Did you happen to see my post on IG and FB of this sketch done at…Stonehenge? Our Oxford workshop group in July tackled sketching in both Bath and Stonehenge in one day, which meant that by the time we got here, we only had 15 minutes to draw! It was amazing to see this incredible site (and check it off my bucket list), but it was so frustrating to have so little time to sketch and absorb this ancient, historic place.
In the post, I described my dilemma, showed my unpainted drawing, and asked folks, would you add paint to this sketch later to “finish” it or leave it as it is? I have to say that I was surprised at how many people said to “go ahead and paint it,” “there are no rules in art”, etc. Some suggested that if I add more later, off site, I can post it, just not to Urban Sketchers or USk (as a rule, both only show sketches done on location.) Others suggested drawing a second version and painting that, but doesn’t that change the essence and intent of an urban sketch?
I have always preferred to draw AND paint on location, but I have known for a while that some urban sketchers draw on site and paint later, I just always assumed it wasn’t very many people. For me, working on site, in the moment, on the spot, infuses a certain energy and spontaneity into the sketch that is nearly impossible to duplicate later in the controlled comfort of a studio. I feel that working a sketch later changes it’s purpose, from capturing an experience to creating a perfect piece of art…nothing at all wrong with that and we certainly want our sketches to look nice, but I’ve realized that capturing the experience is more important to me personally. Sure, it would probably look better if I painted it later as it’s really difficult to paint on location, but I feel a deep sense of accomplishment when I finish a sketch on site. My sketches are something of a visual diary, a record of my adventures…it’s why I don’t sell them.
In writing my last book, THE WORLD OF URBAN SKETCHING, I spent LOTS of time sorting through LOTS of artists to find ones that were true location sketchers. There are countless fabulous sketch artists out there all over Instagram, but you have to dig deep sometimes to see if they are really working on location or in a studio. It can be hard to tell the difference, especially if they are studio painters who erroneously post to USk official sites. I would write to some artists and ask if they work on location, and if they said no, then they didn’t make it into the book. It’s also why I tried to show photos of sketches on location, with the context in the background–to really show it is a true urban sketch! I was documenting the world of Urban Sketching after all!
If working on location is at the core of what Urban Sketchers is about, born from reportage sketching, should we draw and paint on location? If I only had 15 minutes and no time to paint, isn’t the unpainted sketch saying something about the experience? Or would it be better if I add color and had a nicer looking image in my sketchbook? I suspect the answer is based on why each of us sketches.
This is something that urban sketchers rarely, if ever, discuss, but I’m curious what others do and what they think about this issue. So, what do you think? Is drawing on site and painting later OK? What’s more important to you, the work of art or the experience? What should an urban sketch be?
And should I add paint or leave it as it is?????
Drawing Perspectives 
Hi Stephanie, I did see your sketch and post on Instagram recently, but am so new to sketching that I have zero confidence in making any kind of public statement! You have been drawing most of your life so you see your artwork with a very different lens than I look at my sketches. I am still amazed at any marks I put on paper! I was at Stonehenge a few years ago and did a similar sketch on a cold windy day without much time.
Until we sketched in Civita I hadn’t often spent the hours outside on location to finish a sketch completely. Thus I have a fair number of ink line drawings in my sketch books. When I go back and look at them I get just as much pleasure from them as when I attempt to add watercolor. I just study the lines which always seem better than when I first made them. My vote is to leave it without paint and enjoy the memories of the moment you were there!
Blessings, Lura Anderson
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I love this, thank you, Lura!
xx
S
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Do what YOU want to do! After all, it’s for YOUR personal travel journal. Finish it off as you like and as you remember it. If it makes you feel better, you can add a second date to indicate the date when you added the painting. That’s my 2 cents! 🙂
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Thanks, Jane! I will consider that option in the future, it’s helpful to find out what everyone thinks and does!
S
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Sorry… I’m afraid I sounded pretty harsh… I’m probably not sensitive enough to the thoughts and feelings of “true Urban Sketchers” — but I can see why this would be a dilemma for you, especially after the pains you took to get authentic on-site work for your recent book. 🙂
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Hi, Stephanie,
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div>I think sometimes it depends
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I prefer to do everything on site but sometimes it’s just not possible so I do paint later. Often, I can do a quick wash of color and then go in and add additional layers of color later.
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HI Karen, I think that is probably good to do in certain circumstances…I like that you throw some paint on on site, then finish it up when you can. Thanks for weighing in!
