DRAWING SKETCH
SYMPOSIUM CORRESPONDENTS
Attention BOOK
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SKETCHY VIEW OF WORLD CUP FOOTBALL
DETAIL FROM DEMO SKETCH BY ZAINAB TAMBAWALLA
THE OFFICIAL ZINE OF URBAN SKETCHERS | FALL 2026
CONTENTS DRAWING ATTENTION | FALL 2026
4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 14th International Symposium ran on cooperation 5
MARIA SIGNS OFF Communications director ends 4-year EB term
6 NEW CHAPTERS 25 new chapters join the USk Global family 11 KOREAN MEETUP Chapters come together for monthly sketching
12 TOULOUSE SYMPOSIUM A day with
the Pink Vests; The event by the numbers Your generosity funds USk projects
20 CAROLINAS SKETCH CRAWL Regional grant recipient hosts 3-day meet 21 GLOBAL SKETCHBOOK Yasir Hameed’s colorful view of Toronto SKETCHER(S) PROFILE: 26 FIFA World Cup sketches from around the globe
CREDIT: ARNE THELMO
FOR EASIER READING ON ISSUU.COM SELECT FULL SCREEN.
DRAWING ATTENTION, THE OFFICIAL ZINE OF THE URBAN SKETCHERS ORGANIZATION, COMMUNICATES AND PROMOTES OFFICIAL USK WORKSHOPS, SYMPOSIUMS, SKETCHWALKS, NEWS AND EVENTS; SHARES NEWS ABOUT USK CHAPTERS; AND EDUCATES READERS ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF ON-LOCATION SKETCHING. Content Publication Team:
Tim Rutherford, Suhita Shirodkar, Chiara Gomiselli Mailchimp layout: Chiara Gomiselli Issuu layout: Tim Rutherford Writers & Contributors: Chiara Gomiselli, Suhita Shirodkar, Tim
Rutherford, Javier Mas Pinturas, Glenna Anderson, Danielle Withrow Proofreaders: T. J. Rutherford
18 USK GRANTS SUPPORTS
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Subscribe TO DRAWING ATTENTION READ past issues OF DRAWING ATTENTION Circulation: 14K+ Readership: 16K+ Web: urbansketchers.org URBAN SKETCHERS IS A 501(C) (3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FOSTERING THE ART OF ON-LOCATION DRAWING. CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION VIA PAYPAL. © 2026 URBAN SKETCHERS. DISCLAIMER: THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION, INCLUDING ACCOMPANYING ARTWORK, ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OR POSITION OF THE URBAN SKETCHERS ORGANIZATION.
Chiara Gomiselli took on the lion’s share of content collection and creation – along with keeping the workflow organized and (me) on track.
Glenna Anderson, Fundraising Coordinator, and Danielle Withrow, Grants Writer, put together some words and info graphics illustrating how you support of Giving Tuesday fuels USk Regional In addition to her fantastic monthly demo Grants, Reportage Grants, and future package, Suhita Shirodkar developed addi- programs that are in the works. tional International Symposium coverage Lastly, a heartfelt “see ya later” to our despite her busy schedule. She probably Tim Rutherford ringmaster. Maria Regina Tauzon steps REALLY can juggle among her myriad Editor, @timarutherford down from her 4-year term on Executive talents! Board and as Communications Director. y wife is a juggler. Throw her three Thanks to everyone for all the great Maria, your patience and counseling have bean bags and cue the music! World Cup sketches and to the Sympobeen invaluable. Now I hope to see more sium correspondents for adding enerof your sketching! Me? Not so much. gy, color, and inspiration to Fall’s pages. I met many of you in Toulouse and am alWow! Juggling came to mind as we closed in on ready planning to meet many more at the DA’s deadline. More than 100 photos to Speaking of wow! How about all the new 15th International Symposium in Toronto. edit – both for quality and content – doz- chapters – 25 in all. Global Membership ens of facts, figures, and names to collect, Coordinator Javier Mas Pinturas and his Until then, keep filling those sketchbooks! collate and confirm. At the final curtain, team had their hands full as well tracking the act managed to keep ‘em all in the air and collects information of each of the – it takes a team! new USk family members.
M
USk news & events
And I am delighted to welcome Christina Wald as our new Communications Director. Christina has been a longtime volunteer on the USk Social Media team, and I am excited to see Your generosity also made a difference her bring her experience, energy, and beyond Toulouse. Thank you to every- vision to this new role. Welcome, one who supported our silent auction, Christina! raffle and merch sales. These contriMeanwhile, we are already moving full butions help fund USk programs that speed ahead with the organization of bring sketchers together around the the 2027 International Symposium in world, including the Regional Events Toronto, Canada. Grants and Reportage Grants. you left with something even more valuable: new friendships and connections that will continue long after the symposium.
