I’m not in a position to offer any advice but this reminds me of a personal observation: I am a slow artist both drawing and painting (with or without fussy details). In an attempt to help me do urban sketching, I have done a very quick pen sketch every day fir the past 6 months. I aim to complete inside 15 mins. No paint just ink and cross hatching. It has helped me to only focus on key details and then imply everything else using hatching. It has also helped me to stop being so precious about my drawings and a more free style is starting to emerge.
Almost all artists making RU-vid demos use methods they are so familiar with that they can do them in their sleep. I much more appreciate that you are willing to explore processes that are not yet comfortable with and show yourself making discoveries (which I know you are so driven by, as I am). Thank you!
buenas... I'm Pedro, from the south of Brazil... your video is perfect.. it encourages me to move on... I'm an architect with 70 years old... trained in the technical and correct trait... I'm trying to get rid of it all.... the urban sketch is a form of freedom, but it is necessary to filter things... after all, as they say: less is more... and, most of all, the use of china ink, watercolor pencil , the tubes, white gouache, etc... all this is a universe of materials....thanks for your simplicity.
You are an excellent art teacher, have been searching for a beginner watercolor instructor and I’m glad I found you and have stayed here for a while now. Nice to see your wife and family too. I wish to see more of these videos. Thanks.
wow i thought it was just me that struggled with loosening up my work, between you & the comments here i guess not. i started drawing before grade school with a regular pencil with eraser & typing paper i could beg from my mom a piece at a time. i remember working so hard to make everything perfect, till it was picture perfect (in my eyes & others too from what they said) when i got to that point, but then i realized that artists do not use a camera so all that work was for naught because then i had to find a way to loosen up what i had worked so hard to acomplish. i worked for years with not much to show because if i loosened up enough then my work no longer had that look of realism yet be loose enough to not be mistaken for something traced from a photo. i still drew every day but didn't get any improvement till one day someone lent me a paperback that was illustrated & i loved this guys work so i thought i want to draw like that yet i had promised the book back the next day, so i got out my pencils, pens & paper & started copying his work, not tracing it but trying to put each line just like he did, which considering how i had taught myself to draw was simple for me. i drew every picture in that book, gave the book back then started drawing copies of my copies until i had the gist of it. it took me awhile but i got to where his style had slipped to the side & my copies of my copies looked like something i didn't reconize as his other than the subjects & i could move on to just looking at an object & draw it in this new style. it started his style but definitly ended up a mix of his, mine & something else. i know lots of people today call that cheating/plagerism but i never sold, gave any of my copies away or showed them to anyone & today they don't exist anymore. i can't even imagine him seeing any of my working & thinking it's his style at all. what i am suggesting is if you are stuck in a style you no longer want to dominate your work you can easily break it by copying other styles that you want to be able to do but cannot change any other way. copy the style you want to learn until it becomes natural to you then let your own style fill in some of it till it becomes something else that is you. what you are actually doing is changing the way you see things, not just how you draw them. i am not sure this would work for all styles one wants to break out of/into but it did for me & worth a try. it seems that for those wanting to break free of drafting precision this way works & yes i did the whole drafting thing too. 😉 btw steeve, your rendings are super awesome.
The opening photo of you and your wife is so sweet. You're a lovely couple. I have about the same art background as you do and that is why I am drawn to watercolor in my "old age" (I'm considerably older than you are). It's difficult not to figure out when to stop with detail and to learn to be inaccurate and interesting. Many years behind a drawing table (no computers when I started) taught me to be precise and complete in my art. Now, I want to be lose & leave something to the imagination of the viewer. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself.
Every once in a while, you make a video that *nails* whatever problem I'm having with my art at the time, and this is one of those videos! For some reason, I am an extremely detail-oriented person, and my artwork reflects that, to the point of being antiseptic most of the time. I sometimes don't finish drawings because I get so bogged down in the details. Your description of what you're doing to loosen up your style really resonates with me, and I plan to incorporate it into my own art. So, thank you (yet again) for making these videos!
Really enjoyable insight Steve, I am at that same point you are with sketching and admire the work of those you showed, marking them as indicators. look forward to more, regards Paul Apps
I have been trying to loosen up also. As a photo realistic artist, I think because that is what always got me the compliments and no criticism, I have stuck with it. But the older I get the more frustrated I find myself getting at trying for perfection. I am not finding the enjoyment I once did in art, just anxiety and pressure for perfection. Your voice and instruction style has calmed me even with my total failures in learning watercolor I am having more fun. I needed this video for I too am searching for a new style! Thanks!
Thanks. For me new styles can just be more tools in the toolbox. Doesn't mean I will always paint in the same style. In this case I wanted a more practical style for quickly painting technical subjects as you would fine in Urban scenes.
