The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World

by Gabriel Campanario

The Art of Urban Sketching is both a comprehensive guide and a showcase of location drawings by artists around the world who draw the cities where they live and travel.

Authored by the founder of the nonprofit organization Urban Sketchers (

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Drawing, Architecture, Travel, Design, Reference

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Arie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, well put together, entertaining and reasonably inspiring. Though I did not recognise anything remotely kiwi in the illustrations of Auckland...

[M Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page in this book is a delight. It motivated me to get a sketchbook and pens....now to head outside! If you sketch, want to sketch or like to look at sketches... I can't recommend this book highly enough. A brief flip-thru can be found at: youtube.com/watch?v=D43pFYupBXw

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone interested in sketching more from life and plein air sketching and painting. It is filled with the most wonderful drawings of people drawn on the spot and landscapes etc. I am sure I will continue to seek inspiration from this book. I recommend for beginners and non-beginners alike who wish to get outside in the world and draw more from life even if it is only for yourself.

[Hannah Notess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got to tool around the world with people who spend their free time outdoors drawing things they see in real life. I loved every single one of these people via their drawings (lots of them seem to be architects or designers who sketch to keep their creative juices flowing) and loved seeing the variety of techniques, approaches, materials, etc. Also it was a glimpse into famous locales of famous cities, like Paris and Venice and not-so-famous locales of not-so-famous cities like Kansas City and some place in Sweden. Some sketches took hours, and some only a few minutes. I pored over every page.

It has inspired me to get out there and draw things!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for outdoor sketchers, plein aire painters, and those who want to step outside the studio and into the streets. This is not really a how-to book, but an ideas book about how to expand your drawing into places and subjects you may not already go. The author collected hundreds of sketches from artists all over the world and collected them by city and subject.

If you're a beginner or an experienced artist, you will find much inspiration to go out into the world and capture what you see. Highly recommended!

[Alexandros Costas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sketchbooks featured in this volume, along with tips and how-tos from various sketchers around the world, is wonderful and inspiring. I really love it and I've started making my own urban sketches-- it's a way to spend time and not money! plus it's meditative and great. I really like this book.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I flip through the pages, I am in awe at how beautifully presented the sketches are. It introduces you to local artists, styles, and architecture. Definitely a great book to have a copy at home.

[Marius Paltanea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe way to travel around the world in these times.

[The Adaptable Educator · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel Campanario’s The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around the World is an illuminating anthology that transcends the boundaries of art instruction and morphs into a cultural journey. This book is not merely a technical guide to the practice of urban sketching but a vibrant tapestry of global perspectives, woven together through the intimate immediacy of location-based art.

A Democratic Celebration of the Everyday
What distinguishes Campanario’s work is its democratic spirit. Unlike traditional art texts, which often glorify the artist as an isolated genius, this book celebrates a collective ethos. The featured sketches come from over 100 contributors to the Urban Sketchers movement, representing cities as diverse as New York, Bangkok, and São Paulo. This multiplicity of voices transforms the act of sketching into a universal language, emphasizing that anyone can participate in this art form, regardless of skill level.

Sketching as a Cultural Archive
Campanario astutely positions urban sketching as a cultural archive, a way of documenting the ephemeral moments that define our urban existence. The sketches capture everything from bustling marketplaces to forgotten alleyways, each imbued with a sense of place that no photograph could replicate. The variety of media—pencil, pen, watercolor—underscores the richness of interpretation, where technique is secondary to the immediacy of observation. The reader becomes acutely aware of how these sketches serve as both personal and public narratives, turning the mundane into the extraordinary.

A Pedagogical Treasure
While the book celebrates artistic diversity, it also provides a solid pedagogical foundation. Campanario’s insights into perspective, composition, and the dynamics of capturing movement are both accessible and profound. Aspiring sketchers will find the technical tips invaluable, while seasoned artists will appreciate the reminder that art can thrive in the simplicity of spontaneous creativity. The inclusion of step-by-step tutorials and tool recommendations grounds the book in practicality without detracting from its artistic aspirations.

A Dialogue Between Art and Urbanity
The interplay between art and urban life lies at the heart of this book. Campanario’s framing of urban sketching as an act of "visual journalism" challenges traditional perceptions of what constitutes reportage. In capturing the nuances of a cityscape—its light, its energy, its imperfections—the sketches do more than depict; they interpret. This dialogue between artist and environment becomes a form of silent activism, urging readers to slow down, observe, and engage with their surroundings.

Limitations and Reflections
While the book excels in its breadth, it occasionally sacrifices depth. The rapid succession of sketches and artists can feel overwhelming, leaving less room for an in-depth exploration of individual contributors’ processes or philosophies. However, this breadth also reflects the ethos of the Urban Sketchers movement—a celebration of inclusivity rather than exclusivity.

Conclusion
The Art of Urban Sketching is a triumphant ode to creativity, a manifesto for reclaiming the art of observation in a fast-paced world. Gabriel Campanario has not only curated a stunning collection of visual works but also fostered a sense of community among artists and readers alike. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in art, urbanism, or the poetic possibilities of the everyday.

