Philadelphia or Philly is a city rich with history, artistic culture, and captivating architecture—perfect for a sketching enthusiast looking to capture iconic landmarks and hidden details. My sketch trip in September took me through some of Philly’s most renowned sites, each with its unique charm and story. Here are five unforgettable places that I captured in my sketchbook.
If you like posts about my sketch trips, you can read about them here. I already have posts about Boston, Tampa, NYC, Chicago, Tbilisi and Rome.
My Material in this trip:
- Tombow Markers: https://amzn.to/4bWMDJg
- Art Creation Sketchbook: https://amzn.to/3yIVwrG
Pastel Neocolor 2: https://amzn.to/3KsDDQA - Micron Pen: https://amzn.to/3X4BfXx
Hahnemuhle Nostalgie Sketch Book: https://amzn.to/3wi4Lyg - Sakura Koi Water Brush: https://amzn.to/45Ge7RE
City Hall
This architectural marvel, with its French Second Empire style, offers countless angles and details. From the intricate façade to the statue of William Penn at the top, sketching City Hall was a perfect warm-up. Each viewpoint around the building provided fresh compositions, keeping the session both challenging and rewarding. Also you can visit the City Hall inside, you can take the Tower tour or Interior and exterior tour. All the details on the official site.
The Liberty Bell
Next, I visited the Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence. While often surrounded by visitors, the bell itself holds a sense of calm and reverence. Its historical cracks and smooth, rounded surface were a challenge to capture in marker, but seeing its details up close offered a sense of connection to the past, bringing history alive on the page. The entrance is free, and the line moves rather quickly.
The Barnes Foundation
The Barnes Foundation houses a beautiful collection of art in an intimate setting, and the building’s modern architecture was a change of pace. Barnes Foundation has a great collection of impressionists like Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse and others. I focused on sketching one of the Modigliani paintings. Important thing, don’t bring water with you, leave it at the entrance of the exhibition. There is a box for this kind of stuff.
Philadelphia Art Museum
The iconic steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum are famous in their own right, but the museum itself, with its grand columns and classical style, is stunning to sketch. I sketched the entrance and details of the columns, and then visited the museum. There are a lot of things to see. I spent at least 3 hours there. Friendly suggest before your visit check up with the map which areas you want to go. It will save you time and you will be less tired and overwhelmed.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul has a powerful presence with its neoclassical design and towering dome. I found myself captivated by the facade and intricate details outside, capturing the grandeur and tranquility of the place. There was a park with benches and a cafe nearby. So it was a very nice spot for sketching. The Basilica is also very beautiful inside, so I highly recommend you to visit it. The basilica was the perfect finale to my Philly sketch tour.
Philadelphia’s blend of historical and modern elements made it a sketcher’s dream. Each site offered a unique story and visual appeal, and capturing them in my sketchbook felt like bringing a piece of the city back with me.
