Urban Sketching in Mixed Media with Min Lee

This workshop will help you draw without hesitation and develop a playful, expressive approach to sketching.

Description:
In this workshop, students will learn how to layer gouache with dry materials such as colored pencils, crayons, oil pastels, and acrylic markers. Many people feel intimidated by the blank white page—this workshop will help you begin without hesitation and develop a playful, expressive approach to sketching.

You will learn how to:

• Start confidently without fear of making mistakes

• Build drawings using color blocks and layered materials

• Use color in a bold and intuitive way

• Add patterns and decorative elements in a whimsical style

• Incorporate your own story, personality, and creative voice into urban sketches

• Optionally explore collage techniques to create a unique, special edition page

The focus is on creative freedom, experimentation, and enjoying the process.

Techniques that will be taught

You will learn:

• How to use gouache as a base layer

• How to layer dry materials on top of wet media

• How to simplify urban scenes into color blocks

• How to add texture, patterns, and personal storytelling elements

• How to draw people using simple line sketch techniques

• How to combine mixed media to create rich, expressive sketchbook pages

• Optional: collage techniques to enhance and personalize artwork

Some of the items Min uses for sketching. Bring what you can, there is no need to purchase anything for this event.

Materials and tools students should bring

It's a big list, but you should bring your own paper and your favorite art supplies. No need to purchase anything.

Paper:

• Mixed media paper (5"×7" or larger); sketchbook preferred

• Hot press paper is ideal if available

Wet Medium:

• Watercolor or watercolor gouache (preferred)

• Acrylic gouache is also acceptable

Dry Medium:

• Crayons (Neocolor I or II recommended), a few favorite colors (include white if possible)

• Colored pencils (6–12 colors)

• Oil pastels or tempera paint sticks

• Posca pens or acrylic markers (white especially useful)

Collage & Extras:

• Small scissors and glue

• Optional: decorative or patterned paper (some will be provided to share)

Other Essentials:

• Pencil, eraser, sharpener

• Round brushes (size 8–18 if available)

• Water container and rag/paper towel

• Seating is available at the venue, but bringing a stool may give you more options.

The seating area at the meeting point looks out over the 9/11 memorial and the words "Brookfield Place" (will be backwards) on the windows.

Meeting point — Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St, New York, NY -- second floor, at the top of the half-circle staircase, where there are round tables and sofas facing the Oculus transit hub. If coming from the Oculus transit hub, take the big escalator up to Brookfield Place, and then take one more escalator up one floor.

If weather permits, we may sketch outside.

About the Instructor
Min Lee is an illustrator, graphic designer, and teacher based in New York City. She holds a BFA in Communication Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. An avid urban sketcher, Min draws inspiration from nature, architecture, people, and the vibrant energy of New York’s streets.

Her work is known for its vibrant and whimsical style, celebrating creative imperfections and the beauty of happy accidents.

For Min, drawing is a lifelong passion she loves sharing with others. Through her art and teaching, she encourages people to embrace their creativity and see the world with fresh, colorful eyes. Her goal is to make the world a more joyful and colorful place, one sketch at a time.

See Min's work on Instagram: @min_jml

Tickets for this event are not refundable or exchangeable.