FORTY-FIVE international urban sketchers, together with their travelling companions, are coming to Galway next week to draw and sketch some of its most iconic buildings as part of the first Urban Sketching Workshop to be held in the city.
Urban Sketchers is a global community of artists who practice drawing on location in cities, towns, and villages they live in or travel to, with “We show our world, one sketch at a time”, being the movement's motto. The resulting artworks are then posted online.
The Galway Urban Sketching Workshop takes place from Wednesday July 13 to Saturday 16, and 45 artists from across the globe will sketch images of Galway through ink and watercolour, under the guidance of Galway resident Róisín Curé, and Canadians Marc Taro Holmes and Shari Blaukopf.
Marc is the author of the bestselling How To Be an Urban Sketcher: Techniques for Seeing On Location, while Shari has been a teacher in her native Montreal for many years. Both run Craftsy classes, and have travelled the world giving urban sketching workshops. Róisín recently launched a set of postcards of iconic Galway scenes, in conjunction with, and in aid of, Dúchas-Galway Heritage; these include watercolour sketches of the Long Walk, Galway Cathedral, the King's Head among others, and are available in Judy Greene's and other locations in Galway.
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"Over the coming days, you're likely to see groups of sketchers at work across the city," says Róisín Curé. "Urban sketchers are always happy for onlookers to stop and watch, so don't be shy. The workshop has been sold out for many months but keep your eyes and ears open for another! The good news? You can join Urban Sketchers Galway today, via the Facebook page. It's free to join and free to attend, and meet-ups are announced regularly. Becoming an urban sketcher is a great way to relax, unwind – and really see the world around you."
Róisín is also asking if any Galway businesses would like to host 15 students to sketch, for a morning or an afternoon session. "I would especially love to hear from city centre pub landlords with a dramatic interior," she said.
For more information see www.facebook.com/groups/urbansketchersgalway
