Let's Sketch!

 

Let's Sketch Chicago!

Saturday, August 20, 2022

12 PM - 3PM

Daley Plaza

Details:

Daley Plaza, at Washington, Clark, Randolph, and Dearborn, is one of the most well-known plazas in Chicago. The famous Picasso statue resides there, and the plaza is fronted by the Daley Building and the City Hall-County Building. The Plaza is active with pedestrians and has many benches to sit and sketch.  

We will meet near the Picasso statue at 12:00 noon and then go sketch . Following our sketching, we’ll meet back at the Picasso at 2:45pm for the sketch throwdown and group picture.

Transit/Parking:

Daley Plaza is centrally located in the Loop and there is sufficient public transportation. For anyone driving, there are numerous public parking garages within the vicinity.

Cover sketch by: Mark Jones 

Hope to see you there!

And We're Back! (With a FewTemporary Guidelines)

 

Let's Sketch

Chicago - Washington Square Park

Sunday, May 16

12 PM - 3 PM

Hosted by

Alex Zonis and Urban Sketchers Chicago

Details

The time has come!

The time for us to try for real - IN PERSON - USk Chicago get together! Our first since Feb 2020, first in 15 months!

While things are looking better and infection danger appears to recede, everyone’s situation and sensibility is different. It is important for us to remember this and to support each other wherever we are.

GUIDELINES

• Our main GUIDELINE for in-person gathering is to respect each others personal space. 
• Please do not come closer than 6 feet unless invited.
• Have a mask with you or on you, in case you need it.
• Please no hugs or handshakes - no partying like it is 2019 LOL

Still in the future

There will be no throwdown - for now - let’s share our sketches in our FB group like we've been doing for more than a year.

No group photo for the time being, admins will be taking individual photos to share online after the meetup.

And finally… 

• We will meet in Washington Square Park, by the fountain in the center - a favorite spot from many occasions in the past.
• We will sketch and enjoy each others company from 12 pm - 3 pm. Can hardly wait!

The painting of Washington Square park fountain on the banner is by Don Yang. 

901 N Clark Street
Chicago

Please include #uskchicago and  on your posts to Facebook and Instagram.

Want to keep up to date by email? Fill in your email address in the place provided in the upper right corner under the banner. We look forward to hearing from you.

Keep It Simple!

 

Let's Sketch

Backgrounds Simplified

Sunday, April 25

12 PM - 3 PM

Hosted by

Mary Jo Ernst and Urban Sketchers Chicago

There are many pressures and challenging variables when urban sketching . Limited time and complicated settings can many times be challenging . Simplifying your background can be effective in several ways 

Details

 Using soft shapes to suggest the background elements saves time and can also frame the parts of your sketch that you want to stand out. For example in the sketch above, the backpack is the main element, adding the suggestion of faded shapes for people sets the scene and puts the sketch into context of the location. Without the simplified background the sketch would be less an urban sketch and more of a still life.

For this week’s sketch challenge establish the detail attention part of the scene you are sketching. 

• Concentrate on that

• Finish your sketch with a more simplified background. 

Some simplifying sketch techniques:

• Contour lines

• Drawing simple shapes 

• Using a wash or muted shapes like the sketch above in the banner 

Really anything goes, let loose and have fun!

Banner sketch by: Mary Jo Ernst

When outside your home, be sure to socially distance and wear a mask to help everyone stay safe.

Please include #uskchicago and #uskathome on your posts to Facebook and Instagram.

Want to keep up to date by email? Fill in your email address in the place provided in the upper right corner under the banner. We look forward to hearing from you.

Earth Day

Let's Sketch

Earth Day!

Sunday, April 18

12 PM - 3 PM

Hosted by

Gail Dokucu and Urban Sketchers Chicago

Next Thursday, April 22, is Earth Day. This weekend, let’s add an environmental slant to our sketching in honor of Earth Day.

Established in 1970, Earth Day is an annual event promoting environmental protection, with long-term focus in the areas of climate action, conservation and restoration, and plastic and pollution. Participation now includes one billion people in more than 193 countries, taking part in events coordinated by EARTHDAY.ORG. The theme for this year’s events is Restore Our Earth.

Details

Even for those of us in urban environments, nature is all around us. This week, let’s capture some of nature’s beauty in our sketches. 

There are so many ways to interpret this prompt:

• Show us what is blooming in your neighborhood, or the natural areas where you live

• Depict nature triumphing over the man-made, as in plants growing up through concrete

• Use an item found in nature to create your sketch, e.g. dip a stick in ink and use that to draw

• Document environmental concerns, such as litter-strewn areas, or positive environmental changes, such as electric cars or charging stations

Banner sketch by Gail Dokucu: the first couple tulips her garden

As usual, we will gather from noon to 3 p.m. to share and discuss, but of course late submissions are always welcome.

Remember that we follow USk Global’s guidelines of sketching live on location and not from reference photos. 

We have a few giveaways this week, generously donated by CHARTPAK, a generous USk Chicago sponsor.

Anyone who posts in this week’s virtual sketch theme will be entered to win. *Winners will be picked randomly by Mary Jo Ernst. Mary Jo will DM the winners to coordinate delivery and postage will be paid by USk Chicago. *Admins are excluded from entering the giveaway.

We have two great giveaways this week. First up is a set of 12 Koh-i-noor graphite technical pencils, along with a Koh-i-noor sketchbook with 70 lb. paper. Next is a set of 24 Koh-i-noor Polycolor colored pencils in a tin case. 

When outside your home, be sure to socially distance and wear a mask to help everyone stay safe.

Please include #uskchicago and #uskathome on your posts to Facebook and Instagram.

Want to keep up to date by email? Fill in your email address in the place provided in the upper right corner under the banner. We look forward to hearing from you.

Neither Snow nor Sleet nor ...

Let’s Sketch!

 Be Intrepid

Sunday, April 11

12 PM - 3 PM CST

Hosted by

Gail Dokucu, Urban Sketchers Chicago

Our guest hosts this week are The Intrepids! For months they've been gathering weekly to sketch together, regardless of the weather!

The Intrepids are:

Carla Milano Nelson

Reshma Bee

Kris Van Stockum

Harold Goldfus

Jim Clouse

Karen Beauprie

Lynne Fairchild

Merriam-Webster defines “intrepid” as “characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance.” Example: an intrepid explorer

This week we are inviting you to be intrepid in your sketching.

Details:

What would make you feel like an intrepid explorer? 

• Think about sketching a subject that you rarely choose, or (gasp!) that you avoid.
• Another way to be intrepid would be to try a new sketching technique. For example, if you sketch with pen and watercolor, you could try Direct-to-Watercolor.
• Maybe, for you, being intrepid would be to go out to sketch with a fellow sketching friend. This would be in the spirit of our little group of Intrepids, who gather weekly in our community to sketch (masked and socially distanced, of course).
• Finally, perhaps the weather will cooperate and be awful, providing you with the opportunity to go out and sketch in miserable weather conditions!

Above all, enjoy being Intrepid in your sketching this week!

Banner sketch is done by Harold Goldfus, and features, left to right: Lynne, Carla, Jim, Kris, and Reshma.

As usual, we will gather from noon to 3 p.m. to share and discuss, but of course late submissions are always welcome.

Remember that we follow USk Global’s guidelines of sketching live on location and not from reference photos. 

When outside your home, be sure to socially distance and wear a mask to help everyone stay safe.

Please include #uskchicago and #uskathome on your posts to Facebook and Instagram.

Want to keep up to date by email? Fill in your email address in the place provided in the upper right corner under the banner. We look forward to hearing from you.