mara Twenty years of pages, seven years of students. Painter first, teacher by accident \u2014 it started with one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-825","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=825"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":896,"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/825\/revisions\/896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lite.buildprosites.com\/sketchbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}