John Hogan

Florida, USA

John Hogan is a woodcarver and potter who began his Urban Sketching journey as a beginner with less than a year of experience. He was initially drawn to sketching when trying to capture a figure for his carvings but struggled with perspective. His curiosity about urban sketching grew after discovering vibrant watercolor sketches on Facebook, which led him to Ian Fennelly's courses.

Before-and-after student sketch – Urban Sketch Course progress photo

Urban Sketch Course Experience

John stumbled upon Ian’s course while looking for a way to improve the perspective in his figure sketching for carving. He was captivated by the colourful, lively sketches he saw online, which prompted him to try his hand at one. His immediate connection with sketching led him to sign up for the Beginner's course, and he has been hooked ever since.

John is inspired by Ian's fluid, confident painting style. Watching Ian paint with ease and precision motivates him to push his own boundaries and practice with greater confidence.

“"I appreciate Ian's teaching style and how he consistently formats his courses so the student knows what to expect from module to module. I also appreciate Urban Sketch's consistent efforts to improve the quality of its courses."”

– John Hogan

These sketches capture John’s remarkable progression, from his initial Urban Sketch to the more polished works that demonstrate his growing skill and creativity.

Beginner Screenshot 2025 01 15 At 9.17.25%E2%80%Afam

After Screenshot 2025 01 15 At 8.43.11%E2%80%Afam

John’s story reflects the power of dedication and a supportive community in nurturing artistic growth. His journey continues, and he encourages others to take the leap into Urban Sketching, just as he did.

Start Sketching for Free

Inspired by John's story? Join a FREE urban sketching course with renowned artist Ian Fennelly! Gain skills and confidence through easy-to-follow lessons, hands-on exercises, and step-by-step guidance. Capture your surroundings with style and personality—don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn from one of the world’s top urban sketchers, completely free!

Start for free

- More Success stories -

Guide5 October 20268 min read

How to Draw Signs and Lettering in Your Urban Sketches

Plain letters first, chunky letters second, and always check the spelling.

Guide, Landscape16 September 20266 min read

Why Your Landscape Sketches Look Flat (And The Fix)

Perspective does most of the work in a street and almost none of it in a field. Here is what Ian does instead, and the four ways he separates a foreground from a background.

Guide15 September 202611 min read

Our 4 Week Urban Sketching Experience: What Riomaggiore Taught Us

The lessons that came back again and again from the hardest scene we have set.

Guide10 September 202610 min read

Why Sketching the Same Scene Twice Teaches You More Than Moving On

Most sketchers move straight to a new subject. Here is what the second attempt gives you that the first cannot.

← Back to Success stories