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Urban Sketching: How to Capture Expressive Scenes Quickly

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Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)

Class Description:

Unlock the joy of urban sketching in this engaging class designed for artists of all skill levels! Join us as we explore the art of quickly capturing expressive scenes that bring life to your sketchbook. You'll learn techniques to simplify complex urban environments, use perspective effectively, and develop a spontaneous drawing style.Throughout this session, we'll delve into essential materials, practical techniques, and hands-on practice, enabling you to create beautiful sketches that convey the essence of the urban landscape. Whether you're a seasoned sketcher or just getting started, you'll leave inspired and ready to explore your surroundings with fresh eyes.

What You Will Learn:

  • Materials Overview: Discover the best sketchbooks, pens, and papers for urban sketching.
  • Perspective Basics: Quickly review 1-point and 2-point perspective, reinforcing how to create depth and realism in your work.
  • Dynamic Sketching: Explore techniques for sketching loosely while effectively capturing details, and learn how to choose focal points for your compositions.
  • Pen Techniques: Embrace the practice of pen drawing to build confidence in your lines, experimenting with hatching, cross-hatching, and line weight variations.
  • Hands-on Practice: Engage in a guided practice of sketching a simple urban scene.

Supplies You'll Need:

  • A sketchbook suitable for your preferred medium (preferably lightweight and portable)
  • A selection of pens (varying nib sizes and types of ink)

About Instructor

Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)

Shelby is the co-founder of Foxsy and the creator at Little Coffee Fox. She is a professional watercolorist, letterer, and artist with a passion for teaching others to reintroduce creativity back into their lives. Shelby lives in Chicago, IL with her husband Jon and her pets Summer, Basil, and Korra.

218 Classes

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Class Details:

  • 📊Level: Beginner
  • ⏰Time: 2 Hours, 5 Minutes

Class Pass includes:

  • ✓Lifetime Access To Class

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Join a thriving community of over 2,300 students, all united by a shared love for creativity. Together, let's paint a brighter, more creative future.

  • Access [coursetotal] courses with 350+ hours of content.
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  • Access the Watercolor Academy, Drawing Bootcamp, & Modern Lettering Academies.
  • Join weekly live classes.
  • Get personalized feedback on all projects.
  • Get real answers to your questions with Creative Support.
Access Everything Foxsy Has To Offer

Be Part of the Foxsy Revolution

Join a thriving community of over 2,300 students, all united by a shared love for creativity. Together, let's paint a brighter, more creative future.

  • Access [coursetotal] classes with 250+ hours of content.
  • Work through over 400 lessons and 70+ projects.
  • Access the Watercolor Academy, Drawing Bootcamp, & Modern Lettering Academies.
  • Join weekly live classes.
  • Get personalized feedback on all projects.
  • Get real answers to your questions with Creative Support.
Access Everything Foxsy Has To Offer

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Trusted By Over 2,300 Students Like You

  • “As a total beginner when I started, I’m amazed at the amount of skill and knowledge I gained. There’s a wide variety of courses so you can’t get bored.

    There’s always another challenge in the next class. Really appreciated the personal feedback when I submitted projects.
    Janet G
  • “I loved the Watercolor Academy I learned so much and have developed self-confidence in my ability as a budding "artist "

    (I 'm still getting used to this lol)”
    Gail P
  • "This is excellent.

    As a chronic copier of other people's art, the tips offered here will help me with my own creative process and prevent the block that I feel with "what next"."
    Carol R
  • “The Watercolor Academy was a great experience. I learned so much and was able to get feedback on my projects along the way. I feel like I accomplished something when all was completed.

    I would recommend (and I have) the Foxsy Watercolor Academy to others wanting to try out watercolors or improve on their skills.”
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    The projects turn out very pretty, and the instructor feedback is quick and helpful."
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  • “Very good and useful courses for those that want to start or improve their watercolor skills”
    Boryana
  • "This was so helpful! I loved the way Shelby broke down the basics in a succinct way and tips to use while practicing. Lastly, I appreciated Shelby mentioning that everyone is going to have a unique bounce lettering style.

    As someone who is new to brush lettering in general, I've been copying a lot of what I see. I need that consistent reminder to avoid potential frustration, especially as a beginner!"
    Kelsey
  • "I loved this course. I loved how it showed the lesson and then a project that corresponded with that project.

    The explanations were amazing and helpful and I really felt confident in doing the project. This was probably the best watercolor lesson I've ever taken and enjoyed."
    LG Woods
  • "I really enjoyed this course. Instructions and examples were clear and practical and the feedback was really kind and helpful.

