Notes from an art journey? Wuzzat? Well, it’s different for every person. It’ll be dependent on your goals….is your art just for you and your mental or spiritual health? Recovering from an illness in your body and needing something to get you moving? Relaxing after a long day at work? Trying to make a living?

An art journey is the path an artist takes as they learn and grow and develop. It may or may not result in finding your “style” or inventing something so new and great that you make a million bucks with no effort. It may or may not get you to the place you’d like to be with your art – because it’s a journey. It’s got a progression to it, and as far as I know, we never fully arrive. Because the goal posts are always moving further forward.

In the video I’ll talk a little about my own journey. It’s been rocky of late, not because I’m not learning and growing my skills, but because being an artist in a rough economy is difficult. People are not opening pockets for anything beyond necessities until we get a sense of where prices are headed. I totally get that! But it still makes my artist life a challenge, just not one that’ll defeat me. 🙂

In today’s project I’ll show you some of the steps in creating an urban sketch – well maybe more than a sketch, but it still has that vibe! Pen and ink first, using Staedtler’s pigment pens to draw with, then the pigment brush markers.

Note, I’m not paid for this post or any other. Staedtler IS offering up a prize for one of YOU though, and they’ll share my work, that’s all I get out of this. Except for the fun of making the art!

Tutorial: Art Journey Notes | Urban Sketch with Staedtler pigment pens 

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

An inspiring “ad” video

I wish more ads were inspiring like this! Watch below — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there for Staedtler.

These pigment markers

I’ve created a number of projects with them, and they’re fun! They dry permanently so you can color over them once dry without making mud. But if you want the colors to blend, the blending liquid reactivates it! 

These pens make strong, vibrant art, or also can create some fine washy appearances too, depending on how much marker you apply, when you do so, and how much water you use. Pretty cool to get so much out of one product. 

Greens with browns

In my previous video, I talked about adding some browns to alcohol marker or watercolor – the same applies to any medium because it’s all color theory! Once you start to get a handle on what color can adjust another color, it becomes easy to make a drawing with colors that don’t exist on their own.

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The architectural elements

Creating shadows is what really makes buildings sing – which means you want to do your sketching when the sun is not directly overhead. Shadows are far more interesting when at an angle to your subject! Don’t forget to make plants in the shade a little duller and bluer than those in the sunshine.

Shadows on roads can REALLY make a drawing come alive! Adding the plants on the bottom right as well as a second unseen pole…..those made me so happy!

Interested in one of these sketches?

Maybe you know someone in St Augustine who needs this drawing. Or an LA resident who loves the location of the piece I drew at NAMTA! Tap on either pic to shop for it in the store.