Drawing Attention Sept 2023 - the zine of www.urbansketchers.org

SKETCHING IN NEW ZEALAND ARGENTINA, AZORES, BRAZIL, MANILA, SEATTLE

Attention DRAWING

The official zine of Urban Sketchers SEPT 2023

Drawing Attention Mandate

Drawing Attention, the official zine of the Urban Sketchers organization, communicates and promotes official USk workshops, symposiums, sketchcrawls, news and events; shares news about USk chapters; and educates readers about the practice of on-location sketching.

Welcome to another issue of Drawing Attention, the zine about urban sketching across the world.

Thanks to this month’s Drawing Attention

contributors:

Content P ubliC ation team: Anne Taylor, Jane Wingfield

mailChimP layout: Jane Wingfield

i ssuu layout: Anne Taylor

Writers & Contributors: Cathy

Gutterman, Andrew James, Kateryna

Kondratieva, Ronaldo Kurita, María

Cecilia Novello, Parka, Scott Wilson, Jane Wingfield

Proofreaders: Miguel Chavez, Leigh Ferst, Yvonne Frindle

Contributors: Parka

Cover image: Andrew James

Subscribe to Drawing Attention. Read the June edition of Drawing Attention

CirCulation: 14k+ r eadershiP: 16k+ Web: urbansketchers.org

Urban Sketchers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the art of on-location drawing. Click here to make your tax-deductible contribution via Paypal. © 2023 Urban Sketchers.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication, including accompanying artwork, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Urban Sketchers organization.

Many of us have Argentina in the back of our minds, whether or not we plan to go to the 2024 Symposium. María Cecilia Novello reminds us, if we do, not to overlook the countryside of her homeland — a place she holds very dear. Scott Wilson shares some tips on being a tourist in Buenos Aires. And our events calendar proves that there are some great urban sketching events going on at a location near you.

USk Azores collaborated with noted local writers for 24 hours, sketching them on location in Ponta Delgada. The resulting sketches and words were then brought together in a booklet by a local print firm.

USk Manila brings us a window on Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where contemporary and historic streetscapes coexist together.

My achievement this month, inspired by our Sketcher Demo artist Andrew James, was to draw a building that did

not initially interest me much. I decided to test Andrew’s theory that you can “make an interesting drawing of a boring building”. It was good to try something counterintuitive and I’m OK with the result (below). Please get in touch with us if you have some news or a story idea to share.

Wishing you inspiration, too! Anne Taylor (NZ), with Jane Wingfield (USA) Content Publication Team

drawingattentionurbansketchers.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE USK REPORTAGE GRANT RECIPIENTS

These winning proposals will now receive a grant from US$300 to 500 to offset expenses related to the project. The authors will have until 15 December to complete the proposed project including at least 12 onlocation sketches that tell the story in a reportage format.

We will share the reportages cross channel, so keep an eye out!

2023 REPORTAGE GRANT

2023 REPORTAGE GRANT

Congratulations to our 10 recipients!

Congratulations to our 10 recipients!

Watch out for their final projects in January 2024

Watch out for their final projects in January 2024

Niloufer Wadia Pune, India

Irena Spector Ja a, Israel

Amanda Roelle Puglia, Italy

Manish Pimpley Maharashtra, India

Kristina Matveeva Saudi Arabia

Niki Groom Weston-Super-Mare, UK

Émilie Goulet Amundsen, Canadian Arctic

Matthew Gibbons Erbil, Iraq

Aaron Gan Selangor, Malaysia

Marielle Durand Paris, France

Urban Sketchers

Niloufer Wadia Pune, India

Irena Spector Ja a, Israel

Amanda Roelle Puglia, Italy

Manish Pimpley Maharashtra, India

Kristina Matveeva Saudi Arabia

Niki Groom Weston-Super-Mare, UK Émilie Goulet Amundsen, Canadian Arctic Matthew Gibbons Erbil, Iraq

Aaron Gan Selangor, Malaysia

Marielle Durand Paris, France

Urban Sketchers

Aaron Gan Selangor, Malaysia

IS YOUR CHAPTER THE NEXT HOLDER OF THE GIANT PENCIL?!

We are excited to announce that planning for the 2025 Urban Sketchers Symposium is underway, and we are seeking expressions of interest from potential hosts for 2025, 2026 and beyond. The Symposium is the premiere event on our global calendar, and not only do you get to showcase your city, but planning and delivering a Symposium is a hugely rewarding and magical experience, working alongside a global support network. Read more here.

