How to sketch outside - step by step for beginners - Hurley lock

Urban sketching, en plein air, whatever you call it….there is something wonderful about sitting and sketching the view. It teaches you to really look and see. You will notice things you would never have spotted if you just took a photo and however quick your sketch, you will capture a richer memory than any snap on your phone.

But it can be hard to get started. What equipment do you need? Will people comment? Does it have to be perfect? These and many other questions will be answered in this film.

Join me as I do a monochrome sketch of Hurley Lock on the River Thames. I will guide you step by step, as the boats moor in front of me to obscure the view and as I get quizzed by passers by. It will be as close as sitting on the bench alongside me, as I can make it!

I am using a Hahnemuhle Zigzag sketch book with watercolour paper, a Stabilo 88 pen and Tombow dual tip pens. If you want to get the same, these are affiliate links. If you buy anything through them, I get a small commission and it will not cost you extra.

Stabilo 88

Urban Sketching is reportage - it's drawing or painting on location in the cities, towns, or villages that you live in and travel to. You are capturing a moment in time in a unique way. I saw this lovely quote from Roisin Cure "The essence of an urban sketch is that its primary function is not to be beautiful, but to capture what it feels like to be human. This could be in a man-made building, the hand of man on the landscape, or human beings in action, wherever they are or whatever they are doing."

If you want to have a go at this scene, I will put a picture on the community tab on this channel. I would love to see what you do.

#lineandwash #sketchwithliz #urbansketching

[deborahgiles]

What a delightful scene to sketch. And what a lovely drawing you made! Nice to chat with friendly people but also hard to draw and chat simultaneously. I'm very impressed with your rendering of the boats. So inspiring and fun to watch. Thanks for sharing!

[melaniechilvers]

Absolutely love this. I can't believe you get shy about sketching in public because you're so good.I have joined Norwich Urban Sketchers and its great when we all meet up and descend on somewhere. Passersby are so kind and encouraging. And there's safety in numbers too! I must get some Tombows now, as you and Ian both use them!!

[charlottemalone]

Love this! And it heartened me greatly that you copped to being self-conscious, I very much appreciate the honesty!!

[amexjam]

Hello, Liz. I live in a very busy area, and I wouldn't feel comfortable sketching and painting out in public. I get too self-conscious about my work.
You did a wonderful job with your sketch considering all the interruptions. 👍

[terrilikens]

I might have to add some Tombows to my kit. Keep up the good work, Liz. I love your willingness to explore different mediums and styles. Your joy in making art always comes through.

[katebagley]

Lovely sketch, love that you feel self conscious too!! What a lovely place to sit x

[mjpete]

Hullo Liz, I believe that you captured the whole feeling of working outside with people coming bye! I think you did a truly lovely picture and video! I have no desire to live so close to the water! I have had relatives who have had their homes flooded out from the overflowing river. I believe that it has not happened as dramatically as when I was a child, the Sacramento River seemed to flood every other year and people would evacuate! I have not seen this for over 25 years! I think this looks more like a restaurant or civic venue than a home. Quite scary! Thank you for sharing your outdoor excursions with us!

[ellenp]

Hats off for you for drawing outside! It adds another layer of difficulty to already difficult activity. We went to the seaside yesterday, so I thought it to be a perfect opportunity to get some sketching done.
First bell, I should have paid attention to, was the amount of holidaying people around, second, I probably shouldn't have picked a spot on the very edge of the water and remember about tides and stuff, as the tide started to come in almost immediately after I started, but being a rather stubborn person and not willing to drop the subject, that I chose to draw, I persevered, trying to get it done, and then, when I was positively racing, trying to get my sketch finished, a person came to me, asking to take her photograph.😅
In the end, I ended up to take quite a lot of photos of her, as she didn't like couple of the ones, I snipped admittedly in a hurry, with one eye on all my stuff abandoned on the nearby rock and the other on the tide, which kept coming in...😂
Superfluous to say, my sketch was not finished. 😂 And next time, if there ever be one, I should avoid the people at all costs. Middle of Sahara desert sounds quite appealing...

[melaniebaynes]

You make it look so easy. Love the finished piece. I am not a natural born sketcher, but I have improved, still a way to go. I'm guilty of just preferring to get on with the watercolours that I love working with 🙈.

[vickiarn]

It came out great, I love it. That's why I don't sketch outside I can't draw with people looking over my shoulder.

[blueviolets]

Wonderful job. Even with the people pressure. Thats what stops me. Looks like fun.

[SianFletcher-ji]

Thank you Liz for inspiring me to get sketching again! I love your relaxed style. What was the name of the brush pens you used ?

[karenirving]

We always worry about what people think of us, but most people don’t think about us at all 😂. They say something polite and go on with their day forgetting all about our art.

[swyntopia]

"...I´ve got that angle entirely correct..."
Oh yes-->correct agles are easier than correct distances or proportions.
I think you know.
Greetings from the continent. 🙂
Sometimes I use those stabilo ( 88 ? ) pens, too.
But more coloured ones, only for outlines.

[elizabethrowe]

This is so cool! I'll have to head to town and find something to sketch.

But what was the noise that sounded rather like a rude elephant?

[swyntopia]

Dear Lady Chaderton !
You didn´t want to add colours ?
I don´t wonder.
Because you have added colours already !
I do see colours.
Of course ververy low sturated, but colours:
tint of blue ( the cold grays )
tint of browm ( the warm greys )
even a very small tint of red
a tint of olive...
We call those coloured grays "buntgrau", and I love them !
I don´t know the adequate english word.
maybe "colorful" ? or "motley" ?
I think "bunt" is more than only "colourful", maybe it has the meaning of "garish" coloured ?
This is a paradox, isn´t it ? -->Gray = garish coloured ?
It´s difficult for me to explain what I mean, in english. 😞
Love to see you next sunday ! 🙂