- 5 Workshops
- 3 Bonuses
Course Details
The Wild West is a compelling chapter of American history that continues to fascinate the world with its endless stories of adventure and lawlessness, its infamous outlaws, legendary lawmen, brave pioneers and their conflict with Native Americans defending ancestral lands.
And it’s these enthralling stories, set against rugged, untamed landscapes, that gave Ian Fennelly the perfect canvas to develop this comprehensive Wild West Sketch Course.
In this unique online training program, you'll embark on a captivating learning journey as Ian teaches you his techniques for sketching mesmerizing scenes that infuse iconic imagery, with the rich history and raw beauty of the American Frontier.
Your Storytelling Masterclass
Through the Wild West Sketch Course you'll learn Ian's secrets for crafting sketches that are not only visually stunning, but evoke powerful emotions in your viewer.
Depicting the weathered wood of an old cart, drawing the intricate details of a rugged landscape, painting texture that expresses age, mixing the rusted colours of a ranch roof, capturing the right level of light and shadow to express the spirit of a wagon that once carried pioneers across arid plains.
Every mark from your fine liner and every stroke of your brush pen will echo the timeless stories of the Wild West.
And by the end of this training, you'll know Ian's tricks and techniques for infusing rich narratives and historical depth into your work. And you'll possess the skills to produce authentic and evocative masterpieces that tell stories of a bygone era.
5 Comprehensive Sketching Workshops
Each of these 5 workshop locations has been hand-picked by Ian to build your skills and confidence and achieve astounding results quickly. Here's an overview of the five workshops you'll get instant access to when you take the Wild West Course:
#1 The Cart
In this immersive first workshop, you’ll dive into capturing the rich age and intricate details of the cart, exploring how to transform the negative space between its spokes and infuse your work with an abstract touch. You’ll start with the wheel as your focal point, honing in on its shape and scale—a foundation from which your sketch will evolve.
As you work, you’ll use fine lines to layer character and depth, bringing the sketch to life. With a carefully selected palette, you’ll explore color mixing in a new way, layering hues to create rich, dimensional forms.
Throughout, you’ll highlight the cart’s defining elements, capturing the delicate joins on the wheels, the rugged texture of knots in the wood, and adding impact with linework and hatching. By the end, you’ll have a sketch that brings every detail of this timeless subject to the forefront.
#2 The Ranch
In this workshop, you’ll take on the challenge of starting your sketch with a pen, embracing the commitment to each line and shape as they form on the page. This bold approach will sharpen your instincts and confidence.
You’ll deepen your skills by weaving all five shades into the tree, enriching the scene with subtle interactions of and light. Broad washes will flow over the composition, adding dimension across the scene rather than isolating one area. Moving to the roof, you’ll explore texture, capturing the nuanced tonal shifts on each panel.
As the sketch unfolds, you’ll bring the story to life by layering intricate details: hatching techniques to evoke the rough texture of the grass in the foreground, and delicate linework to reveal the knotty, resilient texture of the eucalyptus tree. This workshop is a journey in commitment, depth, and storytelling through your sketch.
#3 The Wagon
In Workshop 3, you’ll bring the character of a goods wagon to life, setting it against a backdrop that adds rich layers of storytelling. Starting with the wagon as your focal point, you’ll gradually build the scene—adding a cactus-dotted landscape and mountains that recede into the background.
You’ll explore tonal values by selecting hues that align with mood rather than strict accuracy, using variations within a single wash to deepen the scene. Through a wet-on-wet approach, you’ll layer darker tones, allowing s to mingle and blend organically right on the page.
Once dry, you’ll introduce brush pens, layering tonal depth into the mountains and gradually moving from light to dark to create subtle shifts that push the background into gentle relief. This technique showcases the unique textures of brush pens, distinct from water pens, adding dimension and depth.
In the final detail phase, you’ll capture the wagon’s story by layering textures: the grain of the wood, the weathered metalwork, the rugged cactus, and the rough stones beneath. Every element ties together, giving life to the scene and capturing its timeless character.
#4 The Landscape
In Workshop 4, you’ll learn the art of breaking down a captivating scene, layering elements thoughtfully to create visual interest and exploring how the scale of each subject transforms the overall composition.
In the color stage, you’ll begin with soft washes in the background, carefully working around the prominent cactus in the foreground. Splashes will add dynamic texture to the ground, while areas of rich pigment create contrast—all within a refined, limited palette.
For the detail phase, you’ll bring the scene to life with a variety of pens, using hatching techniques to build tone and gently push the background into subtle depth. You’ll finish by playing with texture and pattern, bringing out the intricate details—the diversity of cacti, the dry grass, the rocky ground—all essential elements that add the final, vivid touches to your work.
#5 The Homestead
In this workshop, you’ll begin by focusing on the corner of the homestead building, using it to anchor the scene’s perspective before capturing the striking saguaro cactus in the foreground.
You’ll explore a minimalist approach, using a single brush pen to bring the composition to life, letting tonal values emerge naturally as you move across the scene. Gradually, you’ll introduce darker tones for subtle contrast, enriching the depth and atmosphere.
To complete your sketch, you’ll add textures that bring character to each element—from the rugged patterns of the cactus and the weathered stonework to the gentle sweep of the hills beyond. Each detail draws the viewer deeper into the scene, bringing it vividly to life.
About Your Instructor
Ian Fennelly has built an extraordinary reputation as one of the world’s finest urban sketchers and most sought-after teachers. Ian's distinct style of on-location art, engaging teaching methods and all-round creativity have earned him a passionate global following. In the Wild West Sketch Course, Ian peels back the curtain and reveals his methodology for sketching scenes that are visually stunning and packed with rich narratives that evoke powerful emotions in your viewer.
