Tag: drawing on the go

I spent a little time Saturday in Norfolk, VA kind of urban sketching. I recently purchased a book by Marc Holmes called The Urban Sketcher, which gives a brief history of the recent urban sketching trend, and he says that technically, urban sketching means COMPLETING the artwork on location, sketch, color, and finishing touches. I did not do the whole thing… I sketched, but then painted at home, even though I brought my paints with me! I had prepped a really lightweight, slim, TEENSY paint set. Something fun about mini paint sets! The container weighs really nothing, so I’d wanted to try it out. I used empty makeup pans in a credit card case…

I sketched on location, but in the end I painted at home. (Urban Sketch 101 fail) AND wasn’t terribly happy with anything. Here it is anyway, because I want you to see how much I improve over time 🙂

Nothing dynamic about ANY of it, although I did try one or two little things I was happy with. I felt awkward and uncomfortable, and didn’t draw well at all.  I had learned, though, even planning to paint, I needed VERY little with me, as opposed to several outings ago, when I brought way too much stuff. So that’s something. I didn’t even use a pencil (oh, maybe that’s why I was awkward, now that I think about it.) Just drew in ink, then added color.

I keep missing our local sketching events, so I was really happy with myself for just getting out and doing it. I’m trying to get out at least once a week to sketch something, and I’ll definitely head back out to Norfolk again.