Love what you did! I am very familiar with Savannah and have friends who live in the historical district. Haven/t been there since I started painting 3 years ago. Definitely need to go for a visit. I am with you trying to be looser with my work. Thanks for your tutorials.
Great job, Steve! I feel the same way about getting it right. I don’t have years of experience doing that, so maybe it will be easier to break out of it but I think you did a great job!
I've learned so much from your videos. You managed to pull me from a really dark place. I was always fussing and focusing on details until glaucoma and multiple eye surgeries dictated otherwise. I thought my art life was over (it kinda was, people stopped calling). I'm on a new art journey because of you and can't thank you enough.
I totally understand the struggle you describe. I compare it (loosely) to my study of the piano. Because of formal study early on, I struggle to ‘lose the boundaries’ and now I’m starting my watercolor journey. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Haven't dropped in to check paintings out since I left for Savanah to paint the city. Got as far as Rocky Mount and spent 3 days in ICU. And 5 more days on ward. The beginning to the end of mobility. This makes me sad but I appreciate an artists view of that city. Thanks..
Oh wow ~ urban sketching. That will be fun to watch. I chuckle when you say how you are simplifying because you have a lot of detail in that little painting. The urban sketchers I have seen simplify the scenes so that they can paint very quickly. Most don’t have much time to catch the scene and especially to get the lighting right before the weather and sun changes. I have learned to draw basics and to use my brush to fill in the lines etc. with paint. I know a lot of people that heavily use the pen but I prefer the opposite. I also love to apply the paint and watch it create it’s magic by mingling together. For instance - on the building using two or three different colors to create that magic. That’s beautiful watercolor to me. Some use gouache or acrylic paints too. I’ve never had the desire to use those. I just love Brenda Swenson! She’s one of my favorite artists. I really study her work hoping I can improve on my techniques. I’m excited to watch you on this journey! You are such a beautiful detailed artist. It will be fun to see your work in a looser fashion. Thanks for a fun video. And Happy Anniversary to you and your wife! We celebrate our 43rd next month.
Brenda Swenson... ahhh. Beautiful. Details are not the devil. You do what you do in a beautiful way. Embrace your love of details. It’s ok. Loving this video. Consciously leaving out details..painful.. but your skills and talent can do it,
Well, I'm not abandoning my love of details. I'm just looking for a more accessible and practical way to do urban sketching. Emphasis on the word "sketching." Technical subjects on location can be off-putting.
Having been in this area for twelve years, Your rendering of their architecture of the south is just perfect. And your description of your strokes as dots and little lines is dead on. Thank you again for your good teaching.
thank you so much for this video. I'm just a beginner, I can use all the encouragement that I can get. I really like your finished result. It gives me enough courage to try it out. just try out, mess up and repeat. It doesn't have to be perfect. I can't draw , but I would love to.
This challenge for you has always been an obstacle I identify with. I look forward to learning from your style direction and solution. Happy anniversary to you and your wife! ♥
Love this! Just realized yesterday that you are from SC when I fell into your train station demo, which then lead me to this. I live in the green mailbox development on HHI and go to Savannah monthly for my Blick fix. Am looking for urban sketching information as I'm planning a trip to London and the Cotswold district so this was perfect. Thank you for sharing all that you do!
Ok hopefully you don’t take this as teachy- I’m you. Details. Full blown rendering. That’s me! And I admire all the same artists styles you do! I Joined my local urban sketchers group and wow has it taught me to loosen up. We do a 30 second warm up sketch. Let’s just say -my pen never leaves the paper- and I find myself pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Then we do a 5 minute and a 10 minute. Only then do we delve off into our one hour and a throw down art show on the pavement. I have also found that using a pen that has different pressure thicknesses keeps the time spent on contrasting areas minimal and I’m loving the direction my art is going. Now to convince myself that studio time is valuable also! Lol. Challenge you to do an ornate scene like this in 30 sec, 5 min, etc. Let your naturally skilled ability to draw translate into something fresh!
There are plenty of RU-vid artists that specialise in loose style urban sketching. I find myself more drawn to the loose style, probably because I don't have any artistic background. However, being an ex-engineer, I do tend to overwork my sketches and paintings. This is something I'm gradually learning to control when to use more detail, and where. A very basic underdrawing, or even none at all, can be a good way to break free of too much detail. Another thing to try, is draw and paint with your other hand! Some artists leave the line work until the end, that way it's just added to enhance certain shapes and edges. The painting is peared down to basic shape, value contrast, focal point and general composition. Having said all that, I love your work, it's very balanced and captures the feel of the subject as well as the details that your training and previous experience has helped you hone to a high level of skill. I'd be pleased to sketch or paint something half as good as yours.
