This sketch of a sweet little home is an example of a rebel urban sketch that breaks all the rules - I did it from a photograph and never saw it in person. My daughter asked me to do an "urban sketch" as a housewarming gift for her coworker who had just bought her first home. How could I say no?
The Culture of Urban Sketch
When I first got involved with urban sketching, I noticed right away that they are a very inclusive group.
- Any age
- Anywhere in the world
- Any medium (ink, markers, water colours, pastels, etc.)
- All skill levels (including zero skill, which is where I started)
Everyone is welcome to join.
If you are newish to urban sketching the official site explains their mission, the backstory, and most importantly, the MANIFESTO. All this can be found at the link below.
Urban Sketching - Who We Are | Urban Sketchers
The Manifesto
The manifesto lays out the spirt of urban sketching as the founder, Gabriel Campanario, saw it.
The rules (summarized) are:
- Draw on location
- Tell the story
- Record time and place
- Be truthful
- Use any media
- Support and draw together
- Share online
- Show the world
Although there are eight rules in the manifesto, I would argue that the key aspect of urban sketching is that it happens on location and not from reference photos, or even from your memory of a place.
Subculture (than led to RUSK)
Shortly after becoming involved, I also became aware that there was a subculture to urban sketch that nobody said out loud.
A lot of people enjoyed urban sketching, but they were breaking the rules.
AND they felt guilty about it.
I noticed that sometimes:
- The sketch was made from a photo taken while on location.
- The sketch started on location, but got finished later at home.
- Beginners want to share their work that has come from a urban sketch course.
- People sketch from a photo taken at a location they had never visited, because the scene was so charming.
- Urban sketchers want to practice specific skills and sketched from references of the topic of focus (sketching people, landscapes or animals).
- Individuals live where the weather is not favorable (to cold, wet, hot, or buggy) to outside urban sketching but don't always want to sketch indoor scenes.
- Individuals have trouble with mobility, are home with the kids or caring for elder parents, etc. but still love urban sketching so sometimes do it from home.
No Judgement Here
These were urban sketchers who, for one reason or another, broke the rules.
I have broken the rules many times myself. Examples?
Travelling
I often wouldn't post a sketch to an online group because I used a reference photo taken while on my "sketchy" Canadian road trips in Vinny VAN Go.
It wasn't sketched while on location, but I had experienced the place and I really wanted that memory in my sketchbook.
Canadian Winters
During the long Canadian winters, it is too cold to hang outside and sketch a gorgeous ice & snow covered scene following a snow storm.
Easy fix. Snap a picture with my phone and sketch it in front of my fireplace!
RUSK - A Safe Space
Rebel urban sketching is simply a space where we can share our urban sketching adventures without following all the rules all the time.
- It's for the times we can't get on location.
- It's for when we are practicing to get better at "real" urban sketching.
- It's for when we want to share an urban sketch challenge with one another.
- It's for when we can't resist the image that is practically begging us to be sketched.
- It's for those of us who are isolated from others due to location, mobility, or social situations but still want to be a part of the urban sketch group.
I love urban sketching and will absolutely follow the manifesto...sometimes. The rest of the time I'm out here being a Rebel Urban Sketcher!
Stay Sketchy,
Nola
