If you’ve been curious about urban sketching but feel like you never have enough time to dive in, The Urban Sketching Handbook Sketch Now Think Later by Mike Daikubara might just be the push you need. I picked up this book during a season when I was feeling stuck in my sketchbook routine, and it completely changed how I think about quick, on-location sketching. Instead of planning the perfect drawing session, this book encouraged me to just go for it—right in the moment.
Mike’s whole approach is about spontaneity and practicality. His background as an industrial designer comes through in how clearly he lays out tools, techniques, and tips for sketching on the go. Whether I’m urban sketching in New York or grabbing a few fast lines while waiting in line for coffee, the ideas in this book show up in my day-to-day drawing practice.
There’s a relaxed honesty in how Mike writes. He doesn’t pretend every sketch needs to be perfect, and he doesn’t weigh you down with technical jargon or lofty expectations. The core idea is simple: you don’t need hours of free time or a fancy art degree to sketch your life. All you need is the willingness to start.
The Urban Sketching Handbook Sketch Now Think Later: First Impressions
The first thing that struck me about The Urban Sketching Handbook: Sketch Now, Think Later was how usable it is. It doesn’t feel like one of those art books that shows off beautiful, intimidating illustrations. Instead, it feels like Mike is talking directly to you—like a friend nudging you to stop overthinking and start sketching already. It’s a slim book that fits easily in my urban sketching bag and I’ve returned to it again and again when I need a dose of inspiration or strategy.
The book emphasizes action over perfection, and that really hit home for me. I’m someone who can fall into the trap of trying to plan the “perfect” page, and this book helped me break that habit. If you struggle with hesitation or self-doubt, you might find the same kind of relief I did in Mike’s philosophy.
What I appreciated most is that it’s not trying to be everything. It knows what it is: a guide to help you start drawing now—not later, not once you've mastered perspective or built the ultimate travel kit. The structure is simple and digestible, making it easy to pick up and read a few pages at a time, which is often all the time I have.
Key Points
Here are three of the most strategic and helpful takeaways I got from the book:
- Use pen instead of pencil to commit to the moment. Mike encourages drawing in pen so you can’t erase. This helped me loosen up and actually finish more sketches.
- Keep your sketch kit minimal and portable. His setup fits in a small pouch, and his tips for choosing just a few essential items helped me refine my own urban sketching kit.
- Sketch first, edit later. The idea of jumping in, capturing the scene quickly, and reflecting afterward helped me stop second-guessing every line.
Who This Book Is For
If you're a beginner who's never done urban sketching, this book is a great entry point. It doesn’t require a deep knowledge of perspective, anatomy, or materials. Mike gives you just enough of what you need to start, like a crash course in location sketching.
That said, even as someone who’s been drawing for years, I still found this book to be a refreshing reminder of how joyful and low-pressure sketching can be. It’s easy to get bogged down by trying to make every drawing portfolio-worthy. This book helped me shift my mindset back to sketching as play, which is where the best drawings often come from.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is its focus on movement and life. Mike encourages you to go out, observe the world around you, and get the sketch down before it changes. That really resonates when I’m sketching in busy cities or when I want to capture people in motion, like in urban sketching people.
If you’re someone who’s more methodical and likes structured tutorials, you might still appreciate the casual wisdom of this book. It won’t hold your hand, but it will get you drawing more often—and that’s where growth really happens.
How It Compares to Other Urban Sketching Books
I’ve read quite a few urban sketching books, and most of them either lean toward beautiful but intimidating artwork or focus heavily on technical instruction. This one strikes a nice balance. It offers enough technique to be useful—like quick tips on perspective and line confidence—but keeps things light and encouraging.
Some books, like The Urban Sketcher, dig deeper into narrative illustration and visual storytelling. Others, like The Urban Sketching Handbook Working With Color, specialize in specific aspects of sketching. This book is more like a motivational spark. It’s about mindset and immediacy, and that makes it unique.
If you’re looking to dive deeper after finishing this one, I’d recommend following up with The Urban Sketching Handbook Techniques for Beginners or the broader Urban Sketching Handbook 101 Tips, both of which expand on the foundations that Mike introduces.
How I Apply the Lessons in Real Life
After reading the book, I streamlined my kit down to a small pen pouch, a travel watercolor set, and a sketchbook. Now when I head out for a walk or coffee, I toss it in my urban sketching bag. I’ve used Mike’s mindset to sketch on buses, in parks, and even while standing in line.
His approach also helped me make peace with “bad” sketches. I’ve learned to treat them as warmups or rough notes instead of failures. This attitude is echoed in some of my own guides on simple easy urban sketching and loose sketching techniques, which are all about letting go of perfection.
One of my favorite changes since reading this book is how I use waiting time. Waiting at the dentist? I sketch the chairs and light fixtures. Sitting on a bench outside a store? I sketch passing figures. That idea of integrating drawing into the in-between moments of daily life is powerful. It means I no longer need to set aside special “art time.” Drawing becomes part of my day.
Another shift for me was around confidence. Mike's voice in the book feels like someone who’s made all the same mistakes and decided to move past them with grace. That attitude is contagious. It’s helped me become more relaxed and expressive in my own work—and more forgiving when something doesn’t come out the way I envisioned.
Sketching On the Go: A Realistic Routine
Mike's book got me thinking about how to build a sketching habit that sticks. For me, the key has been to lower the barrier to entry. I keep a small sketchbook and pen in my car and bag at all times. I don’t worry about finishing anything. Some days I only have 5 minutes, but those 5 minutes still add up.
I’ve also started using urban sketching reference photos on days I’m stuck indoors or the weather is terrible. While the book is more focused on live sketching, the mindset it teaches works just as well with photo references.
If you're not sure where to start, I’ve put together a bunch of urban sketching ideas and urban sketching exercises that complement the themes in the book.
Final Thoughts and Where to Go Next
The Urban Sketching Handbook: Sketch Now, Think Later is one of those rare sketching books that doesn’t overwhelm you. It gently encourages action, with bite-sized tips and clear examples. If you’re ready to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start sketching real life as it happens, this one is worth keeping in your sketch bag.
To keep your momentum going, check out some of these helpful next steps:
- Browse my urban sketching course for a deeper dive into technique
- Try one of these urban sketching tutorials to expand your skillset
- Explore drawing animals to mix nature with your urban scenes
- Take a look at my ongoing nature journaling series for ideas that blend sketching with the outdoors
Whether you’re new to sketching or trying to bring more freedom back into your practice, Mike’s book can be a great companion. Sketch now. Think later. Repeat often.