How to sketch outside - step by step for beginners - Hurley lock

Urban sketching, en plein air, whatever you call it….there is something wonderful about sitting and sketching the view. It teaches you to really look and see. You will notice things you would never have spotted if you just took a photo and however quick your sketch, you will capture a richer memory than any snap on your phone.

But it can be hard to get started. What equipment do you need? Will people comment? Does it have to be perfect? These and many other questions will be answered in this film.

Join me as I do a monochrome sketch of Hurley Lock on the River Thames. I will guide you step by step, as the boats moor in front of me to obscure the view and as I get quizzed by passers by. It will be as close as sitting on the bench alongside me, as I can make it!

Why not sketch the scene in your own style and then share it online. If you use the hashtag #sketchwithliz I will see it and can share too. It will be like we are a virtual sketching club, all encouraging each other and keeping each other company on our sketching journey. We started this last month and I saw about 30 different versions. It was exciting. There is no time limit, so if you haven’t seen that one it is here:    • How to begin urban sketching - step b...   and some of the versions are here:    • #sketchwithliz - first sketches are in!  

I am using a Hahnemuhle Zigzag sketch book with watercolour paper, a Stabilo 88 pen and Tombow dual tip pens. If you want to get the same, these are affiliate links. If you buy anything through them, I get a small commission and it will not cost you extra.

I am using a Hahnemuhle zig zag book (300gsm watercolour paper): https://tidd.ly/4eTXN3N (Jackson’s affiliate link) https://amzn.to/3RTtZKT (Amazon affiliate)
Stabilo 88
Tombow dual tip brush pens: https://tidd.ly/4cxnkOC or Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RYXtqy or pens from WHSmiths: www.whsmith.co.uk

I really enjoy quick sketches and it is just not the same if you work from a photo in the studio. You might also like this outside sketch I did last year:    • How to begin urban sketching - step b...  

Urban Sketching is reportage - it's drawing or painting on location in the cities, towns, or villages that you live in and travel to. You are capturing a moment in time in a unique way. I saw this lovely quote from Roisin Cure "The essence of an urban sketch is that its primary function is not to be beautiful, but to capture what it feels like to be human. This could be in a man-made building, the hand of man on the landscape, or human beings in action, wherever they are or whatever they are doing."

If you want to have a go at this scene, I will put a picture on the community tab on this channel. I would love to see what you do.

Every like and comment tells YouTube to show this to more people, so please jump in. If you really, really like this content and want to support me you can donate at Kofi. I have just set it up at: https://ko-fi.com/lizchadertonartist

Don't forget I run a Facebook group which is a great place to meet other artists, get tips and to share your work. You can join here:   / watercolourstudiowithlizchaderton  

If you are interested in learning more about line and wash, I have a really comprehensive course over at https://www.lizchadertonstudio.co.uk/... and my book Line and Wash Painting is available from The Crowood Press and online book shops worldwide.


#lineandwash #sketchwithliz #urbansketching