Wow did I need that today, or what!? I recently drew something (a biscuit) not only did I compare myself to others (who had drawn better biscuits), I then found that urban sketchers are “supposed “ to work outside at all times, so I thought my sketches count for nothing. I can’t always get out, so I felt disheartened. I was really down on my stuff, and I haven’t put pen to paper for a few days. Watching this, it’s really helped. Yes, things can be done, and you’ve done brilliantly, you truly are an artist - of life, as well as on paper! Thanks so much Donald, and thanks also for being so open and honest. 🖌🎨🖌🖌🖌
Amazing, so pleased it clicked with you. I like the spirit and idea of sketching outdoors but it’s not for everyone for all sorts of reasons, so yeah I say just do your own thing and try to enjoy it. I like to use the term sketch artist as it doesn’t come with any rules attached. The important thing I keep reminding myself is that sketching is about expressing my creativity, not about whether I am indoors or outdoors when I do it. And keep drawing biscuits 😀 Cheers, Donald.
A truly inspiring video. You have a unique style of sketching, which clearly shows that you can create original artwork. I originally got into artwork, first through Zentangle drawings, while not being able to sleep at night due to steroids I had to take as part of chemotherapy treatment. That was over 5 years ago now, and thankfully life has given me another chance. However, almost immediately after completing chemotherapy and then moving from the UK to Spain, a kind of post-chemo depression hit me. This led me me to get back into practising Tai Chi. With renewed positivity I began to get interested in watercolour painting, having watched a 5-minute beginners video on UA-cam channel Watercolour by Shibasaki (which was only in Japanese at the time) and then discovered urban sketching about a year ago. I'm particularly interested to hear about people's personal motivation for creating art. I do believe it has a transformative effect on our well-being, no matter what challenges we may have to deal with. Subscribed!
Hi Mark, thanks so much, appreciate that! Thank you for sharing your story, I love hearing how people have turned to art as a form of therapy, very inspiring. Great to hear you came through it, can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been. Funny you mentioned zentangle, I had never heard of it until last week. The point of it does sound very much along the lines of why I do art and sketching, I might give it a go sometime. Thanks for subscribing! Cheers, Donald.
Hi Mark! So glad that you’re through the chemo! You asked what got others into art - I have always drawn, and then when I got visual vertigo it became very important as it was the only thing I can concentrate on, as it gives me focus, and doesn’t move! Now it’s something I (try) to do every day. It’s very interesting to find out the journey of others in relation to art.
@@UrbanSketchy it surely does resonate. I have watched some more videos on your channel and I love love the way you are thinking. I totally echo your ideas of drawing for the fun of it and particularly that of laughing at mistakes. I am a beginner sketcher, I find myself in your story how you discovered urban sketching. I haven't yet found a personal style and I still struggle with the ideas you share, because of the limitations and blocks in my head. They surely have deep strong roots. I said that you are very inspirational: I literally reached out for the sketchbook and sketched after watching a couple of your videos. So, thank you again!
It’s definitely not easy at the beginning, I was clueless at the start and almost gave up, most of the time it seemed all I was doing was ruining sheets of paper! This was probably as recent as 9 months ago. Stick at it, you’ve got the right idea for the mindset side of things, that helps keep you going until it eventually starts to click 🙂 I like the saying that TV painter Bob Ross always used, “There’s no such thing as mistakes, there’s only happy little accidents”.
For me I sometimes get discouraged to sketch because I feel left out from the urban sketching community(as I am busy with school and other thing s I can't sketch on location) and I don't sketch for weeks at all. This video made me realise that "The rules of art" are just for fancy or formal artists and that it isn't law. Thanks for the video
Hi! Glad to hear it connected with you. Yeah just do whatever works for you, my only rule is that there are no rules 🙂 Sketching on location is great when you’re able to and have the time, but using photos is a brilliant way to practice too, I certainly wouldn’t let what others are doing put you off. Cheers, Donald.
