Your urban sketching starter kit
Of course you need something to sketch with and something to sketch on.
I love to sketch with a Prismacolor pencil (Violet Blue is my favourite) because you can't easily rub out coloured pencil - and there's no time for perfection when you're out and about, and because when you're drawing with pencil you don't have to wait til paint dries - you can draw right through the puddles (a sensation I love!).
Adding colour with paint can bring so much joy to the whole exercise, so this is the sketch kit I'd recommend for getting out and about.
ESSENTIALS
Prismacolor Violet Blue Pencil
Sketchbook with pages that are at least 200gsm thick (so it can handle watercolours when you're ready). I recommend sketching in a book instead of loose pages because there's no pressure that you're sketching to hang it on the wall - you can practice and enjoy and when you're done just close it up! You don't have to show anyone and you definitely don't have to share on social media. Practice and learn and #fillyourbook and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when that happens!
LOVELY EXTRAS
Yellow and Red Prismacolor pencils as well. These 3 primaries give you lots of options.
A small watercolour set - use what you have, but I do recommend the Van Gogh Pocket Travel Set.
A Pentel Aquash Brush - the water is in the handle so you don't need to find a cup, and you can't spill it! Pentel is the brand I recommend because I've never had one leak and the lid clicks neatly onto the end of the pen so you're less likely to lose it.
A pencil sharpener - a little and light one for your kit, but oh, a battery operated sharpener is one of my favourite things of all time. Highly recommend as $27AUD very well spent.
A cheap 'play' sketchbook. It's nice to have a book on hand that you can draw in... or write a shopping list in and tear the page out. It's not precious, you're not scared to make a mess or a mistake, and you're actually sketching. Which is the whole point.
And that's all there is! Set a timer for 2 minutes or 5 minutes and see what you can draw in that time. Then keep doing it until you've filled up your whole sketchbook with practice drawings.
Getting drawing miles on your pencils, pens and brushes is the best way to build your confidence and your skill. So... get your things together, pick a comfy spot in your home and get started!
There's so much more to share, and I do explain a lot of things - while actually drawing - in my 'Drawing' collection of online classes here.
You can also order my kit here - or if you're not in Australia, take a look here.
Whatever you do, give it a go. You just might LOVE it!
