I’ve always loved sketching on location. But when it came to drawing buildings or streets, I used to hesitate. Perspective felt like a complicated math problem that I didn’t want to solve. That’s why The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Perspective immediately caught my attention. I’d already heard good things about Stephanie Bower’s clear teaching style, and after giving this book a try, it’s become a constant companion in my sketch bag.
Whether you’re just getting into urban sketching or want to finally get a handle on perspective without the headache, this review will walk you through what makes this book worth your time — and how I’ve personally used it to improve my sketches.
First impressions of The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Perspective
At first glance, this book feels like a tool rather than just a read. It’s small (around 5 by 8 inches) so it fits easily into most urban sketching bags. It’s designed to be taken outside with you, which I appreciate because so many art books are studio-bound tomes that weigh a ton.
The pages are packed with drawings from artists around the world. Stephanie Bower not only explains key concepts like horizon lines and vanishing points but also shows how they work through breakdowns of real sketches. This instantly made perspective feel practical, not theoretical.
The book doesn’t just throw terms at you. It guides you through them, explaining why they matter and how to apply them in the real world — when you're sitting in a café trying to capture the scene or out in a busy plaza where time is limited.
Key Points
- Simple explanations — Bower explains complicated concepts like vanishing points and foreshortening in everyday language.
- Step-by-step layers — She teaches how to build a sketch in layers, which helped me avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Portable reference — Its small size and clear diagrams make it the perfect field guide for perspective.
How the book teaches perspective in a grounded way
Most books I’ve tried before either gloss over perspective or drown you in technical jargon. The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Perspective strikes the perfect balance.
Bower starts with the basics: what is a horizon line, how to spot vanishing points, and how to simplify what you see into basic shapes. She also emphasizes the practical side of applying this knowledge while standing in a busy street or sitting in a café. Her layered approach made a huge difference for me — I finally understood how to start with a simple shape and gradually build complexity.
One of the biggest breakthroughs I had was understanding how to “edit” what I see. Before, I tried to draw everything I noticed. Bower teaches how to filter out visual noise and focus on the essential shapes and lines that give a scene its structure. This is especially useful in fast-paced settings where I don’t have time for perfect accuracy.
If you want to go deeper into simplifying scenes, I’d also recommend checking out my guide on simple urban sketching. It pairs well with what Bower teaches.
Practical tips I applied from the book
Here are three key things I started doing after reading this book:
1. Start with the horizon line and eye level
Before this book, I rarely thought about where my eye level was in a scene. Now, I start every sketch by lightly marking the horizon line — even if it’s just a quick mental note. It anchors the whole drawing and helps me keep proportions consistent.
2. Find the vanishing points early
Bower’s method for finding vanishing points made something that used to intimidate me feel manageable. I learned to notice where lines in the scene are converging and mark those spots early. Even in complex street scenes, this helps me keep things believable.
3. Build sketches in layers
Rather than trying to draw everything at once, I now build my sketches in three stages: basic shapes, adding depth/details, and then final touches like tone and color. This not only improves accuracy but also makes the whole process less stressful.
I’ve since included this layered method in my own urban sketching tutorial for beginners.
What I liked (and what could be better)
The biggest strength of this book is how approachable it is. Bower doesn’t assume you have any architectural training. She guides you like a fellow sketcher who knows exactly where beginners tend to get stuck.
Another thing I appreciated is that she includes a variety of sketching styles from different artists. This reinforced the idea that mastering perspective doesn’t mean all your drawings have to look the same.
My only gripe: The font size and light gray text can be a bit hard to read in dim light. A common complaint, but honestly, it doesn’t outweigh the value of the content.
For those looking for a full range of helpful books, I also maintain a list of my favorite urban sketching books.
Who this book is for (and who might not need it)
If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated while trying to draw buildings, streets, or any scene involving depth, this book is for you. Beginners will appreciate the clear explanations. More experienced sketchers who want to sharpen their understanding of complex perspectives will find it a useful refresher.
However, if you’re only sketching organic subjects like animals or plants (which I also love and cover in my draw animals tutorials), you might not need this book as much. But for anyone mixing nature and architecture — as many nature journaling sketchers do — it’s a fantastic resource.
How I use this book in my sketching practice
When I head out for urban sketching sessions in places like Seattle or New York, I often tuck this book into my bag. I’ve marked certain pages and return to them when I hit a roadblock.
Bower’s advice on editing what you see and simplifying complex scenes has been especially helpful. It’s also encouraged me to practice different types of perspective (one-point, two-point, and even three-point) without overthinking it.
For those starting out, you might also want to explore my easy urban sketching for beginners guide or grab some urban sketching reference photos to practice at home.
Why perspective knowledge matters more than you think
A lot of new sketchers feel that perspective is optional — or something to “figure out later.” I used to feel the same. But once I understood even the basics of perspective, my sketches immediately felt more believable.
Perspective isn’t about making your drawings stiff or overly technical. It’s about helping the viewer feel like they’re standing in the scene with you. Even loose, expressive sketches benefit from good structure. If you’re into loose urban sketching like I am, knowing when and how to apply perspective principles can actually give you more freedom.
It also makes adding things like people or trees easier. Once you know where the horizon is and how objects shrink as they recede, it’s much easier to place figures or foliage that make sense in the space. I cover this in my urban sketching people tutorial as well.
How it compares to other urban sketching books
I own a pretty big collection of urban sketching books, and while many are inspiring, not all of them are as practical as The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Perspective.
Books like The Art of Urban Sketching and Urban Watercolor Sketching are great for inspiration and techniques, but they don’t go as deep into the why and how of drawing believable space.
Stephanie Bower’s handbook stands out because it’s focused and actionable. If you combine it with books like The Urban Sketching Handbook 101 Sketching Tips or Sketch Now Think Later, you’ll have both the technical knowledge and creative mindset needed for confident sketching.
Final thoughts
The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Perspective has become one of my most-used sketching books. It’s not just a read-it-once kind of book. It’s a working tool that I return to again and again when I’m out sketching on location.
If you’ve been searching for a no-nonsense, practical guide to mastering perspective for urban sketching, I highly recommend it.
If you want to explore more tools, techniques, and inspiration for your sketching practice, check out my full urban sketching tutorials and urban sketching course.