Ronaldo Kurita President, @ronaldokurita
W
hat an incredible journey the 14th Urban Sketchers International Symposium in Toulouse has been! As we close this chapter, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who made it possible: our amazing Local and International Organizing Committees, our dedicated volunteers, our talented faculty, our generous sponsors and partners, and, of course, USk Toulouse for welcoming us so warmly and making Toulouse feel like home.
And speaking of Regional Events Grants: the recipients of our 5th season have just been announced. Five official local chapters will receive support to organize larger and more elaborate events for their communities. This is exactly the kind of grassroots energy that makes Urban Sketchers such a vibrant global network.
So, with a little sadness, we say goodbye to LouLou, the beloved Toulouse mascot, and welcome our new friend Tobi, the Toronto beaver! One symposium ends; another adventure begins. Thank you, sketchers, for making this community what it is. See you on the streets, sketchbooks in hand!
As we turn the page, there are changes within our Executive Board. After Ronaldo Kurita, President four years as our Communications Director, we say a very heartfelt thank Urban Sketchers International And most importantly, thank you to you to Maria Regina Tuazon. Maria has all of you who joined us. You came given so much to USk, not only during to draw, to teach, to learn, to share her four years on the Board, but your perspectives and your passion through many years of volunteering for sketching. You filled the streets of and contributing to our community. Toulouse with drawings, conversations We are deeply grateful for her dedicaand curiosity and as a bonus, many of tion, creativity, and commitment. 4 drawing attention
USk news & events
Maria Regina Tuazon
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Signing off from the communications office
fter four years serving as Communications Director on the Urban Sketchers Executive Board, Maria Regina Tuazon is concluding her term and stepping into a new chapter.
Urban Sketchers. While she is leaving the Executive Board, the impact of her work will remain part of our community for years to come. A few words from Maria Regina
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efore I go, Maria Regina has I want to dedicated many acknowledge years to Urban our generous Sketchers, helping volunteers, whom shape how our I’ve had the global community pleasure of working communicates, alongside. shares its stories, and stays connected. Much of what they During her time do happens quietly on the Executive and behind the Board, she guided scenes, and I’ve the Communications been lucky to work team through with such a talented countless projects, and committed campaigns, group. Some are now stepping into Symposiums, and important moments new roles and responsibilities, and I for our organization. look forward to seeing where they take things next. We are deeply grateful for Maria’s dedication, creativity, generosity, I’ve learned a lot along the way, and the many hours she has given to about communication, certainly, but
mostly about people, generosity, collaboration, and what can happen when people scattered across the world give their time and talents to something they believe in. To the communications team, past and present, to the wonderful teams I’ve worked with around the world, to everyone who helped us tell our stories, and to the ever-changing Executive Board, for all the meetings, conversations, work, challenges, and laughter we’ve shared: thank you. And to everyone I’ve met along the way who helped me grow, as a sketcher and as a person, thank you too. Here’s a toast to Urban Sketchers, and to whatever we draw next As for me, my Communications Director hat comes off. The sketchbook stays ;) See you out there.
