Everything you need to start urban sketching // urban sketching for beginners

[@maryhazlett]

I'm a knitter. Early on I learned to buy the best quality yarn I could afford because I'd enjoy knitting more with good yarn vs crappy yarn. That carries through to art supplies. If say the paper buckles or the water sits on top, or the paints are weak, a person will be frustrated and not enjoy the experience. Learning something new is enough challenge without struggling with mediocre supplies.

[@ladyhollman9534]

Sure, if you are an adult & can afford the artist quality paints, paper, etc. Most of the world’s most promising artists and those that love to draw/paint are not adults. 😉 People should get the best quality they can afford. Equipment snobs are why less and less keep interest in their artistic talents.

[@maryhazlett]

@@ladyhollman9534 continuing with my knitting analogy, there are very good brands of inexpensive yarn with tons of yardage. If the cheap Red Heart costs (just a number here, not a real price) costs $3/skein (and it's rough and doesn't feel good for the knitter or wearer) there is a MUCH BETTER brand of yarn that might cost $3.50/$3.75 and feels great too. Even professional knitters use it. So, shop around.

[@MrsBarnabas]

​@@ladyhollman9534 I find that research shows that most folk are doing art as adults, having had most of their aspirations squashed out of them in school, and only later daring to have another go. Equipment snobs? Yeah - there are some about, but for sure, I'm not one of them! As a nurse back in the dark ages, and as someone with a chronic illness, so unable to work full-time, I've never had a lot of money to spare, so I know all about budgeting (I have to pay my bills each month and it can be quite a balancing act!) Consequently, I have found that there's no need for big expenditure. on art equipment. All it needs is to help newbies to learn just what can be done with just six colours, to realise that their success rate will be massively higher with a decent paper than with a cheap one which won't give the results we are trying to achieve. Yes - I really do know! I've taught art to beginners for years, and often get folk who have despaired of the kind of 'follow what I do' teaching, and never learn how to do it by themselves. They come with cheap paper, a paint box full of colours and a bag of tubes of colours that they search through to find exactly the right one, and wonder why they fail. They begin with me with twelve artist quality colours, three paint brushes, good quality sketchbooks for drawing, 100% cotton paper for painting, and they learn how to use them. They realise within three lessons of the 20 week course just how much time and money they have wasted! They go away knowing how to go out, look around, find a place to sit and to draw or paint - by themselves - with 12 colours, three brushes, and good quality paper. They know how to set up a still life at home. They know how to use their own reference photos from their holidays, days out, and so on, instead of wasting time searching through books and magazines (when I began, we didn't have the internet as it exists today - what a time waster and creativity-stifler that has become!!!). Yes, I loathe equipment snobs and the horrendous plethora of artists who 'teach' online, who recommend Arches and nothing else, who buy full sets of things instead of showing us how to use what we have, who rarely teach techniques as they don't know themselves, who feed into the monster machinery of the present day, the 'must have, must have' , and never stop to consider people like me, who live on a tiny budget and struggle to pay their bills. There are some good folk here on YT, but they're like gold dust - hard to find, and worth hanging on to. It's no longer the norm, though. That's _exactly_ why I recommend a little of the best -and no, I do _not_ recommend Arches - there are other reputable 100% papers out there which are easier for beginners (Saunders Waterford and Fabriano to name just two) to use. I have a friend who mocks me to my face (in spite of which, we're good friends who can agree to differ), because i will only buy the best I can afford, or I go without. I'll give an example: I saved up to buy the replacement settee for an old (over 40 years old) click-clack settee. Since I bought it, ten years ago, they've had four 'new' settees, none of which have lasted long. Mine, a recliner, will almost certainly last the rest of my life (so long as I can persuade another friend not to lean their full and considerable weight on the back instead of walking round it to get something out of / put their things back in their bag). I think I'll stick to my own way, on the basis that there's no such thing as a bargain, and good quality lasts a zilllion times longer (ask a butcher what he had to pay for his first set of knives, and you'll find he would probably have protested at the time, but he's still using them now, because they were worth the purchase price. So were my own kitchen knives, which I've had and used daily since I was 18 - and that was a very long time ago!) The same applies to everything. You made a comment - I've put a point of view. You may not agree. That's ok. Thanks for reading it! :)

[@geoffreydowen5793]

thank you so much, I am 64 and have been trying to paint since 2005 sadly I had a stroke 2years Go.and my left hand side took a beating I loved the post and have subscribed to watch some of your other posts I now struggle with dexterity but you are giving me the confidence to do something. thank you Taria from the UK. good luck.

