Urban sketching is more than just a drawing – it’s a therapeutic journey waiting for you to explore. Capturing the essence of city life through your sketches can be a calming experience.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, urban sketching offers a way to connect with your surroundings and fellow artists.
Through simple strokes of your pen or pencil, you can find a sense of belonging in the urban sketching community. Let your creative spirit thrive as you sketch your way through streets and neighborhoods, creating lasting memories one drawing at a time.
Let’s Talk About It!
What is Urban Sketching?
Urban sketching is an engaging form of art that captures the essence and energy of the cityscape through quick, on-location drawings. It’s a way to document the world around you using pen, pencil, or watercolor, focusing on scenes in urban settings that catch your eye.
Instead of taking photographs of your vacation, why not sketch it?
Origins of Urban Sketching
Urban sketching was founded by a Spanish journalist and illustrator, Gabriel Campanario, who lives in Seattle, Washington. He created a movement called Urban Sketchers, which is a global community with artists of all levels to go out and sketch on location, preserving the world one drawing at a time.
The movement started in 2007 and has since grown worldwide with sketchers sharing their work online and organizing sketch crawls in cities across the globe. May 1-7 has become International Sketchers Week.
Distinguishing Features
The key characteristics that define urban sketching include the spontaneous capture of scenes in real-time, focusing on the urban environment’s features and atmosphere. Unlike traditional studio sketching, urban sketching emphasizes capturing the moment, the hustle and bustle of daily life, and the unique architecture and street scenes that make each city special.
It’s about observing and interpreting the world around you through your sketches.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto
Getting Started with Urban Sketching
If you’re new to urban sketching, understanding the essential tools and choosing the right subjects are the best steps to kickstart your creative journey.
Essential Tools for Urban Sketching
To get started on your urban sketching adventure, you’ll need a few basic tools in your kit:
- Sketchbook: Opt for a compact sketchbook that’s easy to carry around. Look for one with sturdy paper that can handle different mediums, especially if you plan to watercolor.
- Pens and Pencils: Include a variety of pens with different nib sizes for line variation. Pencils of varying hardness are also essential for sketching details.
- Watercolors: Adding a touch of color to your sketches can bring them to life. Invest in a portable watercolor set and a water brush for on-the-go painting.
Choosing Your Subjects
Selecting your subjects for your sketches is easy. It’s what captures your eye, what you want to remember and engage with. Consider the following when choosing what to sketch:
- Architecture: Capture the unique buildings, bridges, and landmarks that define the urban landscape. Pay attention to details and overall structures.
- People: Add life to your sketches by including people in everyday scenarios.
- Everyday Life Scenes: Find beauty in the ordinary. Sketch street scenes, markets, cafes, or parks to showcase the essence of city living.
When starting, explore your surroundings and let your creativity flow. This is about capturing moments and stories through your art. Let the city be your muse and enjoy the process of bringing it to life on paper.
Techniques and Tips for Urban Sketching
Learning and mastering techniques and following practical tips can enhance your sketching skills significantly. Let’s look at some tips and tricks to elevate your urban sketching to a new level.
Sketching Techniques
Here are some fundamental techniques to focus on:
- Line Drawing: Start by outlining your subject with confident and expressive lines. Experiment with different line weights to add depth and dimension to your sketches.
- Shading: Practice shading techniques to create contrast and realism in your sketches. Use hatching, cross-hatching, or stippling to add texture and volume to your urban scenes.
Photo by Felicity Tai
- Perspective: Understand the basics of perspective drawing to accurately depict buildings, streets, and urban landscapes.
- Capturing Light and Shadow: Pay attention to light sources in your urban environment. Observe how light interacts with different surfaces and objects.
Tips for Beginners
When you begin your journey, it can be both exciting and intimidating, especially for beginners. Here are some valuable tips to help you overcome common challenges and get started with confidence:
- Embrace Imperfection: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Urban sketching is about capturing the essence of a moment, so embrace imperfections as part of the creative process.
- Find Inspiration Everywhere: Explore your surroundings with a curious eye. Look for unique architectural details, lively street scenes, and hidden corners that spark your creativity. Be open to inspiration from unexpected sources.
Whether you’re honing your sketching techniques or seeking motivation as a beginner urban sketcher, remember that practice and exploration are key to developing your unique style.