    It has improved my lettering knowledge and given me confidence to keep practicing."
    Nic

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Join a thriving community of over 24,000 students, all united by a shared love for creativity. Together, let’s paint a brighter, more creative future.

Monthly Membership

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All Foxsy Memberships include:

  • Access to the full 250+ class library
  • Access to The Watercolor Academy, The Modern Lettering Academy & Drawing Bootcamp
  • Access to exclusive weekly live classes
  • Fox Den Community Access
  • Project feedback from Foxsy Pros
  • Unlimited creative support

Yearly Membership

$164 / year
Go Yearly

All Foxsy Memberships include:

  • Access to the full 250+ class library
  • Access to The Watercolor Academy, The Modern Lettering Academy & Drawing Bootcamp
  • Access to exclusive weekly live classes
  • Fox Den Community Access
  • Project feedback from Foxsy Pros
  • Unlimited creative support

Lifetime Membership

$599 Never pay a subscription fee again.
Get Lifetime Access

All Foxsy Memberships include:

  • Access to the full 250+ class library
  • Access to The Watercolor Academy, The Modern Lettering Academy & Drawing Bootcamp
  • Access to exclusive weekly live classes
  • Fox Den Community Access
  • Project feedback from Foxsy Pros
  • Unlimited creative support

Monthly Membership

$29 / month
Go Monthly

All Foxsy Memberships include:

  • Access to the full 250+ class library
  • Access to The Watercolor Academy, The Modern Lettering Academy & Drawing Bootcamp
  • Access to exclusive weekly live classes
  • Fox Den Community Access
  • Project feedback from Foxsy Pros
  • Unlimited creative support

Yearly Membership

$164 / year
Go Yearly

All Foxsy Memberships include:

  • Access to the full 250+ class library
  • Access to The Watercolor Academy, The Modern Lettering Academy & Drawing Bootcamp
  • Access to exclusive weekly live classes
  • Fox Den Community Access
  • Project feedback from Foxsy Pros
  • Unlimited creative support

Lifetime Membership

$599 Never pay a subscription fee again.
Get Lifetime Access

All Foxsy Memberships include:

  • Access to the full 250+ class library
  • Access to The Watercolor Academy, The Modern Lettering Academy & Drawing Bootcamp
  • Access to exclusive weekly live classes
  • Fox Den Community Access
  • Project feedback from Foxsy Pros
  • Unlimited creative support
All plans come with a 30-day Money Back Guarantee.
Cancel anytime in your dashboard.
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Foxsy is an art education platform with on-demand creative courses. It’s designed so you can explore and grow your artistic skills.

The courses contain in-depth lessons and step-by-step projects to fuel your creativity and give you the skills to create your own amazing art.

Here at Foxsy, we are working to build a platform where you can have everything you need to give your creativity everything it needs to thrive.

Right now, we are working on building the best collection of online courses around, so you have everything you need to learn the new skills you've been putting off (or help you dust off some old skills).

We're doing this by working with online creators who have been where you are. Our instructors have all decided to make their creativity a focus of their lives. To devote themselves to exploring their creativity and helping others do the same, and many of them are self-taught. Basically, they get it and can help you no matter where you are.

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Ratings and Reviews

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What's your experience? We'd love to know!
kolina-winburn
Posted 1 year ago
Live Class Review

I found this class more helpful than the hours of urban sketching videos that I have watched over the last few years. I really love how urban sketching encourages you to let loose and release perfectionism. This class is full of really great tips and ideas and includes a reminder section on the basics of perspective (which I know I always need!).

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barbaraeve
Posted 1 year ago
Live Class Review

This is the first Foxsy class I have taken, and I loved it! Shelby delivered an excellent class that covered the basics for beginners like me. I have always wanted to do urban sketching, but didn’t know how to begin. Now I know! Thanks, Shelby for the techniques, and especially your enthusiastic encouragement. I look forward to taking many more Foxsy classes.

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runningwater
Posted 1 year ago
Live Class Review

Most of this was all new to me. Very interesting, can't wait to practice!

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Lois
Posted 1 year ago
Live Class Review

I've yearned to urban sketch but didn't know how to begin. Now I do, and I'm so excited!

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LindaH
Posted 1 year ago
Live Class Review

It was a fun Class Shelly gave us a lot of really good tips on how to draw Houses and Buildings

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