This morning I was again sketching in The Charterhouse. I’ve wanted to sketch in Masters Court, which has a fine façade on the Great Hall. But when I got there I preferred this view of the dark North West corner. Also there was a convenient seat.
I thought this view would be simple, but it wasn’t. The angle of those two roofs was a challenge.
While I was drawing, Mark came to mend the paving. He removed a heavy section of stone, and reset it. He looked at what I was doing. I asked him whether I should put in the crane, which loomed above the roof, and whose motor was clearly audible in the quiet courtyard. “Well,” said Mark, “it’s there!”
So I put the crane in. Then I met Robin, who asked if I would put in the crane driver, who was also visible at that point. So yes, the crane driver is in there too.
Here’s the picture:
Here are some pictures of the painting in the location. You can see the colour of the stone. Also there is the picture in pen and ink before the colour went on.
1hour45minutes, drawn and coloured on location. Very cold (6 degrees C), but dry.
Jane Sketching 
I am following your blog and really enjoy receiving your entries. Do you go out sketching alone? I am an OAP in my 70s living in Tadworth, Surrey and would love to have a companion to sketch with. Any idea how I can go about finding someone around here- not London as journey is too inconvenient and expensive! I do attend a weekly art session at Sutton College of Learning for adults but nobody is interested there – they all want to paint pictures to hang on the wall! I even suggested a daytime sketching class to the art department to no avail! I requested Epsom library to host regular sketching events but was told I should organise it myself! I have bought several online sketching classes and am presently enrolled for Liz Steel’s excellent SketchingNow Watercolour class. Actually I want and need to go out and about but lack the confidence to do it on my own! So disappointing. Any advice would be appreciated as I do so want to sketch outdoors before I depart from this world! Many thanks and happy sketching! Best wishes. Mrs. Villoo Tollerman
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Hello Mrs Tollerman,
Thank you for following my blog, and for your interest in my work.
Yes, I sketch on my own, standing on a street corner, or sitting on a park bench, or looking out of a window.
I think if you would like to get started with urban sketching, you can just take your sketchbook with you on your daily rounds. I’ve done small sketches in the doctor’s waiting room, at the bus stop, or while waiting in an office reception area.
The main thing is just to do it. Walk outside your front door, find somewhere to sit down, and sketch what you see.
Here’s what I’ve learned, which may help you
1) Most people don’t notice you sketching. They have their own busy lives.
2) People like to see someone drawing. If they notice you, they are friendly and encouraging. People enjoy the fact that you are sketching the building where they live or work. Sometimes someone will stop and tell you about the place you are sketching. I’ve learned a lot about the locality from these passers-by. I enjoy this part of the experience.
3) It doesn’t have to take long. A quick sketch is perhaps half an hour. On a cold windy day, that’s about as long as I can tolerate anyway!
4) You don’t have to go far. I sometimes walk only a few yards from the entrance to the block of flats where I live, and sketch the streets.
5) You don’t have to go and “find a good view”. There’s something to be sketched wherever you are. Once I start drawing, I find the subject always has features of interest, even if it’s just a bunch of walking sticks in an NHS hospital storage bin, or the wall and roof of a warehouse.
6) Wrap up warm. Standing or sitting and drawing gets very cold. I have fingerless mittens for drawing.
7) Avoid taking a handbag or anything valuable if you go out to sketch. Just take your sketchbook and drawing kit. Then you can focus on your drawing.
So perhaps if you start off drawing on your own, you might find a companion. Someone will see you drawing and will approach. They might be looking for a companion artist too.
You obviously have already made good use of online resources. I find the urban sketching websites helpful and encouraging. You see the huge variety of things people sketch. Also you see that some sketches are quick and some are more considered.
http://www.urbansketchers.org
http://urbansketchers-london.blogspot.co.uk
They run “sketch crawls” where many people get together to sketch. I’ve never been on one of these, but they sound fun.
Winter is a tough time to start, but the cold weather does promote your rapid sketching technique. Or sit in a café and sketch the view from the window. Or the people at the counter. Or the coffee on the table….Or go to a concert in a church and sketch the architecture, the musicians, your fellow audience members……the world is full of people and places that need you to record them. I hope that you will have a go.
Let me know how you get on!
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