11 Spots in your City that are just Perfect for Urban Sketching
Are you on the hunt for that perfect view to sketch this afternoon? Here's a list of places you can find in most cities and some towns that are definitely worth your time and effort. Especially if you're a little shy or just prefer to have some peace and quiet when you work, these locations will give you that.
For a detailed introduction on what Urban Sketching is, how it works and how to join in you can check out my article The ultimate Guide to Urban Sketching.
1 Religious buildings
The best thing about most religious buildings is that they were built with a lot of thought, care and dedication. Which makes them perfect subjects for your art.
Whether you're a believer or not, everyone can appreciate great craftsmanship and a grand design. I love drawing cathedrals but I am also not impartial to a nice mosque with those pretty round domes, or a Buddhist temple with all those intricate details.
You need not be religious to appreciate the beauty of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Unless there's currently a mass or other worship happening you'll find that often you're welcome to sketch inside as well. Though it’s often best to ask the priest, imam or whoever is in charge first.
One advantage of sketching inside religious buildings (other than the amazing architecture) is that due to the general customs and serene atmosphere people will rarely interrupt and try to talk to you. And it's super quiet. A very introvert-friendly place to work.
If you want some inspiration, sketching artist Ch'ng Kiah Kiean has really mastered architecture art and the temples and mosques of Malaysia are some of his favourite subjects.
2 Transport hubs
It can be difficult to draw people without making them uncomfortable. But on the other hand, if you ask to sketch someone they will almost always change their posture and appear less natural, even if it's a subconscious reaction.
So what do we do? We practice looking without staring. And that's easiest in places where people are too busy going about their day (or too tired) to notice what's going on around them.
I find train stations, where people might wait for their transport and especially airports ideal for that. The architecture is also usually grand, if not always pretty. Either will make for good sketching.
Visit my post How to quickly Sketch People without them noticing for more info on sketching in public.
3 Side streets
If you do want to sketch some architecture but are a bit uncomfortable with strangers around simply move away from areas with high foot traffic.
Even in the centre of your city, close to all amenities, there are always less busy side-streets where you can sit and draw for hours without too many disturbances.
Plus, such smaller streets can be super pretty with neat residential buildings and well cared-for gardens. Of course you'll want to avoid rush hour times where residents leave for or return from work.
All that said, while sketching in peace and quiet is great, take care not to move to very deserted, shady and potentially dangerous alleys just to escape the masses.
4 Cafés with a view
When I want to draw people in a relaxed atmosphere while being warm and comfy and sipping a cup of fancy hot chocolate I'll go to a café.
Ideally the place will have quiet nooks to sit comfortably and a little hidden, so it is not immediately apparent that you're sketching.
I have sketched many people in many cafés, without them being any the wiser. You can draw individuals or groups sitting in, often reading and not moving much, which is great if you're working slowly.
If you're lucky and find one of those great places with a view you can also sketch whatever you see outside, be it more people, buildings or a park. All from the safety of your cosy booth or padded chair.
5 Parks and botanic gardens
Most cities will have botanic gardens or at least a big park with semi-natural-looking greenery and some trees, rather than just a stretch of trimmed-down lawn.
In perfect weather I tend to avoid these places, because as soon as the sun's out and it's t-shirt temperature everyone and their mother will head for the only countryside-equivalent available in the city.
But before lunch or when it's still a bit chilly those places make for excellent sketching. Often you'll find special kinds of landscapes as well, such as a greenhouse, ponds or rock gardens.
You will be able to draw people, such as gardeners or dog walkers and usually a bit of wildlife, at least the odd squirrel. Due to the static poses outdoor yoga groups make for excellent subjects, but in this case you should probably ask for permission or it'll be super creepy.
For some great tips on working outdoors pop by my article 8 handy Tips for Drawing and Painting Outside.
6 Performing arts centres
I can't take credit for this idea as I've blatantly stolen it from Edgar Degas. He was so good at painting ballerinas because he spent a huge amount of time observing and sketching at rehearsals.
Any kind of theatre, opera, dance school (ballet, ballroom, contemporary), even concert halls are great for sketching practice. The music or reading will put you in the mood and your subjects, be it people or stage designs, are just super drawable.
