Urban Illustration with Inking Techniques
A course by Heather SouliereIllustrator
A course by Heather Souliere, Illustrator
Use fineliners and ink washes to depict stunning scenes of your city
Dive into the captivating world of urban illustration with Heather Souliere, an expert in inking techniques.
You’ll develop the ability to transform your urban sketches into true works of art by observing your surroundings and capturing the magic of light and shadow as they play across the city's objects and spaces.
Learn how to handle ink with ease, experimenting with tonal values through light, medium, and dark washes. Master the fundamentals of perspective, line weight, and discover how to give shape and character to your strokes.
By the end, you’ll have developed your own unique style of urban illustration, combining technique and creativity to capture the essence and movement of urban landscapes.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 13 downloads
Line Weight
4 minutes, 51 seconds
Line Shape and Line Quality
2 minutes, 30 seconds
Sketching The Overall Shapes
14 minutes, 54 seconds
The Refined Line Drawing 1
18 minutes, 36 seconds
Main Ink Washes
19 minutes, 38 seconds
Final Ink Washes and Polishing 2
13 minutes, 47 seconds
What's included in this course?
To start, you'll get acquainted with the essential materials and the basics of perspective and line weight, which are crucial for any urban illustration. You'll learn how to select and use fine liners and work with various inking techniques to create clear and defined lines.
Next, you'll delve into studying forms and line quality. You'll learn to observe and capture the interplay of light and shadow in urban environments, and how these elements can transform a simple sketch into a work with depth and character.
Then, you'll work on developing your preliminary sketch, focusing on general shapes and proportions. You'll create a balanced composition, using drawing techniques that will help you establish a solid foundation for your final illustration.
Lastly, you'll explore ink washes, applying light, medium, and dark layers of ink to add a broad range of tonal values to your drawing. This process will allow you to create contrasts and details that bring your urban scenes to life, giving them realism and expressiveness.
What is this course's project?
The final project involves creating a monochromatic drawing of an urban scene using fine liners and ink washes. This project will enable you to apply all the techniques you've learned and develop a piece that captures the essence and dynamics of the urban environment.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is aimed at illustrators, artists, and drawing enthusiasts who want to explore inking techniques in urban illustration. It's perfect for those looking to improve their observation and outdoor drawing skills, capturing the essence of the city in their sketches.
Requirements and materials
You'll need fine liners, suitable paper for ink, brushes, and ink for washes. It's also recommended to have a sketchbook for practicing and developing your preliminary drawings. Additionally, having a camera to capture photographic references can be very useful.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
I enjoyed this course. The technique is fun and the instructions were clear.
- 8 months ago
The course I'm looking for. Very helpful and excellent teacher.
- 9 months ago
The course is so good and easy to follow! Hoping for more of her class!
- 11 months ago
I like how the teacher breaks everything into clear steps—shapes, lines, depth—so it’s easy to follow even if my boxes were still a bit wonky before. The lessons helped me observe real buildings better and make my sketches cleaner and more confident. Overall, it’s a great course
- 1 year ago
The course is good and easy to follow. The instructor is explaining the thing very well
With an innate passion for architecture and drawing, she has collaborated on renowned productions such as the Hotel Transylvania series, The Mitchells Vs The Machines, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Heather blends her love for observing urban environments with her technical skill in using ink, creating works that capture the light and vibrancy of the city.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Perspective, Lines, and Shapes Basics
- Materials and Perspective
- Line Weight
- Line Shape and Line Quality
- U3
Drawing the Project
- Gathering References
- Sketching The Overall Shapes
- Refining the Sketch
- The Refined Line Drawing 1
- The Refined Line Drawing 2
- U4
Inking Techniques with Washes
- Mixing Ink Washes
- Lighting and First Wash
- Main Ink Washes
- Final Ink Washes and Polishing 1
- Final Ink Washes and Polishing 2
- FP
Final project
- Urban Illustration with Inking Techniques
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational techniques in urban sketching, inking, and gouache painting, making it accessible even if you have little or no prior experience.
You’ll need a sketchbook with suitable paper, fine liners, black brush pens, pencils, erasers, ink for washes, brushes, and basic gouache paints. A smartphone or camera for reference photos is also helpful.
You’ll learn how to sketch urban scenes, use perspective techniques, vary line weight, apply ink washes for depth, work from reference photos, paint with gouache, and develop a mindful artistic process.
Yes, the course covers one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective techniques, including how to use horizon lines and vanishing points to accurately construct buildings and urban scenes.
The course demonstrates how to adjust line thickness to create emphasis, show depth, depict shadows, and distinguish between foreground and background elements in your urban sketches.
Yes, you’ll be guided step-by-step on mixing and applying ink washes, layering values, and achieving tonal contrast for more realistic and dynamic illustrations.
Absolutely. The course starts with the basics, teaching you how to observe, rough out scenes, and gradually refine your sketches, making it perfect for first-time urban sketchers.