• Please complete and submit the Registration of interest even if you are uncertain or have questions.

• Please read the Symposium Host Selection Handbook and do get in touch, we are more than happy to have a conversation.

• Feel free to email us.

We are looking for a volunteer to help with the MailChimp Newsletter, which goes out with every issue of Drawing Attention. We supply the content, you put it in our Mailchimp template. The task involves copying files in our Google Drive, downloading them and uploading them into MailChimp. Most decision making is already done – you just upload the information and images in a readable and interesting order, add direct links, make sure links work and send to 16,000 subscribers. This involves about five to 10 hours of work once every three months. You must be able to work on a deadline. We’d love to hear from you!

Oi Brasil!

Encontros Regionais USk Brasil

2023, an eagerly anticipated event in the Brazilian sketchers community, is a gathering of talented and passionate artists from all over Brazil. Organized by Urban Sketchers Brasil, this annual event has become a symbol of artistic expression, camaraderie and celebration. This year it promises to showcase the diversity and creativity of Brazilian artists while visiting all five regions of the country.

Itu

One of the oldest cities in Brazil, Itu boasts many well-preserved colonial buildings, including historic churches, mansions, and quaint streets, and around 200 sketchers from southeastern Brazil sketched there in June. The city is also famous for its whimsical sense of humor, proudly declaring itself as the “City of Gigantic Things.” We were joined by French sketcher Daniele Lafage, who was traveling through Brazil. This event was made possible by the USK Regional Event Grant; we enjoyed a free mini symposium for all, seven with workshops, five sketch outings and three drink & draws.

Morretes, Paraná

Morretes is a charming town located in the state of Paraná (South), known for its colonial architecture, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Gilberto Marques, admin of USk Morretes, reported that 80 sketchers created over 320 sketches during the event, plus a pop-up exhibition at Instituto Mirtillo Trombini.

Campo Grande, MS

Campo Grande, the capital city of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (in the midwest) is a vibrant urban center set amidst vast natural beauty. Campo Grande serves as a gateway to the spectacular Pantanal wetlands, one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Boasting a harmonious blend of modernity and tradition, they had a cozy meeting with 60 participants, according to Bia Meneghini, one of the event organizers.

USk BRASIL

DANIELE LAFAGE

USk FORTALEZA

USk MANAUS

There’s still time to join the event on 7–10 September in Manaus (north) and 2–5 November in Fortaleza (northeast). More info can be found on the social media pages of USk Brasil, USK Manaus and USk Fortaleza.

ENJOYING MORRETES TOGETHER

Ainda dá tempo de participar dos próximos 2 eventos neste ano, na região Norte acontecerá de 7 a 10 de Setembro em Manaus e região Nordeste de 02 a 05 de Novembro em Fortaleza. Juntem-se a nós, a festa vai continuar! Mais informações nas redes sociais do USk Brasil, USk Manaus e USk Fortaleza.

SKETCH EVENTS WORLDWIDE

• SEPT 1–3: BERLIN 7th Annual Urban Sketchers Germany Meeting

• SEPT 7–9: ZURICH

5th Urban Sketchers Symposium

• SEPT 7–10 BRAZIL

Encontras Regionais Brasil — USk Manaus

• SEPT 8–10: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Urban Sketching the City of Gold Mini Symposium hosted by Urban Sketchers Johannesburg.

• SEPT 21–23: PLAUEN, GERMANY

Urban Sketchen Plauen — sketch walks, workshops, gallery forums

• SEPT 23–24: VALENCIA, SPAIN

III Trobada Urban Sketcher del Mediterrani

• SEPT 29–OCT: 1 BASTROP, TX, USA

10 in Texas — celebrating 10 years of urban sketching in Texas

• OCT 4–7: SUWON, SOUTH KOREA

Asia Link Sketchwalk

• OCT 7–8: FRANCE

Festival Carnets Voyageurs, Malansac, France.

• NOV 2 – 5 BRAZIL

Encontras Regionais Brasil — USk Fortaleza

• NOV 9-12: SPAIN

Compostela Ilustrada, Santiago de Compostela.

