Quick Urban and Landscape Sketching

Following the rules - but doing it fast. Essence rather than reality.

Kingsbridge, South Devon

Often it’s the people that matter

The thing with urban and landscape sketching it’s often too hung up with the buildings and landscapes - when often it’s the people that matter the most. And they don’t have to be complicated - I have a simple way of doing people (I have a simple way of doing everything, it seems) - just a small oval for the head, rectangle for the body and lines for the legs - and arms, if I actually do arms.

Dartmouth, South Devon

Ligne claire (clear lines)

Started and developed by Herge (of Tintin fame), I like to think of of as ‘why draw lots of lines when one will do, and lots of shading that doesn’t add anything? It’s pretty much what I think about music too. It’s also a lot quicker to work in simple, clear lines, rather than clutter the whole thing up with a lot of unnecessary ones.

One point perspective. Ivybridge, South Devon

Simple street scenes (one point perspective)

I often use one point perspective for street scenes (as above) - it takes the eye along the street to the vanishing point in the distance. I also use two point perspective (as below) if it’s to sketch a single building - this is often pubs, by the way.

Two point perspective - The Sloop Inn, Bantham, South Devon

If you want to know more about perspective and sketching in general I am planning to do a series of workshops on the subject - check out the website for updates on this.

---

What’s coming?

This Substack is intended to expand upon the ideas of urban and landscape sketching with minimal materials, to provide examples and inspiration.

It’s all about getting your thoughts and feelings out onto paper without too many rules to follow - this is sketching - not drawing.

Thanks for reading this and coming on the journey with me. Enjoy the journey and the destination can just look after itself.
All the best,
Peter