Have you heard of urban sketching yet? You probably have, it is being widely talked about in the artist-scene worldwide. It can be seen as visual journalism, as capturing the world how it is and how you see it, in your personal style, at the same time, it is “showing the world, one drawing at a time”. And all you need to call yourself an urban sketcher is your sketchbook, pencils or pens and maybe some watercolours with a brush – as simple as that.

Urban Sketchers made a whole movement out of this concept. They even authored a manifesto that has been translated into several languages to be read- and followable for Urban Sketchers all around the world! It says:

1. We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
2. Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
3. Our drawings are a record of time and place.
4. We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
5. We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
6. We support each other and draw together.
7. We share our drawings online.
8. We show the world, one drawing at a time.

The whole movement is integrative, it does not matter whether you are a professional artist already or an amateur, just having found your passion for colours and pencils – everyone is welcome to contribute to the Urban-Sketching-Community! So joining is as easy as the concept of it: just follow the manifesto.

One big part of Urban Sketching is sharing your art on several social media platforms, which builds the community’s spirit of comradeship and makes you feel as part of something big – around the whole world. They might not have the same language in terms of speech, but are able to communicate through their artwork. It is almost like they invented their own, artsy language.

Urban Sketchers use different drawing techniques and –materials. Usable is everything, from simple pencil- or ink-drawings to different watercolour-techniques, even digital drawing on your tablet or smartphone is “permitted”. Just use whatever you have nearby and can carry around. It does not matter whether you only have a sketchbook and a pencil or a whole plein-air-equipment.

Go and draw the world how it is. Draw scenes from the town you visited at the weekend, or the little hut in the forest nearby that you fled in to avoid the turbulence of the city. Draw the milkshake you ordered at the café in your lunch break. Draw the flowers that bloom in the park next to your office. Draw people, draw buildings, draw trains and cars, bars and cafés, planes at the airport and ships in the harbour – draw everything that is somehow observable. Fill your sketchbook as if you wanted to capture your day in your drawings, as if it was your visual diary, because it now is.

It is easiest to learn from an expert – for example Ian Fennelly. He studied painting at Wimbledon School of Art and gained a 1st Class Honours degree. After graduating he worked as a drawing office manager for several years which gave him the opportunity to develop my drawing skills. He has always been attracted to the urban environment, and is now professional Urban Sketcher. He paints very quickly and loosely, but says: “It must happen within the context of an accurate drawing, which holds the paint in.” You want to know more and learn from him? Go book your Urban Sketching Experience right here!