December at the Garver Feed Mill

Fifteen plus sketchers showed up last Sunday to spend the afternoon at the Garver Field Mill, a newly renovated historic building located behind Olbrich Gardens. If you haven't had a chance to go you should. The building offers gorgeous natural light and at this point there was some wonderful coffee at Ledger's Roaster I enjoyed and offerings at Ian's Pizza and Surya Cafe.

Next up, Sequoya Library on January 19, 2020. Big bonus is EVP Coffee is open in the same plaza, so we will get together in the Library, but feel free to step out and sketch at the coffee shop.

Enjoy your holiday time and stay creative.
Ruth

November at Common Ground in Middleton

Greetings Sketchers!

We all had a delightful time last Sunday at a great place in Middleton I was not familiar with, Common Ground Cafe and general cool meet up place. When I arrived I was able to hear the end of a music set that had been going for two hours during their brunch time.

We all agreed to have this on the rotation another time.

Nice to see Genie and her family, including new baby Franklin....have to get a sketchbook for him soon!

I just put 4 events on the calendar last week which will take us through March, Next up, the newly renovated Garver Feed Mill on the east side of Madison in December.

Hope to see you there and happy sketching,
Ruth

October in the Graveyard

Thanks Mother Nature, you held off the rain and 11 sketchers had a great time exploring fall on the wonderful grounds of the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Madison.

This is a beautiful place, thanks all for coming.

Remember we have a special meetup planned 11/2 at Madison's Hawthorned library - this is Saturday at 1:30. Bring anything to share - drawings, tools, etc. and enjoy hearing about Cindy's participation in the USK Symposium this summer in Amsterdam.

Plus, sketch the library - what's not to love?

November's monthly meetup will be at coffee shop and restaurant Common Ground AND if we have a day of warm weather, it's located right by Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Check the events calendar.


Enjoy fall, get out and sketch,
Ruth

Meetup this Saturday

Hey Sketchers....

Here we are with our October meetup this weekend and the rain clouds are forming on my weather app...sigh, what can you do.

Remember we do have a rain location, over at the Sequoya Library at EVP Coffee, also possible is going to the Sequoya Library, so don't despair, keep sketching. I'll post a note tomorrow night after I take another look at the weather.

Added meetup opportunity! Cynthia Zick has posted an event on Facebook at the Hawthorne Library and will entertain us with tales of her trip to Amsterdam and participation in the USK Symposium, you can be sure there will be lots to share. Please bring your own sketchbooks and tools to share also - we like to take time to see what everyone is doing. We will meet 11/2, a Saturday, starting at 1:30pm.

So get busy!........... and stay creative.

Ruth

September Meetup on Monroe Street

Greetings Sketchers,

We got a September meetup in the nick of time, thanks to a warm and dry spot at Roman Candle Pizza on Monroe Street, our backup this month for mother nature's plans. Rain.

This new restaurant on the corner of Knickerbocker and Monroe is a wonderful place for our group to hang out on a Sunday afternoon, beautiful lighting, just a few tables full, tasty food.

Good time had by all, some pretty good sketches too.

Next up, Forest Lawn Cemetery in October. The rain alternative will be EVP Coffee Shop or the Sequoya Library, both in the plaza off Midvale Blvd. I'll be back in touch if that's necessary.

Take care all, keep sketching, no weather excuses for you!

Ruth

Update on Sunday 9/29 Meetup

It's on!

Even though you are looking at the iffy weather, I just went down to Roman Candle Pizza in the plaza at the corner of Knickerbocker and Monroe and they said Sunday afternoon was a great time for a group to come.

Even had some pizza - pretty tasty. They also have salads, looks like they sell ice cream from The Chocolate Shoppe too. Plenty of beer...

So, this place is down the street from Wingra Boat rental, if the weather behaves you can stay outside, otherwise, I'll be in the pizza shop

Who knows?, I might even get a beer.

We'll draw yet.....
Ruth

Rain and More Rain, Sunday Cancelled

Just took a look at the weather map for tomorrow sketchers and it's one big rain cloud all day long.

Thinking this probably isn't the day to go hang out at Lake Wingra....SO I have next weekend free, do you?

I'm going to move the date after I check with our FB group, then you'll see it pop up here.

But this isn't an excuse to not sketch, so get busy!

My Best
Ruth

August Meetup

What a terrific time 12 of us had in the University Heights neighborhood last Saturday. All the planets were aligned; the weather was superb, Tsela was such a great hostess, and what's not to love with the architecture in that historic district.

We all decided it was an idea worth repeating. Is your neighborhood interesting? I realized, living in Westmorland, I need get a date on the calendar. Lots to see here including a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian home - stay tuned and let me know if you have an idea.

Thanks to all who came....we had a couple new faces, along with Louisa's two cute Sheltie dogs. We hope you all come back again.

Next up, Wingra boat rental off Monroe Street, check the events Calendar.

In the meantime, stay creative!

Ruth

More News from Chicago!

I heard from Alex, our contact in USK Chicago, she posted the following info on Facebook and I wanted to make sure everyone had access.

