I've had the same tiny box of watercolours since the 1990's, with refillable pans of colour, and it's been tucked in my suitcase on every trip I've taken since then. I also carry a small sketchbook, coloured pencils, a pencil sharpener and a tiny container to fill with water from my drinking bottle.
It takes more discipline than I usually have to actually sit down and paint, but when I'm in the mood it's a satisfying way to create a souvenir of a time and place that includes memories of weather, people who stop to chat, my mood, and sometimes a cup of coffee I'm trying not to dip my brush into.
Here are some of my small paintings from the picturesque and very paintable city of Oaxaca, Mexico. A place you may want to visit some post-Covid winter.
All these years I thought I was just doing a little plein air painting, quietly minding my own business and making watercolours. Then last year in Oaxaca someone asked me if I was an Urban Sketcher.
Well, I learned that what I've been doing on my own is also an organized thing called Urban Sketching and there are members around the world. With a board of directors and a mission statement. And a manifesto that says:
- We draw on location from direct observation (that means no drawing from photographs!)
- We are truthful to the scenes we witness (sometimes I'm not)
- We support each other and draw together (sounds good)
- We share out drawings online (sure)
Maybe someday I'll join a chapter.
No membership was needed for these casual and fun group sessions my friend Marisa invited me to a few years ago.
When I'm in my own drawing zone it's best to tuck into an unobtrusive spot where there's no interruptions by onlookers, like here in MACO, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca. It isn't unusual to see artists working in this city, so most people pay no attention.
More Mexican colour in my sketchbook.
None of these pictures are meant to be framed artworks; they're like handmade postcards, little personal mementos of a pleasant afternoon.
If this looks like fun (and it is), consider giving it a try. The materials are few and low-cost and there's plenty of online information, tips, ideas to copy, maybe online workshops. I just noticed the Red Deer College in Alberta has a 2021 summer 1-week course on Urban Sketching for beginners.
Don't let the word "talent" get in your way. What's more important is a willingness to move out of your comfort zone, jump right in and slowly try to improve. And a promise to yourself not to be too critical of your work. Every picture is a record of where you're at on your journey of being an Urban Sketcher.
