The Urban Sketchers Manifesto below was written by the official Urban Sketchers organisation, a non-profit that brings together sketchers around the world. I’m sharing it here because it captures the spirit of sketching on location so well, but please note this text belongs to Urban Sketchers, not to me. If you’d like to learn more about the organisation, its chapters, and how to get involved, please visit their website directly.

1. We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
2. Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
3. Our drawings are a record of time and place.
4. We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
5. We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
6. We support each other and draw together.
7. We share our drawings online.
8. We show the world, one drawing at a time.