I always heard that urban sketch was supposed to be outside. I have a disability that makes walking around very hard and seeing “right “ is challenging. So it’s very comforting to see your work. It’s beautiful. My goal is to draw as half as good as you. Thanks for the encouragement 🫶🏼
The original idea of urban sketching was certainly to draw on location, but I do think it would be good if we could evolve that a little bit. Like your own experience, not everyone can manage to do that, for all sorts of reasons. The pandemic has also changed things, people are much more used to sketching at home now. I prefer to encourage people to do what works for them rather than tell them their way is wrong. Thanks for sharing, and for your kind feedback, appreciate it 🙂
Thank you, this is a very warm and open message. I'm a wheelchair user, my local USk group is very open and accepting to me, though sometimes the locations we go to are not accessible to me. Sadly this country is very hostile towards disabled people. But at least the communit is lovely
Thank you, very happy that you found this video of value. That’s great to hear your local sketch group is welcoming, it makes a big difference in a world where you can be treated like an outsider. Hope you continue to sketch and enjoy it. All the best.
Fantastic video Donald, I love what you are doing here. I’ve just ordered the book you recommend. I am an absolute beginner, and delighted to have found you.
Bless you Donald, thank you for sharing your story in this video. You have a super attitude, and a lovely sense of humour. (PS, my late great uncle Ian McGregor was manager of Glenmorangie distillery) . Well done for creating this channel, and finding a unique and quirky style that works for you.
Very nice to hear that, thank you. I haven’t made any videos for about a year now but it’s nice to know they’re still being found occasionally. I will raise a glass to your great uncle then! 🥃
@UrbanSketchy Aw, I hope you're keeping okay. I just discovered your channel so I'm having a wee binge-watch. I'm a Scottish Artist/Urban Sketcher too. Take care 🤗
Love what you're doing here hemiplegic after stroke so challenging to fulfil the whole urban sketching methods eg hard to get out live in a care home i dont have all the equipment yet i have a police style notepad because its slim and tucks into a little bag attached to the arm of my wheelchair its thin lined paper so not ideal ok for mini sketches not very big also golf pencils about half size of standsrd pencil with eraser on end so no need for separate eraser i might bend the rules a bit such as using photos but original mini sketches done on location sometimes i draw inside the care home in the communal dining room so another rule ill be bending is what counts as on location i read a definition of urban sketching that just said drawing what we see around us by direct observation which does for me its just to make it easier on myself i dont get out to grand places the care home i live in has extensive grounds and is on a main road so some rich pickings if interpretation is liberally applied i dont have a paint set yet im stuck with just graphite pencil at the moment but ive been out in the cold and sat at the gates with cars whizzing by on the road outside so i think i earned a bit of a right to consider it urban sketching im just starting out so ive a long way to go before i get to doing it to its fullest meaning im so glad to have found you im inspired a fellow urban sketcher with a disability i am on facebook and look out for others there is great whst youre doing hope you dont mind my tagging along for the ride
Thanks for your message, that’s great you are getting a lot of benefit from sketching. You’re right, any drawing from observation fits the urban sketching definition, but drawing from photos is also fun and is still art. The benefits of doing it are the same. Hope you continue to be inspired 🙂
Well that just made my day 😊 Thanks so much. Certainly never been called awesome before! I’m Scottish and live in Scotland, but I do also have Irish citizenship, so you’re half correct. Thank you for subscribing, appreciate it! Cheers, Donald.
Wow did I need that today, or what!? I recently drew something (a biscuit) not only did I compare myself to others (who had drawn better biscuits), I then found that urban sketchers are “supposed “ to work outside at all times, so I thought my sketches count for nothing. I can’t always get out, so I felt disheartened. I was really down on my stuff, and I haven’t put pen to paper for a few days. Watching this, it’s really helped. Yes, things can be done, and you’ve done brilliantly, you truly are an artist - of life, as well as on paper! Thanks so much Donald, and thanks also for being so open and honest. 🖌🎨🖌🖌🖌
Amazing, so pleased it clicked with you. I like the spirit and idea of sketching outdoors but it’s not for everyone for all sorts of reasons, so yeah I say just do your own thing and try to enjoy it. I like to use the term sketch artist as it doesn’t come with any rules attached. The important thing I keep reminding myself is that sketching is about expressing my creativity, not about whether I am indoors or outdoors when I do it.
