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

Target at Hilldale This Saturday

Fellow sketchers, just a reminder for this coming Saturday, a meetup in Target at Hilldale, head up the escalator and look for me in Starbucks. We'll gather in the morning 10am-12n. It actually looks as though the weather may be kind to us, at this point.....no snow on Saturday.

Also wanted to let you know the February ezine of Drawing Attention is out and it is a fabulous issue, take a look, you'll be inspired and envy the locations you look at - there is green!

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

And finally a sketch just so you where I've been hanging out in the snowy winter....one of my favorite spots to draw.
The laundromat.
Warm and toasty, always something going on. What more can I ask for?

Take care
Ruth

Sketching at the Chocolaterian Cafe in Middleton

What a great way to spend a bitter cold Sunday afternoon in Madison, WI

Twelve sketchers enjoyed coffee, chocolate and companionship at the always reliable Chocolaterian. The lighting in this cafe is wonderful and offered many points of view for drawing.

Congratulations to Michael and his wife Robin, who are celebrating parenthood with the arrival of their new daughter Nina Ruth!! We are all so happy for them.

Next up , Target at Hilldale, Saturday,  Feb. 16th, 10AM-12N. Please note the Saturday date and time in the morning. We will meet at the Starbucks at the top of the escalator. Come get your shopping done!

Stay Creative,
Ruth

January 20th - Michelangelo's Coffee House

I had tickets for a play at Overture so I had to miss out on the Chocolaterian today but had time for coffee and a sketch here before the play.  The very nice guy who served me was from Puerto Rico and I told him I had a friend from there named Mercedes (famous fellow sketcher who maybe was at Chocolaterian today?)  It was busy and a nice cozy place on such a cold day.  I wish I had put some people in the sketch but I am not fast enough. 

Drawing Attention January 2019 is out

Don't forget to take advantage of this great resource from USK dear sketchers, check out the webpage for this and other great info on their blog.

Here's the link...

http://www.urbansketchers.org/2019/01/drawing-attention-january-2019.html

I just posted a March meet-up at Olbrich Gardens....figured we might need a bit of green in March and by golly it's St Patrick's Day that day so why not. Meanwhile, I'll see you on Sunday, January 20 at The Chocolaterian in Middleton from 1-3pm

Happy New Year

and my best
Ruth

December Meetup, Daisy Cafe

And yup, it was scheduled for the very cool looking Java Cat Cafe but I realized when Kellen, Pam  and I got there it was pretty full. As more of our group arrived we came up with a Plan B and moved on to Daisy Cafe further down on Atwood.
Apologies to those who we missed in the confusion, but these things happen.

We did enjoy our final get together for 2018. Daisy is a good choice - lots of variety of objects in the space and good cupcakes and coffee.

We'll get back together at the Chocolaterian Cafe in Middleton to start off 2019. In the meantime, stay healthy and keep on sketching.

Ruth

Pam is looking super serious as she considers her drawing isn't she?

Cindy had an awesome watercolor palette to show us

Michael relaxes on more time before the baby comes

Pam's sketching setup,looks as though Kellen finished her cupcake

Drawings from The Gang

December 5th - Drink & Draw @ Vintage Brewery

Genie, Mercedes and I enjoyed sketching at the Vintage Brewery which was pretty busy  but it's a big place so still plenty of tables.  Genie showed us a great idea for urban sketching without a sketchbook.  She does her watercolor sketches on loose paper and then puts them in plastic sleeves in a sturdy portfolio.  The sketches stand out nicely against the black pages of the portfolio. She only started sketching this last February when she discovered USK Madison and already has an impressive collection of sketches.  Genie said she had studied art in college but had not been regularly drawing and painting until finding our group.  That is what Urban Sketchers is all about - getting us out there sketching together and on our own and finding out how life enriching that can be. 

I will schedule a couple more Drink & Draws this winter and will be mindful of the weather as we may have to have "snow dates" instead of rain dates.  I think most of us prefer to stay in at night when the roads are icy.  If anyone has ideas for venues as always please let me know and I will be glad to check them out.  Wishing everyone Happy Holidays!! 

We all sketched the cozy fireplace

Mercedes and Genie packing up

Sketch Dates for December

We have 2 dates scheduled for December:

Wednesday Dec. 5th  at Vintage Brewery 7-9 pm (please note this is a change from the 6th)

Sunday Dec. 9th  at Java Cat Coffee 1-3 pm

Hope to see you there!!!  We will be adding dates for 2019 soon.