Urban Sketching: Drawing Course

Learn to draw street scenes that capture the energy of our urban environment with our drawing short courses in Sydney!

Urban Sketching is a course for people who want to draw the world around them. No prior drawing experience is required to join this urban sketching course.

Go on a journey with our professional artist to learn how to draw realistic street scenes and beautiful buildings. Visit cafes, parks and public spaces and work with a small group over two Saturdays. You will learn how to observe, compose, simplify a complex scene and create a strong focus. With only a sketchbook, pencil, sharpener and eraser, you are set to go.

The first session starts in our classroom, where you will meet the group before walking to the chosen locations for a day of drawing outdoors. For the second session, the group will meet at a pre-agreed location, usually within walking distance of Sydney CBD.

Optional: Depending on previous learning, you might wish to use other media and add some colour to the drawing. Please discuss your choice with the tutor first for the best result.

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.