Benefits of Urban Sketching
Urban sketching goes beyond just pen to paper; if offers a wealth of benefits that can positively impact your overall well-being and creativity.
Therapeutic Effects
Engaging in this can be a form of art therapy, providing a sense of calm and relaxation amid a bustling urban environment. The act of observing your surroundings with a keen eye and translating them onto paper can help alleviate stress and promote mindfulness.
You can find solace in the rhythm of sketching lines and shapes, allowing your mind to focus solely on the moment. This frees your mind and allows you to be in tune with your creativity and artistic talent.
Being kind to yourself is key, as while you are sketching, mistakes may happen, but you need to roll with it and keep going. It’s all lines and shapes, and you can do it.
I know personally, that sketching is so relaxing and watercolors are relaxing and mind-freeing.
Community Engagement
There is a whole community of urban sketchers worldwide. Whether you are sketching solo in a bustling city square or participating in a global urban sketching event, the shared passion of capturing the essence of urban life connects artists from diverse backgrounds.
The camaraderie and mutual inspiration of the urban sketching community can create a supportive environment where artists encourage and learn from one another. It’s a space where artistic boundaries dissolve, and a shared love of sketching bridges the gaps and creates lasting connections.
I belong to a Facebook group, Urban Sketchers, and I can see firsthand the encouragement, the variety of skills and techniques, and everyone is so supportive.
What If I am Disabled and Cannot Go Out
If you are like me and do not get out much as I like, due to walking issues, there are ways to get around this. I do travel at times and like to take advantage of that time, but I prefer to take photographs from my phone and sketch from those. Most times I travel, I have a wheelchair or scooter and am at the mercy of my companion, so a photograph is easier.
Sketching From Photos
It is not really urban sketching using photos, since it is about recording the scenery around you outdoors, but you can practice your sketching in this way.
If you are using online photos, be careful that you do not use copyrighted photos. This could get you into trouble if you share your work online. Some tips I have on this are:
- Look through old vacation photos you may have or family members might lend you.
- What can you see from your window that you could sketch or take a photograph of?
- If you can get out for short periods, take a photo or do a quick pencil sketch and finish at home.
Remember, you don’t need to get technical with the label because sketching is sketching, and if you can only sketch from your photographs, so be it. Just enjoy the process. If you can get out and sketch for short periods, then do it. If not, don’t worry. You do you!
Urban Sketchers To Follow Online
There are many sketchers to follow online and I found a few for you to follow:
- Wilhelm Schulte: I like his style of what I call messy, but his sketches tell a story and I love that!
- Andrey Shmatnik: I like the people he depicts in his sketches. He captures their expressions and emotions of the moment.
- Harald konsek: The detail is amazing! He captures everything in his sketches from the architecture to the life that surrounds it.
- Vladislav Yeliseyev: He really captures the mood and essence of the area and surroundings.
- Urban Sketchers :This is the best page to see a myriad of sketches.
Websites
- Ian Fennelly: At the time of this post, he has a free urban sketching class!
- Andy Walker: Incorporating Urban Sketching and Plein Air Painting
No matter who you follow, you will find a style that suits you and your creative mind. Remember, check them out, but don’t carbon copy them. Use them for inspiration. Let your creativity soar.
Joining the Urban Sketching Movement
If you want to connect with artists globally and set free your creativity in the heart of city life you can search for online resources and join local groups to enhance your skills and share your passion.
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Online Resources
You can check out the Urban Sketchers website, offering a wealth of tutorials, inspiration, and news. You can also find many other tutorials on YouTube, or just through Google search.
Finding Local Groups
Seek out local groups that share your passion for capturing urban landscapes on paper. Find like-minded artists in your area by joining meetups, workshops, and events. Check out the Urban Sketching World resources to start your journey and connect with a supportive community.
Immerse yourself in the world of urban sketching, where every stroke tells a story and every sketch captures the essence of city life. Sketch the world together and liberate your creativity in the urban landscape.
If you are a beginner, use all the resources available to begin your journey. Explore the different styles, follow step-by-step tutorials, or consider enrolling in a beginner’s course to hone your skills.
Remember, urban sketching is not about perfection but the joy of creating and documenting your perspective of the world around you. Embrace the process, enjoy the journey, and let your creativity flow.
Stay Colorful, Stay Creative, and HAVE FUN!
