How to put emotions in your sketching
With Ian Fennelly
Discover some of Ian Fennelly’s best sketching advice.
Find out some useful advice and tips from Ian in our new ‘How to‘ guide.
Ian shares a few ways to use your emotions when sketching and how to express yourself when creating. There’s lot of ways that emotions can be used to choose locations, objects and colours.
Location
Some locations just speak to us and when sketching on location, other factors come into play. The emotional connections you make with history, stories, people, the moments when you progress and when find something new can all be exciting.
Progress
“There’s probably about 10 or 15 sketches that I have strong connections with, and they are often when something happened, when I had a lightbulb moment, something switched on and discovered things for the first time.”
Colour
How are you feeling whilst creating the sketch? Hot? Cold? Excited? Frustrated?
Use these feelings in your colours, this is a great way to express how you feel and turn that moment in time into a wonderful piece of art.
“Use what you’re feeling, the temperature, your energy levels, your confidence and your familiarity with the subject.”

Watch the full video as Ian Fennelly explains his emotional attachement to his sketches.
THANK YOU
Don’t forget to keep us up to date with your sketching journey by using the hashtag #UrbanSketchCourse. We look forward to seeing you all again very soon.
Urban Sketching for Beginners
Join Ian Fennelly as he guides you through 47 easy-to-follow lessons and practical exercises that transform you from complete beginner to skilled urban sketcher!