Has anyone ever told you about Italy being a Traveller's Mecca?
Cos let me tell you now that it is.
Just this April, I visited Italy and Switzerland to find out that in Italy, it was easy to get caught up in a very normal street because it can be so very pretty (and ahem Instagram-worthy). For the trip, we flew in to Rome, then travelled up by train to Florence, Venice and Milan, Bern, Weggis and lastly Zurich.
But anyways, I digress. In this post, I'd like to share snippets of my experiences with you. (And you with me, if you have urban sketching tips/hacks you think I should know!)
I am definitely not a pro at urban sketching. But, like they say, sharing is caring.
1. First, scale down your art supplies
I am a light packer and hate lugging around a heavy load especially if I'm out the entire day -- they definitely add some stress to my shoulders and back. Scaling down on art supplies is thus mandatory.
Here's what I brought along with me:
Cheap synthetic brush: They are sufficient for basic strokes plus I didn't want to bring my more expensive ones along. (I picked these up from somewhere so I am not exactly sure of the brand. sorry!)
Pencil: Please top up with sufficient lead if you are using a mechanical pencil.
Eraser
Micropen: It's waterproof. I use a 0.1 for mine but pick whichever fits your style.
Watercolour travel art set (I used Daler Rowney's Aquafine Set!)
Watercolour paper: Pack them along with a hardbacking so they won't get bent! I stuffed them in between my notebook. You could stuff them in your passport or something.
Tissue: You'll need to wipe off the paint colours when you transition from, say, orange to green. This is to prevent your new colour from ending up murky / brownish.
A cup (for water!)
2. Think about your next piece
I am all for spontaneity (and would love to tell you to go with the wind!!) But during travelling when your time is limited, it's still better to do some planning before you reach your destination. For example, have in mind what you are going to draw. Plus if you have never done this before, how you are going to find a spot to paint. It could be at a café, standing on the streets with a bagpack and equipment carried in front or sitting on random steps...
This was especially so for me since I was travelling with a group. I mean, I wouldn't want them to wait around for me to complete my paintings. (I take about 45min per piece on average!!) Moreover, some places were particularly crowded and distracting. I found that having an idea of what I wanted to paint before I reached each destination helped a lot. Upon arrival, I would do a quick pencil sketch, proceed to a restaurant/café and complete the work there.
At least, that was what worked best for me.
But of course if you doing solo-travelling and are the spontaneous sort, why not try sketching on the spot.
3. Use layers to create depth
You could paint or colour neatly within the lines, with all the best colours. But the end product would look somewhat flat if there aren't layers! Especially for urban sketches which has many shadows cast by buildings, having layers helps to create depth in perception and make it look more realistic.
To achieve this, mix (or dilute) the black paint with a fair amount of water. This creates a faint greyish paint, like a gentle shadow. Without diluting it, the paint would end up thick and be too harsh for the overall look of the drawing. The huge contrast is what makes watercolour painting look unnatural. At the end, I found out that I used my black paint quite a fair bit.
4. Wet-on-wet
I used the wet on wet technique to create gentler skies (aka lighter in colour). With a clean brush, first, apply a layer of water over the portion for the sky. Secondly, dip your brush to get some paint on its tip. Following which, you can add the paint to the wet parts of the paper. While the water is drying, you can see the colours coming together.
5. Lastly, stay safe
Always be vigilant of your surroundings especially since this will be a time when you are engrossed doodling/sketching/painting! This is especially when you are out in a crowded area which might make you a target for pickpockets. Theft is REAL in such a popular tourist destination as Italy. (By the way, I almost got pickpocketed so I can't emphasise this enough. #trauma)
Travelling with a side mission (painting!!) has definitely added more excitement to my trip. If you are a budding artist, I would recommend that you try it too.
Also, if you are an urban sketcher and would like to share any tips/hacks with me, please leave them in the comments below.
Till next time. Ciao!
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