Big Shapes And Line Detail - An Urban Sketching workshop with Lis Watkins

In this workshop, I hope to explain and share methods which I frequently use when drawing on location to help me create sketchbook images. Often when I stop to sketch, the view in front of me can be busy and complex and knowing where to start can seem daunting. Starting boldly by putting in big shapes with watercolour can help to build a drawing quite quickly. By shapes, I mean areas of colour, shadow, natural and manmade forms.

I should say that I strongly believe that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to draw so the techniques are just offered as potential tools for the urban sketcher to add to their drawing arsenal.

LEARNING GOALS

By the end of the workshop, the students should be able to:

• Use direct watercolour to create large, accurate shapes (without the need for line edges)

• Use fine liner pens and white gel pens to draw details and decoration, alongside and on top of watercolour

• Use blank areas of the page to describe elements in the sketch

• Draw and simplify complex landscapes

• Be economic and accurate with mark making

PREFFERED MATERIALS

A sketchbook that will take watercolour washes

A simple set of watercolours

A medium sized brush that will go to a point.

Fine liner pens, ideally in three or four different colours

White gel pen

A stool may be useful

WORKSHOP PLAN

This plan is for a three hour workshop, divided down roughly into three parts:

Part one - Introductions and a series of short warm up exercises as a group.

Part two - A demonstration and sharing of example sketches.

Part three - Time to work on a one sustained sketch independently, using all the techniques we have covered with a final review of work at the end.

Host or Publisher Nicko King