Listen, keep it simple.
When drawing out and about use as little as possible in terms of equipment. I need it to be quick easy and accessible. I usually like to sketch busy places, train stations, bus stops, parks, pubs.
Some have coined this ‘Urban sketching ’. Have a look at this book about urban sketching, which is full of some immense urban sketchers around the globe - (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Urban-Sketching-Drawing-Location/dp/1592537251), very inspiring.
I like to work in pen straight onto paper rather than pencil. I use the grey ‘Staedtler’ pigment pens, popular amongst graphic designers and technical drawers. I switched to using pen as oppose to pencil because it helped me to LOOK at my subject more closely and really makes me study the perspective in front of me, thus improving accuracy. I sometimes also use a classic biro pen as the pigment liner pens can get a bit pricey when using them regularly and on a budget!
I don’t like using too many colours, maybe 3 or 4. Keep it simple, just change their tones for shadow areas. Ideally use 1 watercolour brush (filled with water) and one pen. Here is my simple field kit:
Sometimes I mix it up and paint straight on with a watercolour pen which this makes me work faster as the paint will dry quickly. I like that I don’t have to worry about detail as people are moving quickly, just get an impression of the figure down as best you can keeping it in proportion, this will come with time and I am still a way of mastering this! It enables you to see your work as an impression rather than a chocolate box drawing, loosen up your wrist, get the shapes down on paper!
Keep learning from your mistakes and most of all enjoy making something new, your own creation that didn’t exist before, that’s time well spent if you ask me! Remember that you don’t have to love everything you draw, in fact I’m sure you won’t, but you will always improve!
Me sketching on site at Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia - what a place!)
One more important tip: don’t worry about what people think of you when drawing in public. I used to think people would think it’s a bit pretentious to be swanning around the streets with a sketchbook like some kind of Van Gogh wannabe, but I soon realised life is short and that it not worth giving a shit about. I was happy with the results.
I will post some examples soon to explain my use of colour and depth in a simple sketch.
Happy drawing!!
Peace
Sam
Awesome Post! I used to sketch a lot with simple setup like this, now I moved to oil painting 'plein air' on location. I still do some sketches its essential to keep the creative muscles active 😊
I will post some of my sketches soon.
Please check my blog and follow if you like. I upvoted and following you now. Keep steeming.
Thanks very much, will check your blog!
Hello, @urbanart88! I found you on Steemit Chat.
This post is great because I also enjoy "urban sketching". It's interesting to see the tools other artists use when they are creating their work. You said,
Well put!
I love looking back at my older pen/ink sketches to see just how much I've improved my accuracy. It's very satisfying to find perfection in the quick, little details captured during a session.
In many ways I prefer using ink only (rather than pencil, ink, eraser) for the very same reasons as you. Initially it was a difficult transition from pencil's "safety net", but well worth the trepidation. Thanks again, and
Happy Drawing
Hi @enternamehere - thanks for your comments, brilliant to meet another "urban sketcher" where do you like sketching?
Pencil allows you to think too much and, as you said, have a "safety net". If you know you cant rub it out you're going to improve quicker is my theory! It's also great to look back at your older work and see the improvement.
Thanks again for your post, will follow you with interest!
All the best!
The closest urban area to me is DFW (Dallas-Ft. Worth), and I have yet to travel to another big urban setting with a field kit.
Last year I bought this book: https://www.amazon.com/Pen-Ink-Drawing-Simple-Guide/dp/0997046538 on Amazon, and it really helped push me beyond my "limits".
Perhaps next I should check out The Art of Urban Sketching, since it looks like a great guide. But then again, I think nature-scapes are a lot of fun too!
Take care, thank you for the chat :)
Nice, try the Urban Sketching book, hopefully it will inspire you! good luck :)
You reminded me now with your urban sketcing how much I miss it ...I haven't done it for a long time, keep up the good work.
Thanks... get out there and do some! keep posting
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