• NOV 30 – DEC 1– 3: ECUADOR

Regional Event, Cuenca

ASIA LINK: 4–7 OCTOBER 2023 BY INHONG

PARK

Asia Link is an annual urban sketch event held in Asia which perhaps could be said to be the Asian version of the Urban Sketchers Symposium. Everyone is welcome to participate, and workshops with 15 wonderful instructors, sketch walks, and various events are scheduled. It has been held so far in Bangkok, Kuching, Taichung and Hanoi — and this time in Suwon, Korea.

Suwon is a city located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, about 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Suwon has many historical sites and cultural properties, including the famous world heritage site Hwaseong Fortress. Suwon has the largest folk village in Asia, Suwon Hwaseong Folk Village where many tourists can experience traditional Hanok buildings and culture. I went to a small cafe in Suwon where I could sit and drink coffee and see traditional Korean architecture and pretty alleys like we see in Korean dramas. I don’t know how many pictures I’ve drawn while sitting in such places.

There is a traditional local market in Suwon with many different foods and items and a busy, lively atmosphere. Suwon is popular with tourists due to its convenience of transportation, various cultures, and historical values. I recommend you visit Hanok, a local market, and a small alley tour. Asia Link Suwon gives you the chance to draw with the passionate urban sketches of Korea. The event period is a day with many holidays in Korea, so don’t delay with booking tickets and hotels in advance. I hope to meet you in Suwon in October!

Join us to celebrate 10 Years of Urban Sketching in Texas in historic Bastrop. This is a first-time gathering of urban sketchers from across Texas to sketch, network and socialize. Everyone from absolute beginners to experienced artists are invited to join us for a weekend of on-location sketching from direct observation. We’ll sketch throughout Bastrop’s picturesque public spaces.

The weekend will include sketch walks and throwdowns, a sketchbook exhibit, group photo, and optional lunch and evening drink & draws. For paid sketcher ticket holders, there will be a Friday night meet & greet, Saturday morning opening reception with a presentation by artist Jim Richards, and a Saturday evening closing reception. Sketcher-level ticket holders also have the opportunity to display their sketchbook at the Lost Pines Art Center during the weekend.

We hope you’ll join us! Host chapters are USk Houston, USk Dallas/Ft Worth, USk East Texas, USk San Antonio, and USk Austin.

SEATTLE’S SUMMER SKETCHFEST

After more than seven months of eager anticipation (and much hard work from many volunteers), SketcherFest finally came to fruition on the Edmonds, Washington, waterfront on a sunny July weekend. Prompted by the planned visit of Lisbon artist Mario Linhares, SketcherFest was the brainchild of Urban Sketchers founder Gabi Campanario. With USk Seattle as an event partner, the steering committee and volunteers for various tasks had strong support from USk members.

The highlight was the wide variety of urban sketching workshops offered by local, national and international instructors – the first time in the Seattle area that over 10 USk workshops were available all on one weekend.

Another key attraction was the book fair and vendor market, where artists exhibited their sketchbooks so that visitors could view while chatting with their makers. Many artists also sold their art books, prints and other art-related merchandise. Art supply vendors gave demos and offered their products for sale. Modeled after France’s Rendez-Vous du Carnet de Voyage events, which promote travel sketch journals, this part of SketcherFest was packed and busy all day. Artists and attendees alike appreciated this opportunity to meet people whom they had previously only known on social media.

Graphite Arts Center in Edmonds hosted an art exhibit of urban sketches and sketchbooks by regional urban sketchers. A reception, drink & draw, and other events gave sketchers more opportunities to socialize.

More than 400 people registered for free sketch walks led by USk Seattle members. Kate Buike, long-time USk Seattle co-administrator, was pleased to see a particular sketcher at the walk she led – someone she had met the previous week at an outing and who had just learned about Urban Sketchers and SketcherFest from her. Kim Roberts, another co-admin, said a key difference between a typical USk sketch walk and the SketcherFest walk she had led was the large number of newcomers. “Instead of taking those two or

three aside and explaining how it works, you had to use your best teacher voice (aka LOUD) to give all the instructions and hope you didn’t forget anything.” Newcomers “were also somewhat shy about putting their work down at first. But it was especially great to see them glow as others commented on what they liked about their work. They had no idea that was coming!”

Gabi was pleased with attendance at SketcherFest. “We were thrilled to welcome hundreds of travel sketching enthusiasts who signed up for workshops, participated in sketch walks and came down to the Edmonds Waterfront Center to meet and greet our invited artists and listen to their presentations,” he said.

