Written by 
#doodlewash” class=”wp-image-51250″ width=”230″ height=”171″/>Hello everyone! My name is Gabrielle Hatton but people call me Brie. I have a degree in art education working at a high school for 9 years but, have taken time off to raise my two wonderful kids. My husband and I moved from the midwest to Colorado a little over a year ago. Discovering Colorado has been such an adventure… and documenting it has been a fun experience.
After having kids, documenting my life and theirs became very important to me. I have always kept a sketchbook, even if it was used as a journal at times, I don’t have the best memory so it’s a great way for me to remember moments in my everyday life.
#doodlewash” width=”3250″ height=”1512″>I have always been interested in art, as a young child I remember my mother encouraging my interest by setting up an art desk for me to work at and helping me when I asked for it. She has always been good at art, getting her degree in art education as well.
#doodlewash” class=”wp-image-51254″/>Before finding my love for documenting life I did a lot of portrait drawings in graphite. After college, I found it easy to sketch with just pen and ink and then add watercolor washes to them. I did this at my desk while the students worked. My sketches would consist of doodles about my day. Taking that a step further I decided that I shouldn’t just document my life, I should be documenting life around me too!
#doodlewash” class=”wp-image-51248″/>So that is when I became very interested in urban sketching. I am new to the urban sketch world and I am loving it all, trying to take in all of the different styles and trying to find my own style in the process. This is not only fun but also very challenging.
I started off sketching very small in a 3×5 notebook because I felt like I could get more sketches done which would mean more practice, however, I have moved to a 5×8 notebook and have been loving the extra space. I enjoy watercolor paper, I am using the Pentalic watercolor journal and I am going to be getting another one when this one is finished.
I start my sketches off with pencil, however, I would love to eventually be able to skip this step all together… someday!
#doodlewash” class=”wp-image-51251″ width=”230″ height=”230″/>I then add pen with some hatching. For this I love my fountain pens, Lamy Safari, Pilot Kakuno and I just recently got a Sailor with a fude nib! To add color I have been using Schmincke and Daniel Smith watercolors interchangeably. They both are amazing brands with fantastic paint colors. To apply the color if I am on location I like to use Sakura water brushes only because they are easy but my favorite are my Silver Black Velvet travel brushes.
I love the idea of finding my go-to supplies… the bare minimum that I would need. I am constantly changing my urban sketch supplies. I am hoping my Sailor Fude nib fountain pen will be the only one I need to carry… but the jury is still out.
#doodlewash” class=”wp-image-51247″ width=”230″ height=”170″/>I know my style will evolve and continue changing throughout the years and I am excited to document that process. My sketchbooks are my documented journey that I never want to forget and I love to relive! So, I encourage anyone and everyone to document their life and enjoy the journey!
Gabrielle “Brie” Hatton
Instagram
YouTube
Patreon
Hi Brie!!! So happy to see Charlie featuring you here on Doodlewash.com! I love your video…and your supplies! I am looking forward to seeing more of your gorgeous work and sharing our art journeys on Instagram!!! =)
Thank you Michele! I love seeing your posts on instagram as well!
Hi Brie. You and I have similar backgrounds though I’m a generation (or more) older than you. I taught art for nearly three decades, in private schools and city rec programs, loving every single minute of it, even the prep and grading. Your art is charming and I can tell by your video how wonderful a teacher you are. You hold your pencil back to make a minimal but assured sketch, you build your painting by layers, and you work on the entire image equally – all the techniques you probably taught your students. Just looking at your art, I thought they were much larger until I saw the actual size of the book – more evidence of mastery. Well done – I really enjoyed visiting this post.
Sharon, thank you so much for all your kind words. I have a few more videos on youtube if you are interested. I would also love to see your work, do you post it anywhere?
No, I don’t post anything. I’ve turned to writing in recent years, and all my painting is now for my own pleasure or as gifts for family and close friends. I’ll take a look at your other videos – will be fun, I’m sure.
I checked out your blog… I bookmarked it. I understand painting for pleasure after teaching all those years!
Very Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
Welcome to see my creations:
http://paintdigi.wordpress.com