Gouache and go: Faster Urban Sketching with Murray Dewhurst

International Urban Sketching Week 2025

#UskWeek2025 #urbansketchers

Top 3 Sketching Tips from Murray Dewhurst

1. Start with Shadows
   Begin your sketch by painting in the shadows with diluted neutral gouache. This builds strong value structure and depth from the start—no need to pencil things in first.
2. Hold Your Sketchbook at Eye Level
   Sketching with your book held beside the scene (not on your lap) makes it easier to judge shapes and values accurately, improving proportions and perspective.
3. Trust the Process—no pencil required
   Resist the urge to reach for your pen. Let values and colour do the defining work. It’s faster, more expressive, and often leads to surprisingly complete sketches.

Sketching with Murray Dewhurst: Shadows, Gouache, and the Joy of Process

We kicked off International Urban Sketchers Week (1–7 May) with something special—an afternoon with Murray Dewhurst, a founding member of Urban Sketchers Auckland and a truly inspiring artist. Nearly 20 of us gathered in Stable Lane, Eden Terrace, drawn by Murray’s relaxed “Values Workshop” and the chance to sketch alongside him.

Eden Terrace is a sketcher’s dream and Stable Lane in particular is a favourite of Murray’s, especially for the backs of old shops and repurposed stables—perfect for exploring shape, light, and depth.

Murray has developed a brilliant, efficient technique over time, especially helpful for those of us juggling kids, jobs and finding time to  mow lawns! Instead of starting with pencil or pen, he picks up a water brush with diluted gouache from his palette and begins with shadows. Just shadows. He showed us how forgiving gouache can be: rubbing marks with his fingers, scrubbing them with a brush of water to remove marks, paining over previous strokes to obliterate them.

Layering a neutral tint, he builds depth by darking the intensity of the value of his trokes before even touching colour. He noticed, in fact, that just using this technique you can end up with a wonderful painting and just call it a day. But once that foundation of neutral layers of values is in place, colour can be added—especially Murray’s signature vivid sky blue, applied with his dedicated ‘blue’ water brush only used for blue to avoid muddy mixes (I assume, I didn’t actually ask him).

Murray holds his sketchbook up at eye level, right beside the scene he is drawing. He says it makes comparing shapes and values easier. “It’s almost like tracing the scene,” he said. It’s a subtle change, but it really helped me see differently and it really did help.

I’ll admit, it was hard to stick with the process—my pen hand was itching! But I stayed with the brush, layering tone after tone, then some colour. When I got home, I finally saw what Murray had been telling me: I had created depth, without needing any ink lines at all.

We worked on some kind of tinted paper—Murray had a brown craft-paper sketchbook, others used grey paper, and I brought along a cracker box and used the cardboard inside which was a light browny-grey colour. It was a very forgiving surface and it worked a treat! As a bonus many of us ended up with leaf litter in our paint boxes too, thanks to the cool autumn breeze.

This was my first time using gouache, and I loved how it reactivates like watercolour (make sure you get the non-acrylic kind). I used my round waterbrush a lot, and after borrowing Murray’s square-tipped blue-only brush, I definitely want one of those. It felt like carving sky into the scene and I really admired my brushwok.

Best of all, I finished a sketch on location—finished! That almost never happens for me. This method is faster, loosened me up a lot, and created far more energy in line and colour than I normally see in my work. I’ll be squeezing some gouache into a spare palette and taking this approach out again soon.

Key takeaway for me is to trust the process when trying new things. You might just surprise yourself!

Michelle Park is a member of Urban Sketchers Auckland. This post reflects her personal experiences from Murray Dewhurst’s Values Workshop as part of the Urban Sketchers International Week hosted by Urban Sketchers Auckland in April 2025

Urban sketching in New Plymouth: Lessons from a weekend of drawing

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of joining fellow sketchers for "That Weekend in New Plymouth" hosted by Urban Sketchers Taranaki. The event brought together Urban Sketchers from across NZ including Wellington, Lower Hutt, Hawkes Bay, Taupo, Tauranga, Auckland — and of course, the local Taranaki sketchers — for three days of creativity, community, and capturing unique views of New Plymouth's beautiful landmarks.

