Feature Image: My quick and loose interpretation of carrot people

Etchr Labs Tutorials

If you haven’t already discovered the fabulous array of art classes offered by Etchr Labs, you’re missing out. They have a website offering group tutorials and master classes based on a class-by-class or annual subscription model, but they also host free mini workshops on YouTube as a way to introduce the artists and what they cover in their paid-for tutorials, and occasionally post class previews.

Here’s the class preview for Andrey Shmatnik’s “People and Urban Sketching in Different Scenarios”

You know me, I love drawing people. I’d already discovered Andrey on Instagram, so I was excited to watch the three videos that made up this tutorial. I made notes and sketched out little examples of figures to practice his approach, and also includes some of my own notes and ideas.

Sketching Carrot People

I’ve watched so many tutorials on this topic, but I’m always interested to see what another artist can bring to the table on this well-worn topic.

What I Liked: Andrey covered in detail about the different in carrot people figures based on whether they would appear in the background, mid-ground, or foreground. This was a really good overview to put one key point in context – that the further away a figure is, the less detail you need to include. This is the same concept for any subject or object you’re drawing when you’re trying to create a depth of field and perspective in your sketches.

What I Didn’t Agree with: Although his overview of the three different groups of people in a sketch was an instructional concept, it really depends on the size of paper you’re sketching on. So although his cheat sheet works for his approach to sketching, adapt his guidelines based on the size of sketches you want to create.

Andrey also showed a collection of practice people sketches that were a lot bigger than his carrot people (around 10cm) and said urban sketchers never use these size of people in urban sketches.

I’m an urban sketcher, and sometimes I like drawing bigger figures in the foreground. My style of sketching is usually to make the people the focus of the sketch and not the surrounding urban landscape.

I’m not bashing Andrey – I love his urban sketching style and have enjoyed all of his tutorials. But My input: Just because a specific style or technique isn’t common practice, doesn’t mean you can’t push the boundaries and forge your own path. It’s up to us as artists to experiment and take risks.

What else was covered in this Urban Sketching Tutorial?

The rest of Andrey’s tutorial covered how lifework helps to define your style, how to practice proportions, and how he approaches a sketch. Overall it was a really information tutorial and I’d recommend it if you’re looking to develop your people sketching skills. Check out Andrey Shmatnik‘s tutorials on Etchr.

Follow Andrey Shmatnik on Instagram

Andrey Shmatnik’s Free Mini Workshop on YouTube

I’ve been introduced to an inspiring array of urban sketching artists through Etchr’s free mini workshops on YouTube. If you’re unsure about paying a subscription or buying one of Andrey’s longer classes, here’s his free mini workshop on YouTube. The focus is more about the buildings, but he does include some content about the value and adding people to your sketches.