Urban Sketching

Spontaneous snapshots full of character:
Created directly on location, these lively sketches capture atmosphere, movement, and architecture in quick brushstrokes. Discover brushes for urban sketching worlds now!

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Urban Sketching – Drawing the World on Location

Urban sketching is far more than a drawing trend – it is a global movement of artists who capture life, architecture, and everyday scenes directly on location using pen, brush, and paper. Since its founding in 2007 by journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario, urban sketching has grown from a small online community into a worldwide network that connects people in over a hundred countries. Its guiding principle, “We show the world, one drawing at a time,” reflects the honest and immediate recording of moments and places we might otherwise have overlooked.

Urban Sketchers International Symposiums

A central element of this scene is the Urban Sketchers International Symposiums – annual gatherings where sketchers from around the world come together to draw, learn, and share experiences. These symposiums offer inspiring workshops, demonstrations, sketchwalks, and lectures, serving as a meeting point for a diverse and creative community.

A very special event is coming up in 2026: the 14th International Urban Sketchers Symposium will take place from July 15–18 in Toulouse, France – the “Ville Rose,” known for its warm terracotta streets, lively squares, and rich architectural heritage. Here, the international sketching community will meet for four days of exchange, city walks, and shared drawing sessions

The brush as a central tool

Urban sketching thrives on spontaneous observation and the direct translation of impressions—and the brush plays a central role in this process. It brings life, depth, and expression to sketches. Whether through softly flowing watercolor washes, nuanced shadows, or expressive lines, the right brush makes fleeting moments tangible and reveals stories that often remain hidden when using pencil alone.

Discover our new travel brushes now

3, 2, 1… GO! Start painting on the go with ease using the new da Vinci GO travel brushes:

Sets & signature brushes with urban sketching artists

The artist Gris has been drawing for as long as he can remember—and has never stopped. For over three decades, he has refined his distinctive style, which accompanies him from daily sketches on the train to large-scale watercolor, acrylic, and mixed-media works.

Illustrator, draughtsman, and university professor Felix Scheinberger is considered one of the most influential figures in the Urban Sketchers movement in Germany and across Europe. With books such as Mut zum Skizzenbuch (Courage to Sketch) and Wasserfarbe für Gestalter (Watercolor for Designers), he has inspired countless people to combine color and line in a spontaneous way.

Small—but made for big impact

Thanks to their short handles, our XS brushes let you work up close in your sketchbook, making it easy to paint fine details with precision.

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