In 2008 I invited a diverse group of illustrators, architects and artists around the world to join a group blog under the banner of “Urban Sketchers.” I later spearheaded the nonprofit organization of the same name that now counts with chapters in more than 60 countries. What do urban sketchers do? We draw the world around us, on the spot, capturing a sense of time and place. My blog, dating back to 2007, chronicles my own journey as an artist and urban sketcher.
Dec. 12, 2021. Brrrrr! Cold morning with @uskseattle at King Street Station. Yet I couldn’t help but choosing to draw outside, which I haven’t done much lately. My hand was shaking after about 90 minutes sizing, penciling and inking this…
On New Year’s Eve, I went out for a walk hoping to make a sketch that would lift up my dwindling creative spirits. The scene of snow-covered houses was beautiful, and I was all bundled up and wearing my fingerless…
Oct. 10, 2021. I’m here to run the marathon Monday morning, but how could I not make at least one sketch! This city is an open book about the American Revolution, with plenty of storytelling (and eye-catching!) landmarks. Outside this…
Aug. 15, 2021. I’ve joined my pals Roy and Dave for a Sunday morning of fun sketching around the future Mountlake Terrace light rail station. After walking around the construction site for 15 or 20 minutes, I’m afraid that no…
This arboretum just around the corner from our street is very much a hidden gem in our neighborhood. It gets its name from large rhododendron trees that are hard to find elsewhere. On this summer day, I sat on a…
Ballpoint pen sketch on a hot summer day while attending the 10th Urban Sketchers Symposium in Amsterdam.
My portion of the group panorama.
Glacials melt directly into this alpine lake in the North Cascades. The water is ice-cold. But that didn’t stop my friends Ahmed and Ben from jumping for a swim after a 5-mile run up to this gorgeous piece of wilderness. I…
Red tiles. Blue tiles. Iron bridges. Baroque churches. Towering monuments. Refreshing fountains. Sweet wine. A magic bookstore. Civic pride. Porto. Ponto.