Drawing Attention June 2026 by Drawing Attention

2026 SYMPOSIUM CORRESPONDENTS

SKETCHING IN: INDIA SWANSEA

SKETCHER PROFILE:

Valérie Guitter-Orsat

Attention DRAWING

“BOB’S” PICKUP: A 1950S RENAULT “PRAIRIE,” STRANDED IN A FIELD IN JAMBLES. –VALÉRIE GUITTER-ORSAT

Drawing Attention Mandate

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.

Thanks to this month’s contributors:

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

Proofreaders: Maria Regina Tauzon, Elise Shelton, T. J. Rutherford

Cover Image: Valérie Guitter-Orsat

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Circulation: 14k+ Readership: 16k+

Web: urbansketchers.org

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.

The change in seasons is a time of expectations: autumn colors, snowy landscapes, and summery vibes. The beaches, the waterways, gatherings of family and friends for a barbecue.

For many, summer means travel – ranging from family vacations to alluring destinations for an artistic getaway. Sketchers, being human after all, will also be on the road, in the air, and toting their travel kits in anticipation of new subjects.

I will be in Paris for three days prior to the Symposium. These are new locations for me – I’ve been researching for months to put together a “must see” itinerary, and trip logistics with input from my wife, T.J. (a sketching newbie).

I look forward to meeting many new USk friends in Toulouse and reconnecting with “old” sketchers I met at past events.

New USk friends are becoming easier to find as this global organization continues to grow. Check out the 17 NEW chapters in this issue.

DA teammates Chiara Gomiselli and Suhita Shirodkar really turn up the heat this month. Chiara does lots of work behind the scenes and this month she went beyond to capture International Sketch Week chapter images from social media – you get a great representation in this issue. Congratulations to ALL the chapters who brought USk to the forefront in their communities.

Suhita presents a demo from Nina Khashchina illustrating the use of stencils and masks for shape making. What a great idea!

Oliver Hoeller gave some time to DA to explore what to leave out of your sketches -- and how to make those decisions.

Wherever you may be traveling this summer, be safe, make fun the priority, and, as always, stay sketchy!

Tim Rutherford (US) Managing editor E: editor@urbansketchers.org

ANNUAL MEETING REINFORCES PASSION AND INCLUSIVITY GOALS FOR USk

As I write this message, the Executive Board has just concluded our annual in-person strategic planning meeting in Athens, Greece. During four productive days together, we reflected on the future of Urban Sketchers and structured the strategic priorities that will guide our efforts in the coming years to keep the organization healthy, stable, and growing, always grounded in our mission, values, and global outreach.

Our goal is to inspire more people around the world to discover a passion for Urban Sketchers, join our

community, and share their own stories through sketches, while continuing to strengthen the organization with inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity at the center of our decisions.

Being in Athens also gave us the opportunity to connect directly with the local community, which has worked for many years toward establishing an official chapter. We spent time mentoring and supporting the admins group while participating in sketchwalks, town hall conversations, Q&A sessions, workshops, and drink-and-draw gatherings. The energy, commitment, and enthusiasm of the Athens community were truly inspiring, and we are excited to continue supporting their journey toward becoming an official chapter soon.

Thank you to Mary Politis, Eleni Siouka, Eleni Stav, Fileia Kyr, and the entire Athenian community for the warm exchange and hospitality.

Earlier this month, we also celebrated USk Week 2026 from May 1–7. This year brought an incredible level of engagement and excitement from chapters and communities around the world. Several events filled our interactive map: sketchwalks, exhibitions, lectures, postcard exchanges, work-

shops, and gatherings of all kinds. It has been inspiring to see so many people proudly sharing their love for Urban Sketchers and connecting through drawing.

And now, we are only about 45 days away from the International Symposium in Toulouse. Final preparations are underway as staff, volunteers, sponsors, partners, instructors, and participants get ready to gather for another unforgettable week of learning, teaching, sketching, and connecting. I cannot wait to meet many of you there.

Happy sketching!

Urban Sketchers

Ronaldo Kurita President,

Ronaldo Kurita President

USk YOUTUBE

USk INSTAGRAM

IN MEMORIAM:

USK STRASBOURG FOUNDER LOLO WAGNER

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Lolo Wagner, illustrator, teacher, and longtime force within the Urban Sketchers community. He passed away on May 24, 2026, surrounded by his family and all their love.

Lolo began urban sketching as a teenager, and drawing remained part of his life ever since. Many of his sketches were made close to home in Strasbourg, where he found endless ways to rediscover the city through drawing and observation.

As Lolo once said, “We don’t observe as well as when we draw.”

Lolo helped shape communities far beyond Strasbourg, serving as USk Regional Coordinator for Europe, organizer of the 2015 Urban Sketchers France meeting, and founder of USk Strasbourg group.