MARIA REGINA TAUZON
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WELCOME NEW CHAPTERS! WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE 25 NEW CHAPTERS. WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL FAMILY OF URBAN SKETCHERS! JAVIER MAS PINTURAS
@javier_mas_pinturas NORTH AMERICA USk Omaha, NE, USA
ASIA USk Miaoli, Taiwan
USk Maui, HI, USA
USk Kaohsiung, Taiwan
SOUTH AMERICA USk Blumenau, Brazil
USK FUERTEVENTURA, SPAIN
USk Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia USk Bandung, Indonesia
USk Sorocaba, Brazil USk Mérida, Venezuela USk Bogotá, Colombia
OCEANIA USk Clarence Valley, Australia USk Taree, Australia
EUROPE USk Kremenchuk, Ukraine
USk Monto, Australia
USk Łódź, Poland USk Kyiv, Ukraine USk Athens, Greece USk Bielefeld OWL, Germany USk Münster, Germany USk Göttingen, Germany USk Augsburg, Germany USk Milton Keynes, UK USk Laval, France USk Fuerteventura, Spain USk Faenza, Italy
USK ATHENS, GREECE
new chapters
USK AUGSBURG, GERMANY BIELEFELD OWL, GERMANY
USK BANDUNG, INDONESIA USK BLUMENAU, BRAZIL
CLARENCE VALLEY, AUSTRALIA
USK BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
USk news & events new chapters
USK FAENZA, ITALY
USK GÖTTINGEN, GERMANY
USK KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN
USK KREMENCHUK, UKRAINE
USK KYIV, UKRAINE
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USK ŁÓDŹ, POLAND
USk news & events new chapters
USK MAUI, UNINITED STATES
USK MIAOLI, TAIWAN
USK MÜNSTER, GERMANY
USKMERIDA, VENEZUELA
USK MONTO, AUSTRALIA
9 • 2025 9 USK OMAHA, UNITED STATES
USK SOROCABA, BRAZIL USk news & events
USK TAREE, AUSTRALIA USK ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA
USK MILTON KEYNES, UK
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URBAN IN PORT – APART, YET TOGETHER Korean chapters come together for monthly meet-up
USk news & events PAID ADVERTISING
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hree USk Korea regional chapters – Asan, Dangjin, and Seosan – and three Korea local urban sketchers groups – Hongseong and Boryeong (currently applying for USk regional chapter), and Again Urban in Gongju, those that are located in Korea’s central western region, gather for a monthly meet-up.
Since its inception in 2025, this rotating event has traveled from one region to another, creating meaningful opportunities for urban sketchers to connect, share experiences, and build lasting friendships across communities. It embodies the spirit of urban sketchers: celebrating local identity while fostering a wider network through urban sketch. This year’s theme, “Urban in Port,” invites participants to explore the unique landscapes, histories, and everyday lives found in the ports of each region. Through on-location urban sketching, we capture not only the character of these maritime spaces but also the human stories and connections that bring them to life. Though rooted in different cities and communities, we come together through urban sketch – apart in place, yet united in spirit.
USK ASAN
USK DANGJIN
USK SEOSAN 9 • 2025 11
USk news & events
What’s Behind a Symposium?
A PEEK AT HOW THE SYMPOSIUM IN TOULOUSE CAME TOGETHER On the face of it, hundreds of sketchers flood a city, take over every corner of it, and sketch day and night, for four straight days. While that is a spectacle, what is truly impressive is the
By the numbers...
5
a mber of hours The average nu ers slept during te n lu vo f o g lin samp . the symposium
66
cvolunteer instru sessions led by 38 22 workshops, tors, including s s, and 6 lecture e ti vi ti ac d an s demo
countless rning into new conversations tu friendships
1000s
scale of the all-volunteer effort that goes into pulling this off. Here is what went into the recently-concluded symposium in Toulouse:
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into ning that went months of plan the event
133
bers, om board mem fr – rs e te n lu vo onructors, corresp to staff, to inst . vest volunteers dents, and pink
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ays in unforgettable d
Toulouse
ng sponsors bringi exhibitors and ideas to new tools and the community
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tion ed by an Educa w e vi re ls sa o p pro a h care to build Committee wit iverse program balanced and d
940
m 50 countries o fr ts an p ci ti ar p e by rld drawing sid o w e th d n u o ar er emories togeth m g in ak m , e d si
ectives p s r e p t n e r e f ity from dif c e n o g in r u t ap O ONLINE . G to re e of sketches c h k c s. Cli
countless way in e is rt e p x e d time an volunteer your n ca u o Y ? d e ir Insp
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USk news & events
LEFT: Art Market set begins for two dozen exhibitors and sponsors. Gael Audoye (@illustrateurfou) BELOW: Volunteers fill more than 800 goodie bags before the Symposium even begins. Suhita Shirodkar (@suhitasketch)
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CORRESPONDENTS
SKETCH
BOOK THIS
A day in the life of a pink vest volunteer
P
ink vest volunteers were everywhere, helping participants in any way possible during the symposium. Anthony Martinez, (@zenitramfox) one of those much-loved volunteers, has lived in Toulouse for more than 15 years, so it seemed natural to him to volunteer at a symposium that showcased his beautiful city. Here is how he describes a typical day at the event. 8 a.m.: The day starts with a meeting coordinated by our organizer, Amélie. 9 a.m.: If we aren’t on duty, we attended lectures.
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9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: We assisted at our assigned workshops or demos 12:30 p.m.: Lunches arrived, and we ate between 1-3 p.m. and often used that time to sketch 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: We switched spots with the volunteers at the Information Desk, volunteers were either at events or at the Information Desk most of the day. Every volunteer had time off, allowing them to enjoy the symposium and join sketchwalks. And after the volunteer shifts were done? Most of us joined in a “drink and draw“ with other sketchers, of course!
