Winter can be a magical time for urban sketching – crisp cool air, frosty snow covered landscapes, and the soft, diffused light of the colder months brings unique inspiration. But let’s be honest: when the temperature drops, it can be tough to stay motivated to take your sketchbook outdoors. Don’t let the chill stop you from sketching! With a few handy tips and a shift in focus, you can stay creative all season long and even get ready for the warmer days ahead.
Bundle Up for Outdoor Sketching
If you love sketching on location, winter just requires a little extra preparation:
- Dress in layers: Start with thermal underlayers, then add sweaters, coats, and warm socks. Fingerless gloves can keep your hands warm while you sketch.
- Choose a cozy spot: Look for sheltered locations like covered benches, coffee shop windows, or even your car. Sketching from a warm cozy spot is a great way to capture wintry street scenes while staying toasty.
- Bring warm drinks: A thermos of tea, coffee or hot chocolate can work wonders in keeping you warm and energized.
- Use quick tools: When it’s cold, your fingers can be the most affected. Select pens or markers that don’t require sharpening to keep them quick and accessible.
The beauty of winter is in the details: frosty branches, smoky chimneys, and warm golden light spilling out of shop windows. Embrace the seasonal charm and let your sketches tell the story of this unique time of year.
Tips for Sketching Winter Scenes
Winter scenes have a special atmosphere that can add mood and storytelling to your sketches. To make the most of these subjects:
- Focus on contrast: Snowy scenes often have dramatic contrasts between light and dark. Use strong lines, ink washes, or contrasting colours to emphasize the difference between bright snow and the shadows it casts.
- Capture textures: Pay attention to how frost sparkles on a tree branch, the roughness of bare bark, or the way snow clings to rooftops. Experiment with hatching, stippling, or layered washes to recreate these effects.
- Use muted colours: Winter tones are often softer and more subdued. Explore a limited palette of cool blues, greys, and whites, adding splashes of warm colours like a glowing lamppost or a red scarf to create visual interest.
Stay Warm Indoors
For days when it’s too cold to venture out, bring the outdoors to you:
- Sketch from a photo: Use reference photos from a previous sketching trip or pictures of places you dream of visiting.
- Capture the view from your window: Snow-covered rooftops, bare trees, and frosty mornings make for fantastic subjects.
- Take an online course: Winter is the perfect time to expand your skills from the comfort of your home. Online courses are a great way to learn new techniques and experiment with warmer, brighter subjects that will make you feel like spring is just around the corner.
Prepare For Spring
- Floral sketches: Practicing flowers, like sunflowers, tulips, or daffodils, can brighten your sketchbook and lift your spirits.
- Dream destinations: Take a virtual trip to draw beach scenes, Mediterranean towns, or the lush greenery of a park in full bloom.
- Seasonal contrasts: Consider sketching the same subject in two seasons – perhaps a favourite spot in winter, and then revisit it in spring to capture how it transforms.
Join a Sketching Community
Stay inspired this winter with Urban Sketch Plus, an online community full of training, workshops, and live events to keep your creativity thriving.
Connect with fellow sketchers in the private Facebook group, where you can share your work, exchange ideas, and find encouragement. With expert-led sessions and a supportive network, you’ll stay motivated and engaged, no matter how chilly it gets outside!
