Following an Urban Sketching for Beginners Tutorial, using my own photos from St. Agnes, Cornwall

[@TobySketchLoose]

This is stunning Helen!! Love the intro too and thanks for the shout out :) Also the intro is a lovely touch, going around showing the buildings - what a great idea! 15:30 be proud of it :) It's awesome, just look at the comments below as well - everyone agrees :)

[@helencryer]

Argh!! Thanks so much! I hope you saw how grateful too everyone is for your channel!

[@ja14803]

I have been trying some of your sketches also! Love your channel! I thank you and Helen both for the great tutorials!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@margaretpinsent6388]

Well, it's great. The thicker black pen and the white pen made it pop. Thanks for sharing how you did it

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much!

[@ianappletreelodge]

I’m really, really new to art , I have been watching loads of KZbin tutorials, I have to say this is phenomenal, it’s just the style and look that I want to achieve. I have my paints, pens and brushes , I haven’t managed to do the colour swatch yet, but I now can’t wait to get started what an inspirational piece of work. Thank you for sharing.

[@helencryer]

I'm really excited for you to be starting out - it's a fun journey! Thanks!

[@karynrammer3942]

I love how this came out! It might be one you look at later and like more than you do right now. It’s always a challenge to see our own work objectively when we’re exploring new styles, I think. I’ve done a few pen-only sketches like this, but have been too nervous to add color. I’m going to watch the video you linked and push myself to give it a go.

[@helencryer]

Thanks! We all do seem to be quite critical of ourselves! I'm trying not to be too worried about it one way or the other, but to keep moving forward. I really hope you've had chance to watch it and feel motivated too!

[@annahopper3727]

Helen it’s a great sketch, Toby urban sketch is great and it’s lovely to see someone else using his techniques as we are all that bit different in style. You’ve given me the courage to actually try one of his tutorials rather than just watching them.

[@helencryer]

Oh I'm so glad!! This whole year has been me making myself do slightly scary stuff, and it makes me super happy to hear other people are too - thanks!

[@janenuse1051]

I think it came out beautifully! I love watching Toby's channel. He gave me the courage and inspiration to start sketching.

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Yes, he's great!

[@katehampshire8410]

I really like the finished painting! I bet the butcher would too!

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Haha!

[@UJB123]

Looks great! Great colors too. It's all about making art for you, your expression, and enjoying doing it. Toby is awesome, yes indeed. Having fun with no fear. Triangles, rectangles, and circles for the most part. Imho, The worst watercolor journal on the planet is a blank one. No fear. 😊

[@helencryer]

Getting over art fear seems to be a big issue for many of us! I'm still working on it! Thank you!

[@zenitpro]

I really love how it turned out, Helen! It seems you got the idea really well!

[@helencryer]

That's very kind, thank you!

[@temmert45]

Very nice! I like the intro showing the area. Also like the notes you put on the opposing page. Great idea! 👍🏻

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@Starkravingsober2020]

I loved this video. I find it so encouraging and motivating when I see a talented artist like yourself, step out of their comfort zone and try something new. And if thats not cool enough, it so great that you're brave enough to actually share the process with us afterwards, even if the result isn't something you're in love with. Its was great watching you use these simple techniques and tools because I made me feel like this was something I could do... something that I didn't have to be afraid of trying. So thanks so much...I know what I'll be doing tonight!

[@helencryer]

Thank you for your kind words! That's what was so great about Toby's video - it just felt so enabling!! This KZbin adventure is making me realise how much fear is wrapped up with trying to do art - both my own and others'. I hope you had your own painting session too!

[@InkNSap]

You did an amazing job Helen. I rarely get a nice result when doing urban sketching but it’s so fun to do. I love the record aspect of it, dating it and maybe making notes of the place.

[@helencryer]

Thank you! I ove the idea of it, but am still a bit scared of painting in really public places!

[@dianecharest8365]

Came out excellent. I love Toby's style also.

