Urban sketching
Photo: George Back, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
- See visual arts for exhibitions of urban sketches and paintings.
Chronicling travels by drawing and painting has been a long and storied tradition; common practice amongst art students, amateur hobbyists and master artists, as well as explorers and scouts. After photography was developed and became widespread, capturing locations with ink and paint fell out of fashion, and was mostly left to those with professional training. However, there's been a revival of sorts with the formation of Urban Sketchers, driven by social networking which encourages sketchers around the world to share their drawings online. Sketching on location can be magical, often managing to instil life into pieces of paper that isn't the same as a snapshot. Keeping a sketchbook of travels and scribblings of daily activities is a great way to collect memories.
UnderstandEn plein air, French for "in the open air", is what most people think about artists working outdoors, with a large canvas, professional-looking easel and optional umbrella.
Supplies and materialsUrban sketches can be carried out using all sorts of instruments and surfaces, like graphite, colour pencils, pens, markers, watercolours and even tablet computers.
TechniquesCoffee shops, streets and parks: there are tons of places where urban sketching can be carried out. Draw while waiting in the airport, on subways or over a hot coffee.
Stay safeUnlike travel photography, flaunting your sketchpads and drawing tools isn't likely to make you a target for thieves.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Urban sketching" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: George Back, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons