ROVING JAY

Urban Sketchers Org daily prompt list calendar for January 2026

Day Nineteen of a 365-day people sketch challenge, supplementing my daily Earthsworld Challenge experiment with skin tones, with my first attendance of the Pencils4tea speed sketching event.

Four more days of a 365-day people sketch challenge. Using different styles for the Earthsworld Challenges, including a tonal study. Plus a travel journal sketch of people at the checkout during the pre-Christmas rush.

Refining my urban sketchers watercolour palette for 2026, by replacing Indigo Blue with Cobalt Blue. Exploring the way to mix replacements for my premixed greens. Discovering if I really have a use for my Phthalo Green.

So you’ve started your figures too long on the page, and you don’t have room to sketch the feet? It’s a common problem. Here’s a review of how to use ink lines and watercolour to approach the problem of running out of room at the bottom of the page when people sketches. My thoughts on which approach works best, and what doesn’t look good.

Day Fourteen of a 365-day people sketch challenge, exploring colour combinations and personal interpretations rather than exact replicas of reality. Plus sketches inspired by photos from Cordoba with dynamic focal points, and a speed sketching event.

In my ongoing 365 Day Challenge, I sketched during a trip to Córdoba, Spain. I sketched from photos. I explored different sketching styles, balancing detailed and loose, based on the urgency of the situation.

On Day Nine of the #Kick365 sketching challenge, I focused on a portrait from the Drawing Earthsworld Challenge. I used a triad of Opera Rose, Indian Red, and Cobalt Turquoise Light for skin tones. The outcome was a range of subtle colours with pleasing granulation

How I started my 10 minute daily people sketching practice, and some tips and inspiration for starting your own sketching habit.

What happens if you lost your way as an artist? It’s time to stop scrolling, and focus on your core interests.

Feature Sketch: my Urban Sketch of a man with big ears at a cafe in Tavira Looser Urban Sketching Lines…

Day eight of my people sketching challenge I attended the Drawing Is Free speed sketching event, and did the Earthsworld Portrait Challenge.

Day 7 of the 365 day challenge doing two days of the Earthsworld Challenge. An emphasis on colour palettes for skin and hair colour, and creating colour harmony between the face and the clothing to ensure a clear focal point.

On Day Six of my people sketching challenge, I sketched people in a café, and considered how to find the story I want to tell. I also sketched people at the till in a supermarket.

On day five of the people sketching challenge, I sketched from a video and share a creative tracker that helped to focus creative intentions and activities. I also did the Earthsworld Portrait Challenge.

In day four of the #Kick365 challenge, I focused on an Earthsworld portrait and a clothing folds tutorial. I also did a tribute sketch of the poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

On day three of the #Kick365 sketching challenge, I explored sketching people with ink and watercolor while practicing portrait techniques. I experimented with skin tones and adopted a new approach to drawing portraits by prioritising overall outlines. Drawing Earthsworld Challenge Portrait, and Live Zoom Portrait session with Dylan.

The start of my new 365 day sketching challenge, where I’m focusing on Sketching People in Ink and Watercolour. Here’s the first two days, with tips on where to find inspiration for people sketches. Some Drawing Earthsworld Challenge Portraits and a local urban sketch of people.

New beginnings. A fresh start to building skills for urban sketching people by putting a methodical plan in place for sketching focal point people, supporting character people, and background shapes for context and scale.

How to use watercolour backgrounds in your sketches to supplement the story you’re trying to convey.

The post promotes live online portrait drawing sessions, emphasizing their benefits for developing observation skills and hand-eye coordination. It provides a schedule for various sessions hosted by artists like Chloe Briggs, Dylan Sara, and Kirsty Lockhart, detailing the days, times, and costs associated with each session.

A roundup of the Draw This In Your Style challenges I attempted this week including a couple of floral adorned buildings.

Back to gesture drawing with short timed poses from Gesture Drawing Party on YouTube. Good practice for Urban Sketching.

What is Ink and Wash style of urban sketching and where can you go to find inspiration for developing your line and wash style.