The project I’m setting for this class is to draw a busy street, using your favourite style from the techniques discussed in the class.

You might also want to fill a couple of pages with quick sketches of people, just to get a feel for the different techniques discussed and how they work with you and your style!

Pick your style

Will you use ‘shape-based’, ‘loopy’ or ‘continuous-line’ people – or will you experiment with all of them. Will you try a pre-planned sketch, or add spontaneous people when you see how the sketch is flowing and the energy it needs!

There are three references supplied in the class resources, but you could also do this plein air from your local café, a favourite holiday photo you’ve taken, or simply using a reference from the internet.

Equipment suggested:

Starting in a sketchbook – either A5 or A4 – is a lovely place to experiment. I suggest using watercolour paper, as this gives your scene a lovely texture.

I personally use a fountain pen with waterproof ink (normally carbon X ink), but also often use fine liners such as unipin or Winsor Newton fineliners (0.3mm or finer). On top, I like to add a loose wash of colour, with a few punches of contrast and colour.

Project steps:

Start by finding your scene, try it out with a few thumbnail sketches to check you’re happy with your composition and how to simplify the buildings to let the people shine!
The easiest place to start, is with spontaneous figures – if you’re taking this route then start with a loose and light sketch of your background scene, making sure not to overdo the detail. A simple skeleton sketch will be plenty!
Then build your figures on top – I start with the head. The head will sit on the horizon line (your eye level) no matter where the figure is in your sketch.
Start with a figure in the foreground, add more detail to this figure – perhaps their hair shape, a rucksack or a bag they are carrying.
Then start moving backwards through the image using loose and loose more ‘abstract’ or ‘representative’ figures so as no to detract from your focal point.
When you’re happy with your figures, you can look at the background scene and see if you want to add more details – perhaps a few windows, perhaps a few textures like brickwork.
And finally, consider adding a little shadow or colour. Don’t worry about being ‘realistic’, just focus on light and dark, and adding a few bold touches to draw the eye (e.g. to your foreground figures).

Option B is to do a pre-planned sketch or to add your figures first. The steps are essentially the same, just in a different order.

Remember, if you’re adding your figures first, the key is to focus on the horizon line to make sure your figures are ‘correctly’ placed in terms of perspective – we cover this is ‘scene 2’ of the class, as well as in my previous Skillshare class ‘sketching people made easy – simple steps in ink and watercolour’.

If you’re planning your figures in, whilst sketching your buildings, then just remember to leave a few gaps to get your figures in later.

Finally, of course, upload your finished project/sketch into the gallery and you can also find me on Instagram @tobyurbansketch where I’d love to see your work too

My palette:

Pthalo blue, Cobalt blue, Sarlet Lake, Mayan Organe, Hansa yellow, Quinacridone deep gold, Quinacridone sienna, Green gold, Cascade green, Geuine appatite green, Sepia, Peylene violet, Indigo, Moonglow

Tabatha Gray

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