TRIO OF REPORTERS, Ivan, Gaël, and Raul, played an important role at the Symposium. They visually documented the activities with sketches and video in order to create a visual record of the annual, global event.
The intrepid trio ran on little sleep due to the demands of feeding the social media stream with daily posts from Toulouse. Their collected works will appear on the USk website, we’ve chosen a few key scenes to share with you here!
IVAN
GAËL RAUL
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Corespondents at work Ivan, Gaël, Raul
USk news & events
Help USk
DRAW
O
utreach through grants is a key priority for Urban Sketchers Global, helping us grow and connect our sketching community worldwide. Demand far exceeds our capacity, and we would love to offer more grants! That’s why Giving Tuesday is so important — your support helps make more outreach possible.
Currently, Urban Sketchers has three primary grant programs (https:// urbansketchers.org/grantsfunding/) that are open to our 600+ chapters and members. Regional grants help official chapters build connections beyond their local communities by supporting larger outreach events. Past grants helped USk Argentina and USk Poland host international symposiums, while USk Pune is set to host the 2026 Asia-Link Sketchwalk.
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the world closer
REPORTAGE GRANTS
opportunities and programs to support the USk community around the world, like the new Youth Grant rolling out this fall.
Combining urban sketching and storytelling to document important places and issues are projects supported by Reportage Grants. (https://urbansketchers.org/usk- These lasting difference these grants make are made possible by generous reportage-gallery/) individuals and businesses. You can help us reach even more sketchers In 2023, Amanda Roelle used her through our annual Giving Tuesday grant to capture the devastating loss of olive trees in Southern Italy, where Campaign. Xylella fastidiosa has killed more than 20 million trees. She talks about the GIVING TUESDAY grant’s impact on her life here.
AMANDA’S STORY Diversifying membership is a top strategic priority. The Emerging Storytellers grant is open to sketchers 18-25 and supports the goal to reach younger artists. Our newest winners will soon be announced! We are constantly researching new
Danielle Withrow, Grants Writer @danielle.withrow.14/ Glenna Anderson, Fundraising Coordinator @wearablediblepotable Questions? Email: Fundraising@urbansketchers.org
USk news & events USk news
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USk news & events
CAROLINAS SKETCH CRAWL HOSTS 3-DAY PROGRAM WITH SUPPORT FROM USK REGIONAL GRANT
F
rom June 5–7, 126 sketchers from across the United States gathered in Asheville, North Carolina, for the Carolinas Sketch Crawl, a regional celebration of urban sketching hosted by USk Asheville, Charlotte, and Greenville. The event was made possible in part through an USk Regional Events Grant. Friday featured a demonstration of creating handmade watercolor paints. Some attendees participated in a handson session creating sketchbooks, leaving with both new skills and handmade journals. On Saturday, six instructors led workshops that provided opportunities for sketchers of all levels to expand their skills and explore new techniques. An international postcard exchange connected attendees with USk chapters in Lviv, Ukraine; Querétaro, Mexico; Que-
Christina Wald, center, presented workshops on sketching with Gouache. She was one of six instructors at Carolinas Sketch Crawl.
and industrial architecture. Sketchers gathered for Drink & Draw sessions. A crawl led by local architects guided The crawl centered in the River Arts Dis- sketchers through Asheville’s Art Deco trict, where sketchbooks were filled with landmarks. scenes of artist studios, colorful murals, Three free community sessions introduced newcomers to urban sketching. Participants received goodie bags, and a raffle featured outstanding art supplies generously donated by event partners. zon City, Philippines; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Auckland, New Zealand.
In conjunction with the Sketch Crawl, the three host chapters presented a twoweek urban sketching exhibition at RAD Rendezvous. 20 drawing attention
USk news & events PAID ADVERTISING
EXPLORE OUR GLOBAL SKETCHBOOK
As we approach the 15th Annual Symposium in Toronto, DA will begin to help you explore the city and prepare your creative curiosity. In this Global Sketchbook, Yasir Hameed sketched several views around the city and had this to say about his experience: “From iconic landmarks like Union Station to hidden gems like Evergreen Brickworks, I sketched the city’s charm and character, reveling in the delicate dance between color, texture, and light. The challenge lay in finding the balance between realism and abstraction, as I sought to evoke the spirit of each location while maintaining a degree of creative freedom.”Explore his visual journey in the Global Sketchbook.
