I’ve tried a lot of sketchbooks and art kits over the years—some I stick with, others I pass along to friends. When I picked up The Urban Sketching Art Pack, I was genuinely curious whether it would feel like a gimmick or something actually useful. It’s part of the popular Urban Sketching Handbook series, and this version includes both a guidebook and a sketchpad bundled together in a compact, portable format. As someone who draws on location almost daily, I figured I’d give it a test run and see how it stacks up against what I normally carry.
The good news? If you’re new to drawing in public or just want some extra structure to your urban sketching sessions, The Urban Sketching Art Pack is a solid little companion. It’s not meant to replace your favorite sketchbook or in-depth instruction book—but it’s a surprisingly handy gateway into the practice, especially if you enjoy sketch prompts and simple breakdowns of technique. I’ve started keeping it in my bag on days when I want to keep things light and distraction-free.
Key Points
- The sketchpad’s prompts are great for warming up or when you’re stuck on what to draw.
- The included book gives you bite-sized, practical tips for sketching real-world scenes, people, and buildings.
- While the paper isn’t ideal for wet media, it’s totally fine for pencil, pen, or light markers.
The Urban Sketching Art Pack: What’s Inside?
The art pack includes two components tucked into a wrap-around hardcover sleeve with an elastic closure: a 112-page guidebook and a 112-page sketchpad. It’s compact and lightweight—easy to toss into a daypack or shoulder bag without thinking twice. I’ve taken it on a few outings around my city, and it held up well in terms of durability.
The guidebook itself is a condensed version of the broader urban sketching techniques you’ll find in other books in the series. It covers basics like perspective, capturing movement, drawing people in action, and composing urban scenes. I actually enjoyed how simple and straightforward the explanations were. Even though I already know the content, I found myself nodding along, thinking, “Yep, that’s exactly how I would explain it to a beginner.”
The sketchpad is where this kit stands out. Each page gives you something specific to find and sketch—everything from bicycles and windows to groups of people and city landmarks. I used a few of these prompts while sitting in a park downtown. Having a prompt helped me avoid overthinking and just focus on capturing something small and specific.
The prompts are connected to lessons in the book, so if you want to understand why you’re drawing something or what to focus on, you can refer to the relevant section. I wish more sketchbooks did this—it’s a really beginner-friendly format.
Who It’s Best For
I’d say The Urban Sketching Art Pack is best for two types of people:
- Newcomers to urban sketching who want something low-pressure and approachable.
- People who love prompt-based sketching and want a portable book to use on short outings.
If you’re brand new to urban sketching, this pack is a great way to get started without buying a ton of supplies or reading something overly technical. Even if you’ve never considered yourself an artist, the format and examples make it easy to give it a try.
On the other hand, if you’re already sketching regularly and have a rhythm or style you’re confident in, I’d recommend skipping this one and checking out more advanced books like The Urban Sketching Handbook: Understanding Light or The Urban Sketching Handbook: Cityscapes and Architecture.
Personally, I keep this art pack around for when I’m mentoring beginners or running informal sketching meetups. It’s a great resource to hand to someone who’s feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by the blank page.
The Sketchpad: Strengths and Limitations
Let’s talk about the sketchpad itself. I’ll be honest: the paper isn’t going to impress anyone. It’s thin and not meant for heavy layering or wet media. If you’re planning to use gouache in your urban sketching or a water-soluble ink, this probably isn’t the right surface.
But for quick gesture drawings, light ink work, or pencil studies? It works fine. I used my favorite urban sketching pen and a 2B pencil, and the pages held up reasonably well with minimal bleed-through.
What makes the sketchpad worth using is the quality of the prompts. They’re short and specific, not vague like “draw something interesting.” Instead, it’ll say something like: “Sketch three different types of doors you find on this block.” That kind of challenge gets me looking more closely, which is honestly half the point of urban sketching. It builds awareness and trains your eye for details.
Even though I didn’t treat this sketchpad like a portfolio or a place for finished drawings, I got a lot of value out of using it for daily warmups and exploratory walks.
Where It Shines: Portability and Simplicity
One thing I really appreciate about this art pack is how travel-friendly it is. If you’re planning to sketch during a commute, lunch break, or on a short city trip, the compact size is ideal. It doesn’t scream “expensive sketchbook” and that’s actually a plus. I’ve found that when I carry a less intimidating sketchbook, I’m more likely to use it freely and experiment.
I brought it with me on a short trip to Seattle and even used it during a walk through Pike Place Market. With just this pack, a pencil, and my urban sketching bag, I was able to capture a few quick scenes and document small moments.
If you like structured exercises but hate the idea of dragging around a bunch of materials, this kit hits a nice balance. I can see it being especially useful for students or anyone attending urban sketching workshops who want to follow along without getting overwhelmed.
Is It Worth Buying?
Let’s talk cost vs value. For $15–20, you’re getting both a short instructional book and a guided sketchpad. That’s cheaper than most hardcover sketchbooks, and it’s significantly more focused than a random art prompt app.
What I liked most was that I didn’t need to “figure out” how to use it. There was no setup or complicated theory—just grab it, read a short section, find a quiet spot, and draw. The format reminds me a bit of how I structure some of my own nature journaling tutorials: minimal prep, lots of observation, and quick sketches to train your eye.
If you’re already exploring more advanced territory, you might prefer something like The Complete Urban Sketching Companion or something focused like urban sketching with markers. But for beginners? This is a fun, gentle way in.
I also think it makes a thoughtful gift. I’ve bought a few for friends who said they wanted to sketch more but didn’t know where to begin. It’s approachable, unintimidating, and nicely designed.
What to Pair It With
Here’s how I’d recommend using The Urban Sketching Art Pack alongside other resources:
- If you want to dive deeper into technique, pair it with The Urban Sketching Handbook: Techniques for Beginners.
- If you’re interested in composition and layering color, check out Working with Color.
- For more structured sketching ideas, try these urban sketching exercises.
And of course, I’ve got a whole section of urban sketching tutorials on my site if you want to try different approaches, from loose sketching to more architectural studies.
Where to Go From Here
If this pack sparks something and you find yourself enjoying it, that’s a sign to build a more personalized urban sketching kit. Start small: a reliable pen, a small watercolor palette, a compact sketchbook. I share my exact setup in that post.
You can also explore specific locations like urban sketching New York or urban sketching Paris for inspiration, or dive into books like Draw Your World if you’re looking to connect sketching with storytelling.
No matter where you’re starting from, the main thing is to stay curious. Whether it’s sketching your own neighborhood or traveling to new places, the act of drawing what’s around you will change how you see everything.