Our 29th Sketch-In & Around, Oct 17, 2020

Before I post some of this week’s lovely sketches, first a gentle reminder to everyone that urban sketching is our purpose for this group. Some of the sketches are still veering away from that so I think we need to explain a little better about what constitutes an urban sketch.

Urban Sketchers Edmonton became an official chapter of the international Urban Sketchers organization earlier this year. We were a bit more casual before that, but now that we have official status we need to remain true to urban sketching according to the manifesto.

You can check out the manifesto on the Urban Sketchers website, and this video might also help make things a little clearer.

So, as the video indicates:

• A sketch of a coffee cup or an object is not an urban sketch. A sketch of the coffee cup including background to show its location is an urban sketch.
• A portrait is not an urban sketch. A sketch of a person in their surroundings to show where they are is an urban sketch.
• Sketching is always live and on location, whether that be indoors or out. It is not from memory or imagination and not from a photo. It is a true record of time and place.

I know it sounds pretty specific, but for example if you belonged to a portrait painting group, you wouldn’t paint landscape or still life. Although there are limitations, within the urban sketching genre there are still tons of subjects that can be sketched.

During the pandemic we have been suggesting weekly themes to help us feel like we are more connected and sketching together, but the themes are not at all compulsory. You are free to do any urban sketching subject that you like.

If you would like to participate in this coming week’s theme, it is “shadow” so have let’s have fun with it and see what we come up with!

Here are the “bridge” theme sketches from this past week. Thanks for the beautiful work everyone!

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Diane Smarsh

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Abha Hoedl

Sketch by Rebecca Lily Semotiuk

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Beth George

Sketch by Gordon Ramsey

Posted by Marlena Wyman

Our 28th Sketch-In & Around, October 10, 2020

The sketching theme for those who joined in was, appropriately, “Thanksgiving”. I think perhaps a lot of sketchers were busy with Thanksgiving festivities, and although the pandemic doesn’t allow for large gatherings, sometimes small gatherings can take just as much preparation. We ended up with 8 sketches submitted this week – all incorporating beautiful autumn colours!

Our sketching theme for this coming week is “Bridge”. Have fun with it if you wish to join in, or sketch whatever inspires you.

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Anna Nowakowski Hayes

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Sketch by Abha Hoedl

Sketch by Henry Joanne Van’t Hoff

Sketch by Lorie Taylor Leech

Posted by Marlena Wyman

Government House Grounds Sketch-Out 3 October 2020

Thirteen sketchers came out to enjoy the glorious day at Government House grounds.

Photo by Rick Bremness

Photo by Rick Bremness

Others of us who weren’t able to be there enjoyed sketching wherever we happened to be for our 27th Sketch-In & Around.

The theme for the coming week is Thanksgiving!

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Diane Smarsh

Sketch by Isabella Borelli

Sketch by Abha Hoedl

Sketch by Chris Taggart

Sketch by Rick Bremness

Sketch by Anna Nowakowski Hayes

Sketch by Anna Nowakowski Hayes

Sketch by Lorie Taylor Leech

Sketch by Lorie Taylor Leech

Sketch by Brenda Raynard

Sketch by Brenda Raynard

Sketch by Lorie Taylor Leech

Sketch by Aeris Osborne

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Posted by Marlena Wyman

October 2020 Sketch-In & Around Themes

Our October Sketch Themes for sketching on your own:

As the cooler weather sets in, and in keeping with Covid safety practices, we will carry on as before with sketching on our own wherever we find ourselves. Posted above are the optional sketch themes for each week of October. A reminder of the week’s theme will be posted every Friday on our Facebook page. However, let’s not restrict ourselves to sketching only on weekends, so:

1. Sketch the theme, or not, as you wish, but sketch something each week.
2. Sketch on any day or days of the week.
3. Post your sketches on any day or days of the week.

And most importantly!
Stick to the Urban Sketchers Manifesto!
a) We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
b) Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
c) Our drawings are a record of time and place.
d) We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
e) We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
f) We support each other and draw together.
g) We share our drawings online.
h) We show the world, one drawing at a time.

October 3rd Sketch-Out at Government House

Thanks to Yvonne Rezek for planning our October Sketch-Out:

Saturday October 3rd, 11am to 1pm-ish

Government House and grounds, 12845 – 102 Avenue, Edmonton

“I scouted various locations for the October 3 sketch get-together. The best option, I think, is Government House and its grounds on 102 Avenue. The grounds are large and comfortable enough for physical distancing, there is plenty of free parking, and there is no construction to get in the way of our enjoyment.

