The Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location

I came across this author on YouTube several years ago and enjoyed his work and his commentary on Urban Sketching. I also knew about this book for quite awhile, in fact I had it in my cart - save for later - bin for about six months and finally purchased it. I am impressed with this book because of the authors writing, I know, you say, 'but it's a book about sketching', and yes it is, but he talks you through his examples and writes about his art and subjects like you are sitting with him on location. I love how he describes his drawings as stories and graphic novels. He doesn't want to just document a scene, he guides you into being a storyteller through the pencil, pen and ink medium. Don't get me wrong, he definitely gives many solid tips on how to get to the story through how you use the pencil but he in essence is a teller of the story first of all. He guides you to making the viewer feel what you feel while sketching. He uses terms like, narrative, guided tour, a trail of breadcrumbs in describing his style. He leads you into the language of visual narrative with terms like, gradient of interest, eye magnet, placement, contrast and detail. When writing you're told to -'show don't tell'; but in Urban Sketching we actually do show by what we put on the page. But this author intimates that we should TELL with the sketch, leading the viewer into our composition. I like this book, I think you will as well.

I've taken Marc's classes on Craftsy a few times now; there were several things I had a hard time figuring out, and when he explained them, it finally clicked! His book is just as much a work of art as it is educational, highly recommend.

The Urban Sketcher – Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location is a useful book on drawing and watercolor painting technique illustrated with a selection of Marc Taro Holmes’ dazzling works. It’s certainly worth the $17.30 price (Amazon.com), especially the small watercolor section. I’m a bit puzzled, though, about who the intended audience is. The book begins with an introduction to the concept of urban sketching and its inherent joys. Daily, habitual sketching – with quantity trumping concern for quality – will bring rapid skills improvement to most sketchers, Holmes says, and his own pleasure from the habit is apparent. “Urban sketching gets you out in the world looking for things worth drawing,” he says. “It puts you into the mindset where daily life is part of a larger artistic adventure.” The first two-thirds of the 143-page book focuses on relatively basic drawing techniques that a beginner could grasp and practice without feeling overwhelmed. It begins with an introduction to the pleasures of urban sketching and essential materials used. Then, starting with still lifes, Holmes shows, step-by-step, how to use simple measuring and sight-sizing techniques to draw accurately. Very quickly he moves to applying those same principles to urban landscapes. Useful to beginners as well as more seasoned sketchers, he shows how to break down a complex subject into simplified shapes and angles. Most of the drawing instructions and exercises are based on Holmes’ three-step process: a rough pencil “scribble” followed by a defining pen line and finally a brush pen to darken “shadow shapes,” giving dimension to the drawing. This process is reinforced throughout the book. Some exercises are devoted specifically to sketching people in the urban landscape using these same principles. So far, I could see a highly motivated beginner or intermediate sketcher using Holmes’ three-step process to build skills with continual practice. But a sheer beginner will not find important instruction on perspective when drawing buildings, for example, or understanding proportions when drawing people. (I suppose plenty of other books on the market cover these basic topics.) Where I really felt confused about the intended audience was the final third of the book on watercolor techniques. The first instruction demo is on the “grow a wash” technique, followed by one on charging-in, and then edge-pulling. If I had just opened a new set of paints and were using watercolor for the first time (as implied by the book’s introduction to materials), I would be befuddled and frustrated by these sophisticated techniques right out the door. In Step 1 of a demo, it says, “Keep aware of your color variation, going back for a slightly different hue every time. Never use just one color. Always modify the base color with warm and cool neighbors.” Warm and cool neighbors? All of this comes without a single word related to color mixing or showing a color wheel explaining warm and cool colors. (OK, again, I suppose plenty of watercolor technique books on the market cover these basics.) After having read numerous books on watercolor painting and having taken a few workshops, I feel ready to be challenged by these relatively advanced techniques, but I was surprised to see them in the first few pages of the watercolor section in a book with basic drawing instruction. All of that said, I’m looking forward to trying out these techniques, along with his “tea/milk/honey” principle of paint dilution. Now that I’ve heard myself talk, I realize that the intended audience might actually be me: Someone with three years of experience in pen, ink and watercolor sketching, looking for new challenges to improve my skills. So if you’re like me, you’ll get plenty of value from the slim watercolor portion of the book; perhaps less from the drawing section. If you want to learn drawing, then perhaps this book is for you. It has some good basics, but definitely not all. If you want to learn watercolor, then I’d say you need to read at least one book on beginning watercolor painting before this one. (For inspiration about why to sketch on location and to view a full range of what artists worldwide are doing with urban sketching, then Gabriel Campanario’s The Art of Urban Sketching is still “the bible.” If you are a complete newbie who wants a comprehensive book about how to urban sketch, including beginning basic skills, James Hobbs’ Sketch Your World would be my answer.) One complaint may seem minor, but I see this so often in books published today that it’s no longer a minor offense to me. Much time and care were taken to prepare beautiful, step-by-step demo illustrations and examples. Why, then, couldn’t the same care have been taken with the text? It’s riddled with typos and sloppy editing. One of the photo cutlines doesn’t match the photo. The step numbering on one of the illustrations is wrong. I’m going to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume that the publisher is at fault. (I’ve read other books by North Light Books that were equally sloppy.) It’s a shame when budget cuts in the hard-copy publishing world can’t afford a proofreader.