On one of our road trips we visited Savannah one summer. I traveled with my easel setup and had setup in the square opposite of the Mercer house. It's not the best of work but truly a memorable experience. The house tour was also grand.
Thank you so much for showing examples of the style you are pushing yourself toward. I like watching your videos at 'normal' speed, then I often go back and watch it again at a slower setting to really be able to see what you are doing. The concept of drawing detail then leaving some of that behind in the painting portion was very illuminating.
Yes, if you want details…I’m your girl, I can totally relate to your frustrations of achieving looseness. I too studied commercial art and I am a great value/ contrast copy artist. But…struggle sooo much when it comes to loosening up, I made a plein air set up with my camera tripod to go out and sketch, trying not to labor on details, quick studies. Thank you for your honesty, and explanation of your process of retraining yourself in a different style…dots, dashes and broken lines, and keeping in mind where the color will subtly fill in the needed details. A total change in what my mind was trained to see and do, it’s a real struggle.😌
Good stuff Minder Mr Steve. I know exactly what You mean, when I did my School Leaving exams I sketched an early morning market “live “ and freely in pencil and got a good grade. I never drew again for 50 years, after a working life of dotting all the I ‘s and crossing all the T’s my ability to sketch without fear has vanished . I am working on it.
I love all of your sketches & paintings. Personally I do prefer the tight & realistic style. But loose is lovely too. Glad you both had a lovely vacation & congratulations on your anniversary. Thank you for all of your tutorials 😊
Love this piece! I was so tickled to watch this video as I've been wanting to include more architectural elements or a house or some building that fascinates me make or just try my hand at urban sketching. I'm not very good at perspective though and will likely have to do take photos at first and then do a good bit of tracing to get the overall structure(s) in proper perspective. Otherwise I do a lot of moderately abstract art with some realism and I love to do florals. So I think the more formal lines & shapes of architectural elements attract me when I feel the need for something with more boundaries. And I love the beauty of old historical homes too..they're so beautiful with so much grace. Thanks so much!
Having found you this morning for the very first time, I can't begin to tell you how refreshing it was to listen to you share your challenges with regards towards relaxing or loosening your style. You are obviously a superb artist. Myself, as a beginner find myself struggling toward the very same aim. Your rendering of the famous building in Savannah turned out absolutely beautiful. I am honored to be one of your new subscribers and look forward to seeing all of your tutorials!
I'm very interested to see your new direction, and really like the peek inside your trip. Your wife looks lovely, and the 'lite' meal out delicious. Ty for the instruction!
I love Brenda Swenson too. I find Delphine Prilloud very interesting. And I hope you went to Fish Haul Beach while in HH. A beautiful place for reference photos.
Steve, it’s so refreshing to hear about the frustrations and challenges of what you’re taking on as a professional artist. I do love architecture, especially historical, but these days I have trouble drawing a straight line. 😳 Maybe non-straight lines will be a part of my style. 🧐 Your example inspires me to try architectural drawing for watercolor again. And best wishes to you and your wife on your anniversary.🎉
Happy anniversary to you & your lovely wife 💕 love your channel. You are a great teacher & an inspiration 💖 The artwork came out beautiful 😍 congrats & thanks for sharing.
What a great video, thanks for taking us on this journey! I really loved the pencil/ ink sketch stage and was mentally saying “just swipe in some color!” I struggle with this too, as an architect my sketches are always very tight and detailed. I would love to loosen up!
I knew you were a commercial illustrator but I didn’t anticipate the technical detail in the mechanical pieces you showed us. I have mad respect for your skills! ❤️
Happy anniversary to you both. I've watched a lot of your videos and really appreciate them. I marvel at your work, especially when you toss paint on the paper and turn it into something beautiful. I started painting about 3 months ago. I had a chuckle at this video. I understand what your doing with your effort to reduce your technical approach, while I'm trying to increase mine and still working at pronouncing Quinacridone. lol Great video. Thank you.
Thanks. A highly detailed technical approach is completely valid in the right situation. Just not for me while trying to quickly capture a subject on location.
Happy Anniversary 🥂 to you & your wife! Savannah is a fabulous city, especially with the architecture, gardens, & parks everywhere. Definitely there’s so much fun to see, do, and a wonderful Plein Air setting. Finding a style to paint has been a bit of a challenge for me as well. I have enjoyed watching your videos and style of painting landscapes and architecture/buildings for years now. This is definitely a wonderful surprise to me that you are challenged by learning a new or different style, in the fact you still make it look so easy on the paper. This was a wonderful, inspirational video. Thanks for sharing this with us.