And keep drawing biscuits 😀
Cheers, Donald.
A truly inspiring video. You have a unique style of sketching, which clearly shows that you can create original artwork.
I originally got into artwork, first through Zentangle drawings, while not being able to sleep at night due to steroids I had to take as part of chemotherapy treatment.
That was over 5 years ago now, and thankfully life has given me another chance. However, almost immediately after completing chemotherapy and then moving from the UK to Spain, a kind of post-chemo depression hit me. This led me me to get back into practising Tai Chi. With renewed positivity I began to get interested in watercolour painting, having watched a 5-minute beginners video on UA-cam channel Watercolour by Shibasaki (which was only in Japanese at the time) and then discovered urban sketching about a year ago. I'm particularly interested to hear about people's personal motivation for creating art. I do believe it has a transformative effect on our well-being, no matter what challenges we may have to deal with. Subscribed!
Hi Mark, thanks so much, appreciate that! Thank you for sharing your story, I love hearing how people have turned to art as a form of therapy, very inspiring. Great to hear you came through it, can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been.
Funny you mentioned zentangle, I had never heard of it until last week. The point of it does sound very much along the lines of why I do art and sketching, I might give it a go sometime.
Thanks for subscribing!
Cheers, Donald.
Hi Mark! So glad that you’re through the chemo!
You asked what got others into art - I have always drawn, and then when I got visual vertigo it became very important as it was the only thing I can concentrate on, as it gives me focus, and doesn’t move! Now it’s something I (try) to do every day. It’s very interesting to find out the journey of others in relation to art.
I can not express in words how grateful I am for finding your channel. And for you making this stuff.
Very humbling to hear, thank you. Great to know it’s resonating with you, makes all the effort worthwhile.
@@UrbanSketchy it surely does resonate. I have watched some more videos on your channel and I love love the way you are thinking. I totally echo your ideas of drawing for the fun of it and particularly that of laughing at mistakes. I am a beginner sketcher, I find myself in your story how you discovered urban sketching. I haven't yet found a personal style and I still struggle with the ideas you share, because of the limitations and blocks in my head. They surely have deep strong roots.
I said that you are very inspirational: I literally reached out for the sketchbook and sketched after watching a couple of your videos. So, thank you again!
It’s definitely not easy at the beginning, I was clueless at the start and almost gave up, most of the time it seemed all I was doing was ruining sheets of paper! This was probably as recent as 9 months ago. Stick at it, you’ve got the right idea for the mindset side of things, that helps keep you going until it eventually starts to click 🙂 I like the saying that TV painter Bob Ross always used, “There’s no such thing as mistakes, there’s only happy little accidents”.
@@UrbanSketchy I love his saying. And I heavily rely on it 😀
This video is far more valuable than any ‘instructional’ video I have ever watched 🙏
Wonderful! Thanks for the feedback 😊
For me I sometimes get discouraged to sketch because I feel left out from the urban sketching community(as I am busy with school and other thing s I can't sketch on location) and I don't sketch for weeks at all. This video made me realise that "The rules of art" are just for fancy or formal artists and that it isn't law.
Thanks for the video
Hi! Glad to hear it connected with you. Yeah just do whatever works for you, my only rule is that there are no rules 🙂 Sketching on location is great when you’re able to and have the time, but using photos is a brilliant way to practice too, I certainly wouldn’t let what others are doing put you off. Cheers, Donald.