[@Momabearsews]

Thank you! Loved your video experience especially that you share the actual picture you’re painting 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@juliebromfield1865]

I like the way this turned out. Well done for feeling the fear and doing it anyway, buildings always faze me 😃

[@helencryer]

Thank you!! My whole KZbin experiment this year seems to be about doing stuff I'm scared of, but I have to say, it's getting a bit easier!

[@lindafranklin3516]

Kudos to you for going out of your "comfort zone" on camera...I think you did an admirable job...I'm going to try the techniques that you followed...thanks for the video

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much! I'm really glad you're going to go for it too!

[@awatercolourist]

St. Agnes looks charming!

[@helencryer]

Yes, I adore it, though it's even nicer in the sunshine!

[@debbieasselstine2469]

I love what you have done here. I find Toby's art is a little too minimalistic for my liking, although his paintings do look great. I think you found a happy medium between realism and minimal. Thanks for sharing.

[@helencryer]

Thank you! I think Toby really helped take a lot of the stress and mystery out of the whole process for me.

[@daphnewilliams9796]

It’s a very nice painting. I like it! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@marideelebrun5811]

I love your application of colors and your color choices!

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much!

[@scottfontaine3798]

I just found your channel and this painting turned out really amazing.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@dianecharest8365]

E proud of it. It's real good.

[@helencryer]

Thank you so much!!

[@williammcneill2753]

Enjoyed this while eating my lunch. I was nervous about the finished painting but Toby was right. The thicker fineliner at the end pulled everything together. It looks amazing.

[@helencryer]

I still find it a very odd thing that people actually watch these videos of mine (still being quite new to this whole making videos thing), but your lunch detail made it seem more real, in a nice kind of way! Thank you! Yes, it's nice to have Toby to trust!

[@cynthiamarvin2823]

I watched that same video by Toby yesterday. It inspired me to revisit an urban sketch I made a couple of weeks ago. I found a photo that I had taken that day and tried Toby's technique in my studio. It worked! However, I still need lots more practice. But I enjoyed the process. I enjoyed watching you try the process, too! Yours turned out better than mine.

[@awatercolourist]

Me too! I watched the very same video yesterday as well 😄

[@helencryer]

Ha - brilliant! I just found his video to be so perfectly pitched for me - so enabling! It's really made me lose my fear of urban sketching, and actually look forward to practicing more. I'm sure your sketch is great. It seems we're all our own worst critics.

[@thejbeeful]

Fantastic painting... I had a go after watching his video and I was pleasantly surprised at the result. We're all a work in progress and learning. T.F.S

[@helencryer]

That's brilliant - it's such an encouragement tutorial isn't it?!

[@sonja__k]

I totally love how your sketch came out! I absolutely see why you were doubting the process throughout certain phases of the painting but the result speaks for itsself. It's not hugely polished but it nonetheless looks like a very inviting scene, which is brilliant. Watching your process motivated me to trust me and my process more and inspired me to try this method myself. I'll definitely check out Toby Urbansketch's channel. Thanks for providing the link!

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I'm welcoming anything and everything which makes me speed up a bit and enjoy art more, which Toby's tutorial definitely did. There are some things I'll try and change next time (slightly thinner pen for the last stage for eg.) I'm just hoping I can still apply his tutorial when different colours are involved.

[@E4Alabbasy]

Honestly this looks like a great exercise to loosen up even though this style isn't really my preference 👏🏼

[@helencryer]

It was just lovely to have it broken down like that for you.

[@longwaytotipperary]

❤ this!

[@eviedivadoodles]

I love Toby's channel. He has a free basics course that I went through a while back, and found really helpful. Another urban sketcher you might enjoy is Ian Fennelly. Also, the finished sketch was great, though I think it was at its best before the heavy black lines were added. But that's just my personal taste coming through. :)

[@helencryer]

I will have to look up Ian Fennelly, thanks! No, I absolutely agree about the heavy line too!

