How to See Like an Artist

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!

Can you use negative shapes when urban sketching?

I have been having so much fun exploring them lately, and in today's video I show you how I focus on the space around a building to make the scene come to life. 

Using a reference photo, I start by blocking in the shapes of trees and foliage first, letting the house appear by what I do NOT draw. I use mark making, layering, and limited color to create depth and contrast.

If you want to come urban sketching with me, you can. I have a bunch of in-person workshops lined up for 2026 so we can draw on location together.

Materials I used in this video

• Green colored pencils (various shades, including light and dark green)

• Pencil sharpener

• Reference photo from Unsplash.com