“It was especially great to see [newcomers] glow as others commented on what they liked about their work. They had no idea that was coming!”

featured chapter

Pen to Paper

writers & sketchers 24 hour collab

Urban Sketchers Azores joined an exciting project over 24 hours in Azures, Portugal: joining 24 authors challenged to write in 24 different places in Ponta Delgada, the Azores’ administrative and economic center, blending history, modernity, nature, and ocean vistas – also a sketching paradise.

Our task was to capture the moment and its ambiance. Some opted to illustrate the authors in action, while others concentrated on the location’s finer points. Locations included the oldest cafe and farmer’s market, theater, churches, an airport, and hospital.

The Maratona Literaria project originated in 2019 to promote Azorean literature, connecting authors with the community in historic and emblematic locations. It was put on hold during the pandemic but finally come to life again this year. The 25th location was printing house Nova Gráfica, where texts and sketches were promptly turned into a book, ready for presentation that same evening. Thirteen sketchers and two guests divided the locations among themselves. We were in touch 24 hours a day to support each other. Our admins Alexandra Baptista and Anita Botelho tried to visit almost every location to support and solve any problems.

“It was an enriching experience as I got in touch with a writer in her creative process in a unique place. Inspiration was present in the same space: text and drawing; word and image were born, out of the same interaction between pen and paper.” INÊS PAULOS

KATERYNA KONDRATIEVA

“The experience was challenging. The first drawing was more difficult, but then it was the normal tension of drawing and improvising on the spot.”

ALEXANDRA BAPTISTA. AT RIGHT IS HER SKETCH: ARCO DO ANTIGO CAUS DA ALFÂNDEGA

LEFT: ALEXANDRA BAPTISTA AND ANITA BOTELHO ON LOCATION

“As the daughter of one of the writers, I couldn’t miss it. I decided to surprise my mother and, with her, worked at Teatro Micaelense.”

ANA BEATRIZ RODRIGUEZ, TEATRO MICAELENSE

ANA BEATRIZ RODRIGUEZ

“I gathered some children who also love drawing. At 10am we went up to the Torre Sineira (Bell Tower) – pictured at right. It was the first time for my children and friends to do this. The children were excited on the way up and scared on the way down. But everyone enjoyed seeing and drawing Ponta Delgada, especially the Igreja Matriz (main church).

I was glad to join the event and collaborate once more with the group. In the 12–hour session, the pressure of the moment made it hard to capture the place as intended, but knowing that I had my friends covering the moment put me at ease..”

MAURA BARRETO

MAURA BARRETO

ABOVE SKETCH BY INES PAULOS: ALTO DA MAE DE DEUS

The marathon started for me at 1am at Lava Jazz. The first drawing in white pencil on black paper didn’t come out at first. I was only happy when I changed position to find Orquídea Abreu in profile. In 15 minutes, I drew in white and the light with yellows, ochers and intense reds.

At 4am in the delicious smelling Padaria Gomes bakery (above), António Cavaco was already getting ready to write. I took the pad and drew over wheat fields, the culinary writer/alchemist.

IVO BAPTISTA

16 drawing attention

KATERYNA KONDRATIEVA SKETCH CAFE ROYAL ANITA PEIXOTO, IGREJA DO COLÉGIO

BELOW: EXHIBITION IN LETRAS LAVADAS BOOKSTORE WITH PRINTED SKETCHES

USK AZURES

LEFT: TATIANA SOUSA AT HOSPITAL DO DIVINO ESPIRITO SANTO

featured chapter

USk Manila celebrates 12 years

BY CATHY GUTTERMAN

USk Manila is one of five official regional chapters of Urban Sketchers in the Philippines. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon in the South China Sea, the City of Manila is the capital and second-most populous city (after Quezon City) in the Philippines. It is a highly urbanized city with bustling streets, vibrant markets, and colorful festivals. Its unique character, history and culture is reflected in the architecture of its colonial past under Spain and the United States.

USk Manila aims to create awareness of the joy of drawing what you see. They also try to encourage people to sketch, draw and paint places of historical and cultural significance. Popular sketching destinations include churches and World Heritage sites such as the San Sebastian Church, built in 1890, the only fully prefabricated steel-constructed neo-gothic church in the world; a collection of World Heritage Spanishera Vigan houses; and Paoay Church, one of four World Heritage churches in the Philippines. USk Manila promotes the arts by partnering with museums, art companies/shops and embassies like the Spanish Embassy to organize workshops and exhibitions of urban sketching works. They are equally committed to recording the richness of everyday life.

