A beautifully sketched scene featuring a decorative gazebo surrounded by people in a lively plaza. The background includes charming buildings with domes and spires, rendered in soft watercolor hues. Trees and street lamps provide a welcoming atmosphere.

Art Toolkit Workshops

Finding Focus

Simplify Complex Scenes into Balanced Compositions with Genine Carvalheira

Finding Focus

Live workshop with Genine Carvalheira.

Choose your level of participation:

Workshops are not eligible for discount.

About the Workshop

This is a recording of our live workshop, Finding Focus: Simplify Complex Scenes into Balanced Compositions with Genine Carvalheira!

In this workshop, you will learn how to capture complex scenes in your sketchbook by identifying a focal point and making intentional decisions about what to include or leave out.

You will explore techniques for using selective linework, contrast, and limited color to create balanced compositions that emphasize the subject while giving just enough context to the viewer. Experiment with fountain and fineliner pens, exploring inks of various shades and watercolor washes to document the world around you. By the end of the workshop, you will have a set of practical tools for approaching busy scenes with more clarity and confidence.

A large, smiling Buddha statue sits at the center of the Chen Tien Buddhist Temple. Surrounding the statue are smaller golden figures, and a sign above reads "Chen Tien Buddhist Temple." The scene has a serene atmosphere with soft colors and a peaceful setting.
Hand-drawn illustration featuring two vintage barber chairs, one in teal and the other in white, alongside a colorful barbershop exterior with the text "El Taller del Pelo"; The shop front includes a window and a mural.
A minimalist watercolor illustration featuring a cityscape with tall buildings and a bridge. A boat is moored at the foreground, while grey and light hues dominate the scene, giving it a serene, urban ambiance.
A hand-drawn sketch of a pink building with an elegant architectural design, featuring tall palm trees in the foreground. The building has arched windows and a tile roof, set against a clear background.
The Eiffel Tower rises majestically against a blue sky, surrounded by green trees. A seated artist is seen in the foreground, sketching the iconic landmark.
A watercolor illustration featuring Alcatraz Island labeled "Alcatraz: The Rock"; in the background, with a calm sea in the foreground. Three sea lions are depicted sitting on a dock, expressing sounds with "Ough Ough Ough" alongside the text; "So many sea lions."
A colorful watercolor illustration of a large tree trunk with intricate bark details, accompanied by handwritten text about a visit to the San Antonio Riverwalk. The text expresses enjoyment of food, drinks, and company during the outing.
Hand-drawn illustration of tall cacti with a person standing nearby, accompanied by handwritten text about an experience in La Vega, Colombia, discussing gratitude and the beauty of the surroundings. The background features a soft, green watercolor wash.

Workshop Structure

This recording of our workshop is available for purchase! The live workshop took place on October 4th. To register for Live Access, visit our Workshops page for upcoming offerings.

Recorded Access includes all workshop materials and access to the 2-hour workshop recording for those who wish to work at their own pace. The recording is available the week following the live call date.

All participants, regardless of access level, will have access to the workshop recording a minimum of twelve months after the purchase date. We also invite you to join the Art Toolkit Community, a space for people registered for our workshops to share art, creative musings, questions, and inspiration! After signing up for any of our workshops, watch for the Art Toolkit Community invitation in your inbox to get started.

Registration Details

To register for this workshop, select Add to Cart and proceed to checkout.

Important: You are not registered until you have completed the checkout process.

We will send you a payment receipt by email. If you don’t see it, please check your junk mail folder and add hello@arttoolkit.com to your contacts.

When you have completed checkout, you’re in!

You will receive an email with an invite link to our learning platform, Circle. If you already have an account, this link will add your new workshop to your Dashboard. The access details and syllabus will be under your Course Dashboard.

Questions? Please send us an email and we’ll help you out.

About Genine Carvalheira

A smiling woman with curly hair, wearing glasses and a navy jacket, holds a notebook and pen in a quaint cobblestone street. Colorful buildings line the background.

Genine Carvalheira (@geninecarvalheira) is an artist, Interior & Industrial Designer, and avid traveler from the US, now living in Canada after several years in Colombia. She has participated in eleven Urban Sketchers symposiums and served in various roles on the organization’s executive board.

Since 2007, Genine has filled over 85 sketchbooks, documenting her life and travels across 30+ countries. Her sketchbooks serve as a visual journal, recording the quiet beauty of everyday moments alongside the captivating scenes from her global travels, always ready to capture life as it unfolds.

Visit Genine’s website for upcoming classes, a link to her shop, and a peek inside her sketchbook, or find her on Instagram @geninecarvalheira.
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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