Little Things Mean a Lot!

Sketch by Gail Dokucu

 Good Things in Small Packages!

Let's Sketch

Little Things

Sunday, July 26

12 PM - 3 PM

Hosted by Gail Dokucu and Urban Sketchers Chicago 

Details:

Get out those reading glasses, friends! 

Let's see how small we can go this week! I was inspired to do this theme by the tiny works of Katie Woodward and Jingo de la Rosa, both of whom would have been instructors at this year's seminar. If you don't know them already, check them out on Instagram: @ramblingsketcher (Katie) and @jingoillo (Jingo). Of course, you can also feel free to interpret this theme in any way you choose, like maybe a big sketch of something tiny.

Remember that we are back to following USk guidelines. 

If you need a refresher, check out the information and infographic here!

See you at the virtual throwdown!

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Are You Looking at Me?

A Peek Behind the Scenes

Let’s Sketch:

Behind The Sketch

Public

 · Hosted by Wes Douglas and Urban Sketchers Chicago

Sunday, July 19

12 PM – 3 PM

Details

Do You See What I See?

 We’re going to change it up a bit this week. So many of you wish that you could see how the others sketch on location, what kind of tools that you use and where you sit during your sketching. This week, we hope you will sketch any scene that interests you and in front of you, but add a couple of extra photos so we can see HOW you sketch and the tools you like to use. You may need a little help with a friend taking your photo or video in action. Do you live in a city? On a farm? Near the water, or mountains, or desert? Are you home-bound? Sketch from real life and show us your world!

Since this is about the time we would’ve had our Annual Chicago Sketch Seminar, we hope you will participate virtually and share a behind the scenes of how you urban sketch. Then post your final sketch and the work up photos as you normally would on Sunday. Questions can be posted in the comments below.

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Back to Basics!

We Show the World, One Drawing at a Time

Sketch: Barbara Weeks

Do You See What I See?

Yes, we show the world, one drawing at a time but, our worlds can be very different! Do you live in a city? On a farm? Near the water, or mountains, or desert? Are you home-bound? Sketch from real life and show us your world!

• You don't have to sketch everything but, you can if you choose. 

On the Chicago River-Barbara Weeks 

• Or, just add some context to give us a sense of place if that's your preference.

Mariano Park, Chicago- Barbara Weeks

Main South HS Track Meet-Barbara Weeks

In A Nutshell

This is one of the best graphics depicting what is an Urban Sketch and what isn't! I'd love to give credit to the designer(s). If you know who it is please let us know in the comments! 

Show us your world where ever you are!

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Yes, You Can!

Sketch by Alex Zonis

Let's sketch

Sunday, July 12

 A Personal Challenge

Hosted by Alex Zonis and Urban Sketchers Chicago

Details

A Personal Challenge in Urban Sketching.

Many of us have something we think we are not good at in Urban Sketching, so we tend to avoid it. People, perspective, architecture, cars, mixing color, straight to watercolor, finishing a sketch on location, ... the list is long. This Sunday we will sketch and practice a subject or method or tools that is a challenge for us and get better at it.

Once you decided what challenge you will work on, think what questions you may have about it. Ask your questions on USk Chicago group, members who are good at this subject will help with suggestions. Or you can reach out directly to USk Chicago sketchers who have your challenge mastered.

As usual, the event will run from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Posting officially is from 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. If you would like feedback on your challenge sketch, you can ask for it, we have an abundance of knowledge and mastery in our group and we can tap into it.

Sketch by Alex Zonis. The challenge here was to sketch a realistic landscape in ink and control multiple inks.

Remember to adhere to the Urban Sketcher Manifesto!

Please post your sketches to our Facebook group 

and include #USkChicago so we can find them all!

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.

We're Going Though a Phase

Sketch by Mary Jo Ernst

Let’s Sketch Chicago

Open For Business Phase 4

 Sunday, June 28

Public

 · Hosted by Mary Jo Ernst and Urban Sketchers Chicago

Let’s keep the ball rolling and sketch our favorite businesses as Illinois institutes Phase 4 of Reopening. Please take advantage of our great weather, get out and sketch on location and share your sketches on our group facebook page this Sunday 12-3pm. Remember to tag your sketches with #uskchicago #uskathome so that we may share your work on our group Instagram account. 

We are back to following global’s posting guidelines of sketching live on location and not from reference photos.

Remember to social distance and wear a mask when out to help us move along safely in our reopening.

Happy Sketching! Share your skills to support our local businesses

 Please email ernstmaryjo@gmail.com

 if you have any questions

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Skeletons?

In Your Closet!

Sketch by Alex Zonis - 

This is not my scariest closet :)

Let's sketch 

 In Your Closet!

Sunday, June 21

2 PM-3 PM

Hosted by Alex Zonis and Urban Sketchers Chicago

 

A few weeks ago Barbara and I were talking about closets.

It went like this:

Alex: I have many great closets, but they are so full of junk that nothing more fits. One of them closets is really scary - every time I open it something falls out, usually on my foot.
Barbara: Isn’t the quarantine especially designed to organize our closets?
Alex: Oh….
Alex: Did you organize your closets?
Barbara: NO!

In the last few months we have become very closely acquainted. We have seen our kitchens, workspaces, food pantries, even bathrooms. Now let’s see our closets! I have it on a good authority that at least two of us have skeletons … well, skulls … stored in them. This Sunday we will take a look.

As usual, the event will run from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Posting officially is from 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. But since Sunday is Father’s Day and you may have plans, feel free to sketch and post whenever through out the day. Don't forget to include the hashtags in your caption: #uskathome #uskchicago

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.

Open for Business

Let's sketch

Open for Business!

Sunday, June 14

Hosted by Wes Douglas and Urban Sketchers Chicago

Now that many businesses have started to find ways to slowly reopen or stay open in a safe manner, our next challenge is to celebrate your favorite business. This is an activity that is best done by direct observation (please no photo references). 

• Sketch the exterior of their building, an outdoor dining experience or a representation of how you best interact with that business. For example, if you cannot visit a physical location, maybe you only deal with a business through its delivery to your front door. 
• Sketch your package delivery at your front door. 
• Sketch the delivery van, or the lunch you ordered at your table. Some restaurants now offer street dining, sketch that. 

Post your sketches sometime between Noon and 3:00pm, if you are able, and don't forget to include the hashtags in your caption: #uskathome #uskchicago

Have fun with this. And feel free to tell us why this is one of your favorite businesses. Above all, continue to practice safe distancing and stay healthy.

Questions? Ask Wes Douglas in the comments below. 

Looking forward to seeing your sketches on Sunday.

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.