Urban Sketching: Meet, Sketch, Share

"Radio Coffee and Beer" - Ink and Watercolor

Over the weekend I had the chance to sketch with Austin Urban Sketchers at Radio Coffee and Beer in Austin, Texas.  If you're not familiar with Urban Sketchers, I can tell you a bit about it.  Founded in 2007 by Gabi Campanario, Urban Sketchers is a nonprofit international organization of folks who gather in urban settings to draw observationally with others.  The motto of Urban Sketchers is short and sweet:  ""Meet, sketch, share."

"Urban Sketching at Spider House" - Ink and Watercolor

I've been sketching with the Austin group for a few years now.  What I enjoy about this group and Urban Sketchers as a whole is the friendly sense of community and camaraderie that sets the tone of the group.  All levels of skill and all ages are welcome.  There are more than 100,000 members of Urban Sketchers worldwide and close to 200 chapters.

"Central Market" - Ink and Watercolor
(Done in June, 2015 - Not my best work!)

A lovely aspect of the organization is that it is noncompetitive.  My experience of the group is that other sketchers are happy to share information about the materials they use, techniques they find helpful (I want help with perspective, please!!), and online classes they've taken and enjoyed.

"Young Violinist at Farmers Market" - Ink and Watercolor

Once a year Urban Sketchers holds an international symposium where people from all over the world meet to sketch, connect, and share their work.  Previous symposia have been held in Manchester, England, Singapore, Paraty, Brazil, Barcelona, Santo Domingo, DR, Lisbon, Portugal, and Portland, Oregon.  The 2017 symposium will be in Chicago.

"In Front of the Driskill Hotel" - Ink and Watercolor

Local chapters organize sketching events at a variety of venues including coffee shops, parks, public and governmental buildings, farmers markets, city plazas, and more.  On occasion,  "Sketchcrawls" are held in which sketchers opt to go from one sketching location to another all on the same day, thus getting the opportunity to draw several sites and have a more diverse record of the day's efforts. 

"Georgetown Square" - Ink and Watercolor

Another fun part of all of this is after a few hours of sketching, everyone reconvenes to share the results of their labor, photos are taken, and those who want to find a nearby place for drinks or a meal.  It's one of the best ways I know to promote the creation of art and a spirit of international goodwill.