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Writer's pictureGillian Hancey

Drawing on location (urban sketching)

Somewhere in the midst of thinking about the many creative endeavours I wanted to explore further, I decided I wanted to try urban sketching this year.


What's urban sketching?

The term initially made me think of drawing streets and buildings but really it's drawing anything from life, usually outside. The challenge is that the scene will often change as you are drawing it - maybe just the light will change, or perhaps your sketch will also include moving elements like cars and people. Or it's just something that's not going to be in that position forever.


Why did I want to do this?

Well, the key reason was probably that I wanted to improve my drawing abilities. I had become used to working from photographs and having time to build up layers of intricate details - this approach can produce amazing results and I am so proud of the portfolio of work I have created, but felt that it was time for a new direction and challenge.




Through a combination of a global pandemic, having a young family, and decreasing footfall to the high street, I also feel that my art practice has become increasingly isolated and I wanted to get outside a bit more.






And sometimes it's not about what we do; it's about what we don't do. One of the main times we pull out our phones is when we are waiting for something; I'm trying to pull out a little sketchbook instead. You'll notice that a lot of these little sketches are not really finished and this really doesn't matter - the benefit here is really in the process and the outcome is nothing more than a record of that, none of these sketches will be in a gallery!


Reasons to try urban sketching:

  1. To get some fresh air/spend sometime out of the house

  2. To be sociable/an activity to do with other people

  3. To reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling on your phone.

  4. To get better at drawing quickly/capturing something with the minimal amount of marks

  5. To learn how to work with minimal materials

  6. To connect with your surroundings and help yourself feel tethered




Isn't this a bit of a departure from your normal subjects?

Yes and no. If you have seen my previous work, you will know that it is generally based on people in some way and I think urban sketching does link with that. I'm not so interested in capturing countryside or coastal images at the moment, but never say never!


I particularly like the idea of capturing places that are not necessarily pretty to look at but have a bit of character, like abandoned buildings. There are definitely stories there! For years and years, I have been taking photos of streets that have caught my eye for one reason or another, always with the intention of making a painting out of them. I've managed a few, but only a tiny proportion of the photos I have, so I have concluded that this is perhaps not the most productive approach.


So how's it going?

After taking a few courses in urban sketching from artists whose styles I liked, I had a few ideas on how to get started and set about been practicing whenever I had the opportunity. Long stretches of free time are hard to come by for me just now, but 30-minute pockets of opportunity are not uncommon and it's amazing what you can sketch in that time (or even in 10 minutes while waiting for a train, or 20 minutes when I'm getting some fresh air on my lunchbreak) when you are focused and organised. In fact, I am really enjoying the buzz I get from having to get something done in very little time - it's quite refreshing after often getting stuck in a rut when working on a painting over several weeks, or months - and it really helps me to focus! So now I always carry around a sketchbook and a few pens (as well as paper for zentangle - I did have to invest in a bigger bag).

As well as sketching some places locally, I managed to capture a few scenes from Belgium and France, where we visited on holiday in the summer. Phone cameras are so common now that holiday photos are no longer quite so special but I like the idea of having a sketchbook of memories instead. Of course, it has not been lost on me the irony that I'm getting into urban sketching now, instead of 20 years ago, when I was travelling and living in some very exciting and beautiful places. The town where we live now is perfectly fine, but not particularly exciting! However, my children have just got to the age where trips abroad are feasible (and enjoyabe) so hopefully there will be more opportunities to travel in the near future.


What next?

As well as plenty more practice with a sketchbook and pen, I have ideas for other approaches that I'd like to incorporate into urban sketching, including the use of recycled materials and mixed media. I like the idea of urban 'depiction' rather than purely sketching too - watch this space!

If you think this all sounds like something you'd be interested in trying to, it's worth knowing that several urban sketching groups have been set up in towns and cities around the UK, and these are great social opportunities. Unfortunately the timings don't quite align with my slightly crazy lifestyle but maybe one day, perhaps when I retire!







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