If you’re like me and you’ve spent a good chunk of your sketching life frustrated by how flat your drawings can look sometimes, The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Light might be exactly what you need. Light is one of those elusive things—when you get it right, your sketches feel alive. When you miss it, even the best line work can feel dull.
I recently added this book to my growing library of urban sketching books and thought I’d share my honest experience with it.
First Impressions of The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Light
The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Light (by Katie Woodward) is part of the popular Urban Sketching Handbook series. I’ve used several books from this collection before, so I came in with high expectations. This particular volume focuses entirely on how to observe and portray light effects while sketching on location.
Right away, what stood out to me was how approachable the content is. Whether you sketch with watercolor, pen and ink, or even gouache (I dabble in all three, especially for my loose urban sketching), the principles in this book are relevant and clear.
What I appreciated immediately was that the book isn’t trying to turn you into a technical lighting expert. Instead, it gives you practical ways to see light better and make confident choices when sketching. As someone who sketches both outdoors and in cafes, airports, and cities like Seattle and New York, I found this perspective refreshing.
Key Points
Here are three of the most helpful takeaways I found:
- Focus on value over color: The book emphasizes seeing the scene in terms of light and dark first—this alone can transform how you approach simple easy urban sketching.
- Adapt to changing light: Katie shares practical strategies for dealing with shifting sunlight, which is gold for anyone doing urban sketching outdoors.
- Experiment with different light sources: It encourages sketching in various conditions, from morning glow to neon signs at night, broadening both your confidence and skillset.
How the Book Breaks Down Light for Urban Sketchers
The Value of Values
Before diving into color, the book spends a lot of time on value—something I often overlook in my excitement to splash on paint. Learning to translate the world into simple light and dark shapes can instantly improve even basic sketches. It reminded me of the approach I use in my pen and ink urban sketching, where values do most of the heavy lifting.
Katie explains why value should be your first consideration, not an afterthought. She offers exercises where you simplify complex scenes into just two or three value zones. I tried this during a recent session drawing downtown buildings at sunset. Instead of getting overwhelmed by colors and details, I focused on shadow shapes and bright spots where the last light hit the tops of the windows. The sketch came out stronger than if I’d fussed over tiny architectural details.
Color and Atmosphere
Light affects color more than I realized. Katie breaks down how the same red awning, for example, might look warm and bright at noon but muted and cool at dusk. This section really clicked for me because I often default to using the “local color” I think something should be rather than observing how light shifts its appearance.
She also talks about atmospheric effects—how light filters through mist, reflects off water, or glows behind clouds. I used to think that stuff was only for advanced painters, but the book’s examples (which include contributions from several experienced urban sketching artists) showed me simple ways to suggest those effects even with quick sketches.
Practical Tips and Exercises
One thing I really appreciate about this series is how actionable it is. Katie includes observation lists and sketching challenges throughout the book.
For instance, there’s an exercise about capturing the color temperature of shadows. I tried it on a recent nature journaling outing where I was drawing tree trunks and foliage. Instead of making all shadows the same grayish-blue I usually default to, I paid attention to how cool or warm they actually looked. That small change made my sketch feel more cohesive and natural.
She also encourages experimenting with artificial light sources—street lamps, neon signs, indoor lighting—which adds another layer of storytelling to your sketches. For anyone interested in expanding beyond daytime scenes, this was invaluable.
How This Book Fits Into My Urban Sketching Workflow
I see this book as both a reference and a workbook. It’s compact enough to toss into my urban sketching bag and revisit when I’m on location. Sometimes I’ll even flip through a few sections while commuting or waiting at a café.
The real value, though, is how it’s changed my sketching mindset. Instead of reacting passively to whatever lighting conditions I find, I now think about how to use the light to make my sketches more dynamic. Whether I’m doing urban sketching people, trees, or buildings, I approach light as a design element, not just an environmental factor.
If you’ve already explored topics like urban sketching techniques or taken an urban sketching course, this book can deepen your understanding of light—without repeating the basics.
Who This Book Is Best For
I’d recommend The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Light for anyone who:
- Struggles with making sketches feel dimensional.
- Wants to better understand how light changes mood and form.
- Is ready to push beyond line work and embrace light as a design element.
Even if you’re just starting out and following more beginner-friendly resources like easy urban sketching for beginners, understanding light early on will only benefit you.
If you’ve already got some experience under your belt and want to tackle more advanced concepts, it also complements other volumes like The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Perspective and Working with Color.
What I Would Have Liked More Of
While I love the conceptual approach, I did find myself wishing for a few more step-by-step walkthroughs. Some sketchers might prefer more guided exercises or specific sequences to practice. That said, the loose, flexible nature of the book does encourage personal experimentation, which aligns with the spirit of urban sketching.
Integrating What I Learned Into Real Sketching Sessions
Since reading the book, I’ve made a habit of starting each sketch session by consciously assessing the light:
- Where is the main light source?
- What’s the strongest shadow?
- Are there any reflected lights or color shifts?
I even created a small cheat sheet that I keep in my urban sketching kit with reminders from the book.
One of the best outcomes is how it’s helped me embrace imperfect conditions. Before, if the light changed halfway through a sketch, I’d get frustrated. Now, I either adjust the values accordingly or use it as an opportunity to practice different lighting effects—something Katie encourages.
Final Thoughts
The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Light has earned a permanent spot in my kit. It’s the kind of resource that doesn’t just teach—you start seeing the world differently because of it. If you want to explore more tools and ideas that complement what’s in this book, check out my articles on urban sketching supplies, urban sketching reference photos, and some urban sketching ideas to spark your next session.
If you’ve been looking for a way to elevate the mood and depth of your sketches, I genuinely think this book is worth adding to your collection.