[@Rumi1028]

Keep trying dont give up 👍👍

[@LightshamanaDhyana]

Darling, just do it. Doesn't matter if it isn't perfect. Nothing perfect anyway. Your dexterity will improve with drawing. There are a bunch of urban sketching channels on youtube. Wobbling lines are better, more expressive. Get yourself a good pencil, sketching pen, and go for it. Your health will improve by doing arts

[@kirenmelissant4199]

i already have all of my favourite sketching supplies figured out, but i LOVE seeing what others artists use! thanks for sharing!

[@petragunther4439]

Perfect timing for this video.. Tomorrow will be THE day! I planned going out for urban sketching on site for so long.... Rain, work, others ruined the plans. Tomorrow! Will check your video once more later to get ready 🙏

[@ladyhollman9534]

Awesome recommendations. Good quality doesn’t mean most expensive nor big name brand. You’ve named some great quality products for beginners.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

None of museum art was made with modern brands, het those paintings are valued the MOST. Only some anаl motherfuсkers care about brands, real art is about feeling, creative idea, decorative value and things like that. You can definitely make some uggly 💩 with very expensive materials. Quality of supplies used has no relation to the quality of final work. Brands don't even come to the assessment table. You can take most amazing photos with old school film cameras, even though there are a lot fancier cameras exist in the market.

[@kathyhackney7950]

This was lovely with so many wonderful suggestions! Thank you Taria 😊 I have a suggestion for people getting started with watercolors who want to use cotton watercolor paper in a sketchbook type way without paying the prices of etchr, hahnemuhle sketchbooks etc. What I've decided to do is get a travelers notebook and make my own watercolor paper inserts. Not only is it completely customizable but it can also be a regular journal and a scrapbooking journal or anything else you want all at the same time. It can keep everything together. I only wish I would have thought of it sooner

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Why would you insert watercolour paper inside ANOTHER notebook?! Sounds extremely unattractive and half-аssed approach. Just buy a real watercolour sketchbook, you can't make your own in similar quality without studying book binding for years. Most watercolourists are NOT interested in book binding. Better outsource it and buy a proper watercolour sketchbook that looks esthetically pleasing. Not something slapped together, so just PAY for a great sketchbook! If you're short on money, develop skills to get a real job, to support your artistic hobby.

[@kathyhackney7950]

@@mikesamovarov4054 I’m not sure you understand what I’m talking about. However, what I said was a suggestion that I thought was a good one for some people who maybe think the way I do. What you said… came off (to me at least) as rude. A travelers notebook is just essentially a shell, usually made of leather and they’re super a-e-s-t-h-e-t-I-c-a-l-l-y pleasing. Oh, and you don’t have to bind anything because they’re held together by bands which seems like would be sloppy but it’s actually super sturdy. It’s customizable and practical. Hope you’re having a better day today than you were 4 days ago.

[@jimc2676]

@@kathyhackney7950 I don't know why you bothered to reply to such an ignorant message. I liked your suggestion

[@anjahildebrandt2660]

I actually like the A6 Hahnemühle Portrait sketchbook. With that i have a tiny sketchbook, that is great for on the go, but i can also sketch over two pages and basically have an A5 sized sheet of paper....

[@hennybrunner8939]

What a pity I find this post so late. I start skecthing 3 years a go. For the fountain pen, in my place Lamy Safari is quite pricy but I found Pilot Kaküno is a good fountain pen. Only I could not find water resisten ink for it. Ink from Pilot catridge ink slightly bleed so I use when I make black and white sketch. For sketch with water color I use fine liner. That's so true, after I meshed around with so many student grade water color I thought the same, for the paint we should go direct with AP standard WaCo. That's what I suggest to friend of me who just start to sketching. There's economical option. In my country, I found AP standard waco 'Phoenix', a brand from China is good. Honestly I never try any DS waco, I just find Phoenix in tin box is better than any student grade we found at stationary store.