I have always been interested in sketching and did some on my own very the years. But this book really brings light and direction to my journey. Even I may never reached the end chapters of watercoloring level, I have tremendously enjoy the drawing part so far. It also inspires me to do daily sketches. Plus the writing is interesting to read. Now everywhere I look I am thinking how the image can turn to a sketch. Ha! Money well spent, highly recommend!

The author does an excellent job of breaking down sketching as well as painting into three basic phases that can be applied to any medium. His explanations are clear and insightful. Practical tips like how to get the measurements right when sketching on location, have made a big difference in how I look at the world around me and the quality of the drawing I get down on paper. Here and there I would have enjoyed more detail on the specific watercolour pigments used, but as the author aims to to teach principles that can be applied in any situation rather than a step-by-step guide this doesn't detract from the value of the book. Whether you prefer pencil, pen and ink, watercolour or a combination of all of the above, this book contains advice that will soon have you amazed at the improvement in your own work. And in a relatively short time too!

I’ve been following the work and blog of Marc Taro Holmes for some time now and was delighted when I heard he’d written a book outlining his techniques. I quickly pre-ordered a copy from Amazon in June and my anticipation and expectations were running on high when it arrived last week—four months later! It doesn’t disappoint! His step-by-step techniques are easy to follow with lots of delightful examples of his wonderful sketches. After first reviewing The Urban Sketcher cover-to-cover, I’m now savoring it slowly chapter by chapter as I practice his techniques. I think this marvelous book has lots to offer both advanced artists, as well as artists new to urban sketching.

M. T. Holmes notre guide pas à pas de façon très fluide et bienveillante à oser se lancer dans le sketching. Il partage ses 'trucs', tant sur le matériel que sur la pratique et la technique, et propose des exercices assez libres et très motivants, tout en illustrant ses propos par des exemples de réalisations, par étapes. Clairement structuré, clair, agréable à lire et abondamment illustré. Le matériel nécessaire n'est pas délirant (ni immense ni trop cher, il réduit les besoins au moins, appréciable pour les petites bourses et pour voyager léger). On sent que c'est quelqu'un qui adore ce qu'il fait et qui aime les autres et partager. Il nous donne finalement une sorte de triple cours express de dessin, encre et aquarelle (waouh!). Le tout est simple, sympathique et très libérateur : on se sent avoir envie d'oser et de se lâcher pour se faire plaisir. Bon, reste à s'entraîner pour parvenir à trouver notre style et à obtenir des résultats qui nous plaisent (et si possible aussi beaux que les siens, rêvons un peu !)

I received this book from Amazon yesterday and it is a treasure chest of interesting advice very well illustrated in accessible tutorials. It is a joy and if you have not yet read it I recommend it v highly. His illustrations do just the things I Iove and I am sitting reading it muttering “Exactly!”, “Yes Yes!” under my breath. He concentrates on making satisfying images not on recording exactly what he sees in front of him. He is helped of course by being a talented draughtsman and having a genius for colour and composition. He has some very good, illustrated advice about using watercolours. Simple, practical tips which I wish I had know 40 years ago. Five stars for Mr Taro Holmes.

I like the no BS approach the author shows, and how he has divided the book into sections for measuring the right size of objects, ink drawing, watercolours with pencils and brushes, as well as practical tips and exciersises, coupled with various theories for how to plan your sketch, and how to draw the eye of the viewer to certain objects. The book is packed full of useful tips, techniques and art lessons, starting from the beginners to the advanced Urban Sketcher. Much recommended!

Todos los ejercicios que propone el autor ayudan a desarrollar confianza para principiantes e intermedios de forma muy didáctica. Lo recomiendo mucho!

Un libro muy interesante con tecnicas y con imagenes muy faciles de seguir, con bastante contenido, sin duda es una buena compra.