Lake Wingra Park & Boathouse - Sunday July 19, 2020

With much cooler temperatures and a lovely breeze sketching here today was perfect.  We welcome first time sketcher Gabriel who sketched today along with Gretchen, Jean, Rebecca and me. We hope to see more sketchers at our next meet up on August 23rd at Indian Lake County Park.  It is a very beautiful place with plenty of room for social distancing.  A reminder: to not miss a new blog post just subscribe at Follow By Email on the right. I try to always post a reminder about the next event a week or so ahead so anyone who likes can get an email reminder.  Happy Sketching!!!  Pat

Gabriel, Gretchen & Jean

Rebecca, Gretchen, Jean & Gabriel

I decided to use charcoal today for a change - Note the lovely Covid 19 hair style

Ruth's Recent Sketch

What a great summer sketch by our chapter administrator Ruth Manning.  

Next Sketching Date - Sunday July 19th 1- 3 pm Wingra Boat House

Just a reminder that our next sketching date is on July 19th, 1-3pm at Wingra Boathouse.  There are some benches there but the picnic tables next to the boathouse are off limits except to paying customers who are renting boats ( I think) and they are not spaced far enough apart anyway.  When the park is busy the benches are often in use so bringing a lawn chair or sketching stool is a good idea and then you can sit anywhere you like.  I have seen the restoom being open and they seem to always leave the door open, too which is a good idea right now. Hope to see you Sunday weather permitting.   Pat

Garver Feed Mill - Sunday June 14, 2020 - Our First Outing for the Season!!

Jean, Carole, Gretchen and I sketched in the shady patio on the back side of the Mill and we must have just missed the other sketchers we heard were on the front patio - darn!  We did take a few photos in front before we left.  Those of us in masks and sunglasses remind me of the old Invisible Man movies.  It was a beautiful day to be out sketching and really great to see fellow sketchers again!   

Jean and Gretchen

Pat with half finished sketch

Carole's drawing of the Olbrich Gardens office near our shaded patio

Grechen sketched the sketchers

My finished sketch of the office building

Rear view of the Mill

Phase 1 Dane County: USK starts up again

Welcome back Urban Sketchers

It's been a long time since we've seen each other, hasn't it?

Now that phase 1 has begun in Dane County, USK is eligible to resume meetups and I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to it.

Beginning in June I will be attending the meetups I have scheduled through September. Note the details on the calendar to adjust to our new reality.

All meetups will be outdoors only. Practice social distancing and use of masks to whatever extent helps you feel comfortable. This will be weather dependent so take a look at the weather report and make your own decision.

The remainder of the sessions for 2020 will have the theme Draw Your Corner, whether inside or out.

There will be people that are not ready to join a group at this time and feel safer in their own space. Please participate by drawing your own corner - living room, yard, kitchen , and post it on Facebook on the day of our meetup to say hello. Show your creativity as we need to stay in touch.

If you are not on social media send a jpeg of your sketch to Pat who has agreed to post them on this blog.
pwafer@charter.net


I've been busy....I hope you have.

self portrait

intersection of Mineral Point & Glenway in early May

Next date is Garver Feed Mill, 6/14. Weather permitting I'll be riding my bike. Hope to see you there.

Ruth

Sketching While Staying Safe at Home - Jean's Flowers

Hyacinths in Jean Schomisch's Garden

Elsie's Handmade Sketchbook

Elsie got creative and made a sketchbook from some old wrapping paper she had and cardboard,  Even if she only has the view from her window it is reportage in this time of social distancing.  Well done, Elsie!

Sunday April 19th - Washburn Observatory

It was a beautiful day for sketching yesterday.  The view from Observatory Drive over Lake Mendota was spectacular.  I sat in my car with the sun roof open and sketched the observatory across the street. One student was sitting on the bench outside it. There were quite a few people walking around on campus but not nearly as many as there normally would have been.  I could see daffodils blooming in Allen Gardens as I went by. Their website says they are open from 8am-8pm daily. 

Washburn Observatory - ink and watercolor on Stillman & Birn Zeta series 8 x 5 sketchbook

Covid Closed Odana Park

Jean Schomisch sketched this scene last week noting that the park was closed. Thanks for sending it in, Jean.   Let's keep sketching now that spring is here.  Sketching in your car is always a safe option and sometimes more comfortable in cool weather which seems to be hanging on this year. Please feel free to email me photos of your sketches and I can post them or as blog authors you can post them yourself.  Happy Spring Sketching!  Pat dgwafer@gmail.com

Odana Golf Course

Hey, any sketchers out there?

Wow, it's a struggle to maintain the momentum, but I've been hard at work trying to keep up my daily practice. I gave myself permission to draw from resources - birds from the internet, photos I have...not my preferable way to work, but hey.

A couple things to share. One from Spain - I came back the end of March, a few I did out my windows...but you know, I'm kind of done with that. With the warming weather I will probably venture out to draw in solitude somewhere outside. Seems like an essential service to me.

Don't give up people, stay creative...whatever way you can

Ruth

Posting Sketches

Sorry the last message gave my email incorrectly.  It is: dgwafer@gmail.com

If you email a photo of your sketch I am happy to post it on the blog.  It would be great to see what others are sketching now.  Take care,   Pat

Cancellation of Sketching Dates

We have decided that for the time being we are cancelling any indoor venue sketching dates due to the coronavirus emergency.  Hopefully as it warms up we can do some outdoor sketching but we will just have to wait and see.  Please check the blog calendar for updates. We hope everyone is well and stays that way!!