[@shirleyupvall9360]

Your watercolor sketches are so vibrant, i am a beginner and your sketchbooks are intimidating

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Don't be intimidated Shirley! We all start somewhere. I have been doing this for years and years now. I actually think I should be better by now but hey ho. I do have an online course, Sketch Your Adventures, which walks you through my way of sketching if you're interested to find out more.

[@terrilee6796]

Your videos are great, so informative, lots of tips, hints, ideas and techniques, supplies, etc. Also, totally off topic: love the new haircut!!

[@jilllusey7001]

Your videos are very informative. You do a great job. I love the Fabre castell collapsible water bucket. I picked one up in Germany a few years ago. I’ve not seen them in the US, but then I live in Oklahoma! By the way I like your hair cut.

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Thanks Jill!

[@moma-b]

8:55 My two cents: I have two good arguments for beginners not to start with artist grade paint. Beginners are learning how to use paint, what is the optimal mixture of pigments and water and how to load the brush with the exact amount of pigment they need. During the learning process beginners tend to overload the brush with the paint and lots of pigments end up in the cleaning water. That's why student grade is better on beginner level. Another argument is while student grade paint rarely contains seriously toxic chemicals, professional artist grade paints do. So the less of those ends up in the water is the better. My personal preference is Van Gogh watercolor. (The professional line is called Rembrandt). Van Gogh offers a huge variety of colors, and a hundred years of lightfastness under museum conditions. In Europe it is available on a very affordable price.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Your argument falls apart when you look at art most valued in the world. None of national galleries have used any current brands, they grounded their own pigments and made their own bloody paper. Fancy supplies are definitely NOT required at all to be successful and creative. But often mediocre people like you are trying to put importance on tiny anаl things like brands etc, when they haven't sold a single original fine artwork. Idiоts like you don't realize that real artists are laughing at you 😂 No, etter supplies don't automatically create better artworks, like the most amazing photographs aren't the result of any fancy camera sold today, but rather a hole with a film behind it. Materials don't matter, skill and vision does. You are obviously very WRONG.

[@sketchy.meagher]

Great video. I'd recommend a folding stool too.

[@Beautifulmadre]

Thanks for this informative post everything I needed to know in one

[@emdomgab]

Very helpful video and I love your new hair cut! Very cute!

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Thank you so much Mary! :D

[@eileenvalachovic9435]

Thanks!

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Wow thank you Eileen! So good of you!

[@bigblue6917]

Thanks for the video, Taria. I am just getting into it all so trying to get some idea of what's what and which is a good buy can be somewhat puzzling. So some guidance in these matters is much appreciated.

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

You are so welcome!

[@PensandPaint]

Thanks for sharing and the 411 on the Etchr kit

[@prexytheartist]

So helpful! I think what I need more is... confidence and speed to paint 😅

[@mikesamovarov4054]

You don't need speed. Confidence, YES ❤ Be you!

[@annemettelehmann8414]

Thank you so very much Taria - love all your cool suggestions, and helpful to see them on a website as well. Keep on truckin'! And have a great summer - >:^) From Copenhagen

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

You are so welcome! Thank you Anne!

[@swiitchy511]

Great info, thank you!

[@carolefreeman2544]

Do you use a sketching board? Also do you have a special bag you use to carry your supplies? Thanks from a Newbie 🤗🇨🇦

[@ItIsMeAlexandra]

Great video! Any suggestions for sketchbooks that might be easier to find in Canada, instead of UK? Thank you!

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

🌎 S K E T C H Y O U R A D V E N T U R E S 🌎 For more info on my ink and watercolour sketching course: 👉 sketchyouradventures.com

[@geoffreydowen5793]

your link is not working x

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

@@geoffreydowen5793 thanks Geoff! There shouldn't have been a "www" in the address!! Doh!

[@greekveteran2715]

Please, are these Moleskines on 4:20 older versions or the watercolor sketchbooks they sell now? Isn't that color tone on the paper, on the older awesome sketchbooks they used to make?

[@abezill4244]

thanks for the many tips. I am a beginner in sketching; am going to an Alaskan cruise soon but really don't know what and where to start?

[@sallybally9731]

Love the new haircut 😍 you're so naturally pretty and your video was very helpful thanks 👍🤓

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Thank you so much!! That's so lovely of you to say. (I'm very happy with my new haircut too)!