[@deborahrech7429]

What a cheerful painting! Love the awning and the way you did the stones on the wall. Enjoyed watching it come together.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@amandasparkles1980]

Loved the little tour of St Agnes and the painting of the butchers is brilliant. 🙂

[@helencryer]

Hehe! Thanks!

[@Hawalliata]

It turned out beautiful, I love the loose shape of this type of sketch. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work, it is very inspiring! Greetings from Chile.

[@helencryer]

Thank you very much! And I love hearing where you're from!

[@lstchcglch]

It gets easier...I like it.

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@RaspberryColors]

Fantastic, the loose looks good!

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@awatercolourist]

Oh my God! I watched the very same video yesterday! I got a feeling after reading the title that the tutorial would be Toby’s and then when I saw the first few seconds I suspected it would be the one that I saw. 😄

[@helencryer]

That's so funny! It's the first of his I've seen (that I remember anyway), and I just loved it!

[@awatercolourist]

@@helencryer I actually saw a couple of his videos a few months ago. I’m not sure why he was recommended to me again; it must’ve been something I watched.

[@vatiammatri2660]

Great video. I really like Toby Urbansketch too.

[@helencryer]

Thanks! He's great isn't he?!

[@vatiammatri]

@@helencryer definitely!

[@daytonagreg8765]

That turned out awesome!!!

[@helencryer]

Thank you!!

[@msand43]

Love this !

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@madebylora]

This is very brave! I’d be scared to limit to 3 colours (well 4) but the outcome is great! I’ve also never done the paint splatters and would be worried about ruining it, but I love how that looks too!

[@helencryer]

The tutorial is so good - it holds your hand through it!

[@neidedegouvea]

Look at you Helen 😊😊.. Comparing this sketch with the ones you are doing now in France, we see great improvement ❤.. Thank you for sharing your journey with urban sketching, an inspiration to keep going 😊❤

[@helencryer]

That's lovely of you to say! Thank you!!

[@desmond9168]

Very good! I share your ‘fear’ of doing this stuff after watching Toby!! I’m still in the early stages of fear but I’m determined to get it? You transformed your earlier sketch with some excellent finishing touches I reckon!

[@helencryer]

Thank you!! I like your determination! The fear gets boring after a bit!

[@racechick2033]

That looks fab! Honestly. I love the freedom and looseness. You should be proud. I know how 'difficult' that was for you. Well done and thank you for giving me hope. 😊

[@helencryer]

Thanks!! Honestly, go and check out his channel - really love his pace and explanations etc.

[@keirawelling]

Love it! ❤

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@craftykat]

This came out great!

[@helencryer]

Thank you!!

[@timwatson9483]

I love this style, Helen - it's something I'm trying to emulate myself, though I think I'm still a little too tense and trying a bit too hard to achieve the looseness I'm aiming for. Still, practise, practise, practise as they say. Lovely video - keep 'em coming. I look forward to your next posting.

[@helencryer]

Oh, I totally understand - 'loose' is so hard!! It's tempting to overwork too, and I'm realising less might be more. Practice is definitely key I think - though I used to be too scared to practice much because I hate making bad art! Thank you!

[@valeriegehling4358]

Think it turned out ok! Will watch his video too. Thanks

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I think Toby's is a great video.

[@sandysanzenbacher7313]

I really think it’s a lovely painting. I like it a lot and I think you may consider doing more like this.

[@helencryer]

Thank you so much! I think I'll try and practice with more of my photos.

[@Reeflections]

I like it~ you make it look so easy ❤️

[@helencryer]

I have Toby's tutorial to thank for that!

[@willemijnkamerling4011]

This was great! It's fun to see you out of your comfort zone. And as someone else commented, take a look at it in a couple of days and it will look much better. I think it looks amazing, it's definitely a trust the process kind of piece. I have a book to learn how to draw ' house portraits'. I might have told you already. I forget who I've shared this with. It's about the shapes and the suggestion of details, no straight lines necessary, no perfection. That's what gives the drawing character 😊

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I think I've worked out that I'd prefer it with thinner lines at the end, so I'll try it with a 0.5 next time. I know someone told me about a house book by Mateusz Urbaniwicz, which I now have on my Amazon wish list! Is that the one?

