{"id":840,"date":"2020-09-16T15:08:29","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T15:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/?p=840"},"modified":"2023-06-12T17:39:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T17:39:53","slug":"10-ways-to-find-time-for-urban-sketching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/10-ways-to-find-time-for-urban-sketching\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Find Time for Urban Sketching"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are a person who continually struggles to find time to fit a regular sketching habit into life then I think this post is really going to help you out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to give you loads of ideas and actionable strategies so you can find time to sketch every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing Takes Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ok, so let\u2019s address the issue head-on: learning to draw does take time and commitment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same as learning any skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe you can learn to draw (and at any age – I started to learn at the age of 26<\/strong>) just like you can learn how to cook or public speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dedicating time, focusing on fundamental techniques, repetition and growing confidence are the key components to learning anything (I believe).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know it’s a bit strange I keep saying you need to dedicate time when we are talking about how to sketch when you don\u2019t have time but bear with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning to draw is one thing, and yes it does take time but the time spent is cumulative<\/strong>. If you practice 20 minutes a day (just like you were forced to practise your piano scales every day- ha) then over time those minutes will all add up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his book, \u2018Draw Buildings and Cities in 15 Minutes: The Super-Fast Drawing Technique Anyone Can Learn<\/a><\/strong>\u2019, Matthew Brehm explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018But, though it may seem a paradox, working within small windows of time is actually a good way to combat frustration. Brief drawings help us to stay focused on repeated, short bursts of practice rather than elaborately developed drawings that require far more time without necessarily producing better results.<\/em>\u2019<\/p>\nMatthew Brehm<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t think we ever stop learning but let\u2019s say once you move past the beginner stage of drawing and you now feel you can convey what you want on the page with (some) confidence it won\u2019t look too bad, guess what…yep, you should still draw as much as you can<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many barriers (that\u2019s me being polite – what I mean to say is \u2018excuses\u2019) to not doing something.  Whether it\u2019s drawing, homework, cleaning or fixing something in the house, there\u2019s always a reason you can\u2019t do it. And that reason usually revolves around not having time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People have busy lives. People seem to be busy busy busy…ALL of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to have downtime from a busy schedule. A lot of people will reach for the TV remote, sit on the sofa and just chill – and that is totally fine. No one should judge anyone for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But maybe we can look at drawing as downtime too. A gentle calming exercise helping us to be present, to observe, to get lost in our own internal world. This may be easy for me to say as I am not too much of a TV person, but when people wonder where all their time goes, this is usually one of the major culprits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(As a side note if you are interested in urban sketching as a tool for mindfulness, check out my post here<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we not have time to draw?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons people are busy and don\u2019t have time to spend on creativity or hobbies. I think if we first identify why we feel we do not have time then maybe this will help us determine some solutions. I’m sure some or even all of these things may apply to most people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n