It seems to me that a painting of an urban scene must have a people or two. A painting is just not finished without.

just like a rural scene might need a cow/goat/sheep - some life!

the problem is they must be credible, they must be drawn and painted well - if not ... well ... lets not go there!

so how to start?

start by drawing, get lots of photos of people walking/standing and drill them down to basic shapes - geometry! 
I can't tell you how many pages of people drawings I have done - page after page after page, then I do more pages and pages and pages. In other words you can't draw them too much.

i found this online years ago:
​think of these three basic shapes U W O 
U - turn upside down, it becomes a torso
W - legs
O - head

once you've done lots of practice getting the ratios right (length of leg to body, size of head etc) you will naturally start to loosen up, let them merge, make a crowd etc. relax your hand and let your hand/eye coordination work for you. Keep your pencil marks light, fluid, gestural and lyrical (only use sharpened "B" pencils). avoid erasing pencil marks

​see my youtube video on this subject, let me know how you get on

bit of a sod but we're not all good at everything

as usual, most of my new students are reluctant to draw

I mean super reluctant 

i dont know if they can't or think they can't draw.

I can sort of understand it now that i have my own disability.

Some of it is attention-seeking, a battle of wills which i am unlikely to waste class time on, I'm there to teach everyone.

​a man came up to my teaching group and made jokes about what id drawn to show my students. i was so angry i actually told him to shove off. I'm so embarrassed by my inability to draw and write to my pre-stoke level. it is deeply humiliating and frustrating.

the only way forward is to practice in private, keep it small, the size that is right for you. I say small because small drawings are quicker, quicker results and quicker gains. it takes focus and determination, but like me, you'll get better and better. we'll do it together.

learn from all the good tutors you can find. be proud of small gains. 

good luck to us both!!

ciao ciao cari amici xx

If you’re struggling with watercolour, it might be your brushes are too dry!! Not enough colour and water. Watercolour paintings can look dry and overworked and seem to have a "scrubby" look.

Preparation is most important, prime your brushes with a good swill in water before you start. Every time you pick up a different brush to use, start with a good swill in your water. Remember we’re painting with water – watercolour!

Use good quality paint and give your palette a spritz with water before you start so the paints set-up ready to go.

When you’re about to start painting, if your brush hasn’t got drips coming off it, you haven’t got enough water.

Once you’ve picked up your paint, mix it through the brush bristles to avoid unwanted streaks. If you’re using paint from your mixing area, give it a little spritz again and with a sweeping action load your brush with colour.

See my video demo Paintbox Tip #90 to see how to load your natural bristle brushes with good juicy, rich paint!

​ciao pitturi xx