Sketching news

In sketching news, Strathmore are running another set of free online workshops. They run three free workshops twice a year on varying topics. Past workshops have included watercolour sketching, sketching people, drawing techniques, and more. To do a workshop, you need to first register on their site, which is a free and painless process. People can sign up for the workshops during February. The workshops start in March 2013, and you get sent links to each lesson, which you can do at your own pace. This round of workshops will include one on Sketching and Drawing with Toned Paper.

An example of the great sketches that can be done on toned paper. This sketch was done by urban sketcher Natalia Li, in Kiev, Ukraine. Natalia started a flickr urban sketching group in Kiev, and says that they will start sketching outdoors again in earnest once the cold winter is over. (Sketch posted here with permission of the artist. Thanks Natalia!)

In other news, if you are looking for a lightweight, foldable stool for sketching outdoors, Kathmandu currently have their brand, the Roamer Tri Stool, for around 50% off ($10 down from $19.95). I am not sure when their sale ends though.

Finally, a reminder about our next sketching meetup: SAT, 16 FEB 2013, Medieval Jousting Tournament, at Harcourt Park, Upper Hutt. Time: 9.45 - midday. Meeting place: Hill overlooking the jousting. Click here for more details

Worldwide Sketchcrawl # 38

In sketching news, the Worldwide Sketchcrawl # 38 happened on the weekend. 

What is a sketchcrawl? It is like a drawing marathon, where you set aside a day (or some of it) and just move around your city or town, recording what goes on around you in your sketchbook. The idea was started by Enrico Casarosa in San Francisco in 2006, who has turned it into a worldwide event, which sketching groups all over the world join in.  

The sketches, using all sorts of mediums and done all around the world during Sketchcrawl # 38, are displayed on the Sketchcrawl website. I think you may have to join the forum to view the pictures, but joining in free and painless. You can also view most of the sketches from previous sketchcrawls there too.

As it was Wellington Anniversary, I was away all the weekend, so I didn't organise a sketching meetup for this event. But we are all set to join in the next Worldwide Sketchcrawl, which will be number 39, on Saturday, 13 April 2013. Further details about this April meetup will be posted on our blog closer to the time. Any thoughts or suggestions? Email Wellington.Sketchers at gmail.com.    

Wellington Harbour

Sketching in public

The Sketchbook Challenge, which is one of the international sketching websites that we follow, has a theme that is really relevant for us this month: artist dates and sketching in public! The challenge they have chosen for this month is to set some time aside for yourself to sketch, preferably with friends. Perfect for Wellington Sketchers!

Tracy Bunker writes, "An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist."

Well, Wellington Sketchers doesn't meet quite that often, but we'll see if we can squeeze in a sketching meetup or two in January, in honour of their sketching challenge. Details here.

During January, the Sketchbook Challenge website will be uploading posts about artist dates, and advice on sketching in public. Here are a few they have posted already about outdoor sketching: Drawing in Public: the Abstract Way by Carol Sloan, and Working in Public by Tracy Bunkers.