Hello Sketchers!
Coming up May 1-7, 2024 is International Urban Sketchers Week.
It’s an event happening all over the world and open to anyone interested in urban sketching.
We’ve put together a list of daily prompts to inspire you for the week and are connecting with a few other local groups and The Paint Spot to share the love of drawing in our community. Save the graphic attached to this post for an easy reminder of what to sketch on which day.
The themes will focus in on the Old Strathcona area but the prompts are general enough that you should be able to join in on the fun and sketch from anywhere.
Remember to post your sketches on the Edmonton Urban Sketchers Facebook page so we can share our drawings with one another, and use these hashtags: #USKWeek2024 #urbansketchersedmonton @thepaintspot
Themes & Bonus Events for the Week
Wednesday, May 1- Theme: Heritage Buildings
Start International Urban Sketcher Week off by drawing one of the many heritage buildings in Old Strathcona. There is no shortage to choose from in this area. Visit this link for ideas if you’re stuck.
Bonus: Free Zoom Presentation Wednesday, May 1, 6:30-8:00 pm. Join Kim Fjordbotten for a talk and demonstration about materials and tips presented by The Paint Spot and other artists. Kim will share cool tools and quick sketch techniques to show how easy and fun it is to get started, and Zoom is great because everyone has front row seats to the demo. Free but RSVP is required.
Thursday, May 2- Theme: Cafe & Restaurants
There are so many cute café and restaurants in the Old Strathcona area. Pop in, have a meal, a drink or a sweet treat and make sketch while you are there.
Bonus: Drop into Block 1912 Cafe ( 10361 82 Ave) between 7-9 pm and join their weekly drawing night.
Friday, May 3- Theatre & Music Venues
Old Strathcona has a vibrant theatre and music scene. Sketch the building location or take in a show and make a drawing while you’re at it. Visit this link for locations and addresses
Some of the theatre’s in the area include:
-Workshop West,
-Grindstone Theatre,
-Fringe Theatre,
-Rapid Fire Theatre,
-Varscona Theatre,
-Northern Lite Theatre, &
-Walterdale Theatre
Don’t forget about venues with live music in the Whyte Ave area like
-The Yardbird Suite,
-Cosmopolitan Music Society and
-Blues on Whyte to name a few
Saturday, May 4 -Sketch The Block -Sketch Meet Day!
This day will be our official Sketch Meet day for the month. Replacing the one on the third weekend. Here’s a quick run down for now. Another post to come on this soon.
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Meet at The Paint Spot (10032 81 Ave NW) and look through the sketchbooks submitted by members of USKE.
- 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sketch outdoors in and around Old Strathcona. There are many places to pop into if the weather turns poor, but participants should ask permission to sketch before occupying space in a café or restaurant if you will not be purchasing anything.
- 1:00 PM Meet at Maki Maki Lounge (8109 101 St NW) for lunch and sharing sketches.
Sunday, May 5- Green Spaces
Spend Sunday in the park sketching at one of Old Strathcona’s urban parks. Visit this link for a listing of some of the parks in the area.
Bonus: Sketch Around YEG will host a Sketch Crawl.
- 12:30 – 1:00 PM – Meet at The Paint Spot (10032 81 Ave NW) and look through the sketchbooks by members of USKE.
- 1:00 PM– The sketch crawl begins! Sketch in the area (approximately between Gateway Blvd and 99 St, and between 82 Ave and 79 Ave).
- 3:00 PM – Meet at Remedy Café to share sketches and get a treat. Sketch Around YEG Club isn’t complete without coffee and treats post-sketching!
- See more about Sketch Around YEG including their local meet-up times and locations by joining Sketch Around YEG Club on Facebook or follow them on Instagram @sketcharoundyeg.
Monday, May 6- Places Of Worship
Architecture enthusiasts rejoice! Seek out one of the many places of worship in the Old Strathcona area for today’s drawing theme.
Bonus: Urban Sketching with Markers Workshop at Artelier Studios by Paint Spot
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Art Class with Oksana Zhelisko. Urban sketching is an affective way to document what you see around you and to create your own treasured memories. In this class you will learn how to create lively, simplified urban sketches by using markers and pencils. Registration Fee $50
Tuesday, May 7-Buildings with Murals
Go big for the final day! Sketch a building with a mural. Use the Old Strathcona Mural Map to locate one close to you.
Or, you can try this link for murals kids will love in Edmonton.
Or, sketch one of the many public art installations across the city of Edmonton. Use this map to locate one near you.
For more information about International Urban Sketchers Week, including an Instagram contest for a $100 gift Certificate at The Paint Spot, go to this link
See you out there – have fun!
Urban Sketchers Edmonton 