An interesting new way of looking at and recording your surroundings - blocking in impressions before adding details. Great illustrations, step-by-step techniques, and ideas galore. Worth a place on your shelf and table before you head out the door to sketch your surroundings.

The Urban Sketching Handbook Color First, Ink Later by Mike Yoshiaki Daikubara is a gorgeous book and a great tool for beginner artists and seasoned painters alike!

Drawing inspiration from his live, observational practices, Daikubara breaks down his process as an artist; beginning with watercolor and then adding detail and depth through ink. Through five (the sixth is optional) steps in his practice, Daikubara shares a wealth of information from color mixing to textural pattern techniques to render a variety of landscapes, motifs and architectural features. Using his own live sketches is an effective teaching technique. Snapshot by snapshot, he walks the reader through the process with great detail and visual aids. The chapters also use time guides to manage expectations of the process should the reader choose to budget time for learning or planning ahead to do in situ live painting.

The book is very clearly outlined and organized with materials needed, the steps to follow and insight of how to create/troubleshoot.

Would absolutely recommend to artists of various levels!

I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry, Quarry Books for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This makes me want to check the first book! This one was a joy to read. Short yet equally informative and yes, dynamic indeed. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to try and dabble in making art.

Amazing book with real life examples that range from nature to still life. This book breaks down the process of using watercolor first and then ink/drawing outlines later. Such a different way to rethink how you view objects and sketch. Definitely a good book to read, review, and soak in the tips from this wonderful author!

This is such a fun and inspirational book. I love art books but I often feel intimidated by them. This one gave great tools and ideas, fantastic inspiration, and the feeling that you can do it. Highly recommended.

3.5 stars

A guide to creating architectural sketches by watercoloring first, then inking in the details. The example artworks in the book are stunning, the text is well written, & the layout is nice. There is a fun element to this technique, which is to let the watercolor wash run off the page & “dip dry”, which saves time & produces some unexpected results when the paint runs.

[What I liked:]

•The layout of the book is attractive & easy to read. It uses icons representing materials & techniques (introduced at the start) to save space on the page, which I found intuitive.

•There are lots of visuals. The projects have multi-stage, step-by-step instructions & each stage is shown in full color.

•There are lots of tips, such as layering elements in a sketch scene, color theory, composition, etc. There are also tips specific to the technique demonstrated in this book, which is doing a watercolor wash over a light pencil sketch, letting the paint drip off the page so it dries faster, & once it’s dry adding inked details & outlines. The outcomes as seen in the book are quite cool imo!


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•This is absolutely not a problem with this book, but I am really impatient about letting the paint dry, despite the drip technique speeding it up a bit. It’s like, I feel all these details I want to capture slipping by, & I have to just wait! So I’m not sure how often I will try this technique, due to my impatience (& also I don’t do watercolors too often), although I like how the finished outcomes look.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Color then Ink
Designer, urban sketcher, and author Mike Yoshiaki Daikubara presents his book "The Urban Sketching Handbook: Color First, Ink Later. A dynamic Approach to Drawing and Painting on Location", one of the books in the "The Urban Sketching Handbook" Series published by Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry. Daikubara has two approaches to sketching: either Sketch NOW or COLOR First (p. 5). He says: "If the Sketch NOW approach is about capturing the moment, then I believe the COLOR First approach is really about capturing color and dynamics" (p. 10). This book is dedicated to the second approach. After the introduction the book is divided into four sections: 1) Essential Techniques, 2) Approach and Overview, 3) Step-by-Step Process, and 4) Technique Tips and Gallery. Demonstrations for various topics are presented with the tools used, reference photo, and a step-by-step approach including the time needed for the individual steps as well as the time needed to complete the picture. Daikubara includes also such information as vanishing points and horizon line if needed. The master list of tools and supplies at the end of the book are very helpful, especially for beginners.
I highly recommend this book for beginners and advanced sketchers who want to enlarge their knowledge and skills in that area.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheUrbanSketchingHandbookColorFirstInkLater #NetGalley

I quite enjoyed this book as there are clear guides and ideas on how to draw urban images plein air. It had a clear concept and even which colours to use. Very nice ideas of what to sketch and how to change the way in approaching subjects and timing.

This is a comprehensive and inspirational guide to creating colourful urban sketches, using unique and interesting techniques of colour first and ink to complete the design. Full of technical detail and examples of different methods, this book is suitable for artists of all levels. Highly recommended as a useful addition to every artist’s armoury.

I loved the artist-author's style and appreciated his process. As a beginner artist I found the step-by-step directions helpful, but also found the exercises challenging (frustratingly so). Daikubara uses a timed process and I like his explanation for its use. I also enjoyed the tool recommendations and the tips throughout.
This guide may not be helpful for beginners as there is little advice on drawing itself (particularly linear perspective) and using watercolor and brush use (e.g. wetting techniques). The graphics are too small and the finishing steps too brief. The choice of subject and exercise examples are somewhat scattered, maybe to appeal to a wider audience, but it does skew towards landscapes. Nonetheless, the 5 step process could be a fun way to change things up for more advanced artists.