Ballet Dancers Rehearsing (1877). Edgar Degas frequented ballet rehearsals to practice his skills and prepare for his beautiful paintings.
The best thing about sketching during performing arts rehearsals is that actors, dancers and musicians are used to being looked at, so no one will feel uncomfortable or disturbed by your presence.
You do of course need to ask permission to get inside and sketch during rehearsals, and not all venues will give it. In general I find that the smaller places are more likely to welcome you in, especially if you make it a once-in-a-while request.
7 Unpopular museums and galleries
Fact: if you sit in the middle of the national history museum, sketching the dinosaur skeletons, you and your work will become part of the exhibition.
A lot of visitors will stop and look over your shoulder and strike up conversations with you. That's because people visit museums and galleries specifically to look at things, which could include your sketches.
If you're even just a little bit shy that’s a situation to avoid, for sure. But you can try the less popular galleries and museums, with fewer people and less chance of becoming the attraction yourself. The existence of many of these places might be entirely new to you, but every city has them.
You might even discover a vast variety of super interesting artefacts that are almost better to sketch than those dusty old (but still a bit awesome) Parasaurolophus bones.
8 Libraries
Ah, libraries, what's not to like? They're they're quiet, cosy and they have that lovely smell of old books.
They're also fabulous for sketching. Of course not every place will look like the John Rylands Library in Manchester. But even the most ordinary library will give you ideal conditions to sketch perspective, with all those shelves arranged (usually) in a neat grid.
Libraries might not always be beautiful, but they are always great for perspective practice. And they’re quiet.
Just like in religious buildings in a library you will most likely not have to deal with onlookers, because it's a 'whisper and do-not-disturb' kind of location. They’re also lots of art-related books for inspiration and reference handy right there.
9 Shopping centres
I know, I know, lots of people, lots of noise, but hear me out. First of all they usually have lots of seats around for tired shoppers and yourself, sketching said shoppers.
They are also warm and have lots of shops and amenities, in case you get hungry or run out of paper. Most people will be busy with their shopping and not notice you, so you'll easily be able to do a few quick studies without fear of invading anyone's privacy.
By default shopping centres are quite big, so the architectural views will be worth drawing, too.
And if you don't care for the crowds and noises you can easily visit at less busy times or move to one of the higher floors with less popular shops.
10 Cemeteries
The most important thing first: cemeteries are not for sketching people. It’s never okay to sketch mourners, even if they don’t notice you. But other than that they really are amazing spots for urban sketchers.
There are great perspective views to be had of course. There's also a lot of detail on those tombstones if you manage to find one of the older cemeteries.
You can find a fair bit of greenery, from lovely old yew trees to fresh or wilted flowers. I have worked at quite a few cemeteries over the years, because they have benches, they're quiet and people do not usually talk to you.
I will agree that at first it sounds a bit morbid, but as long as you're respectful and do not disturb anyone there is nothing at all wrong with you being there.
11 Zoos and aquariums
It sounds counter-intuitive to want to sketch in peace and quiet in a place that people visit to look at things, but you can make due in zoos and aquariums with a few tricks.
Their varied animals, plants and enclosure-themes definitely make it worth the effort.
Naturally zoos are not cheap to get into, so this is a once-in-a-while type of location, but if you do manage to get there it’ll likely be a successful day.
From desert views to rain forests, you'll find everything in a good zoo, with indoor as well as outdoor locations, and lots of benches everywhere.
Zoo enclosures of “unpopular” animals are great for some sketching practice in peace and quiet.
The easiest way to avoid the crowds is to visit on weekdays that are a bit overcast (during short showers you can just move to the inside enclosures).
If you spend the whole day there, which I recommend since you're paying entry, you can move to the animals that are less popular during peak-hours. Yup, that means away from penguins and pandas and towards the antelopes and vultures.
Aquariums on the other hand are even better, because fish, jelly-fish and the lot make amazing subjects and the inside is usually dimly lit, so ideal for you to hide in a cosy corner and not be interrupted.
For more tips and tricks have a look at my other Urban Sketching articles.
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