Trying Out Cafe Sketching

I’m pretty rubbish at sketching on the spot to make something look like it should. So it’s high time for me to practice. There’s something luxurious about sitting in a café with a tiny sketchbook and a few watercolours (and time), simply looking around and deciding what catches your eye. I settled in with my paints and captured a cosy café scene in watercolour, turning an ordinary moment into one of my little miniature paintings.

I love painting from real life because you never quite know how the painting will develop. This is not my ‘best’ painting - there is a lot to be desired - but in the end it doesn’t matter - the colours, shapes, people and little details of the café all become part of the process, rather than trying to create a perfectly accurate scene. And without being distracted digitally - I actually remember the moment better than normal because I took the time to observe it.

In this video, you can paint along with me as I create this tiny watercolour café painting, building the scene with a dodgy drawing first and then adding some colour. It's a simple and relaxing way to practise watercolour painting, sketchbook painting and painting from observation.

If you enjoy miniature watercolour painting, urban sketching, travel sketchbooks or relaxing paint-with-me videos, I hope you'll enjoy coming along for this little café painting session.