Urban Sketching: Drawing Course

Learn to draw streetscapes, buildings and urban life with our drawing courses in Sydney.

Discover the art of urban sketching and learn how to draw the world around you in this practical drawing course in Sydney. Perfect for beginners and aspiring artists alike, this hands-on workshop teaches you how to capture the character, atmosphere and energy of city streets, historic buildings, parks and public spaces through observational drawing.

Guided by a professional artist, you'll develop essential urban sketching skills while exploring locations around Sydney CBD. Over two Saturdays, you'll learn how to observe your surroundings, simplify complex scenes, compose engaging drawings, create a strong focal point and build confidence sketching on location.

No prior drawing experience is required. With just a sketchbook, pencil, sharpener and eraser, you'll have everything you need to start documenting the urban environment through sketching.

The first session begins in our classroom, where you'll meet the group before heading outdoors to sketch at carefully selected locations. The second session will take place at a pre-arranged venue, usually within walking distance of Sydney CBD, allowing you to continue developing your observational drawing skills in a real-world setting.

Students with previous drawing experience may choose to experiment with colour and a wider range of art materials. Please discuss your preferred materials with the tutor before the course.

Whether you're interested in travel sketching, architectural drawing, keeping a visual journal or improving your general drawing skills, this urban sketching course provides a supportive and inspiring environment to develop your creative practice.

Save 15% when you enrol in two or more drawing courses at checkout.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this urban sketching course, you should have:

• An understanding of urban sketching as an art form and movement
• Been introduced to the fundamentals of a simple single-point and two-point perspective
• Learned techniques for informal perspective using sighting and other observational tools
• Explored tips and exercises to improve your observation skills
• Been introduced to the fundamentals of using negative space in drawings
• Improved your sketching through framing, ‘editing’, cropping and simplifying scenes
• Used exercises to capture scenes rapidly and with immediacy
• Understood the importance of capturing a sense of time and place.

More advanced learners may also have:

• Explored tonal value in the context of the built environment
• Explored ways of incorporating figures into your sketches.

Course content

What will be covered in this urban sketching course?

• Accurate observation
• Simplify a complex scene
• Perspective and composition
• Proportion, volume, light and shade

Intended audience

Who is this urban sketching course for?

This course is designed for all levels of drawing ability.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd in the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear walking shoes and bring:

• A4 or A5 sketchbook
• 2B and 4B pencils and sharpener
• acrylic and kneadable erasers
• water bottle, lunch/snacks

More experienced sketchers may like to also bring their favourite drawing materials, such as coloured pencils, markers, etc.

Additional information

Please note the following:

The course will go ahead in most weathers, with undercover/indoor destinations used if it rains. We will only cancel if the weather is particularly inclement.