{"id":954,"date":"2020-11-12T13:31:36","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T13:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/?p=954"},"modified":"2023-06-12T15:57:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T15:57:04","slug":"urban-sketching-in-pen-ink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/urban-sketching-in-pen-ink\/","title":{"rendered":"Urban Sketching in Pen & Ink"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you admire the simplicity of an urban sketch done solely with a pen? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you love to ditch your supplies from time to time and know that you could nail a sketch with nothing but a sketchbook and pen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to know how to make a sketch with just these basic materials look great even though there\u2019s no colour?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are looking for some inspiration as to how to simplify your urban sketching, try and get back to basics or know you can sketch anywhere anytime with just a pen, then this post is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why urban sketch with just a pen?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n

You may think you need loads of stuff to make a beautiful sketch each and every time but some of my favourite urban sketchers are those that simply sketch in ink, usually with one or a limited number of pens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, seeing such work is what sucked me into the world of urban sketching in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if you could confidently take to the streets with a sketchbook and pen, knowing you can capture things around you without fussing over watercolour paint, a pot of water, which brush to use, wiping your brush on your jeans because you forgot a paper towel…and all the other distractions that come along with excess sketching materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feeling of liberation from using minimal sketching tools is real. You are far more likely to sketch every time you leave the house if you only have a sketchbook and pen to do it with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then when you\u2019ve really installed the habit and built the confidence to sketch wherever you are you can expand your tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you need a bit of a \u2018hard reset\u2019 like shutting the computer down and unplugging it from the wall. Count to 10. Plug back in and switch on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think this is what leaving all your kit at home and just grabbing a small sketchbook and pen can do for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, I may go on a watercolour detox soon and just use nothing but a pen for a week or so, or for like my next 10 sketches. I\u2019m game, are you?!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep an eye on the Youtube channel<\/a><\/strong> to check out my results!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Materials for urban sketching with just a pen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n

A sketchbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pen. Or pens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ok, ok, joking aside. I mean this is all you need but I like to try to be a little more helpful than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sketchbooks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

I think a small A6 (3×5 inches-ish) sketchbook is so beautifully portable. It literally can fit in your back pocket or handbag (purse for US folks). How cool is that? You can carry it EVERYWHERE. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you prefer working a little larger or your eyesight isn’t what it once was, carry an A5 (5 x 8 inches – I think?!) book with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you’re only intending to use a pen, then you do not need anything special, a sketchbook with some ‘normal’ paper in is fine. However, if you only want to do the pen experiment for a little while then go back to using your normal supplies (watercolour, markers etc) then you can just use the sketchbook you normally would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think psychologically a small cheap sketchbook helps to loosen up but maybe that’s just me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of my favourite small sketchbooks for ink-only drawings are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n