Jason NicholasCreator, The Inkspired Life · Sketchologist™ Sketch Boldly . Live Creatively.

Urban Sketching: The Inkspired Life with Jason Nicholas

4 May 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:04

In this introductory monologue, licensed architect and high‑school architecture teacher Jason Nicholas shares his personal urban sketching practice. He describes how, several times a month, he wanders through New York City and local neighborhoods with a sketchbook, pens, markers, and occasional watercolors, swapping precise CAD drawings for free‑form line work that captures buildings, bridges, and skylines. He emphasizes the informal, non‑graded nature of the activity—no building codes or rules—highlighting the joy of journaling, sketching, and sharing art with a small, evolving community of friends. Jason mentions typical sketching spots such as Central Park and coffee shops, and invites viewers to follow provided links for online beginner classes and workshops.

Chapters

Hey, I'm Jason Nicholas. I'm a licensed architect. I also teach architecture to high school students. Several times a month, I love to wander to New York City and local communities where I carry my sketchbook and a pen, and I capture the world around me one line at a time. It's what we call urban sketching. My CAD drawings and precise lines and measurements are replaced by a simple journal, a handful of pens and markers, and maybe a few watercolors to sketch buildings, bridges, and scenic skylines that many often walk the past. No grades at the end of the day, no heavy fatigues, no building codes, no rules, just a small group of old and new friends discovering the pleasure of journaling, sketching, and sharing art. Some Saturdays you will find me in New York City, Central Park, coffee shops, recreating my take on iconic locations around the city. Follow me at these links for information on online classes and beginners' workshops.