Introduction
In April, our challenge is to sketch live creatures:
animals, birds, fish, bugs, whatever you can find. By April, although we will not be able to
meet as a group, it should be possible and legal to do some quick location
sketching, and to sketch with a few companions.
The challenge has options to sketch at home if you prefer. Follow the public health rules and stay safe.
Sketch when you choose, post on social media as you prefer,
using the hashtag: #usklondon
We will have a ‘virtual’ throwdown of sketches on the Urban
Sketchers London Facebook page at 3pm on Saturday 17 April 2021.
What to sketch
Start by thinking of as many examples as you can of living
creatures other than people in the city, including wildlife and domesticated
creatures. Some possibilities:
·
Wildlife and park life: waterfowl, squirrels,
deer, foxes, birds, dogs
·
Working animals: police and cavalry horses,
riding schools, other working horses and dogs
·
Zoos, city farms, pets’ corner in the park – not
all will be open, so check
·
Home and garden: pets, garden birds, chickens,
pond life, bugs, fish tanks
·
Evidence of life: footprints, feathers, nests,
bird boxes, bee hives
·
Sculptures, signs and symbols: equestrian
statues, fishy fountains, decorative carvings, pub signs and other
representations of creatures.
Sketching suggestions
This month the challenge is to sketch living creatures, so
plan to work fast. Some possibilities:
Warming up: try some quick warm-up sketches, some pages of
small sketches, timed sketches taking one or two minutes, drawing with one
continuous line, drawing looking at the subject not the page, using your
‘other’ hand.
Movement: continue this with quick sketches, making bold
marks and lines, focusing on observation and learning about what you are
seeing, not worrying about the results.
Context: for a longer sketch, animals and other creatures
can be one element of a bigger scene – dog walkers, ducks on the park lake,
birds at the garden feeder, bees at the hive, a fish tank at home.
Sculptures, signs and symbols: if drawing live creatures is
not practical for you, look around for sculptures, carvings, models, signs and
other representations of creatures in your area, from your window, in your
home.
Urban sketching is about observing and drawing direct from
life, so try and find real world subjects, whether at home or elsewhere, rather
than drawing from photographs.
The April sketching challenge is devised by Jo Dungey. The sketches are by Jo Dungey (top and bottom) and Lis
Watkins (middle two), done on location in St James’s Park, London.
