Filipino Canadian Architect Publishes Book On Urban Sketching

RICHMOND, British Columbia – A Filipino Canadian artist and architect from Richmond B.C. has recently released his book on urban sketching. Joe Larano, Jr. who has lived in Richmond since 1998, said his book titled Urban Sketching: Capturing the Views Around Us is meant to be both an education and reference resource on urban sketching.

The book is all about urban sketching, a new art movement that is growing rapidly worldwide thanks to the Internet and the social media revolution. The book is relevant as it encourages that urban sketching is everybody’s game.  It serves as a reference aid to regular sketchers and especially to beginners who will greatly recognize the art’s relevance today,” Larano says.

“Urban Sketching: Capturing the Views Around Us” emphasizes urban sketching as an art activity that everyone can be proudly a part of. Urban sketching is a movement first started by Urban Sketchers, an international non-profit organization that aims to foster a global community of artists. Urban sketching can be learned from many sources, formal training, books, seminars, and many Internet learning channels. This book aims to encourage readers to try urban sketching and engage in it, develop their own style, and enjoy the fun and satisfaction of urban sketching activity.

Mr. Larano has included in the book his sketches depicting several local scenes to include heritage houses on stilts at Finn Slough in Richmond, the YVR airport terminal building, scenes at Fisherman’s wharf in Steveston, the Patullo and Queensborough bridges in New Westminster BC among others.  It also features sketches showing drawing techniques and styles of several international urban sketchers and contributors with notable styles to appreciate and emulate.  The book offers readers with a wealth of information on becoming successful urban sketchers and at the same time, gives them the encouragement and opportunities to experience the joy and fun of urban sketching. This book includes urban sketching’s historical context, current trends, and its concept. It further touches on basic artist tools, elements of art, theory of color, studies and art exercises.

The abundance of beautiful natural and built up sceneries has inspired Mr. Larano to capture these scenes. And when urban sketching became a worldwide phenomenon, he has been in its forefront, participating in sketch crawls, indoor and outdoor sketching. He conducts local workshops and has held several demonstration sketching in his locality.

The book is currently available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and other major online bookstores and websites.