{"id":216,"date":"2020-04-14T09:31:39","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T09:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/?p=216"},"modified":"2023-06-16T19:27:37","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T19:27:37","slug":"how-to-sketch-loosely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/how-to-sketch-loosely\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sketch Loosely"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since I started urban sketching, a growing interest of mine has been how to learn to let go and to sketch more loosely.  I think my natural inclination is to try and draw as perfectly as I can and to capture lots of details as best I can. Whilst I am absolutely NOT a realistic sketcher I feel my sketching style is too tight and I can\u2019t quite achieve that effortless sketchy quality I would love to develop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have put this post together gathering all of my research and personal learning as to how to obtain a loose sketching style for my own benefit but also to help anyone else who is facing this challenge in their own sketching practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m still not there yet but if I have the information on how to approach loose sketching, then that\u2019s half the battle! I hope the advice below helps you to loosen up too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does \u201cLoose Sketching\u201d or Drawing Loosely Mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drawing or sketching loosely means drawing in a more relaxed and comfortable style, which in itself shows confidence in the drawing. The idea of sketching loosely is to not worry about the details but to capture the \u201cbigger picture\u201d and the essence of your subject.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BjpwT5nBD63\/\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A loose sketch or drawing looks natural and effortless. In my opinion, a looser sketch can capture the atmosphere at the time of the sketch, and I think this is an important quality for urban sketchers to learn as urban sketching is all about capturing the things you see in the world, right in front of you at that moment in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is Loose Sketching Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to learn to loosen up and let go of the details. Learning to sketch loosely means you can get quicker at getting your subject down on to paper.  This is super useful for urban sketching when you may have a limited window of time as you are with family or friends, or about to meet people, or perhaps the weather is against you and it could start raining at any moment.  Perhaps you are waiting for the bus to work but you absolutely have to sketch the scene in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loose sketching can help you capture something at a moments notice. As well as helping with speed, learning to sketch loosely will help to develop your observation skills. In trying to capture the essence of a scene quickly you will learn which elements can be left out and which are the essential lines that tell the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sketching loosely is not all about speed, in fact sometimes slowing down may help achieve a looser feel. Sketching loosely could be better described as capturing a scene or object with as few details as possible, yet still remaining readable to the viewer. To capture fewer details we must decide what is and is not important in the sketch, which details we can sacrifice and how we can use less pen or brush strokes to describe what we want to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sketching loosely will encourage you to play a bit more, which means your sketches will naturally become more organic and vibrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sketching is about capturing the essence of something.  If you agonise over each line, trying to capture each detail then your sketch will appear tight and too controlled. It will look like you were battling with the subject in front of you, trying to represent it actually as it is on your piece of paper.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why do we want to do this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we wanted a replica of the thing in front is us, we would take a photograph. Imperfections are what make our sketches visually more interesting.<\/strong> As an artist, you want to capture the spirit of the subject the way you see it, or the way you interpret it, and that, in turn, is much more exciting to an audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Approach an Urban Sketch Loosely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some urban sketchers sketch with a pencil first to get the basic shapes, proportions and perspective on the page before moving on to drawing in the details with a pen, and then later paint the sketch with watercolours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other urban sketchers like the immediacy of just drawing what they see directly onto the page with a pen.  They may make a few slight dots here and there to mark the height of the tallest building, or where a certain edge should stop to make sure everything fits in. You can see urban sketcher Lori Sokoluk do this at the beginning of the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/youtu.be\/MggHoc56eFI<\/a>