Ultimately, Campanario’s work reminds us that the world is a canvas, waiting to be captured one sketch at a time.

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures of the book on my blog)

The book for the blog Urban Sketchers is finally out. I managed to get mine early at Basheer bookstore. While I was at the bookstore, I met my sketcher friends, with the books in their hands. Mine was the last copy on the shelf yesterday. The book should be in stock in February 2012.

Urban sketchers is a community of sketchers who share their sketches online. There are groups in various countries. I'm a follower of the main blog. I find it very interesting to be reading about places around the world, getting to know the streets through the eyes of people living or traveling there.

This book is 320 pages thick. For the price, it's a terrific bargain. There are over 500 sketches featured from artists all around the globe. The styles are incredibly varied, ranging from pencil sketches to watercolour paintings. Each artist has a personal style, and each sketch has a story to tell. Some of the artists are so good they should publish their own books. Gerard Michel is one of them.

There are three sections in the book. The first is the introduction on urban sketching. The second section showcases the different places drawn. That's the bulk of the book. And the third provides inspiration on where and what you can draw.

The location drawings are accompanied by artist profiles and drawing tips. I like the short stories on the sketches. Florian Afflerbach and his friends were drawing in Venice when the flood came and soak their feet. Nina Johansson documented the demolition of a public bath house, and the protest against the demolition.

Artist Joao Catarino has a sentiment that I share: Drawing everywhere is like traveling all the time. Sketching is one way to get the holiday mood all the time. I can look back at my sketches and remember vividly the places visited. I cannot say the same for travel photos I've taken. The experience is richer when you're not looking but studying a place. I wish I had started sketching earlier.

This is a fantastic book.

Highly recommended.

[Jadelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great sample of the international urban sketching movement that seems to be going on in larger cities. It shows plenty of variety of styles for ideas. Still, I was looking more more advice and technique as well as step-by-step examples, which wasn't the focus of this book.

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

some good examples of urban sketching, very few actual tips. not exactly a travel guide either. more a promotion of the website/idea of sketching.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tickled me as a lover of books, art, sketching, journals and travel.

There must be about a hundred different cities from around the world represented here, drawn by about as many different artists. It shows how there are more styles than you can imagine, colourful or monochrome, detailed or loose, fast or deliberate. It's a hobby and an art that requires very little gear, and if you don't know where to start, most artists' illustrations also include the tools used, brand names and all.

A fun book that offers awe and inspiration for anyone interested in journaling and sketching, either as an admirer, an expert or a beginner. Now excuse me, I just packed my own little kit and I want to do some sketches around town.

[Camilo Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an urban sketcher this book has been, by far, the more inspiring read I have found in the subject, not only it comes packed with technical, conceptual, and lets say "behavioral" tips, (actually useful ones), lists the tools and papers used for the artists, something that one always tend to wonder while contemplating artworks and ask, ¿how did they did this?, but also gives wonderful snippets of the lives of both the artist and cities portrayed, making you feel both in travel mode and sketch mode. Frequently seeing cities that I had the opportunity to visit and angrily wonder ¿why the hell didn´t I sketched there??? I may have taken photos but...

A really enjoyable read.

[Mathiwi · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was a bit disappointed : I was looking for tutorials, demonstrations, methods… but the book is about a movement, a manifesto. Interestingly I stepped upon couple painters whose work I love and which belong to this movement. I started reading again, with the intention to pay attention to the styles and tips and it was much more interesting, like a new book. There is a urban sketchers sections near me and I think I would like to try one day, so in its way the book inspired me.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less an instructional guide than a comprehensive showcase of urban (I.e., on the go, quickly rendered) sketches by a variety of artists around the world. Not a lot of tips, many of them trite, but overall very interesting to look at. I especially liked that each sketch was annotated with the kinds of pen and paper used, as well as how long it took to do.

[Abi Ghifari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just knew this book after reading its continuation "The World of Urban Sketching" by Stephanie Bower. Compared to its successor, the sketches selected in "The Art of Urban Sketching" feels a bit more raw, spontaneous, and unvarnished, which is probably the main idea of sketching on location: to be quick and true to the source of inspiration.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading this book always inspires me to draw. And I’ve traveled to Europe since I first it, and it was wonderful to see places I recognized from my travels. I definitely want to try sketching on my next trip

[Terrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good intro to urban sketcher by the man who started it all; good variety of images shared to inspire and show various styles.

[Proxima Das · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a showcase of various urban artists' works than an instructional guide on urban sketching

[alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

really well put together and great for artistic inspiration!

[Bonnie Arriola · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't what I thought it would be, but still enjoyable.

[Thewallofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

stannig

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for inspiration, this book is great.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must have! Very inspiring.

[Susan D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous inspiration, but too much for one book - it ended up getting very repetitive.

[Laura Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

[C.H. Svedén · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful sketches, but as a whole, the book got a bit repetative. The last half of the book I just skimmed through.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit advanced to me, might revisit when my skills getting better, no idea how long it will be

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! The sketches are wonderful and inspiring. I even gave one copy as a gift.