Urban sketching a street musician
I had a great chat with this street musician while I sketched him and he played his instrument in Asheville.
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By Mike Daikubara

I’ve been urban sketching (sketching on location from direct observation) since 2000, and it continues to bring me joy every day. The term “urban sketching” was coined in 2007 by Seattle-based journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario, who created an online forum for all sketchers who love to draw the cities where they live and visit—from their windows, from a café, at a park, or standing by a street corner, always on location, not from photos or memory.

Urban sketching at the Mall's Bass Pro Shop
Urban sketching at the Mall’s Bass Pro Shop

As of this year, the Urban Sketchers (USk) nonprofit organization has over 120,000 sketchers in more than 70 countries, represented by over 477 official chapters worldwide, and it continues to grow daily. What ties this community together is our shared love for sketching, guided by a global manifesto:

Urban Sketching manifesto

What I love about this manifesto is its embrace of a wide range of artists, especially in point five, which states, “We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.” This inclusivity brings diverse artists with different mediums and techniques together to share their works with each other.

Urban sketching - A Sushi "Omakase" meal
A Sushi “Omakase” meal. Capturing the conversations I had with the two chefs, and documenting the yummy dishes.

Sketching on location is at the core of what we enjoy most, and this is also central to what plein air painters enjoy. Here, I’d like to share a bit about my favorite supplies and how it works with my approach for urban sketching.

Urban Sketching Supplies

I have a small sketch kit that I carry with me every day. It consists of a sketchbook, a fountain pen, a watercolor kit, and a water brush. I carry it everywhere I go, so I never miss any sketching opportunities—whether at a restaurant, grocery shopping, or even at a gas station.

My urban sketching art supplies
My urban sketching art supplies
Shoulder Sketch bag for urban sketching
My shoulder sketch bag

Choice of Tools
My choice of tools is constantly evolving, but I follow a personal mantra that tools must pass the 4R’s test. This helps me decide if a tool is worth keeping:

drawing outdoors - rules for art supplies

  1. Rapid: How quickly can I pull out and use the tool when sketching?
  2. Reliable: Can I rely on it at all times without it failing?
  3. Replaceable: How easy is it to replace if I lose it? Can I easily buy it again?
  4. Reasonable: How affordable is it? Will it hurt my wallet if I lose it?

The biggest difference between plein air painting and urban sketching often lies in the “rapid” aspect. Sketchers are often interested in capturing subjects quickly, whether sketching food before it gets cold, drawing people in a coffee shop who might leave, or documenting a concert or festival. This urgency means we can’t spend a lot of time setting up tools. In contrast, plein air painters usually have more time to set up due to their chosen subject matters, such as nature scenes that do not change quickly.

Tattoo Convention in Charlotte
Tattoo Convention in Charlotte. Sketching Cor, the tattoo artist, working on a piece on a customer.

Sketching in Ink

I often draw straight to paper with ink for speed, using no pencil for underlining or erasing. Even if there’s a mistake, I draw on top of it, which I believe creates a more dynamic and memorable sketch that captures the atmosphere. This method is also a fast way to learn to draw.

Color

For those who paint in color, like myself, watercolor and a water brush are commonly used in urban sketching. This medium is one of the most compact, portable, and easiest to use. Within seconds, I can pull out my small kit and start painting without any setup time. I do not make any mess, and I can clean up in seconds as well.

Richard’s Coffee Shop and Military Museum
Sketching at Richard’s Coffee Shop and Military Museum; a weekly gathering of Veterans playing music together.

Final Outcome

While drawing on location is central to both urban sketchers and plein air artists, I believe the major difference lies in the final outcome. For plein air painters, the final aesthetic outcome is often important, while for urban sketchers, storytelling and capturing the moment are oftentimes more important.

Note: This is not an exhaustive definition since some artists do both and/or move between the two practices and I believe there is something to learn and grow as an artist by doing both.

Apple Store: Testing and watching others use the Apple Vision Pro
Sketching at an Apple Store: Testing and watching others use the Apple Vision Pro

Connect with Mike Daikubara at www.daikubara.com.

Related Article: An Urban Sketcher’s Take on Plein Air Painting


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