@@UrbanSketchy Thanks😊
Very welcome 🙂
I always heard that urban sketch was supposed to be outside. I have a disability that makes walking around very hard and seeing “right “ is challenging. So it’s very comforting to see your work. It’s beautiful. My goal is to draw as half as good as you. Thanks for the encouragement 🫶🏼
The original idea of urban sketching was certainly to draw on location, but I do think it would be good if we could evolve that a little bit. Like your own experience, not everyone can manage to do that, for all sorts of reasons. The pandemic has also changed things, people are much more used to sketching at home now. I prefer to encourage people to do what works for them rather than tell them their way is wrong. Thanks for sharing, and for your kind feedback, appreciate it 🙂
Thank you, this is a very warm and open message.
I'm a wheelchair user, my local USk group is very open and accepting to me, though sometimes the locations we go to are not accessible to me. Sadly this country is very hostile towards disabled people. But at least the communit is lovely
Thank you, very happy that you found this video of value. That’s great to hear your local sketch group is welcoming, it makes a big difference in a world where you can be treated like an outsider. Hope you continue to sketch and enjoy it. All the best.
Fantastic video Donald, I love what you are doing here. I’ve just ordered the book you recommend. I am an absolute beginner, and delighted to have found you.
Thanks very much Jack. That’s great you ordered the book, hope you find it helpful 🙂
I really needed to hear this, thank you.
Hi Linda-Marie. You’re very welcome, happy to hear it was helpful.
Cheers, Donald.
Bless you Donald, thank you for sharing your story in this video. You have a super attitude, and a lovely sense of humour. (PS, my late great uncle Ian McGregor was manager of Glenmorangie distillery) . Well done for creating this channel, and finding a unique and quirky style that works for you.
Very nice to hear that, thank you. I haven’t made any videos for about a year now but it’s nice to know they’re still being found occasionally.
I will raise a glass to your great uncle then! 🥃
@UrbanSketchy Aw, I hope you're keeping okay. I just discovered your channel so I'm having a wee binge-watch. I'm a Scottish Artist/Urban Sketcher too. Take care 🤗
I’m doing grand thanks. Lovely to meet a fellow Scottish sketcher. Enjoy your binge watching, hope it doesn’t get too repetitive 😅
Love what you're doing here hemiplegic after stroke so challenging to fulfil the whole urban sketching methods eg hard to get out live in a care home i dont have all the equipment yet i have a police style notepad because its slim and tucks into a little bag attached to the arm of my wheelchair its thin lined paper so not ideal ok for mini sketches not very big also golf pencils about half size of standsrd pencil with eraser on end so no need for separate eraser i might bend the rules a bit such as using photos but original mini sketches done on location sometimes i draw inside the care home in the communal dining room so another rule ill be bending is what counts as on location i read a definition of urban sketching that just said drawing what we see around us by direct observation which does for me its just to make it easier on myself i dont get out to grand places the care home i live in has extensive grounds and is on a main road so some rich pickings if interpretation is liberally applied i dont have a paint set yet im stuck with just graphite pencil at the moment but ive been out in the cold and sat at the gates with cars whizzing by on the road outside so i think i earned a bit of a right to consider it urban sketching im just starting out so ive a long way to go before i get to doing it to its fullest meaning im so glad to have found you im inspired a fellow urban sketcher with a disability i am on facebook and look out for others there is great whst youre doing hope you dont mind my tagging along for the ride
Thanks for your message, that’s great you are getting a lot of benefit from sketching. You’re right, any drawing from observation fits the urban sketching definition, but drawing from photos is also fun and is still art. The benefits of doing it are the same. Hope you continue to be inspired 🙂
Donald. You are awesome. Thanks for sharing about yourself. Are you Irish... live in Ireland? Love your work.Just subscribed!
Well that just made my day 😊 Thanks so much. Certainly never been called awesome before! I’m Scottish and live in Scotland, but I do also have Irish citizenship, so you’re half correct. Thank you for subscribing, appreciate it! Cheers, Donald.