This is a fantastic en plein air urban sketching guide. I’ve already had some of my students try it out, and most of them loved the color first, ink later approach. I really appreciated the author making note of the difference between sketching in “theory” ( how you think you should sketch) and sketching in “practice” (how you actually sketch). It’s easy to have a premeditated fear of failure with art, and worry about what the end result is going to be before you’ve even started. Being confident in your sketching abilities is all about letting go of those doubts, and allowing the process to flow naturally. I think any artist would benefit from reading this book and trying out the suggestions.

Awesome book. Gives a simple step by step approach to paint plein air. The simplicity in which it is written gives a confidence in taking up Plein air projects. Author also demonstrates in detailed illustrated steps his approach and the final painting. Would defenitely recommend to anyone interested in drawing building.

I was happy to be approved to read this, having just gotten back in to art. The book is very well written and easy to follow. I am already enjoying this new technique

I am not an artist, but I am constantly learning how to paint and draw.

The Urban Sketching Handbook Color First, Ink Later is an excellent guide to visualising and sketching urban environments.

The concepts are broken down enough that even I can understand them, and the step by step processes guide the reader in how to use loose, drippy colours to block out the scene before adding the details afterwards. The end result is a dynamic illustration - the sort I aspire to one day be able to create.

There is a comparison between colour first ink later and sketch first colour later, and each method has it's benefits depending on the preferred outcome.

The author/artist includes a breakdown of his own sketch and paint kits, and I do like that most of the photographs are taken from a camera above his sketchbook as he is working. It;s an inspirational book, and one I will refer back to as I continue my own journey through art.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for a providing copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

Let me start by saying: The author is an amazing artist, and the urban sketching technique is one I will definitely try out. It might be my ARC, but the pictures in the book where so pixelated I could barely see any details in the smaller ones. I also don't like step-by-step tutorials, and while some of them were very necessary to understand the technique, I personally would not buy this book, as it did not click with me.

Urban Sketching - Color First, Ink Later is a beautiful and interesting book on sketching and watercolor, with a decidedly different approach!

Mike is a master of his technique, and he explains to us that sometimes it is better to quickly color in the elements you see and do a light pencil sketch for a fast approach to urban sketching. Later on you can go back over the pencil sketch with ink and shade and darken areas for more definition.

I love that he detailed his layered approach and explained all of the materials that he uses on a regular basis, and why he likes them.

The beautiful illustrations are eye-catching, and Mike reviews many elements such as where the light is coming from and the sketch, perspective and vanishing points, guidelines, horizon lines, time breakdowns for his sketches and how to layer from lightest to darkest when using watercolor and glazes.

I would absolutely useless for any adult or child interested in art, sketching and especially for a walking, urban sketching class. Great material! I will be sure to check out Mike’s first book, Sketch Now- Think Later.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto publishing for this and free advanced reader’s copy for my honest opinion.

A guide that shows how simple water-colours and ink can be. The simplicity of the art and instruction, is inspirational when wanting to find a new art form to experiment with.

The Urban Sketching Handbook Color First, Ink Later is an inventive and imaginative method of painting on location. The step by step instructions are very clear and the projects are delivered using a five step process. It has a contemporary feel and would best be suited to an intermediate artist. looking to widen and improve their techniques. The book is well illustrated and includes some tips and techniques at a refresher level. Overall a great well thought out book.

The Urban Sketching Handbook Color First, Ink Later will make you want to paint with watercolors and ink even if you have never tried it before! Although some experience might be preferred, author Mike Daikubara provides detailed instructions and illustrations. Begin with the last page. It’s a “Master List:Tools and Supplies” and everything you’ll need is listed. Then follow the artist as he shows how to quickly capture the essence of the subject. He begins with architecture followed by vehicles, outdoor structures and nature.

This is an in-depth, well planned guide to outdoor sketching and painting. All techniques are well explained from the initial pencil sketch to the final ink layering. Daikubara’s sketches are brilliant! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Books and Mike Yoshiaki Daikubara for this ARC.

I love this series! Each additional volume just makes it more valuable and useful for the urban sketcher or art journaler.

This particular title was very well presented and written. I almost immediately did a colour first, ink later in my art journal and it looked good. More spontaneous somehow. I intend to use this technique more often, though I might be more picky when it comes to the dripping method which sometimes looks untidy to me.

Still, this is a highly recommended title for me. Mike Yoshiaki Daikubara is a highly experienced sketcher having filled his sketchbooks with impressive art for 15 years. In this series, you definitely learn from the best!