A curated experience

First, I must extend my heartfelt thanks to the Urban Sketchers Taranaki chapter for their incredible organisation and hospitality. The weekend's schedule was thoughtfully curated, leading us to a variety of spectacular sketching locations across New Plymouth. From lush native bush to architectural gems and of course their incredible coastal walkway and views out to sea, each spot offered unique challenges and inspiration.

The supportive atmosphere created by the organising team made us all feel welcome. It's this kind of community-building that makes the Urban Sketchers movement so special across the globe, and in New Zealand in particular.

Five things I learned (or re-learned) during that sketching weekend in New Plymouth

1. Join your local sketching group

There's something magical about sketching alongside others who share a passion. Across the weekend, I was constantly inspired by watching others work, seeing their unique approaches, and feeling the collective creative energy. Everyone was so generous with conversation and information.

Being out in the world with like-minded individuals not only makes the experience more enjoyable but also pushes us to investigate new techniques and perspectives. The conversations, laughter, and shared moments between sketching sessions added a dimension to the experience.

2. You don't need tons of equipment

One observation that struck me during the weekend was the wide variety of sketching setups—from minimalist pen-and-small-sketchbook combinations to more elaborate watercolour kits. But even the more elaborate were still very lean and minimal.

A simple setup, no matter your medium, let's you concentrate on what really matters: observing and communicating the scene before you. I usually haul around a backpack of far too many supplies that apart from any thing, is heavy! I took a simple ArtTools satchel and watercolour paletter and found it meant more simpler sessions over the New Plymouth weekend yielding more focused results.

It was also fascinating to check out other sketchers' carrying solutions—from repurposed cosmetic bags to custom-built sketching kits. We all develop systems that work for our particular needs, and sharing these practical solutions is always an interesting part of drawing together.

3. Test your colour before committing

A practical lesson reinforced this weekend: always test your colours before applying them to your sketch. Keeping a small scrap of paper handy to dab your colour-laden brush before touching your sketch can save heartbreak and frustration.

This simple practice helps ensure:

• You're using exactly the colour you intend
• The saturation and intensity match your vision
• The water-to-pigment ratio is appropriate (or whatever your medium: pressure for pastels?) for the effect you want to achieve

Those few seconds of testing can make all the difference between a satisfying colour application and an unexpected result that's difficult to remedy.

4. Have courage to share your work

The "Throwdown" at the end of each sketching session is a core tradition of Urban Sketching, where everyone places their sketchbooks on the ground for a collective viewing. It can feel intimidating to place your work next to that of more experienced sketchers.

But what I re-learned this weekend is that every single perspective is valuable. Some sketchers capture architectural details with precision, others excel at conveying atmosphere, and some tell stories through their compositions. There is no "right way" to urban sketch—the diversity of approaches is what makes these gatherings so enriching.

Watching people's faces light up when viewing each other's work reminded me that sharing our art, however imperfect we might consider it, connects us in profound ways.

5. Draw every day

Perhaps the most fundamental lesson, reinforced by conversations with more experienced sketchers, is the importance of daily practice. You simply cannot develop confidence, speed, and skill without regularly putting pen to paper.

The sketchers whose work I most admired all shared this habit: they draw something every single day, even if it's just a quick sketch on a post-it note while on hold with the bank, a few lines while waiting for software to download, or a simple capture of their morning coffee cup.

This consistent practice builds neural pathways, trains your eye-hand coordination, and develops the muscle memory needed for confident mark-making. No workshop or expensive materials or YouTube video can replace the value of this daily commitment to observation and drawing.

Looking forward

As I drove home to Auckland, I felt immense gratitude for the Urban Sketchers community and particularly the Taranaki chapter for creating such a wonderful weekend. These gatherings remind us that art isn't just about the final product—it's about the process, the people, and the shared experience of seeing the world through a sketcher's eyes.

For anyone considering joining an Urban Sketchers event—whether you're a beginner or experienced artist—I can't recommend it highly enough. Bring a simple kit, an open mind, and the willingness to put your marks on paper. The rest will follow naturally, one sketch at a time.

Thank you, Urban Sketchers Taranaki, for a weekend of creativity, connection, and joy. Until our next sketching adventure!

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Michelle Park is a member of Urban Sketchers Auckland. This post reflects her personal experiences from "That Weekend in New Plymouth" hosted by Urban Sketchers Taranaki in March 2025.

