Books on Urban Sketching

As both an urban sketcher and librarian, I thought it might be a good idea to combine my two passions and provide readers with a list of books related to urban sketching. I am a consummate reader and collector and, most importantly, active user of art instruction books.  
I am also mindful of the competing interests that can occur when talking about art books. We have excellent libraries here in the Pacific Northwest but we, of course, want to support our fellow artists and teachers through our purchases. One way to leverage your art instruction book dollars is to use your public library to preview works AND then support our fellow artists and authors by buying their books. 

Your public library is a great way to review books over a longer period of time. You can get a better sense of the quality and nature of instruction than simply perusing them in the bookstore or just guessing that they might be what you want from an online source.  Once you decide that you would like a particular book, (and, even as a librarian, I almost always do-since it is difficult to learn the techniques in a particular book if you have to return it in two weeks) then purchase it. And, if you can't afford to purchase every book you want, I am sure most artists would prefer that you borrow it from a library and use it to help you learn and create art.  

If the author makes the option available, I recommend purchasing directly from their website.  A good first step is to go to an author/artist's website to see how they prefer you buy their books. I also advocate using local independent bookstores whenever possible.  

For those new to urban sketching, here are four of the most popular and my personal favorites!  There is a growing number of instructional books on the topic of urban sketching. I post those below as recommendations. 

The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World

by Gabriel Campanario

Check out Gabi's website
http://gabicampanario.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Urban-Sketching-Location/dp/1592537251

The Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing and Drawing on Location

by Marc Taro Holmes

Check out Marc's website:
http://citizensketcher.com/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Urban-Sketcher-Techniques-Location/dp/1440334714

Archisketcher: Drawing Buildings, Cities and Landscapes

by Simone Ridyard

Check out Simone's website:
http://www.simoneridyard.co.uk/

http://www.amazon.com/Archisketcher-Drawing-Buildings-Cities-Landscapes/dp/1440340919

Urban Watercolor Sketching: A Guide to Drawing, Painting, and Storytelling in Color

by Felix Scheinberger 

Check out Felix's website:

http://www.felixscheinberger.de/#hamburg

http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Watercolor-Sketching-Painting-Storytelling/dp/0770435211

As I said, there are many others!   The four above are considered standard works in this area.  A search in your library catalog, your local bookstore or Amazon, Barnes and Noble will reveal many more! 

Here also are links to the libraries in Pierce County.  Staff there can assist you in locating the books you are interested in borrowing.  

Pierce County Library System

https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/

Tacoma Public Library

http://www.tacomalibrary.org/

Puyallup Public Library

http://www.cityofpuyallup.org/library/

I will refrain from advocating one bookstore over another, but a search in Google will point you in the right direction!   

Please let me know if you are interested in learning more about books related to urban sketching by commenting below.  I would be happy to post actual reviews of newly released works if you would find this useful. Please also share your favorites in the comments section below!  

(Note: All images used with permission of the artist-author.)

Correspondent: Beverly Choltco-Devlin

 

First Post and Connections - Washington State History Museum and Seymour Conservatory

Good fortune visited me the day I discovered Urban Sketchers - Tacoma. Please bear with me on this, my first, somewhat lengthy post. My art endeavors in past years have been tied to the connection between experience and place. Having moved here two years ago, I was, of course, enthralled with the majestic and expansive natural world which bumps right up against and embraces our equally fascinating urban areas. On our first visit to the Pacific Northwest, I was especially drawn to Tacoma. I loved its artistic legacy and sensibilities, its fierce independence. For me, the City of Tacoma is authentic. Tacoma feels real.

The recent visit to the Washington State History Museum was almost overwhelming in its abundance of sketching opportunities. After wandering around in awe for a while, I settled on two primary subjects. 

The first is a sketch of the wedding dress of the wife of fellow Urban Sketcher, Peter Darling. He and his wife married in 1968 and the very stylish wedding outfit is now on display in the museum. The sketch does not reflect the beautiful creamy white of the dress and pillbox hat with veil, but does show the modern style.  It was a delight to show Peter my sketch at our sharing session.

I was also immediately drawn to the printing press which was used to print off the Freemen's Labor Journal during the early 20th century.  I studied printing in college and used to work in a printing company in San Francisco that used very similar platen press.  

The visit to the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park also presented connections with personal import. I am drawn to these magical "fairy" glass houses, my term for them when a young girl.  It was a glorious, if cool, day and I set myself the task of painting the beautiful building en plein air. Though the image is small, I knew at some point it was shifting from being a sketch to a small painting.  At what point does this occur?  Does it matter?  

I am so thrilled to be a part of this friendly, talented, encouraging, and fun group. Everyone has made me very welcome. As Bonnie Raitt, Madonna and  Linda Rondstadt have all sung: "It feels like home." I hope you will join us.