Learning to draw what you see versus what you think you see is an important skill for any artist. Ok, that might’ve sounded a bit confusing… Let me explain.
If all of your photo references come from online resources like Pinterest, then you haven’t developed your observational skills, yet. And honestly, that’s ok! It would be unrealistic for anyone to assume that you should only be drawing or painting from observation.
If you want to improve your observational skills, try stepping outside your studio space occasionally and learning to draw or paint from life (or on location).
Urban sketching, live model sessions or still lifes are some of the best ways to train your eyes to draw what they see.
Today, I want to focus on how urban sketching can help you improve your observational skills and become a better artist.
What is urban sketching?
There was a time in my life when I was an avid urban sketcher.
What’s an urban sketcher you might ask? An artist whose primary focus is to capture the essence of a place by drawing or sketching directly on site.
Urban Sketchers is a nonprofit group that hasn’t been around for that long, as it was established by artist Gabriel Campanario in 2009. It’s a wonderful community of artists focused on sharing their passion and knowledge for observational sketching.
Every year they organize an Urban Sketching Symposium, an annual convention where you can meet and learn from other international urban sketchers. The location changes every year which is awesome.
I met a lot of incredibly talented artists during a trip to Amsterdam for the Urban Sketching Symposium in 2019. I have a lot of fond memories of this event.
Learn from the best and look at how other artists like you are interpreting the same scenery. Over the course of a few days, you’ll get a chance to practice your observational skills during workshops, lectures and demos.
Where is the next Urban Sketchers Symposium taking place in 2025?
The next USk Symposium is in Poznań, Poland, from August 20th to 23rd 2025! Registration starts on March 15th and the spots go fast. So if you’re interested, please take a look at this FAQ (frequently asked questions) about the event.
Urban Sketcher’s Toolkit
The smaller the toolkit the better. Don’t carry anything heavy, especially if you’re out walking for a full day while travelling.
An example of what’s in my toolkit:
- Backpack or large tote
- Sketchbook (watercolour or mixed media paper if you plan on using wet media)
- Case to carry your tools
- Your favourite art supplies (pencils, pens, an eraser, small pencil sharpener, etc.)
- Watercolour set with paintbrushes (some of those water brush pens too)
- Water bottle
- Rag or paper towel
- Tiny foldable camping chair (optional)
Getting started
Drawing or even painting from observation can be intimidating at first. Start with easy exercises such as sketching objects that you find interesting. We refer to these types of drawings as still lifes.
You can stage your object on a surface of your choice with props if you’d like. Play with lighting to create dramatic shadows for an added level of difficulty.
Then move on to more difficult subjects such as family members, pets and different parts of your home.
Now the next time you’re planning to go out, take your toolkit with you.
In my experience, urban sketching is favourable in, you guessed it, urban areas. It’s a little less ideal in a small town unless you don’t mind focusing on nature landscapes.
How you’ll improve your observational skills with urban sketching
Even if you don’t plan on becoming a full-time urban sketcher, you can still learn many valuable skills just by taking your sketchbook out with you once in a while.
Work faster
Unless you’re planning on sitting or standing in the same spot for many hours, you’ll have to learn how to edit your sketch as you go.
Imagine sitting in front of a picturesque scene with a dozen buildings, streets, pedestrians, etc. Depending on how long you have, which for most artists can be anywhere between five minutes to an hour, you’re going to have to learn to make choices on what elements to include and those to simply overlook.
Ask yourself what makes your subject unique. Starting from there, everything else is extra.
Stronger compositions
This will take time. I remember when I started urban sketching in Italy almost a decade ago, I really had no clue what I was doing. So be prepared to practice a lot before you start noticing improvement.
My best advice for stronger compositions would be to create thumbnail sketches before you start a time-consuming piece (let’s say longer than 30 minutes).
Quickly identify your values by squinting when looking at your subject or landscape.
Map out the biggest elements in your scene first and pick one key feature to focus on. You’ll learn to balance foreground and background while highlighting important details. Don’t overdo it; knowing when to stop is just as important.
Learning mixed media
Urban Sketchers often mix their mediums. You can create fun combinations between wet and dry media to showcase your own unique style.
Trying a variety of media can keep your practice fresh and exciting, avoiding art block in the long run. Think of urban sketching as another creative hobby that will improve your overall artistic skills in the long run.
If you’d like to learn how to do so, refer to this helpful guide.
Key Takeaways
You can improve your observational skills by stepping outside your studio space once in a while and learning to draw or paint from life (or on location).
Urban sketching, live model sessions or still lifes are some of the best ways to train your eyes to draw what they see.
- Urban Sketchers is a nonprofit group established by artist Gabriel Campanario in 2009.
- The next USk Symposium is in Poznań Poland from August 20th to 23rd 2025!
- Registration starts on March 15th.
The smaller the toolkit the better. This way you can easily carry it around with you at all times.
How you’ll improve your observational skills:
- Work faster
- Stronger compositions
- Learning mixed media
