Just before Christmas I sketched my Urban Sketching students hard at work at Crealde School of Art. I decided to hold all classes outside because of the pandemic. I was always double masked and often wore a face shield. My students were great about staying masked at all times.

More than 2 million people had traveled before the Christmas Holidays and that resulted in a huge spike in cases in January. By January 8, 2021 over 300,000 people were infected in a single day. Over 4,000 Americans were dying each day.

The Spring session of Crealde Urban Sketching is beginning about April 11, 2021 through May 30, 2021. My focus has always been to get students out of the studio and sketching life around them. The pandemic has brought a about a greater appreciation of the joys of sketching outside.

In this 6 week class, we focus on sketching clothed models and and the classroom environment. We focus on how to incorporate storytelling into your sketches when drawing on location. The assignments challenge you to use your sketchbook the way a photojournalist uses a camera. The sketches are completed using pencil, pen, and watercolor within two hours.

Supplies needed:

#2 HB pencil with an eraser, 05 and 08 micron pens, Stillman and Birn 9 x 12 inch spiral bound sketchbook (Alpha or Epsion series), Travel sized watercolor pallet (mine is a Windsor Newton with 14 color pans), Pentel water brush (water goes in the handle), Black Prismacolor pencil, and a compact artist stool.