In the meantime I hope you will all keep urban sketching.  When the weather is bad or windy I often sketch from my car and it works.  You can find lots of good places in a car, too.

If you want to post sketches on the blog in the meantime you can email them to me: gwafer@gmail.com    and I will post them.

Anyone who is already a blog author can also post them on there by clicking on New Post in the  upper right corner of the blog page.  If you are not a blog author yet you just need to send me your gmail address and I can invite you to be one and then you can post any time.  Urban Sketchers just asks that your sketches relate to sketching your environment from life and not photos.

It would be great to see some more sketches on the blog.  Take care and keep sketching!!!  Pat

Pheasant Branch Conservancy - Middleton

One of the best things about the Madison area is the proximity of wonderful natural places like Pheasant Branch.  Yesterday evening there were lots of people walking, jogging and dog walking.  Also a few Sandhill Cranes calling and flying over and Red Wing Blackbirds staking out there territory. Soon there will be a lot more cranes flying in for the night and some that nest there in summer.  All the snow was melted and it felt like spring was here again.  -- Pat Wafer

Tree with nesting box:  Ink & watercolor in Stillman & Birn Beta Sketchbook

Bike Path near Odana Rd. - February 29th

It was nice to take a walk in the warm weather last weekend.  Did a quick ink sketch on the path and painted it at home trying to remember all the colors.  I had to do the dad with the stroller really quick but it was fun to try.  -  Pat Wafer

Ink and gouache on watercolor paper

Nick Napping - February 10th

What a beautiful day to go to the zoo!  After sketching the lagoon by Mills St. I went over to the zoo to check out the polar bears. Looks like I made the bear a little too small or the crows a little too big.  I love these Strathmore hardbound sketchbooks.  Versatile paper and they lay flat.  This one is 9x12 and I also really like the 11x14 for sketching or painting landscapes.  Pat Wafer

Watercolor sketch on Strathmore 500 series Mixed Media Journal

Edgewater Hotel 2-8-2020

It was just about warm enough to sketch at the Edgewater on Saturday.  I added color later indoors from memory using watercolor and Posca pens and Tombow markers. Lots of kids there and the skating rink was very busy. 

Kites on Lake Mendota

Frozen Assets Festival - Saurday Feb. 8th

This looks like an interesting event for some outdoor sketching.  So far the weather forecast is decent: 28 F and 5 mph winds but of course the cold and wind is always more near Lake Mendota.  If anyone is interested in doing some sketching in the afternoon feel free to contact me and we can decide where to meet. dgwafer@gmail.com The link to the event site is: https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/frozen-assets/#festival  I will have my cell phone 920-421-2623 (which I rarely use) with me if anyone wants to check where I (or WE) are during the afternoon.  I'd like to check out the Edgewater and here is the Isthmus event link about those activities: https://isthmus.com/events/frozen-assets-festival/.  

Also take note we have our regular sketching date this Sunday Feb. 9th @ Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese, 114 N Main St, Oregon from 1-3pm. 

Sketching at Sequoya Part 2

That was a mighty brisk walk I took to Sequoya Library a week ago for our January meetup. Not sure how many of us were sprinkled through the library, maybe 13?

It certainly took care of any chills we might have had, the sun was out in force and the library was toasty. We welcomed a couple new sketchers that day too.

Always nice to spend a peaceful afternoon with like minded people.

Photos are a partial showing - some had to slip out early. February meetup is a field trip out to Oregon and the Firefly Cafe, it's on the events calendar. I'll be putting a few more on in the next few weeks.

Stay creative,
Ruth

PS: bonus sketch I did last Friday when I took myself out to lunch at The Short Stack on State Street. Awesome place to sketch, but don't go there at the busy times, that place gets packed.

Sketching at Sequoia

  It was quite toasty last Sunday with the sun streaming in the corner of the library.  The only downside is no talking but then we probably got more sketching done.  I'm sorry I did not get to talk to some of the sketchers I haven't met yet. Thanks to everyone for showing up and hope to see you in February.

  Many thanks to Ruth for all her hard work and willingness to take on one more year.  I'm sure someone will step forward to take on 2021. I thought maybe it was time for our blog to have a bit of a new look.  Hope it looks ok?

Deborah sketching in a sunny spot at the library

Sequoya Library this Sunday

Get your mittens, hat, boots and sketchbook ready.

This Sunday, January 19 is our monthly get together at Sequoya Library on the west side of Madison. Located in that same plaza is EVP coffee, so although we will meet in the library some may want to sketch at the coffee shop.

And you no doubt are aware some snow is forecast on Saturday. I'm thinking positively for Sunday and I know I will be going as I live within walking distance of the library...one of the perks of choosing the places we sketch and placing them on the calendar.

And speaking of that, this will be my third and last year of choosing the locations and letting you all know where they are. I'll be completing the dates for the group through December 2020.

So if you enjoy sketching with like minded people each month you might consider doing this not overwhelming task. Please let me know if you are interested at one of the meetups.

It would be a shame to let the group fade away.

See you Sunday!
Ruth

....a sketch I made on some old book paper looking at Lake Waubesa in the afternoon on Christmas Eve 2019