Urban Sketching for Beginners

Discover the joy of capturing the world around you with pen and watercolor in this relaxed, beginner-friendly urban sketching class. Whether you’re new to sketching or looking to refresh your sketchbook practice, this session offers a welcoming introduction to the fundamentals of urban sketching — with a special focus on observation, simplicity, and enjoying the process.

We’ll begin with a guided overview of basic techniques including composition, line work, and quick watercolor washes. Then, you’ll have the chance to explore and sketch throughout the beautiful and inspiring spaces of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum — from the lush Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, to unique exhibits and city architecture.

All levels are welcome, but this class is especially geared toward those just starting out. You’ll leave with new skills, fresh confidence, and a few pages of your own visual story.

No perfection required — just curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to look more closely.

Basic sketching materials will be provided, or feel free to bring your own.

Meet the Instructor:

Amy Gowans is a passionate local and global urban sketcher dedicated to capturing the world one sketch at a time. With a sketchbook always in hand, Amy finds beauty in the everyday — from bustling cityscapes to quiet neighborhood corners — using ink and watercolor to tell visual stories of place and presence.

As an experienced instructor, Amy has led multiple urban sketching classes, sharing not just techniques, but a philosophy that sketching is for everyone. Her teaching emphasizes the calming, mindful nature of the practice, encouraging students to focus on observation and experience rather than performance or perfection.

Through her work and workshops, Amy strives to make urban sketching an inclusive, approachable hobby — one that reconnects people to their surroundings, sparks creativity, and fosters a deeper appreciation of the moment.