A memorial service was held June 5 in Strasbourg. Drawings and messages for his loved ones can be sent via email to nathyi.natui@free.fr.

CHAPTER’S NEWS

We love to hear about your chapter’s news, special events, joint meetups, and exhibitions to share with our readers. Contact us at: drawingattention

@urbansketchers.org. SHARE YOUR

CORRESPONDENTS WILL CAPTURE THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENERGY OF THE SYMPOSIUM

Every year, the Urban Sketchers Symposium is documented not only through thousands of participant sketches, but also through the eyes of a small team of dedicated correspondents who help tell the story of the event as it unfolds.

This July in Toulouse, our International Sketch, Local Sketch, and Video Correspondents will capture the atmosphere, encounters, workshops, and everyday moments that make the Symposium unforgettable.

Meet the three creatives who will be documenting Toulouse 2026 for the global Urban Sketchers community.

MEET THE TEAM

GETTING READY FOR TOULOUSE?

Our local hosts at Urban Sketchers Toulouse have created a helpful guide packed with practical information. From transportation and weather to local tips and getting around the city, it’s a great resource to review before you travel.

Start planning your arrival. Merci, USk Toulouse team, for helping us feel at home before we even get there.

PROJECT: USk Castelló, Maestrat ‘Sketcher

TSurvival Kit’

he Sketcher Survival Kit originated from a traveling exhibition funded by the Castelló Provincial Council that featured more than 80 prints (not original artworks) of sketches from across the province created during our monthly meetups. All of them belonged to the Urban Sketchers Castelló and Urban Sketchers Maestrat chapters, both based in the province. The aim of the exhibition was to bring our sketches to one town in each district of the province, where an Urban Sketching meetup was also organized. Many of these towns are more than an hour away by car for many participants, so we came up with an incentive to encourage attendance: every sketcher received a “Sketcher Passport” to be stamped at each meetup. Those who collected four or more stamps received a “Survival Kit.”

50 kits were produced: 40 in Valencian and 10 in Spanish. We have sketchers from both language communities.

Many still regularly use the items when they go out drawing. The humorous explanations behind each object always delivered big smiles on everyone’s faces. A complete success!

SURVIVAL SUPPLIES

• Pencil case filled with excitement… and your favorite drawing materials

• Watercolor paper: A sturdy surface for your sketches!

• Fineliner pen: For bold and confident lines

• Watercolor pan: Add color to life

• Sketch Tracker: Mark the days you draw! Who will have the highest count by the end of the year?

• Challenge list: To help you step outside your comfort zone

• Candies: Magical little pills with drawing superpowers!

• Tea bag: To calm the nerves the night before a big meetup

• Breadsticks: For that little hunger between strokes

• Stickers: To proudly show off our hobby

• Clip: An inseparable companion — always better to keep one nearby!

• Eraser: To get rid of bad thoughts

• Tissues: For cleaning brushes… or tears of laughter

• Puzzle piece: Because everyone is important in the group/chapter

USk CASTELLÓ USk MAESTRAT

EXPLORE OUR GLOBAL SKETCHBOOK

Through thoughtful observations and vibrant sketches, Andy Oh chronicles the people, places, and memorable moments that shaped “The 7th Gyeongju Urban Sketch Festa.” Blending reportage with visual storytelling, he offers a sketcher’s-eye view of Gyeongju, South Korea, while capturing the shared experiences and friendships that grow around a sketchbook. Explore this visual journey in the Global Sketchbook . ANDY OH

GET YOUR USk CHAPTER (OR YOU!) FEATURED IN DRAWING

ATTENTION:

IT’S EASY AS:

THE WORDS: Many of us are sketchers, and not so comfortable with our writing skills. Perhaps you are concerned about submitting in a language other than English?

Not a problem!

Recall the journalism adage about story contents: Hit the FIVE Ws -- WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, WHEN! Give the DA Team the facts and we will handle the writing. Other than English? Again, no problem. In the past few issues we’ve used translation apps to successfully capture and communicate stories.

2.

PHOTOS: Let your photos do the talking! A group photo, images of sketchers at work, and photos, of course, sketches can convey a chapter or project story even without words. For chapter or event profiles, include photos that tell the story of the WHERE! For a large batch of images, share a Google folder or use one of the many free file transfer sites like WETransfer.com.

THE FINE PRINT: Submit photos in JPEG format, just as they come from your camera photo or digital camera. We like the flexibility to resize as space demands. For written submissions, copy and paste into email is certainly OK; or attach the story in a program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

WHENshould you submit? Anytime is great! DA wants to build a “reservoir” of content that we can call on to plan future editions. Past events are best submitted as soon as possible after the fact. Sketcher profiles are good anytime!

