I love to sketch. Do you? Lately I’ve noticed that unless I go on a course I don’t do much sketching anymore.
When I bought Sketch Your World by James Hobbs earlier in the year I had all the good intentions of going out to sketch. Did I? Of course not!
I was therefore doubly delighted when I saw that Moleskine had announced City Stories, in partnership with Urban Sketchers where four artists were invited to draw life and to provide free workshops in Covent Garden. Guess, what, James Hobb was one of the artists. Result! I quickly booked myself on to his session and on the day went along!
James Hobbs is a London-based freelance journalist and artist who started drawing in sketchbooks at art school 30 years ago. His work was selected for the Jerwood Drawing Prize exhibition, and he is a founder member of London’s Urban Sketchers.
It was great to meet the man himself.
The event hubs used were The Moleskine Store at 40 King Street and the London Graphic Centre. Here, artists of all abilities dropped by to meet the sketchers and take part in one of the Learning Sessions. Moleskine were also giving away 140 Moleskine Sketch Albums, which came in handy on the day!
I really enjoyed that it was a very casual event. James Hobbs talked about his own experiences of what sketching means for him while offering guidance as we, the participants, undertook our own drawings in and around Covent Garden.
James Hobbs sketchbook page.
James Hobbs sketchbook page.
James Hobbs sketchbook page.
This, here below, is our group. What I hadn’t accounted for was that it was more of a speed drawing sketching session. We literally had 10 minutes on site before we returned to the event hub, looked at each others drawings and handed our drawings over to be collated and sent on to Moleskine for their travelling exhibitions.
An here’s my 10 minutes attempt. I think using a thicker black marker and this very short time frame is a great way to force myself to look and put down marks in a quick manner, without much thought or analysis. The colouring can always be done at a later stage.
I had a great time and would like to thank Moleskine and the Urban Sketchers for this experience.
So, back to my original question. Do you sketch? This post will stay live until Thursday 9th October.
10 Comments
Tina, what a great workshop to go to! You sketch is amazing! I wouldn’t have been able to tell that you did that in 10 minutes! Wow. xD
Thank you lovely. I just love short workshops like these.
Ha. Honestly once you know you only have 10 mins everything else fades. No time to think, analyse, mull over. It’s juts go! x
What a lovely way to look at the city Tina. I don’t sketch… there’s something about not freeing my mind or my inhibitions that prevents me. That 10 minute timeframe would have been a scary prospect for me. But, I love what you’ve managed to show on paper. So cool.
Gxx
To be honest I’ve never sketched in 10 mns.. this was definitely knew for me and I thought, what the heck…
glad you like it. Of course, I think it could be so much better:-)) x
That’s so fun! In art school we had these kind of ultra speed drawing sessions and I loved it. It really makes you focus on the essentials. I rarely sketch anymore, apart from the occasional: let me explain it in an image. But as I draw a lot with my Wacom pen (I use it as my mouse), I don’t really miss it… see you very soon, Tina!
You know I’ve never used a Wacom pen…. but know that many do.
I still love sketching and painting. It’s very therapeutic and I just love the marks on paper.
I cannot imagine not sketching again…
Yes, looking forward to seeing you guys x
What a fantastic way to spend a few hours. I do sketch but haven’t for a long time. When we were in Italy back in 2006 I encouraged my youngest daughter Hayley to mix up taking photos of places we visited with sketching anything that caught her eye. Great effort by you in 10 minutes and I love the photo of the group furiously sketching together. xx
What a good idea to mix up photography with sketching. I always have those intentions when I travel but rarely manage it all:-)
Thanks Catherine. It was a unique experience. xx
Ohh how fab. I can’t sketch, draw or anything like that. Wish I could though – looks so much fun. I guess I ought to try right :))
Happy Thursday sweetest,
x
Everyone can draw, it’s a matter of practice. Bet you would be good at it. You have such a great eye. Thanks love xx