- Private community
- 72 members
- $39/month
- By Alán Ramiro, 415K @seethelines
Next series
Scenes of Budapest
Design a sketch from start to finish, with a practical system to observe, decide, and build a scene on location.
- Thu, Nov 12
- Thu, Nov 19
- Tue, Nov 24
- Fri, Nov 27
Suggested materials provided in the community.
Every session is ready to take the same day inside Studio, so you can sketch at your own pace. Your access to the full library continues as long as you're a member.
Want to sketch along live and ask questions in class? See Atelier, 20 seats.
Years ago, I watched a senior architect sigh and say, "I remember when I used to sketch." I decided I would never lose my connection to sketching, and that I would help others find and keep theirs.
So I left architecture and sketched my way around the world. With little time and changing light, I needed a better way to work. Necessity sharpens invention, and that is how the shadows-first method came to be.
The first layer is all about atmosphere. Follow the light and begin painting. When you see the lines, you don't have to draw them all. My sketching became looser, more fun, and more alive.
Inside Studio, I teach this method step by step, alongside many other techniques, whether you are just starting or coming back after years away.
Someday is no day. Come sketch with us today.
Cancel anytime. 7-day money-back guarantee.
What you get inside Studio
- The course library of 60+ workshops
- New workshop series added every month
- Best of 2025 and 2026, curated collections for beginner to advanced
- The Shadows-First Course
- Resources with art supply discounts and technique downloads
- A Studio space to share your sketches, ask questions, and get feedback from the community
- Challenges to keep you sketching
Atelier
20 seats
Want to sketch along live? Atelier gives you a seat in every live session.
- Everything in Studio
- A live seat in every workshop series
- Ask questions and get my feedback in class
- $100 credit toward an in-person retreat
- Limited to 20 seats
$79/month or $197/quarter (save $40)
Join Atelier →
Your early access
The first 100 Studio members get an early access price of $39/month.
72 of 100 early access spots taken
28 left
A Look Inside the Studio
Frequently Asked Questions
Are video recordings available?
Yes. Every workshop is recorded, and the replays stay in the library for as long as you're a member.
- The full library of 60+ workshops is open from day one.
- A new workshop series is added every month.
- Watch on your own schedule, pause, and sketch along at your own pace.
Can I join the workshops live?
Yes, with Atelier. You get a seat in every live session of each monthly series, so you can sketch along with me, ask questions, and get my feedback in class.
- Sessions are at 10am PST / 19:00 CET, with the dates listed for each series.
- Atelier is limited to 20 seats.
- $79/month or $197/quarter, and it includes everything in Studio plus a $100 credit toward an in-person retreat.
If you're already in Studio, you can upgrade anytime and only pay the difference.
What materials and supplies should I have?
Keep it simple:
- A watercolor sketchbook, preferably portrait, A5 size or larger
- A black colored pencil
- Permanent ink pens in thin, medium, and bold
- A small watercolor set
- Two brushes, a mop brush size 12 to 16 and a size 6
Inside Studio you get a more detailed materials list, and each workshop lists what I use and the pigments I'm using, so you can add things as you go. You don't need expensive gear to get started.
I'm completely new to urban or architecture sketching. Is Studio right for me?
Yes. Start with the Best of 2025 collection, curated from beginner to advanced, so you always know where to go next.
Each monthly series starts at level 1, easy, and each week brings a little more challenge.
If I'm more advanced, will I still find value?
Yes. The workshops go deep into perspective, ink, watercolor, and intuitive sketching, and the challenges keep you sketching with intention. You might have habits that slow you down, and a fresh perspective can help you loosen up your style and keep growing.
You can share your work in the Studio space for feedback from the community. If you want to join the workshops live, ask questions, and get my feedback in class, there's an option to upgrade to Atelier.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Studio is month to month with no long-term commitment. You can cancel from your account whenever you like, and you keep access until the end of the month you've paid for.
If it's not for you, there's a 7-day money-back guarantee.
What is the early access price?
The first 100 Studio members get an early access price of $39/month.
Finish sketches faster with the Shadows-First Method
A simple, proven approach I use when the light is moving fast and I’m short on time.
This will be valuable for you if you want to…
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Sketch confidently without overthinking composition
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Add depth and life instantly with simple shadow placement
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A method you can use anywhere, from cafés to cityscapes
Your free download is a designed and printable PDF for you to take on-location.
Alán Ramiro Manning
@seethelines
Alán Ramiro, an urban sketcher and educator based in Lisbon, combines his decade of architectural experience with a passion for travel and creativity. Through his workshops, Alán shares transformative techniques—like his innovative “sketching shadows first” approach, designed to help sketchers infuse personal experiences and energy into their art. Inspired by his studies abroad in Barcelona and a philosophy of embracing creativity through necessity, Alán’s teaching goes beyond replication, guiding participants to capture the essence of time, place, and spirit in every sketch.
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