Origins

USk Manila was formed by three founding members: Janeil Arlegui, Buz Walker-Teach and Ryan Sumo. Their journey began early in 2011 when Janeil, then an architecture faculty member at the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture, wrote an article for BluPrint Magazine about sketching water fountains in Manila. In 2010, Buz WalkerTeach, an American art teacher at the Raffles Design School in Singapore, was a member of USk Singapore. When Buz was assigned to teach in Manila in 2011, he came across Janeil’s article and approached him about forming an Urban Sketchers Chapter in the Philippines. Janeil had been doing exactly what urban sketchers did — sketching live from observation — but he was not aware that Urban Sketchers existed. In March 2011, Janeil and Buz invited Ryan, a freelance artist and mobile game developer, to join them to create what was initially known as Urban Sketchers Philippines. They first met in March 2011 in a cafe, and after an hour of talking, they decided to formulate their application. They were granted permission to use the name USk Manila in May that year and held their first urban sketching event at the Manila Metropolitan Museum in July 2011.

USk Manila is now led by four admins – Janeil Arlegui as a senior overall consultant, Muffy Roxas as main coordinator, Meg Roxas (not related to Muffy), and Ched de Gala. It’s an

“USk Manila delights in sketching local places, things, people, and animals.”

informal thing as Janeil is the only original co-founder remaining in the country. USk Manila has a mix of experienced and beginner artists. Some members who began with no skill, but keen interest, have steadily developed their skills. As an architecture teacher, Janeil not only teaches his students drawing but also shares drawing skills with the group. Talks and free sketching skills workshops are conducted as often as possible. Janeil has invited one of their regular sketchers, Miguel Ordono, who does very fast sketches in blue ink, to teach and he has been teaching freehand drawing skills.

A record for all time

In 2014, the El-Hogar, a century-old building in Manila, was marked for demolition. Photographers suddenly started flocking to take photos of this old building but were dismissed by the owner’s security guards, who said it was forbidden to take pictures. When USk Manila organized a sketch walk to sketch this old building, it instructed its members not to take photos. The guards didn’t know what to do; their order was to shoo away people who were taking photos. Since the urban sketchers weren’t taking photos, they were able to spend three hours sketching the old building without incident! USk Manila delights in sketching local places, things, people, and animals. Sketching by observation has led them to discover new places in Metro-Manila and appreciate places that have historical value, and, in the process, their drawing and observation skills have steadily improved.

Sharing skills in lockdown

Like the rest of the world, Manila had strict lockdowns starting in March of 2020 and all USk Manila’s sketch walks were suspended. Video meetings, with the objective of sharing skills and tool ideas, took the place of in-person meetings. Around April 2022, as restrictions slowly lifted, Janeil also started video documenting their resumed sketch walks to uplift the spirits of sketchers who were still in lockdown.

MANILA’S VIDEOS

VIGAN HOUSES BY JANEIL ARLEGUI

BELOW: LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT STATION BY GERALD L

Designed by Solo Galura in 2015, the USk Manila logo depicts the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, (below) regarded as the very center of Manila. A small obelisk located near the Rizal Monument serves as Kilometer Zero (a control point from which distances are measured) for the island of Luzon. The memorial was built to commemorate the executed Filipino nationalist José Rizal.

SKETCH WALK IN HISTORIC QUIAPO

JJANEIL ARLEGUI AT SAN NICHOLAS

QUIAPO SKETCH BY RAFAEL PEREZ

QUIAPO SKETCHES BY MEG ROXAS

FREE ETCHR WORKSHOP AT ART BAR, BONEFACTO CITY

JJANEIL ARLEGUI

ABOVE: USK MANILA CO-FOUNDERS JANEIL ARLEGUI, BUZ WALKER-TEACH AND RYAN SUMO

SAN SEBASTIAN BY JANEIL ARLEGUI

I’m a self-taught sketchbook artist from Wellington, New Zealand. I started drawing about a decade ago ahead of a long trip coming up, as I thought a few drawings in a book would be a cool record of it. I never expected to become completely obsessed with drawing. My favourite things to draw are coffee machines, mechanical things, vehicles, and most of all, buildings.

Drawing Buildings –fearlessly

ANDREW JAMES RECOMMENDS A BOLD APPROACH TO ARCHITECTURE.