There are a variety of buildings and architectural styles on the grounds including Edwardian Tudor revival (Government House), late mid-century modern (the old Royal Alberta Museum), and the original Carriage House. You can also find several pieces of public art plus the Korean gazebo. For the adventurous, there is a stairway down to Government House Park. And to top it off, you can peak through the trees to glimpse stunning views of the River Valley. Lots of scope for your particular sketching interests.

There used to be picnic tables and benches on the grounds but with the closure of the old RAM, I’m not sure if they are still there. I recommend bringing a stool or folding chair anyway so you can set yourself up wherever you want.

We’ll meet at 11:00 and again at 1:00 on the patio of the old Royal Alberta Museum. There are a couple of picnic tables there so we can spread out our sketchbooks after we’re done.

As always, if you can’t make it, sketch wherever you are and share your work!”

Our 26th Sketch-In & Around, September 26, 2020

“Red” was the prompt for this week’s Sketch-In & Around, and it got lots of sketchers revved up with some beautiful interpretations of red.

October 3rd is a Sketch-Out at Government House! I’ll provide the details in a separate post.

Sketch by Doug Dawson

Sketch by Diane Smarsh

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Abha Hoedl

Sketch by Anna Nowakowski Hayes

Sketch by Anna Nowakowski Hayes

Sketch by Lelde Muelenbachs

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Gordon Ramsey

Sketch by Beth George

Sketch by Lorie Taylor Leech

Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

 

Our 25th Sketch-In & Around, September 19, 2020

This week’s sketching prompt was “large and small”, and there were some inspired sketches! Thanks to everyone for your participation and beautiful work.

Sketch by Lorie Taylor-Leech

Sketch by Lorie Taylor-Leech

Sketch by Lorie Taylor-Leech

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Yvonne Rezek

Sketch by Lorie Taylor-Leech

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Lorie Taylor-Leech

Sketch by Abha Hoedl

Sketch by Anna Nowakowski Hayes

Sketch by Luise Mendler-Johnson

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Sketch by Aeris Osborne

The theme for the coming week is “red”. Have fun with it if you would like to join in!

Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

 

 

Our 24th Sketch-In & Around, Sept 12, 2020

“China” was the prompt for this week’s sketching theme. We didn’t get a whole lot of sketches this week but the interpretations that we got were great!  It might just be one of those weeks, but one of our sketchers who is also a teacher suggested that it may be because both teachers and parents have been super involved in the back to school situation, especially with concerns around Covid19. Here’s hoping everyone can stay safe and healthy.

A sketching prompt is meant to stir the creative juices, but it might also feel limiting. Sketchers can always feel free to sketch something else. We might also think about having one “your choice” week every month.

Because we are an official chapter of Urban Sketchers, we need to adhere to the Urban Sketching manifesto, but that still leaves lots of room for interpretation. And keep in mind that  “urban” has a fairly wide definition. It can be indoors as well as outdoors, small communities as well as large, and it refers to any place that shows evidence of humans and/or structures such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways. It can include beaches and parks, as long as the presence of humans is represented somehow. As the manifesto states “Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.”

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Greer Ashley

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Lorie Taylor Leech

Sketch by Beth George

The coming week’s prompt is “large and small”. Have fun with it if you wish to join in!

Posted by Marlena Wyman

 

 

 

 

September Sketch-In & Around themes and challenges

Please consider joining us each week in September with a different theme/challenge to get the creative juices going! Not compulsory but this can be a fun way to expand our sketching practice and to feel more connection with each other when we can’t get together. The September 5th theme coordinated with our Sketch-Out at Northlands Urban Farm, but the rest of the month is on your own to Sketch-In & Around.  Have fun – it will be great to see how everyone interprets the themes!

Posted by Marlena Wyman

Northlands Urban Farm Sketch-Out and 23rd Sketch-In & Around

It was wonderful to have our  September 5th Sketch-Out at the beautiful, inspiring setting of Northlands Urban Farm. We had a dozen sketchers enjoying the atmosphere of the Alberta Culture Days’ “Arts at the Farm” event. Thanks to the organizers at Northlands for inviting us to take part!

Photo by Alberta Arts Action

Photo by Alberta Arts Action

Sketch by Marissa JT

Sketch by Marissa JT

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos

Sketch by Angie Sotiropoulos

Sketch by Brenda Raynard

Sketch by Brenda Raynard

Sketch by Diane Smarsh

Sketch by Jo-Anne Farley

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Karen Wall

Sketch by Marlena Wyman

Sketch by Sarah Lee

Sketch by Karen Boschee

Sketch by Abha Hoedl

Sketch by Vivian Routhier Moghrabi

For this coming week, if you wish you can join us in interpreting the theme, it is “China”. Remember to make it fit the urban sketch criteria by including context and background, whether that is indoors or outdoors.

Posted by Marlena Wyman