Watercolour Styles - Week 5 - Urban Sketching (Line and Wash)

It's week 5 and today we’re diving into the lively world of urban sketching. This is a style where quick line work and fresh watercolour washes bring streets, buildings and city scenes to life.

So what is it?

Urban sketching combines on-location drawing with expressive watercolour. The focus is on capturing the spirit of a place, often in a matter of minutes, using ink for structure and watercolour for mood and atmosphere.

Of course capturing urban scenes has been a staple of many an artists across the ages:

however this particular strain is very much a child of the 21st century.

This is something that is becoming very popular of late with the rise of social media - simply search for the hashtag #streetsketch and you'll see so many examples!

What makes it unique

• Storytelling: Sketches feel personal and lived-in, capturing unique moments and everyday scenes. 

• Line does the explaining: Pen or pencil provides structure, while watercolour adds light, colour and energy.

• Speed and observation: Quick studies encourage you to focus on essentials and work with what you see, not what you imagine.

• Immediacy: Mistakes and imperfections are part of the charm, making each sketch part of a visual diary entry.

• Minimal kit: All you need is a sketchbook, a pen, and a small watercolour set.

Some notable examples:

• Gabi Campanario: credited as the founder of the modern movement, Gabi is a Seattle-based journalist and illustrator who set up an online forum on 2007 for, in his own words: "for all sketchers out there who love to draw the cities where they live and visit, from the window of their homes, from a cafe, at a park, standing by a street corner… always on location, not from photos or memory."

• Lyndon Hayes: A London based urban sketcher, Lyndon uses strong lines and a few blocks of colour to bring his sketches of London to life - well worth checking our if you are interest in this style

• Phil Dean a.k.a Shoreditch Sketcher: Another of Londons great sketchers, Phil beautifully captures buildings and locations in ink and watercolour - all in a small notebook

Fancy a try?

1. Take a walk and find an interesting building corner or street scene.
2. Sketch the main shapes quickly with pen—no erasing!
3. Add just two watercolour washes: one for the sky, one for the main shadow shapes.

Focus on capturing the story of the place, not perfect accuracy.

If you do have a go please do think about sharing on our Facebook group below

Happy Painting!

Martin