Some sketchers hunt for the perfect subject but I just like to find a good place to sit. But what if the building across the road from the perfect seat isn’t actually that interesting? Modern buildings can be kind of boring. How do you make a drawing of one somewhat boring building actually look interesting?

My approach is to dive straight in, and let wobbles in my lines inform the rest of my drawing. Pushing the perspective and proportions but being systematic, I am more focussed on the correct things joining up together on the page than worrying about exact proportions or perspective.

Before I start, I do a couple of thumbnails on my hand to decide whether to push it in portrait or landscape. I allow the dimensions of the page to squish or stretch the building a little. I decided that a portrait would work better – I liked the cellphone tower and power pole together pushing skyward. Once I’d made that decision, it was straight into it. The overall idea is to be bold and direct, use clear lines and work front to back.

Step 1: Draw the street furniture. Harnessing the power of overlap, I start at the front and just outline the shapes of the cars, and power pole with my black pen. Don’t be too concerned with the exact proportions of the shapes, just make sure that rounded corners are rounded, sharp corners are sharp and your lines are clear. The details inside will help tell the viewer what it is later.

Step 2: Details inside street furniture. Aware that cars are more temporary than buildings, I work through each car from left to right, carrying through any wonkiness from the outlines, like the running board of the left hand car. I think of this like making railway tracks – a curve parallel to another curve. If the stuff in front was non-moveable, like rubbish bins, post boxes or bike racks, I might just leave it as outlines at this stage.

Step 3: Work up the building. Like I would if I was building with you blocks, I work up and out. I draw the words on the signs before I do the outlines. This “filling out” technique means you are less likely to run out of space and have to squeeze anything. I like to include lots of little details and signs – it lends specificity to a drawing that isn’t ‘accurate’, and helps add personality. You don’t have to include everything though. Above all, keep your lines clear. If I can’t fit something in and keep it clear, I omit it.

Step 4: Decide where the top is, and work towards that. Sometimes it is good to have an end point in mind. I wanted to make sure that I could fit in that cell phone tower properly in the top left, so I decided to draw the flashing on the top of the facade. The top is a bit curved, somewhat based on the natural curve that comes from drawing from the shoulder. Note how the end of that line is at about 2 o’clock when it “should” be vertical. I did this because I was aware that I was getting close to the edge of the paper, so I know that the edge of the building needs to angle back in towards the centre.

Step 5: Fill in the front faces of where the windows are, then fill in the details inside them. This technique I use a lot and I think of it as “extrusion”: first draw one face of a small object, then push it back to give the idea of a third dimension with either diagonal lines, or by thickening the lines on one side. This is an extension of the basic principle of working front to back.

Step 6: Finish off with the cellphone tower. Geez, this thing is a bit weird and confusing!? Complicated stuff like this is easier to draw when you break it down. I just draw each part within it bit by bit, extruding as I go, keeping lines clear and joining the right things together.

Step 7: Shadows. Even a bit of darkness on a drawing makes a big difference. I did the shadows in two passes with two different grey markers but watercolour works just as well. With the light grey I focussed on the interior details of the cars, along with the little shadows that are under everything, including the cast shadow under the overhanging . I also coloured in a few things – the flashing at the top, the P30 sign and parts of the cell phone tower.

Big dark areas add good interest to a drawing. I switched to the darker grey marker and added

shading to the windows, and also used this for the tyres, and shadows beneath the car. When doing these extra passes of shadow I occasionally noticed small details I could include, so I switched back to the black pen for a few extra touches.

If you’re not happy with a finished drawing, at least use it as a learning experience. I feel like too often people are not happy with a drawing and don’t spend time thinking about the why. If you push through mistakes, you’ll learn more, finish more drawings, become better sketchers and have more fun.

TIPS FOR LEANING INTO DISTORTIONS

BE SYSTEMATIC

Have some way of organising your approach. For me, it’s working from the closest objects to the farthest, and starting at the bottom of the page.

KEEP YOUR LINES CLEAR

Practice having bold, direct, confident lines. Make each line in one smooth motion.

PUSH THROUGH & ALWAYS FINISH

MATERIALS

TOMBOW FUDENOSUKE BRUSH PEN (BLACK)

FABER-CASTELL PITT BRUSH

PENS - WARM GREY 3 AND 4 HOT PRESS PAPER

Please don’t abandon your drawing partway through. Keep going! All drawings are salvageable and the “mistake” can enhance the drawing. A tiny car or a giant rubbish bin can make the picture look cool! If you get to the end and you’re still not happy with it, work out why and what you can do differently next time.