Sounds exciting, and if you can make it please let us know...leads the way for other Tri-State meetups by another of our 3 state group, doesn't it. It might be nice to get in touch with our friends in the MWK group to see if we can get  a meetup together among the two of us.

Always nice to meet more sketching friends.....

Let's sketch Chicago: Tri-State sketchcrawl - IN, WI, IL

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 · Hosted by Alex Zonis

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  Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 10 AM – 3 PM

• pin	The Bean 1 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60602

News from USK Chicago

Greetings Sketchers,

A newsflash for those of you who do not use the Facebook page, USK Chicago is having a Tri-State Sketchcrawl and that means us!

Make plans for this great opportunity to head to Chicago on September 15. USK Chicago Admin Alex Zonis, posted this message on FB today:

"Hi Madison sketchers! I am a USk Chicago admin. USk Chicago would like to invite you to a Tri-State sketchcrawl!

We came up with this idea to have a sketchcrawl and invite our neighbors: Usk Indianapolis, Usk Milwaukee and you - USk Madison. The sketchcrawl will be in Chicago, because we are in the middle, on Sunday September 15, before our Midwest weather turns. We are planning to spend a day sketching, getting to know each other, maybe having a snack and a drink together.

We hope you like our idea. Details are coming soon."

I'll post this on the events calendar with, as Alex remarks above, details to follow soon.

Beautiful day sketching this afternoon with Kellen, hope you have been creative. Look forward to our meetup next Saturday.

See you there!

Ruth

Saturday August Meetup

I hope you are as excited as I am to spend an afternoon on Saturday August 24 in the University Heights area of Madison. I drive by that area regularly and look with envy at those distinctive houses with challenging features to draw.

I regularly ask people, What suggestions and ideas do you have for places to draw? Tsela presented this idea and that's what prompted our August date. Tsela offers this writeup for further details:


Sketch the amazing houses and scenery in the historic University Heights neighborhood! We will meet at 1pm the intersection of North Spooner Street and Hoyt Street, in front of the blue house with white trim. At around 1:10 pm we will saunter up Summit avenue and right onto Ely place. Or feel free to wander out on your own.  You may want to bring a folding chair, unless you don't mind standing. At 3 pm let's coalesce where we started, and go to Tsela's house for tea, coffee, treats, and general socializing.

Fingers crossed for weather.

I'm going, are you?

Stay creative and keep sketching
Ruth

Sketching Vacations

Hi all,
I've nearly filled a travel sketchbook from my past three weeks in Vermont. What a great state this is and it brought back a lot of family memories.

well, these should be side by side....a wonderful Air BNB we stayed at in Middlesex, just felt so good to feel remote, in the middle of nowhere....

Another thing I like is bike riding, the Burlington Bike path is a beauty and flat - something not found in many places in VT.

So onward, the end of summer approaches. I just put two new events on the calendar, take a look, note that two are on Saturday.
Saturday, August 24, 1-3 - drawing houses off Regent - Thanks Tsela!
Sunday, September 22, 1-3 - Monroe Street/Lake Wingra , the park by the boat rental
Saturday, October 19, Forest Hill Cemetery, Speedway Ave

Ideas? Send them our way and keep sketching....
Ruth

Sketching in August and USK August edition of Drawing Attention

This month we will sketch at the Memorial Union Terrace and in University Heights (more info on this site later in the month) on August 25th.  See the Events calendar for details.

Here's the link for USK's August Drawing Attention.  Some great looks at other chapters around the world.    http://www.urbansketchers.org/2019/08/drawing-attention-august-2019.html?mc_cid=ee5d78a2a3&mc_eid=b8b408aaee  They bring their cats with them in Bejing!  Happy Sketching!

Upcoming Events this Summer

Member Jan has posted this great opportunity for us on Facebook and I wanted to make sure our Blog friends were aware of it.

Epic Systems

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Saturday, July 13, 2019 at 9:45 AM – 2 PM Meet in the visitor center parking lot. Self guided tour starts at 10:00. Bring a sandwich/snack, water bottle and chair (optional). ALSO I just put up our monthly event for August 25. A great opportunity suggested by member Tsela to sketch our way around the area of University Heights, focusing on the amazing houses there. More details to follow as we get nearer to the event. Happy sketching all, Ruth

The Memorial Union in June

You might think this was a guaranteed warm day by the lake for sketching, but the way the weather has gone for Wisconsin the past year, you would be wrong.

Nonetheless, 7 sketchers appeared in their fall clothes for a breezy day by Lake Monona, enjoying each other's company, sharing info on materials, drawings from our sketchbook and news of Cynthia's upcoming trip to Amsterdam for the big USK Symposium. We can't wait to hear her official report upon her return.

We bid a fond farewell to our friend Michael as his family heads off for new adventures in Utah. This was his final sketching event with us and we will miss him.

Next in July, Vilas Zoo....July 21, 1-3

'Take advantage of that good weather friends, it's a nice day in Wisconsin.

Get out and sketch.
Ruth

Porter Coffee - June 8th

Jean, Gretchen and Genie - perfect weather for sketching!

