The Urban Sketching Handbook 101 Sketching Tips

Tricks, Techniques, and Handy Hacks for Sketching on the Go

Stephanie Bower

• Publisher: Quarry Books
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781631597664
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Art Techniques

Master the challenges of drawing on location with this collection of insider know-how and expert tips and techniques. Illustrator, architect, and international workshop instructor and Urban Sketcher Stephanie Bower has collected 101 of her best insider drawing tips, hacks, and techniques and shares them in this fully illustrated, portable book. Learn shortcuts to getting your perspective right, determining your composition, and balancing your light and shadow. This book collects many basic drawing techniques into one handy volume:

• How to draw a great line
• Using ellipses to draw arches
• How towers are like wedding cakes
• The importance of your eye level line in sketching
• and 97 things more!

The book also features beautiful example illustrations from Urban Sketchers around the globe! Whether you are new to sketching or are an experienced artist, this book is chock-full of useful, practical, and clever tips to take your drawing to the next level. The Urban Sketching Handbook series offers location artists expert instruction on creative techniques, on-location tips and advice, and an abundance of visual inspiration. These handy references come in a compact, easy-to-carry format—perfect to toss in your backpack or artist's tote.

• KEY I •

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET...

Are you ready for a sketching adventure?

Sketching is an amazing way to see the world—scratch that—it’s an amazing way to see the world better. Sketching is popular all over the world for many reasons. It taps into your creative juices, and it calms and focuses your mind. It’s a great way to learn about and remember the things you see and places you go. And it can connect you with other people and a sketching community. It’s downright addicting.

Whether you sketch every day, when you travel, or only every once in a while, here are a few tips to get you ready for a great challenge and lots of fun.

STEPHANIE BOWER, USA

Lunch & Dinner in Kawagoe, Japan

Japanese writing by Miyuki Yokota

7” × 10” | 17.8 × 25.4 cm; Mechanical pencil and watercolor in Pentalic sketchbook; 1 hour each

1. Draw and paint on location, if you can.

Okay, sketching and painting on location is challenging. Everything is moving. People are watching. The water container just spilled. But it’s so worth the effort.

Working on location is powerful. When you draw and paint from direct observation, the energy of the experience flows into your sketch and infuses it with life. Sketching is not about a perfect representation of what you see, but about capturing your unique experience. When you work on location, you’ll see better and learn more. It keeps your sketch fresh, and it truly captures the moment in your heart and on paper.

STEPHANIE BOWER, USA

Along the Thames with Anne and Beliza

5” × 16” | 12.7 × 40.7 cm; Mechanical pencil with 2B lead and watercolor in Pentalic Aqua Journal; 45 minutes

2. Travel light.

To draw and paint on location, portable equipment is essential. Urban sketchers are amazingly industrious when it comes to gear on the go.

Think small and light. Try a portable stool with aluminum legs instead of steel. Use lightweight corrugated plastic to make a desktop that sits on your lap. Use travel brushes that keep the brush tip protected. Carry separate bags for dry materials (e.g., sketchbook, pencils, erasers) and another bag for wet materials (e.g., watercolors and brushes, pens and ink, etc.). Put everything in a lightweight bag or backpack that is secure and won’t weigh you down.

3. Start small.

New to sketching? Start small! It’s much less intimidating to fill a small piece of paper, and you won’t get sidetracked drawing too much deta...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Keys
• Challenges
• Contributors
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• About This Series
• Copyright