Little Draw for August: Gear Up for Ellerslie

 For seasoned urban sketchers, the thrill of capturing a city's essence in a single frame is an undeniable draw. Urban Sketchers Auckand has an upcoming session at the iconic Bridge of Memories (the spiral staircase) in Ellerslie. This structure and street of busy shops promises some perspective challenges and bustling shoppers we're happy to rise to.

The key to a successful sketching expedition often lies in your toolkit. Portability is paramount. You don't want to be lumbering around and spending your entire sketching session setting up tools! 

Whether you're a watercolor enthusiast, a pastel perfectionist, or a pen and ink aficionado, your kit should be easily assembled and disassembled leaving you plenty of time for the good stuff: capturing our world, one drawing at a time. The beauty of urban sketching is often its spontaneity, and having a compact setup allows you to seize fleeting moments of inspiration.

Check out these equipment suggestions:

• Everything you need to start Urban Sketching by Taria of urbansketchingworld.com
• My favourite Urban Sketching supplies: gouache kit by Julia of juliahenze.com
• Sketching Tools by Liz Steele
• Six Essential Supplies for Urban Sketching by Sketchbook Skool
• Travel Sketching Essentials by Stephanie Bower

If you're going to join us this month for our sketching session, remember too the Bridge of Memories is just a starting point. The allure of our sessions often lies in the unexpected. Don't be afraid to wander off and discover hidden gems. Our city is a canvas brimming with potential subjects.

We'll be gathering again at the spiral stairs at 3.30pm for our throwdown.

So, gather your trusty sketchbook, your preferred medium, and a spirit of adventure. We look forward to sharing seeing you on Sunday 18 August from 1pm for our August Little Draw in Ellerslie, Auckland hosted by the Auckland Chapter of the Urban Sketchers of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ellerslie, Auckland - meet at the spiral staircase

Keep up to date with us on Instagram and Urban Sketchers Auckland Facebook page. We post photos from our drawing sessions on both platforms.

Urban Sketching in the Cityscape: June's Rooftop View Challenge

Finding the perfect spot for our monthly sketch outings is always a fun challenge for the Auckland Urban Sketchers' volunteers. This winter weather can be particularly unpredictable, so finding shelter from the elements is a top priority. Couple that with Urban Sketchers Prompts for July "Rooftop Views" and we find that car parks offer a unique solution! 

Multilevel city car parks can provide much-needed cover if the rain decides to join the party, plus a fantastic vantage point to capture the city from above. However, the downside can be the temperature. Let's face it, concrete jungles aren't exactly known for their warmth, and sometimes the chill can chase even the most dedicated sketchers away.

This was the case for our June meetup at the Downtown Carpark in the Auckland CBD. While our initial headcount promised a lively session with around 24 sketchers, the dropping temperatures and rain showers sadly whittled our numbers down to a determined dozen by the Throwdown - and no one can blame those who took an early exit - that temperature-drop was finger-numbingly decent.

The beauty of urban sketching is that there's always something to draw, no matter the location! 

The towering office blocks, charming old buildings, and townhouses provided a wealth of architectural details to capture. The expansive views of the harbour, the twisting tarmac of the multi-laned roadscape and even a peep of the bustling ferry landing added another layer of interest, and of course, the car park itself with its geometric concrete structures and parked vehicles offered a unique subject for those seeking a more direct approach.

The Throwdown, where sketchers share their completed works, truly highlighted the diversity of styles, preferences, and tools that come together in our group. Even a seemingly "uninspiring" location like a car park can spark creativity and lead to a fascinating range of artworks.

So, a big thumbs up to those who braved the mid-winter elements for our June meetup! Your dedication and artistic vision never cease to be amazing.

What are your thoughts on car parks as sketching locations? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for the announcement of our sketching adventure in July! We're hoping for someplace warm :)

See more of the photos from our day at the Downtown Carpark on Urban Sketchers Auckland Facebook.

Gelato anyone?

 Visiting the bustling Victoria Market in Melbourne - Sam the gelato guy was going like the clappers in the hot sun - nary a break.

View from Puke Ariki

Here's a view of the city from Puke Ariki (museum) showing the people moving around the hodgepodge architecture of New Plymouth. At the bottom, is the reverse side of part of the Festival of Lights Pop-up that was very popular with tons of people.

Corner of Devon & Gover

I was actually amazed that these trees still had their leaves.