Urban sketching is, simply put, the practice of sketching on location. It’s not a new concept; after all, artists have been sketching what they observe from life for a very long time. What’s different is that it has become an international movement, with people all over opting to meet, sketch, and share their little slice of the planet.
Fresh Techniques for Sketching On the Move
By Suma CM
The “share” can be virtual or can take the form of a “throwdown” of sketchbooks at the end of an in-person meetup; seeing ten or twenty completely different interpretations of the same location is a wonderful reminder that we each bring a unique and valid perspective to the world.
For plein air artists, urban sketching is a great way to keep drawing muscles active between painting sessions. I enjoy drawing and painting and spend my fair share of time in the studio, but as an extrovert I get my energy from others. Drawing in a sketchbook naturally invites curiosity. Passersby stop to take a look, and locals stop to chat about the history of the place. It’s a great way to learn about the community, and these interactions become part of what I’m recording on the page.
Since urban sketching doesn’t require elaborate equipment, I can take out a sketchbook and a minimal kit at a moment’s notice, immersing myself in whatever’s happening around me.
I’m paying attention not only to what I see but also the sounds, the breeze, even the scents. It’s a kind of participant observation – a way to engage in visual storytelling. At the same time, its portable nature means my documenting can be as thorough or as limited as I please.
Here are some ways that I keep things fresh as I sketch “on the spot”:
Sketch against time: I give myself a set time to draw, adapting my technique accordingly. In five minutes, I might produce just a thumbnail or contour drawing, while 45 minutes might see me with a fully rendered ink-and-watercolor sketch.
Line after color: Usually I’ll start with line and add color afterward. But change the order, and those initial splashes of color suddenly make the sketch feel loose and less fussy.
Square foot sketch: If I’m feeling uninspired, I sometimes warm up by focusing intensely on a small bounded area (a square foot, for instance), and recording only what’s there. I might notice a texture on the sidewalk, an ant or two crawling across that vast (to them) expanse of concrete, or a weed poking out and reaching for the sun. Capturing those small wonders helps remind me that there is something to be observed and drawn everywhere – I don’t have to wait for the “perfect” scene or subject.
Connect with Suma CM: www.artbysuma.com
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Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
