BOOKS

Grab a pencil & take a tour of The World of Urban Sketching

BY JANE WINGFIELD

Icould swear there were sparks emitting from my computer when I interviewed Stephanie Bower over Zoom about her new book, The World of Urban Sketching. She was so enthused to share the results of this project—collecting, cataloguing, organizing, and writing about work by 156 sketchers from 39 countries around the world to produce this 240-page book: “It was grueling, but I loved every minute of it.”

Like its predecessor The Art of Urban Sketching by Gabi Campanario, published a decade ago, it features sketchers from around the globe in a city-to-city tour, but the new book offers a ‘10 years later’ look at new sketchers and the worldwide expansion of the urban sketching phenomena. A few of the same artists from the first volume are also featured here, comparing their work Then & Now, and sharing wisdom about what they’ve learned along the way. There are also lots of sketches done during the COVID pandemic, as sketchers had to quickly pivot and get creative when they were required to stay at home in isolation.

This project started in March 2021 when Stephanie was asked by the publisher, Quarto, to take on writing the book. “We thought it would take four months, but it was actually a 16-month project, with 14 of those being seven days a week.... Coordinating so many artists and their work was a huge logistical challenge, but I loved it. I basically quit my job for three months and started doing research. I worked on it every day, but it was worth it.”

Stephanie started this project by going to the list of Urban Sketchers chapters on the USk website, then she went straight to Africa, contacting sketchers there. “I was so excited by their work.” On any given day she was communicating with people on four continents. “They would send examples of their work and when I’d open my email it would literally take my breath away. People sent me the most beautiful work. It kept me going during the pandemic.”

The book opens in Seattle, ground zero for the urban sketching movement. She walked me through most of the pages of the book as we spoke. I was wowed by the

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organizational undertaking demanded by the project. Often, she has written notes on the sketchers’ process, techniques, and even their “ah ha” moments. Every sketch has a list of all the materials used in making it, including paper and tools. Some sketchers are featured as ‘World Travel Sketchers’. All sections are color coded or distinguished by a special graphic feature.

Spotlight sections include Going to Extremes, Greens are Good for You, and Life in the Time of Covid. Stephanie says that the best part of putting the book together was sharing the stories of sketchers. The most difficult part was choosing what to select and what to leave out: “It was like being at a really fabulous buffet. There was so much great work and too few pages.”

Interviewed by Artist Magazine, Stephanie was asked, “What do you do when you get stuck?” Her answer is, “I look at the work of other people. It gives me ideas to try something new. This book has inspired me, and now I find I’m changing things such as the way I apply color or leave the sky white, changes that are being integrated into my own work.”

Reflecting on the whole project she said, “It was really cool to spend some time thinking about how Urban Sketchers has evolved. I think there are several reasons why urban sketching has grown so much in the past decade. People want to be part of an artistic community that’s supportive and nonjudgmental. Also, the act of sketching is like a form of meditation. Afterwards you physically and mentally feel good.” As she says in the introduction, it starts with grabbing a pencil and starting the journey.

“SKETCHING IS POWERFUL BECAUSE IT’S NOT ABOUT CREATING A PERFECT PIECE OF ART, IT’S ABOUT DOCUMENTING AN EXPERIENCE. WHETHER YOU’RE SKETCHING A FAMOUS LANDMARK OR THE BARISTA WHO MADE YOUR LATTE IN YOUR LOCAL CAFÉ, OR ... THE MESS IN YOUR BASEMENT DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, ALL ARE SNAPSHOTS OF OUR LIVES THAT HOLD A PROFOUND PERSONAL MEANING. IN SKETCHING YOU ARE CREATING A RECORD OF YOUR LIFE.” From The World of Urban Sketching

2022 HOLIDAY BOOKS

LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? HERE ARE SOME MORE EXCITING NEWLY PUBLISHED TITLES...

NEW YORK REAWAKENS BY RITA SABLER

THE WORLD OF URBAN SKETCHING BY STEPHANIE BOWER ANYONE CAN SKETCH - VOL 2 BY NIRAJ GUPTA

CONTEMPORARY WATERCOLOUR ON THE GO BY MARION RIVOLIER