Urban Sketching in the Jewellery Quarter Workshop

Urban Sketching in the Jewellery Quarter with Ed Isaacs PRBSA.

Urban sketching is a great way of getting to know your town – its architecture and townscape. It is also an immensely satisfying way of developing your drawing skills either individually, or as part of the wider urban sketching community.

This one-day workshop will help you discover Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter and its unique mix of 19th century industry, shops, bars, and housing. We will spend time outdoors sketching and Ed will look at issues such as tackling perspective, understanding architecture, and developing your personal drawing style. We will look at many of the buildings that feature in Ed’s book about the Jewellery Quarter and he will talk about their history and the history of the area in general.

The course will involve walking will not be suitable for people who have very limited mobility

Age group and abilities to be taught    

• 18 years and above
• Ideal for beginners and experienced artists

Course aims and skills/knowledge to be taught

• Developing confidence with sketching from direct observation
• Understanding building forms and perspective

Course outline for the day

Morning activity

• Short presentation on perspective
• Sketching on site in the Jewellery Quarter
• Return to Gallery to share work and receive feedback

Afternoon activity

• Return to sketching on site in neighbouring streets looking at architectural details and drawing natural forms and foliage
• Return to Gallery to share work and receive feedback

What you need to bring with you:

• Sketchbooks and something to sketch with; pens, pencils, or coloured pencils, whatever suits you
• A sketching stool if you have one
• Appropriate clothing for being outside

Methods of assessing outcomes

• Feedback from tutor