[@willemijnkamerling4011]

@@helencryer no, mine is a Dutch book. It hasn't been translated. It's mainly about Dutch architecture, most typically canal houses. It's called 'Huis portretjes tekenen' by Carla Kamphuis. I like the thinner lines too.

[@perlofquist8385]

Very nice sketch!👍

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@WolfmanWoody]

I think that turned out really well indeed. What was also good was - you didn't over-talk the video (there's one artist on video and it's monotone yapping from begining to end.) This I enjoyed watching and listening to. Are you like me at heart in that you can't understand the splashes. Lots do it, not just Toby, but it looks to me like they've been clumpsy with the paintbrush. Admittedly Joe Dowden does it to construct his paintings. Hmmm! 🤔

[@helencryer]

Thanks very much for your feedback! I think this was the first time I'd come across the splashing thing, but I have to admit to using it again since! I like it on seascapes to add a bit of movement to the picture, or in general to give the suggestion of at least something continuing in that general direction.

[@melissamartinart]

Your village is so cute! This painting has definite urban sketching vibes

[@helencryer]

Thanks Melissa! Yeah, the first time I ever came to this village was the day I moved to it (long story!) and I've fallen in love with it!

[@mariotucci3]

looks great

[@helencryer]

Thanks!!

[@FaithAnnNB]

Love how this turned out!! I love Toby UrbanSketch, I’m subscribed to his channel too. I have to work at being loose, but I love that style of urban sketching.

[@helencryer]

He's so good isn't he?! And at making you feel it's achievable! I subscribed yesterday after just finding him.

[@FaithAnnNB]

@@helencryer Toby’s channel is awesome! I haven’t jumped all in with the no-pencil/ink-only sketches though. I **need** the ability to erase 😂. Someday I’ll give it a go. I love the loose effect he achieves and enjoy his explanations.

[@helencryer]

Go on, I dare you!!

[@FaithAnnNB]

@@helencryer hahaha!!

[@alaasaddam9388]

Beautiful

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@agentxp0749]

Lovely sketch, and really enjoyed seeing whole the process. You are so lucky to live somewhere so picturesque. 📸 I would like to ask how you find using the fineliners with your Seawhite of Brighton watercolour travel journal. I recently purchased one, and have been a bit scared to try particularly the 0.3 fineliners on it, as the paper surface is quite textured, and I don’t want to damage the nibs. Do you find yours have been ok? (I’m using the Faber Castell ones)

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Yes - I adore it here! I haven't used Fineliners much in the sketchbook, but so far they don't seem to have affected them much. I do think they wear down a bit over time in general though.

[@arleighbarley]

Thank you for not putting music in the background!

[@arleighbarley]

Haha i typed this just before you put in music lol

[@helencryer]

Haha! Sorry about that!!

[@inlesinlet]

Not proud of it?! I think it looks *awesome* :D

[@helencryer]

That's very kind of you, thank you!

[@phillipstroll7385]

That is NOT urban sketching. Looks nice, but that isn't urban sketching.

[@helencryer]

Yes you're right, I wasn't sketching on location, so it technically wasn't urban sketching - I was following a tutorial to practicing for doing urban sketching!

[@phillipstroll7385]

@@helencryer oh, my bad. I totally misread the title of the video. Thank you for setting me straight. I do not enjoy being wrong, but when I am wrong I admit it and make an attempt to improve. Thank you.

[@helencryer]

😁 I appreciate your sense of accuracy, and you weren't wrong anyway!

[@helencryer]

Hopefully one day I'll be brave enough to go urban sketching...

[@phillipstroll7385]

@@helencryer you should. It's a wonderful experience and you'll not learn more as easily and quickly. Just my opinion anyway.

[@phillipdridge9775]

That's turned out fantastic ❤❤❤

[@helencryer]

Thank you!