Written by These wonderful doodlewashes are from Amara Strand (follow her on Instagram @a_strand), who lives in Toronto, Canada (originally from Thailand). Her background is in Interior Design. She says, “I used to sketch and paint for my everyday work until computers have slowly taken over traditional hand methods. I seldom touched my watercolour palette since then.”
When Amara moved to Toronto in 2010, painting was the thing she had missed. This is the reason why she joined Toronto Urban Sketchers and another art journey with her first sketchbook has begun! Amara says, “I got a very warm welcome from the group, especially MJ who is the host. I have learned so much about techniques, styles, and tools of each artwork from professional and amateur artists. Sharing artwork is very valuable and fun. Lately, I have been helping out the group by blogging on their website.”
Amara loves drawing on location with her Urban Sketching group as well as doing it on her own. Whenever she goes sketching, she takes a small bag which contains: a watercolor palette (Winsor Newton pocket), sketch book (Moleskine pocket), fine liner pen, pencil, eraser, paper towel and water brushes (Koi and Derwent).
An urban sketch is always drawn from life and direct observation versus something drawn from a photo or simply imagined. Urban Sketchers is a wonderful nonprofit group whose mission is “to raise the artistic, storytelling and educational value of location drawing.”
When asked why she loves drawing on location, Amara had this to say: “Many unexpected overwhelming situations could happen. For example, people came to me having a little chat about the art work with big smiles. Some people even offered free drinks, sang songs while I was sketching. I had some good company! It makes me happy to be connected with others through art.” (Couldn’t agree more with this!)
Be sure to follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Flickr and by checking out her Tumblr blog. We love your urban sketches, Amara, and can’t wait to watch as you give us more glimpses of what you see each day!
Amara’s work is amazing – so juicy and rich! Superb. I can’t wait to see, too.
Pretty amazing right?! She’s one to watch and study!! 😉
Wow, magnificent artwork, thank you for bringing Amara to us.
Definitely follow her! She’s so good and her sketches make it exciting to see what will come next!
The sketches look better than the real thing!!!
Hehe…I know right?! I was thinking the same thing. Amara is perfection!
I love Urban Sketching. I belong to a Urban Sketching group in Austin. I really enjoy it and learning from people. I love these sketches!
That’s awesome Damita! They’re a wonderful group. So glad you’re part of it!
I love your style! I just lie it when I see a pairing, I get the mood of the place. And they definitely convey different moods. Thank you for including your urban sketching gear. I always take a small sketchbook with me but rarely do I take my coloring tools. I will be following! Thanks, Amara and Charlie!
Yay Kari! Glad you liked! And will follow her! 😉👍🏻
Thanks for introducing us to Amara’s awesome work! I’m a new fan!!
Yay! Another one! Hehe…great Jodi!! I love it when I can connect talented artists!
I bought a book called Urban Sketching. I wonder if it was published by the same non-profit group? I’d love to be able to do architectural paintings/drawings that well!
Depends on which book as there are several. The one by Marc Taro Holmes is great as is his Crafsty course! He’s directly involved with the core group. And I would love to be this good as well…hehe…that’s why I started following Amara! She’s great!!
That’s the book! I should take his Craftsy course. 🙂
Yes! I haven’t had a chance to make it through the whole thing but want to make a post about it soon!
Sounds good!
Beautiful stuff. There can be so much charm in an architectural scene captured well, and Amara’s are full to bursting with it. Thanks for sharing another wonderful artist, Charlie!
You’re quite welcome Jacob! Follow Amara everywhere, she’s definitely one to watch!
Love all the details in Amara’s work! She is talented in painting such beautiful color washes! Thanks Charlie for introducing her! 💜🎨😊
I know…it’s just so darn pretty and awesome!! I’m a huge Amara fan!
Wow these are amazing!!!
I know!! Hehe..Amara had crazy mad good skills. Glad you like her too Maggie!
I´m out of words… WOW!!! Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing, Charlie!!!
I know!! Glad you like these! Amara just blows me away! Pure awesome!
Thank you for sharing such beautiful art. Love the blending of hard edge of the buildings and the loose saturated watercolors, really brings life and grace to the urban landscape.
Glad you like it Haunani! Amara is amazing…definitely follow her everywhere! Hehe