Fast urban sketching for beginners - when time is short

Urban sketching is incredibly popular. It's all about connecting with the place you are in. But how do you get started? And what can you really do if you only have a limited time, say 20 minutes? After a short trip to Amsterdam (what a wonderful city!) a few weeks ago, I thought I would share my process in this film. It's all about trying to capture lots of information quickly in case it rains, you freeze to death or someone parks a car in the way. I like to use a Stabilo Point 88 pen, but any water resistant pen will do - even a fountain pen and ink. The link is still visible when you put water on on, but some of the ink moves to give you shadows. It really is fast.

Equipment: Stabilo Point 88 pen in black, waterbrush, Moleskine sketch book, Artistro paint set

Colour is optional and if you are outside, often you don't have the correct colours anyway, but don't worry. I'll show you step by step how to use a little colour to bring your black and white sketch to life. Of course, you are welcome to leave it monochrome or to add colour at a later point.

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 have put a picture on the community tab on this channel. I would love to see what you do.

Of course you can use whatever materials you like to sketch with, but pen and watercolour are very popular, because of the speed you can work at and also that the kit is light and portable, so that you can do a quick sketch while waiting in the car or sitting drinking a coffee. Give it a go and you will see the world in a different light.

Of course going out sketching on your own can be intimidating. So maybe sitting in a coffee shop is a good place to start and having your back to a wall so no one can look over your shoulder, also helps! Most people are just impressed you are doing it. If they are a painter, they will be supportive and if they aren't an artist, well they will wish they were. So try not to care what people think! There are urban sketch groups around the world, usually organised through Facebook, so there's safety in numbers and perhaps you could go out with them - just search your local area.

#lizchaderton #urbansketching #lineandwash

[heatheredwards]

Liz, I can’t tell you how important these urban sketches tutorials are to me. I have a brain injury, and with that comes memory loss and processing issues between my eyes and my brain. I am going to England in a few months, and I think if I sketch what I see, this will help cement the memories in my mind. So I thank you.

[eklepac]

Because of this video, I tried my first sketch of a photograph from Amsterdam. It turned out so good a local artist commented favorably on it. I would never have known where to start until I watched this video. And it's not just your sketching that makes it work. Your narration and explanation is also helpful. Thank you!!

[Mollygirl]

Your tip of scribbling on a plastic surface to create a usable wash is perfect! Love vids where artists show their discovered hacks-- thank you!

[pamburke]

I love the way the Stabilo darkens the windows perfectly!

[sylviewheeler]

Hi ! I discovered you today, and I think your videos are really really great ! Full of tips and very positive ! Thanks so very much !

[jennintransit]

I loved this beginning to end project in real time with you thinking out loud. It’s very inspiring!

[TAka-dcrb]

I tried Stabilo 88 pen for the first time. It’s amazing. The pen glides smoothly on the surface of the paper. I love it❤. Thank you for your wonderful video !!

[Stephh]

Thanks for sharing your drawing and tips - great stuff! I would have liked to see the reference photo while you were sketching - could you zoom out a bit in future videos?

[daleshawn]

Your work is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing and all the wonderful tips.

[lamp]

Your tutorials give me confidence! switching to pen instead of pencil have greatly increased my enjoyment because I don't try to be perfect!

[jenniferworksatgrouper]

Love seeing your work Liz, thank you for sharing!

[richardcrowe]

Fun to watch and inspiring - thank you Liz. I'm glad I found your site!

[sarahbradley]

I appreciate your attitude towards your work. It makes your beautiful pieces of artwork more approachable for all levels.

[RoadArtAdventure]

Loved watching your process! You make it very approachable!

[miklosnemeth]

0:53 I've just tried this watering a water-resistant fineliner trick with STAEDLER triplus and it works exactly as you explained, but the watering leaked the ink through the 160 gramm paper my Scribble and Dot high quality/expensive notebook has. Fantastic demonstration, anyhow. 😃
4:03 how funny, you are right handed and still you started your drawing on the right side of the paper 😃

[WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

Very inspiring video! Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with us. The lose sketches are the charm of urban sketches. 😊

[janstroud]

Love this wonky sketch style. Thank you.

[anick]

Just love you’re inspired videos, thank you for sharing with us. I am French from Quebec, Canada.

[along]

Wonderful character sketch! Good way to exercise your drawing muscles and have fun, thanks!

[swiitchy]

As a true blue beginner who loves to use watercolor but has very little skill with it, and zero experience with stretching, I really enjoyed seeing you just get in there without fussing over the details too much. Thank you for making a video that takes some of the intimidation out of the practice :)