YASIR HAMEED 9 • 2025 21
SKETCH Zainab Tambawalla
BOOK
demo
SUHITA SHIRODKAR
@suhitasketch
Finding
RESTRAINT within Visual
is a Mumbai-based artist, illustrator, and urban sketcher whose vibrant watercolors bring stories to life. Her practice is built on a love of sketching outdoors, everyday scenes, and ordinary people. In recent years Zainab has been documenting Mumbai’s ever evolving “visual language” inspiring her to record its disappearing corners. She has been teaching for 16 years at École Intuit Lab in Mumbai, an international design and art college. Through her art and education, she inspires others to find beauty and stories in every corner of the city. She is a member of USk Mumbai and heads the group.
Abundance
with Zainab Tambawala
ZAINABTAMBAWALLA Step 1: Composing • The original composition has a strong diagonal line with equal spacing and similar shapes. • To soften it and keep the viewer engaged within the frame, I decide to the perspective. • I roughly separate the scene into the foreground (black), middle ground (white), and background (grey).
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e color palett a g n si o o h inate Step 2: C as this, I elim h c su e n e sc color For a busy y limiting the b e gu ti fa n io decis warm blue, using a d an d re to e palett ium h color. Cadm ac e f o e ad sh l the and coo d Quin rose is an d re m ar w red is my m blue lue is my war b t al b o C . d cool re l blue. ine is the coo ar m ra lt U h c and Fren
Starting in the Foreground I build the foreground layer, observing light and shadow. The two reds and two blues give me enough of a color range to play with. I use the white of the paper to my advantage and build a strong focal point, in this case the man in the white shirt and the flowers. Playing with two colors makes me focus on values. The intense light at the market pushes me to create stronger contrasts and shadow areas.
Step 3: Block ing in my sce ne I block in big sh apes with a red pencil as per m thumbnail, free y zing my compo sition as people and out of the move in space.
Moving to the Middleground For the middle layer, I keep the shapes simple and the color variation limited so it doesn’t take away from the focal point, and simply builds depth. I make sure the areas surrounding the man in the white shirt do not have any white spaces that distract and take the attention away from him.
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Step 4: Adding in a Background Layer The farthest layer is rendered in soft cobalt blue, keeping it muted, and minimal.
Step 5: Final Touches Lastly, I add more people, some details on my foreground people, and lamps of varying sizes to build depth. The Finished Sketch!
MATERIALS USED l Watercolor Brush l Watercolors: Cadmium red, Quinacridone rose, French Ultramarine blue, Cobalt blue l Sketchbook l Red pencil
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USK INSTAGRAM
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om r f e s h r e t h e c l t k e c a Sk t obe l g e h t d n u aro
this year and DA d e d lo p x e ia an pWorld Cup m sketches that ca ir e th it m b su asked readers to victory or loss. f o gs lin e fe d an y, excitement tured the energ es ted -- making th it m b su re e w s etche verhead kick. o More than 50 sk an s a g n gi n le as chal election process er Instagram tag: h tc e sk h it w ft top le se. Clockwise, from rance, in Toulou F . vs n ai p S s: te - @manishby City. e in Guatemala n zo an F t: r .a - @ferlohern _: Mexico City. s rn u b _ n a g a e . - @m nce, in Toulouse ra F . vs n ai p S s: arenne, France. M - @trixwillem in ar b a m o fr indh: Watchers stina .lattention 26kri drawing -@
@MANISHBY
TES
FIFA
USk news
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Clockwise, from top left with sketcher Instagram tag: - @dannavision: Sketchers ignoring the final game in Toulouse. - @_vaisakhkrishnan: Fan zone in Washington, D.C. - @christinawald_art: Argentina vs. UK, disappointed viewers, Mecure Hotel, Toulouse. - @olysketcher: USA vs. Australia, fan zone in Olympia, Washington - @sketchy_richard: France vs. Spain, Dallas Texas.
Our Manifesto • WE DRAW ON LOCATION, INDOORS OR OUT, CAPTURING WHAT WE SEE FROM DIRECT OBSERVATION • OUR DRAWINGS TELL THE STORY OF OUR SURROUNDINGS, THE PLACES WE LIVE AND WHERE WE TRAVEL • OUR DRAWINGS ARE A RECORD OF TIME AND PLACE • WE ARE TRUTHFUL TO THE SCENES WE WITNESS • WE USE ANY KIND OF MEDIA AND CHERISH OUR INDIVIDUAL STYLES • WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND DRAW TOGETHER • WE SHARE OUR DRAWINGS ONLINE • WE SHOW THE WORLD, ONE DRAWING AT A TIME.
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