Trying Urban Sketching For The First Time

CAPTURING THE MOMENT

This August I tried my hand at something new. Urban sketching. It’s a technique (or gender) that’s about capturing the world around you as it unfolds like a busy street, a small café, or a terrace filled with flowers. It’s sketching life as-is, not how you imagine it ought to look. The beauty, I think, lies in working loosely, letting go of precision and perfection. For me, it felt like having a day off and how liberating to simply observe and draw.

I chose The Brew in Heald Green as my first subject. I worked from a reference photo which I have to admit is a bit sad. In the warmer month the terrace transforms into a space that’s alive with colourful planters.

WORKING DIGITALLY

For this first attempt, I chose to sketch on my iPad using the Procreate app. As I’ve already written in the Digital Art Debate, this medium is wonderfully convenient when space is limited and funds for art materials are out of reach. Everything you need fits into one device. The tools are endless, the brushes versatile, and undoing a misplaced line is far less stressful than on paper.

That said, I still want to explore the traditional side of urban sketching. So my next challenge will be to capture The Brew in watercolour and with it’s beautiful summer planters. I’ll share the completed piece here.

THE BASICS OF URBAN SKETCHING

Urban sketching is wonderfully simple to begin. All you really need is a sketchbook, a pen or pencil, and if you like, some watercolours or markers to add splashes of colour. The essentials though are less about equipment and much more about approach.

YOUR FIRST URBAN SKETCH IN FIVE STEPS

Step 1 Settle into your spot
Choose a place where you can sit comfortably and not feel rushed. A café table, a bus stop bench, or a shady patch in the park all work. The subject doesn’t have to be grand. A bicycle leaning against a railing or the corner of a shop is enough. Take a minute to look around before you open your sketchbook (or whatever paper or support you have). Notice the strongest shapes, the patterns of light, the way people move through the space. That will help you ease into the drawing.

Step 2 Map the big shapes
Begin with the largest shapes you see. Buildings become rectangles, rooftops triangles, trees circles or ovals. Don’t aim for precision or perfection. A sketch comes to life from the lines that wobble and the marks that are slightly off. Think of these first shapes as the scaffolding. Once they are in place, you can add to them without feeling lost on the page.

Step 3 Choose your anchor
Pick something that caught your attention and give it a little more weight. A doorway, a car, or a busker could become the anchor of your drawing. Add a touch more detail here, perhaps a bolder line or an extra minute of observation. This part of the sketch becomes the heart of the scene, and the rest can remain lighter and more suggestive.

Step 4 Suggest the surroundings
Look around your anchor and decide how much to include. You don’t need to draw everything. A row of windows can be a set of quick marks. People walking by can be shown as ovals for heads and strokes for legs. A cluster of scribbles will read as leaves. You are giving an impression, not building a photograph. The viewer’s imagination will do the rest.

Step 5 Bring it to life
Once the structure is in place, add something that makes it personal. Maybe a splash of colour, a shadow under a roofline, or a few words about the moment. Many sketchers like to write the date, the place, and a short note such as pigeons everywhere or smell of fresh bread. These notes bring the scene alive when you look back months later.

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Common Worries and How to Handle Them

What if people watch me?
Most people are curious rather than critical. If you feel nervous, choose a quieter spot at first or sketch from inside a café. With time you might actually enjoy the conversations that begin when people see your work. Urban Sketchers should really be sketching live but if you feel too uncomfortable you can always use a reference photo.

What if the scene changes?
Urban life moves quickly. A bus pulls away, a person walks off. A cat wanders in to the scene or the sun suddently gets obscured by clouds. Capture what you can and let the rest be suggested. A half-drawn figure can still feel lively. If the sun disappears don’t worry. Try to remember where it was and how it lit up the various parts of the scene. Try not to depict sunlight if there is something between it and the sun (or source of light). What you need instead is a shadow.

How long should I take?
As long as you like. You are in charge but I’d recommend you set yourself a time limit of ten to fifteen minutes. I know that might feel too short but you can repeat the scene again and again in short bursts to help you avoid getting stuck in the details.

What materials do I need?
A simple sketchbook and a pen or pencil are enough. You can also sketch with any drawing app on a mobile or tablet. Watercolours, watercolour pencils and markers can all add colour, but they’re not essential. The value here lies in the act of seeing and recording, not in the tools.

The important thing, as I’ve said before, is not exact proportions or expensive materials. Be present. Use what you have to hand and above all enjoy the process.

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A LOCAL TREASURE

The Brew HG opened in April 2021 and quickly became a much-loved part of the Heald Green. Family-run and the first bar and coffee lounge of its kind in the village, it has really breathed new life into a building with such a long local history. It was apparently once home to GT Car and Cycle Spares. I vagueky remember that time. Then it was a flower shop called Going Dutch. The Brew’s website shares that they acquired the premises just two days before the first national COVID lockdown in March 2020. Seems like yesterday still for me. Then, it took just over a year before The Brew could finally open its doors but as an outdoor-only bar.

EVENTS AND ATMOSPHERE

Today The Brew is known by locals for its modern interior, continental-style terrace, and intimate atmosphere. I love the wall art that always gives a nod to Manchester things (the Manchester Bee, local bands including Oasis and more. They host regular events and live entertainment,

The Brew isn’t a large bar with televisions and standing crowds. It small comfortable, and stylish, with décor that creates a lovely atmosphere. There’s table service, no standing areas, and music that complements the mood. It is the kind of place where you can spend an afternoon with friends or slip in for a drink after work, only to find yourself staying longer than planned.

FIND OUT MORE

If you’d like to see more, visit their website The Brew HG, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.