Urban Sketchers is a global network of artists who enjoy drawing on location. According to the Seattle chapter the international community of urban sketchers is estimated at over 50,000, with 13 chapters in the US alone.

The mission of Urban Sketchers is “to raise the artistic, storytelling and educational value of location drawing, promoting its practice and connecting people around the world who draw on location where they live and travel. We aim to show the world, one drawing at a time.”

I recently joined the New York chapter (USk/NYC) to give it a try, and to shake the rust out of my dormant sketching hand. After a few weeks my enthusiasm took over and I organized a sketching trip to the Winter Garden [above and below, rows 1 & 2], followed by a visit to the We Tell Stories exhibition at the SVA Chelsea Galleries. After that, several of the group repaired to the Half King to refuel on brew and snacks. 

Jeff [off camera, right] shows his watercolor portrait of Yolanda, a new member of the group; Mark, USk/NYC, right.

I was amazed to discover that the leaves of Washingtonia robusta palms consist of straight lines! I asked, “What would Ellsworth Kelly do,” but the reply was kind of muffled….

At SVA Chelsea Gallery, we ran into Viktor Koen, who showed us his work in the show.

In the next gallery, Paul Hoppe showed us his childrens’ books and the Rabid Rabbit zines series.

The view from the gallery’s terrace was like a magnificent curtain falling on the daylight city.

If you would like to join Urban Sketchers/NYC, go here. Visit the USk/NYC Facebook page here. For information about other chapters, go here. Urban Sketchers also organizes special events, like the 2014 Naples workshop, here.