Urban Sketching Tutorial: Starting a Sketch

The best way to learn how to do urban sketching? Jump right in and start doing it. 
But a few pointers and tips can get you going in the right direction quickly.

Think About These Things First

When you find an urban scene you'd like to sketch, how do you capture it on a page? 
The first things to consider are these:
  • Fitting the scene onto the page. Decide on:
             A broad view for general atmosphere    OR 
             A smaller view or close-up for details.
  • Framing an image effectively. 
             Choose placement of the focal point.
             Pay attention to edges.
  • Adapting the visual information 
             Simplify forms 
             Think ahead for the sketching medium.
  • Planning for qualities of the light 
             The angle of the light 
             Darks and lights 
             Shadows and highlights.

Sketch your initial viewpoint quickly—what drew you to the scene? Do small thumbnails on separate paper to try out different views, sizes, and placement of elements. Work quickly to decide. 

If you are working with a single medium, such as pencil only, just pen, or only watercolors, try working from large shapes down to smaller shapes. Add details at the end. 
Monument at Civic Center, Denver, Colorado, USA by Karla Beatty
Monument at Civic Center, Denver, Colorado, USA by Karla Beatty, Micron ink pen on 140lb HP paper, 6 inch by 7 inch, 10–15 minutes.

3 Ways to Layout a Sketch

If you want to layout first in pencil, or plan to add color over a pencil or pen sketch, here are three choices of getting started on your urban sketch.

1. Starting with a Full Pencil Layout

Working with graphite pencil is probably the easiest way to start an urban sketch. It is easy to use and it is erasable for making corrections. You can refine the drawing or change your mind before you put on any permanent materials like ink or watercolor paints.
Read More about Drawing Tools
Above Details All the details are in place. The next step is to ink over all the lines. Try to think ahead for the shadows and highlights, and plan for the watercolors as well.
Right Sketching Quickly This was a very quick pen sketch over the pencil marks that I made. By marking the vanishing lines first I did not have to watch so closely nor think so hard as I quickly sketched in the scene. 
Pentel Micron ink pen, hardpress watercolor paper, about 10-12 minutes
Learn about choosing the right pen for urban sketching.

2. Starting with a Minimal Pencil Layout

Many urban sketchers like to do a pen and ink drawing with watercolors over the top. Even if the sketch will be in pen, it can be most helpful to start with a few pencil lines or a basic layout. I like to start with my perspective vanishing lines.
Read More about color tools
Above Perspective Lines These are the perspective vanishing lines. Work carefully to get these right, and the ink sketch goes easier. It lets you work quickly with the pen. Perspective skills are pretty important in urban sketching.
Sketch of an old building in Boston done quickly in pen.
Fast Pen Sketch

3. Starting with Ink

For a very spontaneous look, just picture the scene in your mind, place your pen to page, and start drawing. In this scene of Bangkok street food vendors, I was on a crowded sidewalk and had to work quickly. I started this as a single-line drawing. I began at the diagonal at the top left, and you can almost follow the line all the way through. This is a nice technique to practice if you need to loosen up your line and learn to work quickly.

This technique is related to blind contour drawing that you may have tried before in an art class. In this drawing, I looked mainly at my subject, but I occasionally glanced at the page to get my bearings.

Read More about Urban Sketching with Pens
Pen drawing of two food vendors on a bangkok street.
Bangkok Street Food Vendors, Bangkok Thailand, by Karla Beatty, Pentel Hybrid Technica on drawing pad, 6 inch by 6 inch, about 5 minutes.