Urban Sketching

This year I ventured into teaching an Urban Sketching class.  It's more of a basic skill building class than anything.  We're firming up our observational and drawing skills while adding those touches of personality with color.  It's an amazing insight into how we perceive our surroundings and how they appear on our paper.  It's also a great segue into en Plein Air painting. 

I'm grateful for this opportunity.  I get to paint with some amazing people, explore our local area with locations I've never been or have overlooked.  I get to see the area in a different light every time.  I'm fascinated by the nooks and crannies that can be found all over the place.  There's so much to be inspired by even if they are mundane and everyday subjects.

I chose just four watercolor paints, Gamboge, Ultra Blue and Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet for my main mixing and a Cobalt Turquoise for pop.  The three main colors create an array of warm grays, browns, oranges and greens.  The colors are almost perfect for an urban setting and even some landscapes.

I've kept my sketching tools fairly simple.  A small watercolor palette with a size 10 travel brush serves me just fine.  I've got a .07 mechanical pencil, a couple outliner pens in various colors like black, browns and grays.  I've also purchased an 8-pk Faber-Castell soft brush pens in a range of gray tones.  These pens are mainly for adding zing to shadow areas.   

I've even made my own sketchbook (pictured below)!  I wanted to try out paper so I cut a mix of brands, textures and weights into 6"x8" pieces.  I'm not too crafty, but managed to place them together with a hole punch, some cardboard and a few binder rings.  I may get more creative with my DIY sketchbooks later on, but for now, it works.  

By using a sketchbook, it helps reduce the stress.  There's no pressure for perfect lines or to complete a whole painting.  Sketching is great way to get ideas down.   The feel of a place or even some whimsy.

With these sketches, I can focus on line, shape and even some color.  Sometimes we get bogged down trying too hard to create an exact copy of what we see, we forget what it feels like.  We relate to paintings through subject and color.  Things that move us emotionally.  As artists, we can create, add or take away what we want to get the painting we want. When adding color to these sketches, such as watercolor, it can be messy, loose and free.  

There's so much to see, draw and paint.  As artists, it feels like we are ever learning and that's a wonderful way to view the process.  As we get comfortable with our skill, we will get bolder.  Maybe we'll add another medium.  With time, maybe venture into adding cars or people.  The possibilities are endless!  We just need to crack on and take life as it comes at us.  

Remember to smile, laugh and art on!