As an experienced art writer and creative consultant, I’m thrilled to share insights on how to capture the beauty of the everyday urban landscape through the art of sketching. We learned this the hard way… Sketching on location, often referred to as “urban sketching,” has transformed the way I see the world around me, uncovering profound inspiration in the most mundane moments.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
The urban sketching movement, spearheaded by the non-profit organization Urban Sketchers, is a global community dedicated to the visual storytelling power of on-site sketching. By drawing what they observe in their local environments, urban sketchers elevate the ordinary, revealing the extraordinary character of streets, buildings, and the people who inhabit these spaces.
Traditional Painting Mediums for the Urban Sketch
While urban sketching shares similarities with the long tradition of plein-air painting, the medium of choice often differs. Whereas plein-air painters typically work with oils or acrylics and require a more substantial setup, urban sketchers tend to favour more portable, immediate materials like pencils, pens, and watercolours.
Pencil Drawing: Pencils are a versatile and accessible medium for urban sketching, allowing you to capture the essential lines, shapes, and textures of a scene quickly and spontaneously. Experimenting with different pencil grades, from soft, dark 6Bs to crisp, precise 2Hs, can help you achieve a range of expressive effects.
Ink Drawing: Introducing ink, either through fineliners, dip pens, or brush pens, can add a bold, gestural quality to your urban sketches. The permanence of ink encourages you to work with confidence, embracing mistakes and happy accidents as part of the creative process.
Watercolour Painting: Watercolours are a beloved medium for urban sketchers, as they enable you to add vibrant pops of colour and atmospheric washes to your drawings. Mastering techniques like wet-on-wet, dry brush, and glazing can help you achieve a loose, expressive style that captures the essence of a scene.
Finding Inspiration in the Everyday
One of the core principles of urban sketching, as outlined in the Urban Sketchers Manifesto, is to “draw on location, from direct observation.” This means leaving the confines of the studio or relying on photographic references, and instead immersing yourself in the world around you.
In his book “Finding Your Inspiration,” urban sketcher Ian Fennelly shares how he finds creative fuel in the most ordinary of settings. Whether it’s a quirky building, an overgrown tree, or a humble hanging basket, Fennelly demonstrates how to observe these everyday scenes with a discerning eye, uncovering the unique character and narrative hidden within.
“A simple hanging basket, an overgrown tree, a quirky building, an abandoned boat – discover how Ian takes inspiration from the world and uses it to document the shapes, the colours, and the stories he encounters in everyday life.”
This mindful attention to detail is at the heart of urban sketching, as it allows you to slow down, be present, and truly see the world around you. By training your gaze to appreciate the beauty in the mundane, you’ll start to find inspiration everywhere, from the most bustling city streets to the quietest suburban corners.
Practical Tutorials for the Aspiring Urban Sketcher
Of course, transforming these observed moments into compelling sketches requires developing a range of technical skills. Fortunately, the urban sketching community is rich with resources to help aspiring artists hone their craft.
In the “Layers of Looking” book from the Urban Sketch Course, Ian Fennelly shares practical techniques for loosening up your sketching style, experimenting with colour, and infusing your drawings with greater depth and emotion. Through a series of beautifully illustrated tutorials and personal anecdotes, Fennelly empowers you to see the world in layers and capture its essence with confidence.
One fundamental skill to master is thumbnail sketching. By quickly jotting down small, gestural studies of a scene, you can experiment with different compositions, perspectives, and focal points before committing to a larger, more detailed sketch. This process helps you make the most of your time on location, ensuring you create a sketch that truly encapsulates the spirit of the place.
As you develop your urban sketching practice, don’t be afraid to explore a variety of mediums beyond the traditional pencil, pen, and watercolour. Many contemporary urban sketchers are embracing digital tools, such as tablets and styluses, to create dynamic, narrative-driven illustrations. Others are experimenting with mixed media, incorporating collage, acrylic, and even oil pastel into their sketches.
The beauty of urban sketching lies in its adaptability – there is no one “right” way to approach it. By staying open to new techniques and materials, you’ll discover a style that aligns with your unique creative vision and allows you to elevate the everyday into something extraordinary.
Cultivating a Sense of Place through Visual Storytelling
At its core, urban sketching is a practice of visual storytelling, inviting you to document the unique character and fleeting moments of the places you inhabit. As you hone your skills, you’ll find that your sketches evolve from mere representations of a scene into richly layered narratives, infused with personality and meaning.
In “Sketching Stories,” Ian Fennelly takes you on a journey through urban landscapes, capturing the essence of streets, buildings, and communities. His sketches go beyond architecture, revealing the heart of the people and places that make up our world. By infusing your drawings with a sense of character and emotion, you can transport viewers to the very moment you experienced the scene, inviting them to share in your unique perspective.
Moreover, the act of urban sketching can foster a deeper connection to the places you inhabit, whether you’re exploring your local neighbourhood or documenting your travels. As you slow down to observe your surroundings, you’ll uncover hidden details and quirks that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. These sketches then become a visual diary, a collection of memories and impressions that capture the spirit of a particular time and place.
Embracing the Imperfect, Embracing the Everyday
One of the most liberating aspects of urban sketching is its acceptance of the imperfect. Unlike the meticulous planning and execution often associated with studio-based art, urban sketching celebrates spontaneity, mistake-making, and the happy accidents that arise when you work quickly and responsively.
As Ian Fennelly eloquently states in “Layers of Looking,” urban sketching is about “loosening up, experimenting with colour, and playing with tone.” By embracing a more intuitive, expressive approach, you’ll find that your sketches capture the energy and essence of a scene in a way that rigid perfectionism simply cannot.
Moreover, the act of urban sketching encourages you to find beauty and inspiration in the everyday, mundane moments that often go overlooked. Whether it’s the quirky architectural details of a neglected building or the fleeting gestures of passersby, these seemingly ordinary elements can be elevated through the lens of your sketchbook, inviting viewers to see the world with fresh, appreciative eyes.
So, as you venture out into the urban landscape, sketchbook in hand, remember to approach each scene with a spirit of curiosity, openness, and playfulness. Allow your senses to guide you, and let your intuition lead the way. In doing so, you’ll not only hone your technical skills but also cultivate a deeper, more meaningful connection to the world around you.
Statistic: Studies reveal that engaging with diverse art techniques boosts creative output by over 40%