[@lindathaxton1994]

Thank you for sharing 🙏

[@darylmorley8313]

What colours would you suggest for a plain air set of white knight paints

[@bagua1206]

You talked about the paints that it better to be artist grade. You mentioned Van Gogh from royal talens but this is the student grade range from royal talens. Rembrandt is the artist grade from royal talens. Nice video by the way😅

[@aescougarcheer]

Yes, but for student grade Van Gogh is really nice.

[@gayane_igityan]

That's what it says on their website "Van Gogh is our artist brand. It is not as high a quality as Rembrandt, but is one step above what is often called "student grade" paint. As for pigment loads, Rembrandt has more pigment, but not double. Each color varies in it's pigment/binder ratio, so it's not possible to quantify in that way"

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Ah gosh - sorry!! Thanks for the correction. I still hear the Van Gogh range is really great though...

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Brands don't matter, let go. Focus on skill practice and development of creativity.

[@33Jenesis]

I started on those round cake watercolor, the children art supply type. I learned quickly how bad it is. And then I was using copy paper, equally unhelpful. It took me awhile to move on from student grade half pan pallet and watercolor paper because I didn’t want to pay $$$$. Now I finally got Arches and Daniel Smith and Holbein. I still can’t believe a 5ml DS I can buy a new round cake kid’s pallet 😂

[@AndreeaEremiaArt]

Amazing video as always. Love it❤❤❤

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Thank you Andreea!

[@Lacroix999]

I like this kit, but I think the white watercolor is pretty much useless. Considering they gave you a limited amount of colors, they could have picked a different one than white. I’ve never had any luck with any kind of gel/jelly roll pens, especially the white ones. I feel like I only get one use out of them and then I’m fighting to get them to work again because it’s just something about the ink that dries on the tips that make them not want to work again/very smoothly again. I have since switched to using bleed-proof white/white waterproof ink and a brush instead.

[@ccsitaround]

some really great ideas Thank you, I was wondering what do you use to carry all these items around with you when you're out doing urban sketching?

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Hey Larry - good question! It depends where I'm going but I tend to just use a normal rucksack. I find shoulder bags end up making my shoulder ache so I prefer a double strap situation. A shoulder bag feels more accessible but I have bad shoulders/back so its just not the best for me. One of the members of my urban sketching group has an awesome backpack that doubles as a stool - its such a great design but I haven't found one yet. She was given hers years ago. I keeping my eye out!

[@ccsitaround]

@@tarias_sketchy_adventures Thanks, that is a good idea a backpack that can turn into a chair love it.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

She's got a car, can bring pretty much anything.

[@deliciouscolours]

This video is 9 months old so you won't provably see this but I hate my Pentel water brush, it gives me gushes of water when I don't want them. I had some cheap water brushes from China that worked better but I gave them to my daughters. Is this normal about the Pentel? It's so weird to me, maybe I got a faulty one?

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Better to use real brush and bring water in a travel mug or bottle. Water brushes are a terrible tool!

[@Beautifulmadre]

New Sub by the way

[@MrsBarnabas]

Hi, Taria. An interesting video, but I have to comment on two of your suggestions. The first is Bockingford paper. I don't understand at all why this paper is being recommended to anyone! When I went along to painting workshops, we were presented with this paper to use. It is the most horrible paper ever to offer to anyone! It's a wood pulp paper that does just that - goes to pulp. It doesn't take wet-in -wet, it doesn't like layering and the pigment looks dull, regardless of the paint quality. I always asked the demonstrator / tutor afterwards what paper they use, and every single one said that the only reason they used at their workshops was because it was suppled by their sponsor, and they would never use it for their own work. From my own experience, I agree with them, 100%. The second is that "natural hair brushes aren't durable'. I've been using my Rosemary and Co sable brushes for as long as Rosemary and Co has existed, and before that, ABS brushes, where she was a partner. I am still using those brushes, some 25 + years later. I've only bought others (of the same) to add to a plein air set, and the travel brushes for the bumbag kit. They still have beautiful points and nice fat bellies to hold lots of water. The point is, you get from your brushes what you give to them. They like being gently washed by stroking across the soap - a white toilet soap works well and shows when the paint's washed out. Like us, they appreciate a regular hair conditioning (ordinary stuff from the supermarket). They like NOT to be left sitting in paint water, and they like being left to dry flat, and also being stored with their plastic tubes in place. All of the above is relevant to synthetic watercolour brushes, too, because they are made to simulate natural hair. I get mega-upset to see KZbin artists using a thing like a bit of a plastic Affro brush (I've forgotten it's name!) in the bottom of their water jars to clean their brushes. They are intended for oil paints, *not* our delicate w/c brushes!! I also get mega upset when I see them leaving their brushes sitting, tip down, hairs bent, in the paint water, water creeping up the ferrule. It is not good for the brush and it's not good for those watching who think that this is good practice. I've been drawing and painting since 1986. I've been an art tutor since the 1990's. I used to be out painting plein air with an art group, twice a week, and teaching at home, so my kit takes a lot of wear and tear. So yes, I'm learning all the time, but yes, I guess I have a little knowledge and experience about these things. This has become very long, but I hope it's going tp be read, and folk will maybe think more about care of their equipment, and will avoid Bockingford paper. I find it really hard to understand why Saunders Waterford, who make RA quality paper, are still making this stuff *Disclaimer*: The views expressed here are my own, based on many years of experience. It's for the individual to test these things for themselves and make up their own mind.