June Drawing Attention from Urban Sketchers

Here's the link to the June edition of Drawing Attention.  I can be viewed like a magazine.  Lots of interesting stuff and great sketching inside.  Take a look!   Drawing Attention June 2019   Be patient - it takes a little while to load.

Lakeside Coffee House

When I scheduled a meetup a few months ago at Lakeside I envisioned sitting outside on the terrace sketching the lake. I still sketched the lake, but I was sipping hot coffee from the inside. It was a chilly, rainy day in Madison, WI

That didn't keep 8 sketchers from drawing the afternoon of May 19. There is a lot of good variety to choose from, window light and some mighty good coffee and food.

What's not to like?

Next up is my annual trip to UW Memorial Union. Let's take advantage of outside while we can.

Stay Creative,
Ruth

June Sketching Dates

We have 3 dates lined up for June:

Saturday, June 8th at Porter Coffee House 10am to Noon

Thursday, June 13th for a Drink & Draw at High Noon Saloon 5:30 to 7:30pm

Sunday, June 16th at Memorial Union 1-3pm

See events calendar for more details.  Hope to see you there!!

Drawing Attention: USK's online monthly newsmagazine

You can find the May edition of Drawing Attention here:  http://www.urbansketchers.org/p/drawingattention.html  as well as past issues.  Lots of great inspiring urban sketches here and info about upcoming USK workshops.  (Be patient the USK blog site is VERY slow - at least on my computer it is,)

Brasserie V Drink & Draw May 8th

Gretchen, Carolyn and I enjoyed drinking and drawing at Brasserie V tonight.  It was busy but we got a table with no problem.  Nice place to hang out on a rainy night and good company.

May Sketching Dates for USK Madison

Check the Events calendar for details for May 8th  ( Brasserie V @ 7-9pm) and May 19th ( Lakeside Coffee @1-3pm).   If anyone has any ideas for upcoming sketching locations just let Ruth or I know.  Hope to see you all soon.

Indoors at Verona Public Library

Well anyone with any sense was indoors - it was 34 degrees last Sunday! Stubborn as usual , Kellen and I planned and dressed for (so we thought) a day of outdoor sketching.
I lasted 11 minutes. I'm pretty sure Kellen followed shortly thereafter.

yeah, it's spring in WI

And why not? Verona Library is a beautiful space with lots of window light. It was a peaceful gathering with 13 sketchers present. We were so glad to see Elsie again.

I had forgotten, of all things, my sketchbook. Luckily, just like Elsie, I carry my emergency one in the car, so all was well, if a bit tiny. I'm rather intrigued by my tiny three sketches which I glued into my book once I arrived home.

As I always say, a great afternoon, among like minded people.

Next time Lakeside Cafe, and please.....warm weather?

Happy Sketching
Ruth

Next Sketching Date for April 14th 1pm - Verona Public Library

The library opens at 1pm and we will sketch from 1-3pm inside or outside depending on weather and what looks interesting.  Also there is an upcoming workshop on Sketching Cities in May in Platteville.  If anyone is interested contact: Lana at caywoodl@icloud.com] for more information.  (It is not an official USK workshop).

Drawing Attention April 2019

Don't miss this month's April issue of USK's Drawing Attention, lots of info and inspiration.

And please, order up some good outdoor sketching weather

Soon.

Stay creative
Ruth

 http://www.urbansketchers.org/p/drawingattention.html 

March at Olbrich Gardens

Great to see 13 sketchers gather together at Olbrich Gardens last weekend. There was still a chill in the air, but Pam and I were determined to sit outside after the endless cold of winter and we did manage to find a sun spot.

no honestly, we were both warm...

I can't tell you how great it felt to be outside sketching once again.

It's always nice to see the gardens in any season and things were hopping inside with their exhibit in the conservatory.

Next up, the Verona Library, a Sunday pm meetup on April 14, 1-3pm. We are entering that time of the year when the weather could go either way - well really I guess that's always true. The Verona Library is a great place inside and out. If it's a nice day there are plenty of walking paths and prairie plantings. If you need to be inside, there is lovely window light.

If you are inside, plan accordingly with your materials and be respectful of the space.

Stay creative, keep sketching
Ruth

Meetup at Target

Such a nice way to spend a Saturday morning in February.
First of all, it was amazing that we got a break in the weather - that one day was perfect, amidst a winter that has not been kind to sketchers. Unless you're into snow.

I really like this location for a winter meetup; lots of space, natural lighting, variety of subject matter, plus you can do some shopping afterwards.

Gretchen, Lana and Kellen compare notes

One delight was a fly-by appearance from Lana of Platteville who was one her way to Janesville. She posts in our Facebook group occasionally and although she didn't have time to sketch with us, shared a small sketchbook she carried with her. That's my kind of sketcher!

Cindy and Jean are heavy into a discussion of tools

So don't let the weather get you down, get out there and draw. Check the events tab on the blog for our next meetup in March at Olbrich Garden, I'll be putting a reminder on the blog shortly before then, but don't wait for then, find something to draw tomorrow.

My Best
Ruth