S
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I personally think it’s absolutely fine to start a sketch on-site and finish it when you can. I often take a photo just to jog my memory as to the perspective or the color. As you stated, on occasion you only have a few minutes in a location and wish you had more time. I really enjoy your sketches as well as your emails!
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HI Cindy, good to know…I think there is place for both camps in urban sketchers!!
Thanks for the kind words, I’m so glad you appreciate my work!
S
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Hi Stephanie,
I really enjoy your insights and your work. Some day I hope to take a workshop with you!
Of course it’s up to each individual sketcher, but I personally feel that the experience of urban sketching is what differentiates it from something like plein air painting or location painting for the purpose of collecting material for a studio work (something David Rankin talks about in his book “Fast Sketching Techniques”).
I also must object to describing a painted piece as looking better than a line sketch. Line sketches are beautiful too, just in a different way.
I personally resist the temptation to do anything to urban sketches once I get home. I do, however, keep a log where I describe where I went, what I sketched, and how I could improve that type of sketch next time. I know that’s tedious, but I’m a beginner so I do this for education purposes.
Rainbow
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HI Rainbow, thanks for weighing in, and I hope to meet you in a workshop one day soon!
I tend to agree with your comments about working on location, and you are absolutely right that the ine drawing can stand on its own as a finished piece without color!!
Great to know what you and others think about all this! Much appreciated!
S
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Fabulous sketch! I would leave it as it because it has an expressive line quality, and it captures your experience of having limited time.
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Thank you for the kind words, Cat…and I pretty much agree with you! It will likely stay a line drawing!
S
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I wrote a really long reply which got swallowed by the computer. So yes I agree our responses are related to reasons why we sketch, but also to a degree about what we think an artwork ‘is’.
Coming from a visual arts background I know that my views on what constitutes art is probably way broader than that of people with different training and interests. So I am happy to sit with work that other people might consider was unfinished.
As you know from my comments on IG I’m definitely in the ‘only what is done on location’ camp. Once away from the location you can’t re-capture the situation.
Also preferred medium and method of working is a factor.
I was also at Stonehenge in August with 45 minutes to sketch. I completed my direct to watercolour sketch and used my remaining few minutes to do two expressive watercolours that I prefer as artworks. Using that technique saved me time. I certainly felt rushed and would have loved to sketch there all day if possible. It was still the best way to spend my time at that amazing place!
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Hi Leonie, your reply on IG was great, and I tend to agree with what you write here too. Amazing you were also at Stonehenge recently, and how clever of you to do a direct watercolor sketch. That’s actually a great idea!
S
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Have 2 versions!! The “true urban sketch” plus a “colorized/painted” version that represents what is so close to what you actually saw. That is a win-win no stress solution.
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I did think about that…I might try it, although I love the magic of the original sketch done on location, even without the paint!
S
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Curiosity gets the best of me in wondering how the colorized version would look!! I think many of us would enjoy seeing the extra magic that color adds. Regardless, I love your work!! Also, I am so happy that I bought your “World of Urban Sketching” book. I keep it next to my comfortable chair for quick access and constant inspiration. I am very new to urban sketching and recently joined a local group in Newport News, Va. What a great decision!!
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Be careful, Urban Sketching is fun and addicting!!! 😉
I’m so happy to hear about where the book goes and that people enjoy it. Thanks for that! And I may try a colored version after this, we will see!
S
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I think a lot of “true urban sketchers” can run the risk of being elitist if we were to say that real USk is only possible to paint on location. It’s more than what you see in the moment. It’s also how you felt or your memory of the place. If it feels better without color, that’s great.
If you are an experienced artist, you can work more quickly with better precision.. For a beginner like me it’s not easy to get a good line AND color without getting too Since I am still learning, I give myself permission to finish later so that I don’t rush my lines and observation. It’s a fine balance: sometimes time constraints help so that I don’t obsess too much later about perfecting the color.
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You bring up good points! Urban Sketchers the organization says that we should capture the “essence” on location, but I think for me personally, I like the challenge of painting on location too, in the moment. I also feel that painting on location, like drawing on location, infuses the sketch with a kind of energy that I can never duplicate when I try to work on it later. If I try and add more later, it becomes too precious, more a piece of art than a sketch of the experience. But that’s me and how I work, not to impose it on others! This is a gray area for sure for Urban Sketchers!
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Yes, completely agree with you, definitely do not want to be too precious, because that can be limiting too.
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