4 weeks of Sketching, Side by Side
Across four weeks, something brilliant took shape – not just on the page, but in how we approached our sketching. With each session, confidence grew. Lines became more deliberate. Colours more instinctive. And for many of us, the process started to feel less intimidating and more enjoyable.
This wasn’t just about learning new techniques (though we did plenty of that). It was about building momentum – together. Sharing work, receiving feedback, seeing how others interpreted the same scene… it gave the whole experience a sense of purpose and accountability. It helped us stick with it, especially on the days when things felt uncertain.
The results spoke for themselves. The sketches were thoughtful, expressive, often stunning – but more than that, they were personal. They showed how far we’d come in just four weeks, and how much is possible when you slow down, observe carefully, and trust the process.
Looking Before Drawing: The Power of Observation
While pen placement isn’t new to most of us, during this four-week experience it became even more essential. We slowed down at the very start – not to draw, but to plan. By physically placing pens or pencils on the page, we created a visual guide for the layout. It helped us judge the width of a tree trunk, the curve of a winding path, or how far across the hedge line might reach – before committing anything in ink.
This hands-on approach gave us a moment to check proportions and consider composition carefully. It was a simple but powerful way to avoid misplacing elements or running out of space. Questions like “Will that tree run off the page?” or “Should the path sweep further left?” became easier to answer with just a bit of physical planning.
We also gave more thought to white space – not just what to draw, but what to leave. We were reminded that empty space isn’t a mistake. In fact, it often brings balance and clarity to a sketch.
Even though we were all working from the same reference photo, this early planning stage helped each person interpret the scene in their own way. It wasn’t about getting it ‘right’ – it was about making intentional decisions that shaped the sketch from the very first step.
Mixing, Swatching, and Trusting the Wash
Week two was all about colour – and confidence. We learned to plan it, test it, and sometimes change it halfway through.
Swatching became a trusted ritual. Bruce created a swatch sheet to understand his greys and greens before ever lifting a brush. Suzanne urged us to spend time mixing tones we needed – replicating colours instead of buying new tubes.
Vicky experimented with gradients in her trees – blue to yellow – adding depth and story to her sketch. Lydia’s wintery palette used just a few colours, but the effect was powerful. A reminder that less can indeed be more.
The joy of storytelling through colour became clearer here. We weren’t just painting what was there – we were choosing what mattered. That instinct, that little voice that says “this needs to feel lighter,” or “let’s leave that edge soft,” was worth listening to.
And yes, sometimes it went wrong. But every muddy sky or runaway wash taught us something. Colour isn’t about control. It’s about conversation – with the paper, the brush, and the moment.
“What we’re trying to do in a pre-sketch is simplify it, so that when we do the workshop piece, I know exactly the route that we’re going to take. Where we’re not over-layering everything, and making it too complicated, we’re just letting things go and really capturing the essence of the scene.”
Tombow Greys and Tonal Confidence
By the third week, brush pens took centre stage – the week Ian affectionately named Tombow Tuesday. These pens helped us carve out form, shape, and contrast, adding structure without overwhelming the sketch with too much detail.
We shifted our focus from colour to tone, working with a limited palette of greys to build depth and atmosphere. Whether it was the soft edge of a hedge or the shadow beneath a path, Tombows allowed us to work quickly but thoughtfully – layering tone in a way that supported the composition rather than overpowering it.
This stage brought a fresh challenge: Where does the tone go? And the answer, as always, was to plan. Carmen reminded us not to darken too early – especially with brush pens – as it can leave less room for the finer details later. Lydia’s sketch showed how gentle blending could add softness and mood without muddying the forms.
Simon’s hedges became a quiet highlight – his use of tone created a sense of air and softness, without washing the structure out completely.
For many of us, this was the week things began to click. Tonal values weren’t just technical anymore. They were expressive – telling the story of a shaded corner, a heavy sky, or a sunlit rooftop. It helped us think in layers: light and shadow, shape and feeling, structure and story.
Placing Detail with Purpose
By week four, we were ready to slow down and bring the sketch to life with more deliberate detail. This was the stage where earlier decisions – about layout, tone, and colour – really started to matter.
Ian encouraged us to take our time, especially with branches and foliage. The focus was on finding clarity, not fuss. One technique he demonstrated for ivy was to sketch the black gaps between the leaves, rather than outlining every shape. That shift in approach – seeing form through negative space – was subtle but powerful. Once it clicked, it made all the difference.
Amy took this idea further in her own way. She practised knowing when to stop, choosing not to overcrowd branches and focusing on suggesting rather than explaining every detail. Carmen explored varying her hatch direction to build texture in her foliage. Bruce aimed for balance between areas of high detail and quiet space, making sure his sketch didn’t feel crammed.
The big lesson here? Don’t overdo it. Vicky’s use of wood grain texture gave her trees structure without overwhelming them. Lauren focused her detail in just one or two areas, allowing the rest of the sketch to stay simple. When in doubt, stop – or at least pause. Often, the sketch tells you when it’s done, and it’s rarely when every inch is filled.
Together, We Learn Better
It wasn’t just the sketching that made this experience valuable – it was sketching together. Every shared post, every feedback comment, every “me too!” moment added to the learning.
Lauren put it best: “Seeing other people’s interpretations proves there’s no single ‘right answer’.” We borrowed techniques, asked questions, and celebrated progress – not perfection.
Carmen noted that being part of a structured schedule helped her stay accountable. Katerina carved out art time as something just for herself. And Suzanne’s two-sketch plan – one following Ian’s demo, one more independent – helped many people bridge the gap between copying and creating.
That’s the thing about urban sketching. It’s not just a solo practice. When we sketch together, we grow faster. And not just technically – but creatively, emotionally, and socially.
Final Thoughts: The Confidence Comes Quietly
Confidence doesn’t always feel like a lightbulb moment. Sometimes it’s just noticing you’re not as scared of the blank page. Or that you’re mixing colours instinctively. Or you don’t panic when the first pen mark goes a bit wonky.
Over these four weeks, confidence didn’t come in a single step. It arrived in layers. In the decision to keep going. In the choice to sketch a second version. In the feedback shared with kindness.
We leave this experience with stronger skills, yes – but more importantly, a stronger sense of self as sketchers. Whether you’re still figuring out tone, still dabbling with hatching, or still unsure about which pen to use, just know: you’re not behind. You’re in it – and that’s where the learning lives.
So keep sketching. Keep sharing. And keep trusting the process.
Ready to learn more?
Our Summer 2025 Four-Week Sketching Experience may have wrapped up, but there’s still plenty to explore in the Urban Sketch PLUS members’ area before the next one begins. Whether you’re working on linework, tone, colour, or composition, you’ll find a workshop, webinar, or training session to help you keep moving forward – at your own pace, in your own way. And if you’re craving that live energy again, keep an eye out for upcoming sketch workshops where you can join in real-time, sketch alongside others, and keep that creative momentum going.
