Urban Sketching Handbook: Architecture and Cityscapes

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:6

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:7

001-112_41203.indd 7 5/16/14 9:28 AM

(Text)

inTroducTion

Not every city has an art deco skyscraper or centuries-old cathedrals, but

buildings—big and small, old and new, lavish and utilitarian—are everywhere,

offering the urban sketcher a wide array of drawing opportunities.

Buildings reflect the history, geography, climate, and lifestyle of the

communities in which they were erected. In southwestern Spain, where my family

hails from, whitewashed homes cover the landscape of sundrenched towns.

In Seattle, where I live now, houseboats are a product of the region’s maritime

history. In New York, soaring skyscrapers symbolize American ambition.

It’s easy to overlook that ample variety of buildings and spaces we inhabit,

and how different they are from city to city, country to country. From houses,

apartments, and shopping malls to public buildings and places of worship, the

structures humans have created over the centuries, for shelter, commerce, industry,

transportation, or recreation are fascinating subjects to study and sketch.

In this handbook, I lay out keys to help make your experience of drawing

architecture and city spaces fun and rewarding. These keys—composition, depth,

scale, contrast, line, and creativity—are my own gold standards. I put a premium

on composition and getting proportions right. I also want my linework to carry

emotion and, whether I use color or not, I strive to make sketches that have

contrasting tonal values and a sense of depth. If I can mix all that with a touch

of personal style, I consider myself happy.

The word architecture may bring to mind blueprints and meticulously

rendered floor plans, but remember that sketching architecture is not an exact

science. It’s a fun pastime! I hope the tips I share in this handbook will serve

as a jumping-off point to develop your own creative approach, no matter what

your skill level may be today.

As much as this handbook may inspire you to draw more urban spaces,

I also hope it increases your appreciation of the built environment. Drawing the

places where we live, work, and play, is a great way to show we care.

|

7

Á Think of sketching

architecture, especially old

buildings, as a time-traveling

experience. I like to imagine

how life must have been for

the original occupants.

Stimson and Green Mansion,

Seattle

8.6” x 9.5” | 22 x 25 cm;

Lamy Safari fountain pen,

Noodler’s black ink, and Daniel

Smith watercolors; About an hour.

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:6

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:7

001-112_41203.indd 7 5/16/14 11:02 AM

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:8

001-112_41203.indd 8 5/16/14 9:28 AM

(Text)

8

|

Architecture and Cityscapes

Á Imagine a building as a

tabletop still life you could

reach with your arms. That

approach can make the giant

structure easier to grasp.

MURRAY DEWHURST

Il Duomo, Florence

15” x 7.5” | 38 x 19 cm; Sennelier

half-pan watercolors, Staedtler

pigment liner 0.5 on Hahnemühle

sketchbook; 90 minutes.

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:8

001-112_41203.indd 8 5/16/14 11:02 AM

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:8

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:9

001-112_41203.indd 9 5/16/14 9:28 AM

(Text)

Á Imagine a building as a

tabletop still life you could

reach with your arms. That

approach can make the giant

structure easier to grasp.

MURRAY DEWHURST

Il Duomo, Florence

15” x 7.5” | 38 x 19 cm; Sennelier

half-pan watercolors, Staedtler

pigment liner 0.5 on Hahnemühle

sketchbook; 90 minutes.

à It’s less intimidating to

draw architecture when you

think of it as the backdrop

of city life.

MELANIE REIM

Chelsea Street Market

15.7” x 8” | 40 x 20 cm;

Schminke watercolors and Pelikan

200 fountain pen with Noodler’s

Sepia ink on Cachet Studio

sketchbook; 30 minutes.

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:8

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:9

001-112_41203.indd 9 5/16/14 11:02 AM

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:10

001-112_41203.indd 10 5/16/14 9:28 AM

(Text)

10

|

Architecture and Cityscapes

skeTch here!

F39_Job:05-41203 Title: RP-The Urban Sketching Handbook

#175 Dtp: 229 Page:10

001-112_41203.indd 10 5/16/14 11:02 AM