Sketching the City in Pen, Ink & Watercolor
Shari Blaukopf
Class Preview
1:35
- In-depth Instruction; over 176 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Thumbnails & Composition
19:46
Meet your instructor, sketch artist and graphic designer Shari Blaukopf, and learn how to compose your sketches on the page. Shari shows you how to assess the scene in front of you before roughing in valuable details in the form of quick, informative thumbnails.
Drawing Facades
28:53
Whether you're sketching skyscrapers or a small strip of row houses, Shari shows you the best techniques for breaking up buildings into manageable proportions and basic shapes. Learn how to subdivide your sketch before starting to add specific textures and details in ink.
Urban Texture
29:05
Add a vibrant splash of color to your work as you integrate watercolor into your sketches. Shari walks you through the steps needed to capture the look of a wide variety of building materials ranging from stone facades to metal awnings, and she'll help you bring greater dimension to your scene.
Doors & Windows
23:18
Windows and doors add a great deal of character to each city neighborhood, and Shari shows you how to observe and capture those unique details with flair. Learn how to study the structure of each door and window, add color washes to enhance areas of light and shadow, and explore ways to depict reflections.
Details That Give Cities Life
25:10
There's no shortage of fascinating details when you sketch in an urban area! Learn how to incorporate a symphony of people, pets, foliage, power lines and much more into your scene without overwhelming your drawing with minutiae. Shari also shares professional tips on how to render signage and lettering.
Light & Shadow
22:35
Delve deeper into ways to depict light and shadow, which can transform an ordinary sketch into a true work of art. Shari helps you identify the best ways to record shadow patterns as you sketch, and how to mix and apply paint to create transparent shadows or large, dark shadows.
Panoramic Cityscapes
26:30
In the final lesson, step back from the immediacy of street scenes to gain a larger view of your city or town. Shari shares helpful techniques for creating panoramic scenes, beginning with identifying the foreground, middle ground and background elements and finding key focal points.
Build the skills for drawing cities beautifully! With Urban Sketchers blog correspondent Shari Blaukopf as your guide, you’ll start with how to use thumbnails to simplify cityscapes quickly and choose a compelling composition. Kick off your urban sketch with Shari’s tips for drawing any building’s facade by blocking in big shapes and roughing in smaller ones before adding texture and detail in ink. Next, breathe vibrant life into your work by recreating a variety of building surfaces in watercolor. Ready to add key details to your sketches? Find out how to draw doors, windows, people, foliage, signs and more. Move on to giving your city neighborhood greater form and dimension by refining the light and shadow in your work. Plus, Shari will discuss how to sketch breathtaking urban panoramas.
Shari Blaukopf
Shari Blaukopf is a graphic design teacher, illustrator and the co-founder of the Urban Sketchers Montreal regional blog. Shari has a BFA from Concordia University with a specialization in graphic design, but her true love has always been watercolor painting. Her watercolor paintings can be found in corporate, government and private collections in both Canada and the United States. Shari is passionate about sharing her love and knowledge watercolors, and she's taught many watercolor workshops in the United States and Europe.
Bonus materials available after purchase