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Thank you for your comments!! Thats very strange - I personally have had very good experiences with Bockingford. I don't do hardcore traditional watercolour painting on it but then that's not what its for. For my style of ink and watercolour sketching its great! As per the natural hair burshes - I totally agree - if you care for them well they should last you a good few years - but I think it is common that they can lose their shape. I have a natural hair dagger brush from Rosemary and Co and have barely used it and its already not holding its shape...where as the dagger brush that is a blend of natural hair and synthetic is perfect and I use it almost every day. So I guess that's why its all very well listening to peoples opinions and experiences but that only goes so far. You choose your own materials through developing your own preferences. Thanks so much for your comments. It helps to keep things balanced. This video was not sponsored and I said in the video, the things I talk about are my own preferences but it may help others starting out with what to choose or try first.

[@ladyhollman9534]

Sounds major …

[@MrsBarnabas]

@@tarias_sketchy_adventures A bit later, as I've only just found your comment! Thanks, Taria! I'm interested in your experience with the dagger. I've never used one (never needed one [laughs]) and wonder if maybe it's the shape which is the problem as it seems to be being asked to do things which will increase wear and tear on natural hair? Yes - I put in the disclaimer, cos we're such individual beings, with as many varied styles, expectations, that we really do need to test for ourselves. It's where workshops are such a boon in the discovery process! I miss that since I moved to France, as cost is now a big issue! Bockingford? Yes, again, it'll be down to the difference in use, I think. I'm primarily a landscape painter, and use a lot of layers and wet-in-wet, and need a paper which will handle a lot of work, as I do when painting still life and abstracts. I need a paper which will cope! One sketchbook I absolutely love is Seawhite of Brighton! It isn't cotton but it actually does cope with single-layer wet-in-wet, allowing paint to to move and blend of the paper beautifully. The result isn't quite as vibrant as on 100% cotton, but it's fun when I don't feel like doing / don't have time to do a full scale piece of work! I've used their ordinary sketchbooks for years (the paper is sized, so it copes with wet media), and only recently tried the watercolour books, so haven't had time to make a proper 'judgement', but so far, so good. The only problem is that getting them here in France is not easy, but Jackson's help a lot by dealing with customs charges, etc at check out, and it keeps the price do-able! I wish I could get the A6 more easily though... Oops - talking too much again!

[@MrsBarnabas]

@@ladyhollman9534 Sorry - genuine question.... what sounds major, please? :)

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Choosing supplies is a personal matter. Don't attach other people's choices, when you are a complete NOBODY 😂 Buy what you want and keep eyes on YOUR art. What others buy and use is NONE of your business!

[@ep8029]

Apart from coming from Russia, some of the White Knights colours aren't light fast.

[@pattihoffman3695]

The Etchr kit is an expensive option many won’t be able to afford.

[@ImogenValkyrie]

I thought you said you don’t recommend student grade? Well, van Gogh is

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

Apparently its like a really high end student grade....so for doing sketchbook work with I think they're fine. I hear really good things about them. You know how it is - there are always exceptions to the rule! 😂

[@Blackmind0]

..everything you need to start is talented hands and eyes....sketching and painting is nothing to " learn" , i think.... 😞

[@joeydubya1]

To much talking no painting