The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World

Gabi Campanario has made two landmark contributions to the world of art in founding Urban Sketchers, one of the largest interactive communities of artists in the world, and by authoring The Art of Urban Sketching, which extends the boundaries of Urban Sketchers to include not only those who produce art, but also those who enjoy the unique and creative way sketching portrays the world around us. The book provides a unique opportunity to travel the world geographically and at the same time explore the often overlooked mystery and beauty which these artists uncover. It will no doubt inspire many more of us to take part in the joyful enterprise of sketching, sharing with others the things each of us sees in a unique and individual way. The Art of Urban Sketching, along with Cathy Johnson's Artist's Journal Workshop, will be particularly useful to the traveler who keeps a travel journal. It will soon become a classic in the world of art, particularly the art of sketching. The book very intentionally includes a wide diversity of styles, materials and methods in order to suggest that everyone can find a place and a way to both enjoy and create this art form. Some of the sketches require as little as a pencil, a piece of scrap paper, and a few minutes of time. Other sketches are more exotic, complex, intricate, and time-consuming, reflecting the unique skills, experience and interests of each artist. The book is unique in that it is not a "how-to" book on sketching, but each sketch does include such "how-to" information as time required, materials used, the unique challenges of various categories of subjects, tips from the artist, and insights into each artist's background, interests and signature style. There is an added benefit that this book and Urban Sketchers represent. Seeing and sharing the world with artist friends from other cultures and societies is an exercise in grassroots international diplomacy, leading to understandings and mutual appreciation which cannot help but contribute to a better, friendlier and more peaceful world! This is a book that belongs in the library of all artists and all who appreciate art and the world it portrays. Don't miss it.

I have admired the sketches of author Gabriel Campanario ever since they started appearing weekly in The Seattle Times. Known as the Seattle Sketcher, Campanario takes even the most commonly photographed, iconic Seattle scenes, such as the Pike Place Market, and gives them his fresh, personal perspective that no camera can capture. I was so inspired that I became an urban sketcher myself. As I dug for more of his work on his personal blog, I was led to the local and then the international Urban Sketchers blogs (initiated by Campanario), which showed me the world "one drawing at a time" - and further compelled me to explore my city (and any city I visit) with a sketchbook. Now The Art of Urban Sketching brings to print the same types of visual expressions that I have been admiring online. The 300-plus pages are divided into three parts. The first helps beginning sketchers gather the right tools and attitude to adopt the urban sketchers' manifesto. The second, and largest, section, the meat of the book, compiles the work of more than a hundred artists worldwide giving us their unique urban views. It's nothing short of amazing to see the variety of styles, media and perspectives. Some sketches are casual and loose, while others are intensely detailed. Some are completed in minutes; others in many hours over the course of weeks. All are the result of careful observation and the desire of the artists to truly know a place by sketching it. I especially enjoyed the artist profiles, their first-person anecdotes about the scenes they sketched and the photos of those artists sketching (usually standing on a street corner, sitting against a building or on a bench). I also appreciated brief technical tips the artists offered to make outdoor sketching more comfortable or make drawings more interesting, and information about how long the sketch took and media used. Some sites depicted are easily recognizable because they are widely photographed, yet the sketches are more intimate and personal than most photos. Other cities are less-often seen in the media, so these glimpses of faraway neighborhoods seem led by personal tour guides. The third section covers themes - architecture, seasons, nighttime sketching - that urban artists are compelled to sketch. "People in Action" - my personal favorite sketching subject that I also find most challenging - includes helpful tips on how to capture movement, mood and energy when you only have a few minutes or seconds before the "model" is gone. As a long-time wannabe sketcher, I have read and admired many books on nature sketching (Hannah Hinchman's fine work comes first to mind), but as a city dweller, I don't often or easily see the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife shown in those books. Finally, a book of sketches for the rest of us that makes it clear that the urban landscape can be as compelling, moving and ever-changing as nature. If you have any desire to capture your urban life in a sketchbook or view how others have captured theirs, you will love this book.