ANDREW JAMES

“There we have it, an interesting drawing of a pretty boring looking building.”

sketcher spotlight

My sketching – the bridge to the Argentine countryside

WITH THE BUENOS AIRES SYMPOSIUM COMING UP NEXT YEAR, MARÍA CECILIA NOVELLO REMINDS US OF THE BEAUTY OF ARGENTINA’S RURAL LANDSCAPE, BEYOND THE BIG CITIES.

The first time I went to the Argentine countryside I was very young, around 10 years old. I discovered that my country has a landscape different from what is known, and that there is another world beyond the city. While vacationing in Tandil, a mountain region located 350 km from Buenos Aires, I rediscovered my Argentine roots through my sketches. The drawings and the observations were the bridge to connect with the rural depth, our national origin, which is muted in the city. I had an epiphany. I understood that in our country’s palette there are more greens than the gray of cement, that the browns of the earth abound, as do the yellow of the sunflower fields, and the oranges and pinks of the sunsets. I discovered that birds sing during the day, that there are a variety of flowers and animals, that dogs take naps, and that crickets sound at night. The DNA of Argentina is nature, I see its countryside from the window, passing by, visiting...because I don’t live there, I recreate it with my sketches and lines.

María Cecilia Novello is an admin for Urban sketchers Buenos Aires. She worked on the proposal for the 2024 Symposium and scripted the reveal video that accompanied the announcement. She is working with the Buenos Aires Symposium team, directed by Norberto Dorantes.

Argentina is a vast and diverse country. Located in the southernmost part of the American continent; geographically we border with Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia; and the South Atlantic Ocean escorts us. There are cold, warm and temperate regions; we have snow, desert, mountains, jungle, plain, wetlands and beaches. Argentina is mainly rural, the largest portion of its territory is countryside, and our economy is historically based on agriculturel, livestock, and fishing. Our national culture is marked by rurality, by its dances, food, music, customs. Grilled meat, cheese, empanadas, wine, hot chocolate, homemade bread, butter, dulce de leche are some of the distinctive marks of our native gastronomy.

I am a native of Quilmes, a peripheral town located 17 kilometers from Buenos Aires. I am an urban inhabitant who was born and lived in the city. My visual and

MarÍa Cecilia Novello

sound landscape is made up of buildings, cars, motorcycles, ethnic and cultural diversity, shops, traffic lights, crowds, sirens, noise, fashion trends, and the digital world. For those of us who live in the city, the countryside is our horizon of rest, the lung, the place where we can breathe and be reborn.

When I travel to the countryside I find many reasons that inspire me to draw. The horizon is very low and the plain is very extensive, and there is always that vanishing point towards infinity. I usually work with many washes, trusting that the water will take its own course. Our environment is humid because water occupies a lot of mass in our territory.

My way of drawing the field is atmospheric –I use the line only to strengthen some accents, landscape shapes or special objects. I usually use watercolors, inks and watercolor pencils. I find a variety of greens, gray, pinks, yellows and browns.

Sometimes, in Buenos Aires, we forget that Argentina is huge and that a short distance from the urban epicenter the landscape is stripping away, and the horizon is deepening. We are countryside first and foremost, and that echo resounds constantly. There is a call that always summons us, and the sketching is my response to it.

CECILIA NOVELLO

Deep

BY MARÍA CECILIA NOVELLO

I spy the rural from my urban walk, and there I find the necessary austerity to listen to me and breathe. I don’t live in the country I have the feeling of seeing him pass through the window but I inhabit its horizon... and I merge with its land in a real and deep moment.

TRAVELLING IN ‘THE PARIS OF THE SOUTH’

BY SCOTT WILSON

I had the privilege of travelling to Argentina for work, some years back. The sketching is fantastic here: cathedrals and grand buildings with lots of fiddly bits; broad avenues and the oldest subway network in Latin America.

Gauchos, beef, leather, soccer, dinner at 9pm and the tango all point to Argentina. From seedy beginnings in the bars and brothels of the ports, tango evolved into the striking UNESCO designated intangible cultural heritage dance of today –something you can also see on the streets of Buenos Aires. It’s a challenge to capture this unique movement in our sketches. Many metros feature sculptures, artworks and murals. I loved the ornate 1882 Centro Naval building and the 1779 Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced. Buenos Aires is not called the ‘Paris of South America’ for nothing.