That was just the style I love in urban sketching. I followed a course with Alex Hillkurtz and really enjoyed it. However, still hard not to add too much. Your suggestion of dots and bits of lines helps a lot. I’m inspired again. Thanks Steve.
Thanks for this video. I have a similar goal and issue to overcome. In the late 80's I took loads of drafting courses with the goal of becoming an architect. Lack of money and good grades prevented me. Now i try to draw in too much detail. I want to get loose and have a more impressionist style.
This has been so so helpful. I belong to an urban sketching group and have felt very frustrated with my sketches-straight lines, too much detail etc etc. It is heartening to know that you a professional have also experienced frustration at developing your own style. I will try again and no give up to develop my style. Thank you 🙏🏼
Your artwork is always beautiful, intimidatingly so. I have watched several line and wash videos and found them always too raw until I saw your videos, very inspiring. I may just have a go at it, using your videos as an example.
I was starting to think I must still be bad at art because I can't replicate that loose style so many people seem to do so well. This was a great refresher to see that we can learn a lot by trying, but that it still takes time. Nobody is naturally going to paint a picture like that without any practice!
I'm someone who can't draw, has no artistic talent, barely picks up my art stuff once a month.. but still really wants to learn to use watercolors. This channel always inspires me to try, and to see your process like this is really very helpful. Thanks.
The last half of your first sentence speaks to the first have in a cause-effect way. A friend of mine is fond of saying "The first 2000 sketches are the hardest" and he's right. Until you've got those under your belt, however, don't beat yourself up about not having talent. Of course you don't. You haven't developed it yet. Talent isn't in your genes; it's in your sweat.
Broken lines and dots. Learned this from you years ago! Thx! I feel your struggle. I’m SO 👍 OK with taking photos, and going back to the studio. Savannah Georgia is AWESOME! 🖌🎨👩🏻🎨 I live in Covington, Ga. (Oxford actually). I tried sketching with my less predominant hand,left… And, I just can’t…. Keepin it loose is hard. But sometimes, Steve, when sketching history especially, we need a little detail. Love your Charleston sketches. Please scotch some more of Savannah, and sell them! Georgia needs you Steve! Happy Anniversary to you and your wife! Thanks for sharing. I still want that Indigraph Pen…..lol
Hi Steve, as much of a struggle as this was for you...it turned out to be delightful. Not too much detail and everything in it's proper place. The trick we all face is trying to do that on location in a timely manner. As always I love your work, whether in studio or on location and look forward to your videos.....🤗
Steve, Happy Anniversary. Lovely place to spend the day. Oh my, did i need to hear you address this topic. I've been, not too successfully, trying to figure out this Urban sketching genre. I come from the architecture field, back when we all drew by hand and getting back into watercolour after so many years has been challenging because no matter my ability to construct the scenes in my head, learning what to leave Out makes this drawing style difficult for me. It's not the same as quick placements on tracing paper (bumwad) to work out small elements. And doing it with people potentially watching while working, adds stress. I feel your pain but listening to how you solved various aspects made this a very helpful session.
You inspired me today. I am going to the Rosicrucian museum in San Jose. I’ve been there many times in the past and I’m overwhelmed every time. However this time I am going to see through your eyes. I am very hopeful😇😇
I think it's so cool that your free flow land scapes are so different than your technical work but I enjoyed your sketchbook look! I'm dabbling in architectural watercolor and it's fun...I love Xtina Gavrilovas style a lot because she does historical architecture line and wash but it's so free flowing!
Thank you so much for the video. That's exactly what am trying to do at the moment. Learn to do quick sketches on location and try to use pens with watercolor . This is very inspiring. 🙏
Soon as I saw that house I knew what it was.. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was an excellent book (with the perfect title), the movie was great and all of the acting was excellent. John cusack is a writer sent to Savanah down to do a House and Garden type story on an annual Christmas party which is really mundane ... until the the murder happens then he calls his editor about the murder and describes it as, "This place is like Gone With the Wind on mescaline."
Yes, awesome! I fight the same thing with details. I am working on a slightly out of focus weigela bush purposely and adding in hummingbirds but leaving in very undone with details only in certain areas(baby steps) and a bit of negative leave background and letting it run down sort of like a wc pour. Your sketch was great and it reminds me so much of parts of Mexico in older areas that became dominated by the Spainsh because that same garish style is in Spain also. I loved the different architecture and kicked myself for leaving my sketchbooks behind. It is what it is, it’s great to push out into different areas. Once in awhile I force myself to do a la prima portraiture which I find to be difficult to stop going back. Fortunately I do have others that nudge me and I them and we have many sketchbooks of family and friends from the 50’s and current. I enjoy your honesty in your videos and suggestions. It isn’t painting just for the sake of painting. Thank you!