As an architecture student I find it difficult sometimes to tackle on site sketching. Wishing to develop my skills I picked up a number of these types of books to get a feel for what other people do and develop my own style. This book is great in many ways, taking you around the world to different cities, and showing work from a miriod of different sketchers. I especially likes where some sketches told the time it took to create, showing that even seasoned sketchers tend to take a long time to develop a piece. The differing styles created a good range, allowing one to see and decide on which styles appeal most along with different mediums. Although all the art isn't to the same level of expertise, it gives a good overall view of where one can find inspiration and joy in simple things most simply pass by. I do think this book is a little superfluis as the site [...] is an ongoing project, where anyone can add their work for display. This book also does not give intrusion on how to compose good sketches like some other books. I found robert Oliver's "the sketch", and "the sketch: in color" to be more helpful to my development, but if you are not looking to develop your skills as much as looking at sketches of different cities, this book will be fine, if not I highly reccomend the two books mentioned above. You won't be disappointed whatever choice you make.

Un libro muy completo, con muchos consejos y con muchas referencias, tanto de estilo, como de técnica.

This is an absolutely beautiful book. It's very inspiring to see the sketches of artists from across the world. Some of the sketches only took a few minutes while some artists spent hours on theirs. As an artist, I often sketch but this group of artists have integrated themselves into their environments. I love the variety of styles and mediums they use. This book is also nicely bound in a coated soft-sided cover. You will spend hours looking at the photos and reading the content. The images are all in color, those that are supposed to be. A very good buy. So glad that I purchased this book. One good thing about ordering from Amazon Canada is that I paid the Canadian price, not the list price for regular Amazon. I didn't know there was a difference. And I still received the book in about two days. Will definitely think about ordering from this source again.

スケッチを学ぶためには誰かのスケッチを見るのがよい方法だと思います。 しかし、見知らぬ人が写生しているのをかたわらから覗き込むのも失礼にあたると躊躇されるので、結局は他人のスケッチブックの中身を見る機会はほとんどありません。 この本はその意味で私のような初心者にとっては宝庫です。 世界の街角でさまざまな人々（プロとはかぎりません）がさまざまな技法で描いた作品集です。 まるでストリートパフォーマーたちの生演奏を世界の街角を歩きながら楽しんでいるような気分にさせてくれます。 どのようなスケッチブックに（罫線入りの帳簿まであります）何を使って（日本製の筆記具が多いのに驚き、参考になりました）どのくらい時間をかけて描いたか・・・なども付記されています。 レビューを書こうとして気がついたら、Amazon.com のレビューが75件もあるので、今さら書いてもと思ったのですが、日本語のレビューが1件も無いのでそのまま載せさせてもらいます。 ＊一流画家たちの画集というわけではないので、自分自身がスケッチを楽しんでいる人向きの本だと思います。そういう目的なら英語が苦手な方にも役立つと思います。

Au cours d'un voyages à Londres et d'une visite à la galerie du Tate Modern Museum , je suis tombée sur ce bouquin. Ca a été le coup de foudre. Étudiante en art depuis bientôt quatre ans , je suis restée immobile a feuilleter ce petit bijoux. Malheureusement ma carte bancaire n'a visiblement pas voulu me faire ce plaisir au moment de l'achat, peut être à cause de la destination. J'y ai beaucoup repensé et me suis alors empressée de le commander une fois de retour en France. Aucuns regrets. Ce livre est juste le genre de livre que l'on aime feuilleter tous les jours , surtout si on est amateur de voyages, de croquis, et d'architecture. L'ensemble et bluffant et offre un pannel incroyable de styles tous variés et singuliers à la fois. Un régal visuel.

This book is a treasure trove of artistic skill and inspiration. I really love looking at other artists sketchbooks, finding them more interesting than finished paintings. This book is a delight to look through with literally hundreds of colourful sketches faithfully reproduced. The book showcases talent from around the World, but the one theme that unites all is the passion and love of the simplicity of creating an image based on an individual response to a landscape or building. Each artist gives a brief overview of what inspires them or why they chose to draw a scene, and what I really love is that many of them give an indication of how long each sketch took. I have purchased many books on sketching, but this is by far one of the very best. It is not a 'how to' book, and it won't encourage you to mindlessly daub paint blobs and scribbles in the name of 'self expression' as sadly many books do. However, what this book will do is make you want to pack a sketch kit into your bag and get out an about and look at your environment through an 'artists' eye. It will make you look at things a little differently and through your own personal response record a little bit of your experience to a subject and with any luck you will be hooked. A great book at a great value for money price, enjoy!