I befriended the caricaturists in Calle Florida, the one-kilometre pedestrian street, and we had fun drawing each other. Sketching is definitely the ‘Esperanto of travel’ with language being no barrier. Here, you’ll find tango singers and dancers, street performers, living statues, and comedy acts. The Argentine national anthem was first performed in this street in 1813.

Like any large city, there is wisdom in taking standard travel precautions like walking in groups, carrying your sketch gear on your stomach, avoiding flashy jewellery, radio taxis preferable, and alertness to distractions in crowds. All these things will help to make your stay a pleasant one. At the next Symposium, I’m sure you will enjoy the European feel of Buenos Aires and perhaps come home sporting a fine leather jacket and a sketchbook of memories, like I did.

“My favourite Argentinian artist is Julio Vanzo, who created a handsome series of tango paintings now enshrined as murals (opposite left). I came back with a signed print of his which is now on my lounge wall.”

QUICK FACTS

• BUENOS AIRES HAS THE MOST BOOKSHOPS PER CAPITA IN THE WORLD

• CHE GUEVARA STUDIED MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES

• BUENOS AIRES HAS NINE TIMES THE POPULATION OF AUCKLAND.

Scott Wilson

SCOTT WILSON ASKED CHATGPT TO WRITE A DITTY ABOUT AN URBAN SKETCHER, AND THIS IS THE RESULT:

In a bustling city, where stories unfold, An Urban Sketcher, with sketchbook bold. With pen in hand, and eyes so keen, They capture the scenes, like none have seen.

On cobblestone streets, they take their stride, Seeking beauty in every corner, far and wide. They sketch the buildings, with lines so fine, Breathing life into paper, like a rhythmic rhyme.

In parks and cafes, their subjects abound, People laughing, streets alive with sound. With quick strokes and vibrant hues, They freeze moments in time, forever to peruse.

Through rainy days and sunny skies, They unveil the city’s secrets with their artful guise. Every stroke tells a tale, a narrative so clear, Urban Sketcher’s magic, drawing us near.

From towering skyscrapers to quaint little lanes, They capture the essence, where history remains. Their sketches unfold, a visual delight, Whispering stories, from morning till night.

So let’s raise a toast to the Urban Sketcher’s craft, Their passion and talent, leaving us daft. For in their drawings, we find a treasure, A glimpse into life’s urban splendor and measure.

JANE WINGFIELD BRINGS YOU HER PICKS FOR MID-YEAR READING.

75 SKETCHES CELEBRATING BHARAT

PRIYA KRISHNAN DAS

SKETCHING HERE & EVERYWHERE CHRISTINA WALD

WELCOME NEW CHAPTERS!

We are excited to announce these new chapters. Welcome to the global family of urban sketchers!

NORTH AMERICA

USk Jeffersonville, IN, USA

USk Bluffton, SC, USA

USk Palm Beach, FL, USA

USk Ensenada, Mexico

South America

USk Porto Alegre, Brazil

USk Torres Beach, Brazil

USk Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil

USk Boa Vista, Brazil

USk Campinas, Brazil

USk Sabaneta, Colombia

USk Valencia, Venezuela

Europe

USk Cologne, Germany

USk Lübeck, Germany

USk Koblenz, Germany

USk Gdansk, Poland

USk Bastia, France

USk Nemours, France

USk Perros-Guirec, France

Asia

USk Belgaum, India

USk Kochi, India

USk Raipur, India

USk Chennai, India

USk Nagpur, India

USk Dongguan, China

Oceania

USk Central Coast, Australia

USk Taranaki, New Zealand

USk Nouméa, New Caledonia

PARKA REVIEWS

BY TEOH YI CHIE

Teoh Yi Chie is an infographics journalist who joined Urban Sketchers Singapore in 2009. He’s probably better known as Parka from Parkablogs.com, a website that reviews art books and art products.

This month Parka reviews Ohuhu alcohol markers. Check it out! SEE MORE REVIEWS

o ur Manifesto

• We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation

• Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel

• Our drawings are a record of time and place

• We are truthful to the scenes we witness

• We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles

• We support each other and draw together

• We share our drawings online

• We show the world, one drawing at a time.

© 2023 Urban Sketchers www.urbansketchers.org