Tiny New York City sketches
Posted: March 23, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Essex Market, New York City, Panorama, Rat sketch, Tiny Sketches 26 CommentsLast week we spent a few days in New York City. It was a whirlwind trip, with most of the time spent with family, but I found a few moments to sketch in between our activities.
I brought a tiny sketch kit with me knowing that I wouldn’t have much drawing time — a 3″ x 5″ Moleskine sketchbook, a few pens, my travel palette and a waterbrush. I knew that I would be more apt to sketch if the book was really tiny, and as it turns out I was right. I really enjoyed having the pocket-sized kit with me. I was able to pull it out to draw a few figures while waiting for the subway, and again later in the day to draw a few lines of the Brooklyn bridge while waiting for the ferry in DUMBO.
Before leaving home, I noticed that NYC Urban Sketchers had a meet-up at Essex Market on Saturday morning. I joined them for a few hours, but only had time to do a few quick sketches before heading off to another family event. Even after all these years of being part of the worldwide USk family, it still makes me so happy to travel to another city and hang out with other sketchers.
Since we were staying in Brooklyn, I had the chance to discover some new areas and great sketching spots. There’s a wonderful promenade that runs along the water in Brooklyn Heights, and it has the absolute best view of lower Manhattan. It was misty on the morning that I sketched which made the panorama a little more interesting and atmospheric.
I walked by this dead rat multiple times before I decided to sketch it. I’m not that keen on live rodents in the city but this dead one was perfectly intact and seemed like it would make a good addition to my tiny sketchbook.
Enjoy it (while you still can 🙃), nice story btw!
Thanks Bunny. And so far, yes, we are still enjoying it.
Oh, Shari–sketching the dead rat! Made me laugh!
Lois, it made me laugh to sketch it too. As well as a few passersby who saw me sketching it.
A DELIGHTFUL travelog and story! The dead rat – well from what I hear, rats are part of the NYC experience, so glad you decided to add him/her in. Just two colors for the market sketch? It looks great and I bet was pretty darned quick. As always, your sketches and accompanying stories/descriptions are an inspiration to me. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Rats are definitely a part of the New York experience. Last time we were there our son was living on the Upper West Side near Central Park, a neighbourhood notorious for its rats. His dog was constantly trying to catch them in the park and as they ran under parked cars.
As for my quick sketches, those market drawings were probably about 10 minutes. I think I spent more time catching up with a few sketcher friends who were there. Oh well… it was so much fun to be there anyway.
It’s been years since I visited NY city. Every time I went with family or friends I easily became a part of the continuous motion in the city that never sleeps.
Thankfully, I never saw any dead rats while visiting! It sure does add interest and a smile to your post but, I’m sooo glad I never saw one!
Hi Bernadette,
I have seen plenty of both live and dead rats but never one that was so perfectly positioned on the sidewalk.
It was as if someone had placed it there for me to sketch.
Shari
This is inspirational. I really like working continuously in my A5 journals, but I’m thinking I could pre-draw little boxes before a trip like this – so have the mindset already to just do quickies. Thanks. And, as always, I love your stuff!
HI Melissa,
I’m glad this was useful for you.
I think that drawing little boxes is a perfect idea for your A5 journal.
I do the same in my A4 size which is really big. I don’t always make the squares in advance but I definitely do that on location.
Anything that works, as long as it gets you sketching, is good for me.
Thanks so much for writing!
Shari
Thank you for sharing stories, sketches, and a process for going fast. I’m going on an upcoming trip with friends who don’t sketch, and I’ve been practicing quick sketches. What colors would you recommend for a small travel palette? Thanks again for the wonderful and energetic scenes!
Hi Jeanne,
Having a small book with you for trips with non-sketchers is ideal. It is not at all disruptive even if you are sitting a cafe with a small table.
As for a small palette, I would say, but a ready made one like this one from Van Gogh: https://www.royaltalens.com/products/van-gogh-watercolour-pocket-box-basic-colours-12-half-pans?variant=53784304222593
Or fill a small palette with a cool and a warm yellow, a cool and a warm red and a cool and a warm blue.
To that I would add maybe a burnt sienna and a Black.
You will be able to mix a lot with that.
Have a great trip.
Shari
small can be so beautiful, I’m working on a 6 by 6 painting and it’s a wonderful way to challenge my composition skills. Enjoy visiting your family 🙂
Thanks Maureen. We had a wonderful visit. Too short as always.
Hi Shari
Great post as usual. I could not help but think “that rat can really hold a pose!” when you described using him as a subject 😉
I love New York (and I miss my cousins from New Jersey (former New Yorkers) very much). Enjoy the rest of your trip and thanks for these painting gems and tips.
Chris
Thanks Chris. We had a wonderful time visiting our sons who live there. At least they are driving distance now, so we can drive down for a long weekend. Of course they are both quite used to the rats…
Fun NYC sketches! I love the ones of Essex Market. I didn’t get to that meet-up because I didn’t feel well. Sorry I missed you! I would have loved to see you…hopefully another time. The rat sketch made me smile…but NYC rats should have a slice of pizza in their mouths.LOL Yes, I realize he wasn’t alive.
Joan, it would have been wonderful to see you. Next time I will try to let you know in advance that I will be visiting. NYC Urban Sketchers are really nice. I enjoyed talking with people there.
great impromptu sketches. How big is your travel palette?
I had to chuckle a little bit about the dead rat, right after the eewww came out as my first thought. I think you did the right thing in sketching it – maybe it was there for a reason! As always, great sketches and thank you for sharing! 🙂
Thanks Lynn. The rat was definitely waiting for me to sketch it!
Great sketches!
Thanks so much Laurie!
You always remind me that it’s the process of sketching that is most important, not necessarily the end result, but your end results are so great, even in a tiny Moleskin.
Great sketches! I love my little Alpha Stillman & Birn. I carry it, a couple watercolor pencils, and a water brush with me everywhere. Small adhoc sketches leave just as many lasting memories as larger sketches. They help me connect my sketching to my everyday life.
Having a tiny book is wonderful!!