Big Snow

Snow Covered Roof

Snow Covered Car

Winter has been beastly cold here in Iowa. Last night we had our first big snow. This is what I awoke to this morning, as seen from my upstairs window,  using water soluble graphite applied with a water brush.

Snow Fall

I spent the day manning the desk at the White River Gallery in Montague, Michigan. It wasn't busy so I sat near the front window and did this sketch looking out and down the street. It was quite beautiful with all the snow...the first time in years we've had this much on the ground this early. So, snow fall...a Christmas portrait. Happy holidays to all.

Workshop Proposals Deadline for Urban Sketchers Symposium is December 20!

Hi Everyone!!!!

I am forwarding you the following message, posted originally by Eduardo B. in the Paraty 2014 Facebook Page.

If you could please forward it to your local group and help us encourage them to send proposals, I would really appreciate it. If there are people in your group you already know are excellent educators give them a few world of encouragement on our behalf to submit a proposal :-) 

The more the merrier! DEADLINE IS NEXT FRIDAY, DEC 20TH. 2013. Thanks!!!!!

Here is the text:

________________________

Dear sketchers!
Are you planning to apply a proposal to teach in the next symposium in Paraty, Brazil?
Take a closer look at the "Call for Submissions".

Bear in mind that there are different levels of teaching this time:

Sketching Workshops, as previous years:
3,5 hours workshops (half an hour more): wonderful opportunity to teach the best you have - I taught two different times (Santo Domingo and Barcelona), and can't express how great those experiences were to me. I learned a lot from that! 

Lead a Sketchcrawl ("Follow Me"):
This is the best way for you to earn teaching experience and share your thoughts with others. This is the highlight of the new programming, in my opinion. 
Imagine: you got selected, people will get to know what your ideas are, and then you are going to lead them across the beautiful streets of Paraty, suggesting different techniques, approaches and subjects. One turn, great experience.

Lectures, Demonstrations: 
Another good way to share what you do, the way you do, to inspire other sketchers! It can be anything interesting, so don't be shy! 

You can even come up with something new!

That is what we are trying to create in the next symposium: a vibrant and stimulating sketching environment!

USk Paraty 2014!

The deadline is December, 20.
Take a look at the form attached in the post. If you have doubts let us know.

http://www.urbansketchers.org/2013/11/call-for-submissions-for-symposium.html

Orling Dominguez

USk Workshop Committee

USk Symposium Committee

The Luncheon, St.Louis

Since I was alone I could hear almost every word of a nearby conversation between two business men during lunch last week. The discussion was typical; sports, something about an upcoming board of directors meeting and favorite travel destinations. While I tried not to eavesdrop I did notice a subtle back lighting effect created by the bright sunlight reflecting off the stone buildings across the street. I sketched the scene as discreetly as possible; it reminded me of an Edward Hopper painting.

 

The Luncheon, November 23, 2013; Michael Anderson, Brushes 3 for iPhone, Sensu Brush.

 

 

Call for Symposium Submissions

urbansketchers.org | Facebook group | Flickr group  Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Nov. 23, 2013 Call for Submissions for Symposium Programming We have a city: Paraty, Brazil. We have dates: August 27-30, 2014. Now it’s time to create programming for the 5th International Urban Sketching Symposium! To do that we need YOU, urban sketchers of the world, to submit proposals for workshops and extra activities before December 20, 2013. Teach a Sketching Workshop These are the workshops that have been a mainstay of past Symposiums. You can see some samples here. In previous years we offered 3-hour workshops in the morning and the afternoon. This year we are tentatively planning for 3.5-hour workshops during the morning only, with other programming in the afternoons. Selected proposals will be announced in January. Compensation: If your proposal is selected, the Symposium organization pays for airfare and five nights of accommodation. Local instructors who will not need to travel will receive an honorarium. In addition to the workshops, we are planning to offer a diversity of other programming in Paraty. What could you propose? Here are some ideas: Lead a Sketchcrawl Organize a "follow me" sketchcrawl in Paraty. People will draw where you lead them and rely on you for tips to become better urban sketchers. This is your opportunity to earn some cred and promote your work! We are looking for sketchers with previous experience organizing sketchcrawls. Give a Lecture Enlighten participants with a sketching-related talk. Whether it is about your own sketching, or the findings of your research on 19th century artists reporters, we want to learn from you! Do a Demonstration Show us how you do your magic! What can you show other sketchers that will inspire us while promoting your work? Surprise Us With Something We Haven’t Thought Of! Do you have another activity idea that can take place over a few afternoon hours? Yoga for sketchers? How to find the best fire hydrants for sketching? Tell us how you can catch the sketchers’ attention and passion with something different from a workshop. Compensation: If you are selected for an extra activity as mentioned above, you will receive free registration for the Symposium. Some details to keep in mind while designing your proposal: We recommend you to get to know Paraty’s possible workshop locations before you create your proposal, in order to match your workshop theme with the city’s environment. Click here to view photos of the locations posted in our Facebook page. You can propose a workshop for a general location or for a specific spot. You should keep in mind that workshop locations are subject to change and the Workshop committee reserves the right to make the best arrangements / combinations of workshops and locations. Keep in mind the weather: "Dry season (May through September) - The average temperature in Paraty during these months ranges between 17 and 25 °C (62.6-77 °F). We recommend bringing a light sweater for the evenings and chilly nights, as well as sunglasses, a cap or hat, and shorts for the hot days." HOW TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS All proposals must be emailed to symposium@urbansketchers.org. If you are proposing a workshop, you must use this form and include sample sketches.. DEADLINE All proposals are due by Friday, December 20, 2013 (11:59 p.m. EST) --- NOTE: Are you planning to attend the Symposium as a participant? Subscribe to our USk Paraty mailing list to be notified before registration opens. We are looking forward to seeing you in Brazil!

Midwest Sketcher in South Beach

Recently work took me to South Beach Miami where I had a few evenings free to wander and sketch. These are two of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.  Watercolor, brush pen with warm grey ink, and a Noodlers Ahab flex fountain pen

with Polar Black. Both drawn and colored in relative dark so the colors are always a bit of a surprise!

These last two are iPad sketches using Procreate.

 

 

 

James Nutt

Savannah

My wife and I are just back from a 3 week trip that took us to the Annapolis in-water sail show in Maryland, a visit to friends and relatives in Georgia, a visit with my cousin in Florida, a look at our new boat on the line as it was being built and a fun weekend at Disney World. We were extending summer a bit...some more sun before ski season starts.

While in Savannah, Ga I had the good fortune to spend an afternoon sketching this beautiful old townhouse. It's located across from a park and it fronts to a tree lined street of Live Oaks that are draped with Spanish Moss. Quite a setting and an enjoyable afternoon in a city that offers beauty around every corner.