Easy-To-Follow Training
Discover the secrets of crafting mesmerizing Wild West scenes in this captivating, easy-to-follow course, designed and delivered by Ian Fennelly. Through his step-by-step process, you'll learn how to create depth, capture expansive spaces, and master storytelling that brings any scene to life. Here are just some of the key components covered in these workshops:Color-Mixing Techniques
Push the boundaries of traditional watercolour techniques and discover how Ian manipulates to add depth and dimension. Learn abstract colour-mixing skills and experiment with limited palettes.
Sketching Stories
Discover Ian's method for capturing historical depth, making each piece not just a drawing but a rich narrative of the past.
Finding Your Focus
Learn how to manage complex compositions with multiple focal points by segmenting your scene into layers and directing your viewer’s gaze.
Texture Exploration
Discover Ian's dynamic penwork techniques to vividly depict unique textures, from the age of a desert cactus and the rugged texture of its surface to a weather-worn wagon.
Shape Shifting
Discover how to manipulate shapes and scales to build powerful visual compositions that seamlessly integrate elements on the page.
Creating Mood with Light
Learning how to portray natural light and shadow effectively to enhance the realism and mood of your sketches, from the stark shadows cast by the midday sun to the soft hues of a desert sunset.
The Location
There was no better place for Ian to teach you his complete wild west sketching methodology than the iconic Tanque Verde Ranch, nestled in the beautiful Rincon Mountains of southern Arizona.
With its sweeping views of arid deserts, rugged canyons, ghost towns, and silent mountain ranges - the Wild West has been a source of fascination and inspiration for adventurers and artists alike.
Free Bonuses
When you invest in this training course, you'll also get these bonuses included absolutely FREE (Worth )Free Bonus 1
Horse Sketching Workshop
([BonusWorkshop] Value)
In this special bonus workshop, Ian breaks down how to quick sketch a horse in just two simple steps, using only your fine liners and brush pens. You’ll learn how to perfect the scale, outline and shapes of the horse with your fine liner, before adding the right level of depth and texture using shading and hatching techniques, to produce an impressive quick sketch. These are timeless techniques that you can use to quickly sketch any animal with jaw-dropping effect.
Free Bonus 2
Sketchbook Tour
([BonusSketchbook] Value)
Get an insiders tour of Ian's sketchbooks as he talks you through his never-shared-before pre-sketches, and final sketches. Ian reveals his thought processes, and shares valuable tips and key learning points from some of his finest wild west scenes.
Free Bonus 3
Urban Sketchers Feedback Gallery
([BonusGallery] Value)
Buy this course and you'll also gain access to our thriving online feedback gallery. This is a safe and private place where urban sketchers of all abilities can share their work without judgement - while getting positive, constructive feedback from supportive, like-minded sketchers who are all rooting for you! There's no better place to learn, overcome challenges and build your confidence and skills than the Urban Sketch Feedback Gallery.
Verified Reviews
Take a look at what others have said about our urban sketching courses. All reviews have been verified by TrustPilot or Google Reviews:
Ready To Sketch the Wild West?
Step into the shoes of a pioneer and journey back to the untamed landscapes of the American Frontier with Ian Fennelly's Wild West Sketch Course. Learn how to transform ordinary sketches into evocative masterpieces that transport viewers back in time. And it's a skill that anyone can learn. Ian guides you through the entire process of bringing aged subjects to life, showcasing the beauty of rust, textures, and patterns that tell tales of a bygone era.
Frequently Asked Questions
How easy is this course for a complete beginner?
In the Wild West Sketch Course, Ian begins with the basics, assuming participants have no background knowledge, skills, or experience.
Starting from a blank canvas, he teaches you to deconstruct any 'complex' scene into manageable elements, then layer by layer, helping you craft a stunning sketch.
Following Ian's instructions and techniques, you'll quickly notice your swift progress and impressive results. By the end of the course, you will have gained the skills and confidence to sketch various scenes effectively.
Can I follow along with Ian while taking this course?
Yes. This is over-the-shoulder learning with Ian Fennelly.
Ian is an experienced and engaging teacher and has broken each workshop down into easy-to-follow stages. Within each of those stages, he takes you through each step in the process while explaining everything he is doing, slowly and methodically.
You have the flexibility to slow down, pause, or speed up each tutorial to match your learning pace. Some students also prefer to watch the videos first and then watch them again and sketch along. The choice is yours!
Plus, with lifetime access, you can revisit the course as many times as you like.
How long will the course take?
The entire course spans approximately 8 hours, but it's organized into short, manageable lessons. You have the flexibility to slow down, pause, or speed up each tutorial to match your learning pace.
Some learners also prefer to watch the videos first and then watch them again and sketch along. The choice is yours!
While it's a comprehensive course, you benefit from lifetime access, allowing you to proceed at your own relaxed pace and on your schedule.
How straightforward is it to navigate this online course?
Our learning platform is incredibly user-friendly. Each workshop tutorial features step-by-step videos, supplemented with additional guidance and interactive elements to enhance your learning experience. Just navigate through the lessons and play the videos as you proceed.
Do I get lifetime course access?
Yes, you'll receive lifetime access to the course along with all accompanying downloads and resources. It never expires, allowing you to learn at your own pace, on your schedule, and any device.
What are the key benefits and learning focus of this course?
This course offers a unique and rich learning experience by covering a diverse range of subjects—buildings, landscapes, quick sketches, and everyday objects—giving you the flexibility and skills to sketch almost anything with confidence.
Unlike many of Ian's courses that focus solely on architecture, this course delves into techniques for capturing the essence and ‘age’ of a subject, enabling you to infuse your work with storytelling and depth. You’ll not only refine your technical skills but also learn how to sketch with an eye for history and narrative, making each piece a more expressive and engaging work of art.