Watercolor Sketchbook with Michelle May
A sketchbook is more than a place to practice. It’s a place to experiment, collect ideas, capture a moment, and give yourself permission to make art without worrying about the finished product.
Join artist Michelle May at Juniper Rag Contemporary for a relaxed, hands-on introduction to keeping a watercolor sketchbook. We’ll explore simple watercolor techniques, quick washes, loose brushwork, color mixing, and ways to capture shapes, textures, and impressions on the page. You’ll learn how to combine observation with spontaneous marks, build a page through layers, and let small studies evolve into something unexpected.
Whether you’re interested in sketching while traveling, recording everyday discoveries, developing ideas for larger works, or simply making more time for creativity, a watercolor sketchbook offers a wonderfully accessible place to begin. No advanced drawing or painting skills are needed—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
Advance registration is encouraged. Drop-ins are welcome if space allows.
What to bring: A few photos either printed or on your phone of imagery that interests you to draw from. Your pencil, and a couple Micron pens, watercolor pad, paints, artist tape and brushes. Bring the supplies you have and come ready to play.
Thursdays are watercolor days at Juniper Rag! We welcome you to our boutique gallery for intimate, welcoming space for making art, learning new techniques, and trying something different. Each week brings a new workshop and another reason to pick up a brush.
Space is limited to just 8 participants so everyone has room to work and learn. Advanced registration is encouraged. Drop-ins are welcome when space is available.
Come curious. Leave with a few new skills, a handful of experiments, new people and maybe a new favorite ways to make art.
Key Takeaways
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
Build a regular creative practice. Learn how small, consistent sessions can strengthen skills and keep creativity moving.
Explore watercolor fundamentals. Practice washes, color mixing, layering, brushwork, and water control in a low-pressure setting.
Draw what you see. Develop observation skills by capturing shapes, details, textures, and everyday moments.
Experiment without pressure. Use the sketchbook as a space for testing ideas, making mistakes, and discovering unexpected results.
Combine drawing and painting. Explore how pencil, ink, and watercolor can work together to capture an idea or impression.
Develop visual storytelling. Use notes, color studies, quick sketches, and painted observations to record experiences and inspiration. Record paint mixes you like or don’t like.
Discover a personal style. Identify recurring interests, preferred techniques, and visual themes through regular experimentation.
Track your progress. Date your pages. Create a personal record of artistic growth that reveals changing skills, ideas, and confidence over time.
Generate ideas for future work. Turn sketchbook experiments into starting points for more developed paintings and projects.
Make creativity a habit. Leave with practical ways to keep using your sketchbook beyond the workshop.
The biggest takeaway: Your sketchbook isn't a collection of perfect paintings. It's a record of your curiosity, a reminder to practice, a chance to experiment, and a place to see growth—one page at a time.
No prior watercolor or drawing experience is necessary.
This is an introductory, hands-on workshop designed to help beginners and curious artists get comfortable with using a sketchbook, something that I myself need to do more often.
Through demonstration, experimentation and practice, if you have ever wanted to try keeping a sketchbook, we promise you will have fun.
Michelle May
Artist and Co-Founder of Juniper Rag
JR Workshops to Strengthen Artists Behind the Art—
Unlike traditional art instruction, our workshops focus on strengthening the artist behind the artwork for all levels of mediums. By combining the expertise of our professionally led workshops and Juniper Rag's artist-centered philosophy, participants gain practical skills and transferable tools, greater creative awareness, stronger confidence and a deeper appreciation for the remarkable ways artistic practice supports mental health, resilience and personal growth.
These experiences are designed not only to help introduce people to creativity, but to help experienced artists make better work—and to help them build healthier, more fulfilling creative lives.
Max attendance for our workshop is set to 8 artists for an intimate and personal experience.
Artists, please feel free to bring your favorite materials or new experimental media. Anything goes. Water is available.
Location: Juniper Rag Contemporary, 138 Green Street, Studio 201, Worcester, MA
Material List for Watercolor Workshops
Paints: a set of tubes or pan watercolors including your primaries with warm & cool, red, yellow & blue and burnt Sienna. All you need is red, yellow and blue to make the others!
Sketchbook: For this class, an unlined watercolor sketchbook would be best. The papers have sizing on them that allow the watercolor to float. If you have one on hand that is unlined and just want to use that, it’s fine. Go light on the water. A few pieces of watercolor paper are ok to use as well if you don’t have time to get a new sketchbook. The whole reason is to have them all secure in the binding of the book though to save.
Brushes: An assortment of your favorites, including 1 large round, size: 10 or 12 or larger. 1 medium round size 6, a fan brush, thin brushes. You do not have to spend a lot on brushes. Just the basics.
Tape: Any artist tape that will not pull up the paper fibers will do.
Palette:
A mixing tray or palette, or simply a white plastic plate
Artist masking or painters tape
Pencil 2B or whatever you have.
Pencils and pens: We recommend #1 and #2 pencils and Micron pens to try with different nib sizes. (ex: .5 and .8)
Optional:
Salt
Alcohol
Clear or white wax crayon
Frisket
CC Lowell in Worcester on Pleasant Street can set you up with everything you need.
We will provide water vessels and paper towels.
Register here (if the class is cost prohibitive, please shoot us a message at info@juniperrag.com):
A sketchbook is part studio, part laboratory, and part visual diary. It’s a place to work out ideas, test materials, observe the world, and make a mess without the pressure of producing a finished piece. The real value isn’t in making every page beautiful; it’s in showing up, picking up a pencil or brush, and giving yourself the freedom to explore.
Consistency builds confidence. Even a few minutes of drawing or painting regularly helps develop observation, hand-eye coordination, brush control, and an intuitive understanding of color, shape, and composition. Small studies and imperfect experiments accumulate into meaningful practice. You begin to recognize what interests you, which techniques come naturally, and where you want to push yourself further.
Over time, a sketchbook becomes a record of visual growth.