First Experience: Urban Sketching in London
Hey there! I have a little experience to share with you, and here's a little spoiler alert: it involves stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.
During the Urban Sketching meeting in Shoreditch, I decided to take on the challenge of using oil pastels for the first time. Now, I must warn you, it didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped.
It got a little messy, to say the least. But hey, that's part of the journey, right? So, join me as I recount my experience with oil pastels, embracing the imperfections and discovering valuable lessons along the way. Get ready for a down-to-earth tale that will surely resonate with fellow artists and creative enthusiasts. Let's dive in!
Urban Sketchers in London
The Urban Sketchers group is a cool community of artists who love sketching urban scenes. They have branches all over the world, and one of them is the Urban Sketchers London group. These artists meet up and sketch together in different parts of the city. You can check out their blog called "Urban Sketchers London" to see their sketches and read about their experiences. It's a great place for artists of all levels to connect and share their passion for sketching the bustling streets and landmarks of London. So, if you're into sketching and want to explore the city through art, this group is definitely worth checking out!
I had been aware of the event for quite some time, and since I was in London, I thought it would be a great opportunity to immerse myself in the art community and get a feel for what it would be like to live here in the future. Plus, a friend I met in an illustration group had invited me, so I couldn't pass up the chance to join them. Oh, and by the way, I had just bought some oil pastels during my London Art Supplies shop tour, so I was eager to put them to use.
What I brought with me for urban sketching
To make sure I was well-prepared for the sketching meeting, I packed my trusty sketchbook, painting paper, pencils, gouache paints, and water brushes. Of course, I didn't forget to bring along the oil pastels that I had just acquired. I wanted to have options and be ready to experiment with different mediums during the session. And let's not forget my handy painting tray to keep everything organized.
Sketchbook
Painting paper
Pencils
Gouache
Water brushes
Pastels
Painting Tray
What I forgot but recommend to take:
Well, despite my best efforts, I did forget a few things that I realized would have come in handy. First off, a solid board would have been fantastic to act as a makeshift table, giving me a stable surface to work on. The wind was also quite mischievous, so having a paper clip to hold down my sketchbook would have been genius. Another item I wish I had remembered was a lightweight water container, like those small medical pill bottles, to carry water for my brushes. It would have saved me from lugging around a heavy container. Lastly, an absorbent cloth would have been a real savior for cleaning my brushes, saving me from wasting paper tissue. So, take note of these items and make sure to bring them along for a more convenient sketching experience.
Solid board to act as a table
Paper clip for the wind
Light weight water container like medical pills bottles
Absorbant cloth to clean the brushes and not waste paper tissue
Session 1 - Trying Pastels and Breaking Out of My Shell
So, in the first session of the Urban Sketching meeting in Shoreditch, I was fashionably late and found everyone already in full sketching mode. Sneaking in, I started with some small thumbnail sketches to warm up and test different compositions. But here's the thing, I was seriously nervous because it was my first time using pastels, and some of the other participants were super talented architects. I didn't want to make a fool of myself, you know?
But hey, I decided to push through the nerves and went for a bigger sketch. I played around with color blocks, choosing blues for the plants and pinks for the buildings. I won't lie, I was overthinking everything because I didn't want to mess up. It turns out, using pastels on that grainy watercolor paper was a bit tricky. Mental note for the future: use the right paper. The result was a bit amateur, but you know what? I was relieved that I took the plunge with pastels. Although, I couldn't help but wonder if stopping earlier would have made it better. Oh well, learning experience, right?
Session 2 - Embracing Gouache and Painting with More Freedom
Alright, moving on to the second session! During our lunch break, I sketched the view from this cute cafe overlooking the stunning garden near Shoreditch Church. Picture this: flowers everywhere, pure magic! Anyway, I didn't record the sketching process because, well, I was hungry and eating at the same time. But here's the cool part—I didn't go overboard with over-preparation this time. I decided to let loose and paint without stressing too much.
So, in this composition, I added loads of plants and flowers, with the church's brick wall as the backdrop. Gouache was my go-to medium this time, and I started with peachy coral tones for the wall. To make things pop, I used warm and cool colours together. And you know what? I chatted away with my friend Marissa, whom I met in London, and took time to appreciate the vibrant garden around us. It really helped me figure out how to paint all those intricate plant details.
I gotta say, I surprised myself with some daring moves, using darker colors to create focal points and adding shades like gray and purple for a colorful touch. To bring everything together, I painted flowers in oranges and yellows and added hints of orange on the leaves. It turned out way better than I expected! I guess when you let go of expectations and just paint with freedom, amazing things can happen. I did some final touch-ups, stood back, and felt a sense of accomplishment. My sketch may not scream "urban," but I'm genuinely proud of it. It's a reminder of breaking free from my comfort zone and embracing the joy of creating art.
Join me at Urban Sketching London!
Phew, what an adventure it was to join the Urban Sketching group in Shoreditch, London! From my messy but exciting first encounter with oil pastels to the freeing experience of embracing gouache in the second session, I learned so much about stepping out of my comfort zone and letting creativity guide me. The Urban Sketchers London group provided the perfect platform to connect with fellow artists and explore the vibrant streets of the city through art. If you want to see the full story, be sure to check out my YouTube video!
