CSP-AVO8568 - Urban Sketching
Course Description
Learn to really see what’s right in front of you as you learn the art of quick sketching in your journal using ink and watercolors. This is one of the best ways to remember a trip or outing, whether you’re in your home town or traveling to exciting world-wide destinations. With our gifted instructor, you'll work around campus and in fun Charlotte locations. Beginners welcome!
Course Outline
- Materials overview; color wheel; basic drawing and watercolor techniques
- How to edit visual information, choose subject matter and create compositions
- Drawing - shape relationships and blind contours
- Quick sketching with timed exercises
Learner Outcomes
- Learn how to edit visual information, choose subject matter and create a journal composition
- Learn basic drawing and watercolor techniques
- Develop confidence in sketching from life.
- Students will practice sketching a variety of subject matter in multiple classes
Notes
Class meets briefly in the lobby of the Parr Center 1201 Elizabeth Ave. on the Central Piedmont Central Campus for introductory material on the first week and then moves outside for real life urban sketching experiences. To locate the Parr Center, please access this link: https://www.cpcc.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/24000-central-campus-map.pdf. The most convenient parking locations are either the parking deck #4 or surface lots 5 or 6.
Students purchase supplies for classes: below is a list of suggestions the instructor emails to students prior to the first class. In case you are do not receive this email, here is the content directly from the instructor.
Tools:
On the 1st day, there are only a few things you'll need to bring to learn/enjoy Urban Sketching: a pen, a sketchbook, and a small watercolor kit, and a small stool to sit on.
I've included a link to my favorite/recommended tools, but if you have supplies that you already have and use, you do not need to buy new ones.
My supplies Link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/mikedaikubara
Sketchbook: A size not too small, or not too big to carry around, and the pages not being too thin so it can take some watercolor. (My favorite is the Stillman & Birn Alpha series, but there are lots of other great sketchbooks too)
Pen: Fude Fountain pens are fun, but as long as you come with a non-water soluble pen, you'll be good! (Note: Non water soluble means that the pen ink will not melt with water once the ink has dried). A good introductory pen is the Sakura Pigma Pen 01 .
Water Color: The Sakura Koi is a nice introductory kit if you don't have one already.
Warning: The Koi kit's come in different flavors of colors so be sure to not buy the colors loaded with fluorescent colors.
Water brush: You can come with a cup of water, and a regular water color brush, but the water brush is highly recommended! If you have never used it before, I highly recommend it for ease of portability and it's really cheap too.
Portable Chair/Stool/cushion: Not mandatory, but it will make your sketching time much easier than sitting directly on concrete or the floor.
Books: We'll be covering a lot of information from my sketching book "Sketch NOW Think Later" and "Color First Ink Later". If you would like a little reminder or learn additional tips, this would be a nice book to purchase.
If you live in the Charlotte area, I recommend going to places like Cheap Joe’s or Jerry’s Artorama. You can also buy most of the supplies from Amazon pretty quickly too. Do not buy supplies if you already have your own sketching kit. I will show how I use my tools, and once you get comfortable and feel like buying it, you can always buy it later.