Taichung City, Taiwan

Yu-Jie Cai

I am Jie, an urban sketcher from Taiwan. I worked as a landscape designer after graduation from the university. I became a member of the Urban Sketcher group in 2015 and currently work as an illustrator and travel drawing instructor in Taichung City, Taiwan. Traveling inspires me a lot. I like to visit different cities and record the stories of the city by drawing the historical buildings or nature landscapes on location. Watercolor and markers are my most used media. In my sketches, I love to use rhythmic lines and to leave some empty spaces to bring the eyes of viewers towards my center of interest.

  • I contribute to the book “The world of Urban Sketching” by Stephanie Bower, 2023
  • Featured guest sketcher, “Urban Sketchers Pune Sketchologue” issue 12, Oct. 2021
  • Demo and Workshop Instructor, Creativity Art Studio Malaysia, 2019
  • Online Course Instructor, ArtLife, Moscow, Russia, 2019
  • Travel Drawing Instructor, Stella Matutina Girls High School- Elderly Continuing Education Center, Taichung city, Taiwan 2018 - current

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Workshop language: Chinese & English ( I will speak Chinese and I have a partner to translate to English)



How to choose the main subject and create empty spaces

In this workshop, participants will learn how to choose and simplify the subject in their surroundings. Utilizing sharp and loose edges, varying the line weight, students will learn how to incorporate white space to let the sketch breathe. These techniques will help create dynamic and energetic sketches. Participants will also learn how to draw trees with unique brush techniques.



Key skills:
  • How to choose and simplify the subject in their surroundings and capture the essence of the scene.
  • How to use the line weight to create dynamic and energetic sketches
  • Participants will also learn how to draw trees with unique brush techniques and how to leave whites and, utilizing sharp and loose edges to let the sketch breathe

Suggested material:
  • Waterproof fineliner (black, gray, ochre)
  • Watercolor
  • Colour pencils
  • Din A5 sketchbook or bigger
  • Folding stool recommended


The following photo is my most used tools for your reference