We’re looking for USk Chapter projects, stories that engage your fellow sketchers, individual passion projects, inventive ways of using materials, sketches of your part of the world! Send your proposals or submissions to the DA Team: drawingattention@urbansketchers.org.

CHECK OUT OUR GLOBAL EVENTS CALENDAR!

A special feature of our USk website is the Events Calendar. Using Clubexpress account credentials, official chapters can easily put their meetups or happenings on the calendar for everyone to see.

Think of it as a bulletin board for all Urban Sketchers activities across the globe!

Make sure to put yours in the calendar and take advantage of our platform’s global visibility!

REPORTAGE GRANT RECIPIENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED BY JUNE 30

The USk Reportage Grant Program is open to individual sketchers, chapters, and creative collaborators worldwide. The organization recently opened a call for applications to receive a grant towards completion of a visual storytelling project.

Reportage is visual storytelling that focuses on contemporary events, telling their story through onlocation drawings and a narrative

formed by firsthand accounts, research and interviews. The program is designed to highlight the best examples of these efforts and to inspire new artist-reporters in our community.

This year more than 90 applications were received and will be reviewed in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on the website for details of the projects selected in 2026!

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH USk EVENTS

featured chapter

ASwansea

mong many new chapters is the 20-member USk Swansea group. They are proudly representing a country that is legendary for its dramatic, mountainous landscapes, a rich Celtic heritage, a living indigenous language, and devotion to a deep sense of community.

USk Swansea was founded in October 2024 to bring together people who share a love of drawing on location and capturing the character of everyday life in and around Swansea. Since the chapter began, it has grown into a welcoming and supportive community of sketchers of all ages and experience levels, united by a passion for observation, creativity, and connection through art.

Based in a city with a rich industrial heritage, beautiful coastline, and vibrant cultural scene, the group finds endless inspiration in Swansea’s streets, markets, parks, cafés, and surrounding landscapes. According to local authroities, the city and county

population is about 250,000.

Sketchers train their pens on the medieval culture and vibrant scenes of Wales’ 2nd largest city

The chapter meets regularly for sketch walks and social drawing sessions across Swansea and South Wales. Members enjoy sketching everything from historic buildings and busy urban scenes to seafront views and local events.

One of the things we value most is the sense of community that develops through sketching together — sharing techniques, encouraging one another, and taking time to slow down and really observe the places around us. We welcome beginners and experienced artists alike, and our gatherings are always relaxed, friendly, and inclusive.

As part of the wider Urban Sketchers movement, we aim to tell the story of Swansea and its people through direct observation and personal interpretation. Beyond sketching itself, the chapter has become a creative social network where friendships are formed, and local

stories are documented visually.

Whether sketching in the rain on the marina, gathering in a local café after a session, or participating in community events, Urban Sketchers Swansea continues to celebrate the joy of drawing together and sharing our city one sketch at a time.

SWANSEA

DA Q&A with OLIVER HOELLER

Oliver Hoeller is a soughtafter workshop leader and author. His most recent book is “Pack Your Sketches Full of Life!”

DA: Your Instagram post about “what to leave out, what to emphasize” caught my eye. What’s the first step in making these choices?

OH: Amongst sketchers there tends to be a big focus on HOW to sketch something: which technique, which pen, which paper; I think, if the sketch is not just a technical practice, but a piece that aims to say something about the world, it’s a good idea to start earlier and ask WHY are you sketching what’s in front of you – try not to lose sight of it when you are in the middle of things.

DA: So, drawing from observation doesn’t necessarily mean a literal interpretation?

OH: A sketch will always be

an interpretation and not “reality.” No matter how realistic – you have chosen a medium, what to sketch and what to leave out – you edited reality. But if you accept that, your world opens up! Now sketching becomes a question of how and where you allow yourself to depart from reality to perhaps underscore what you want to express!

DA: Does personal style enter the equation of simplifying a scene?

OH: Part of your personal style might be how much detail your pieces need for you to feel they are finished. To emphasize can mean more than simplifying a scene

though. It can also involve setting a focus, pushing shapes, colors and much more. For example, I changed the shape of the roof to make it read clearer and made its color warmer to push towards a more cozy feeling.

DA: Does simplifying a scene sometimes mean using a narrower color palette?

OH: A restricted color palette is a good idea. It gives your piece a harmonious foundation and allows you to push your sketch into different moods. I have put together a free handout, if you are interested in this kind of thing:

https://oliverhoeller.com/ color-confidence/

DA: Is there an exercise that sketchers can use to approach their sketches?

OH: Ask yourself first: WHY are you sketching this? Phrase it in a concrete, tangible way. Not: The house is beautiful But e.g.: I like that the house has a worn-down appearance and the roof is bigger than expected. This is sketchable. From this follows WHAT (elements) does your sketch need to communicate this? Only then concern yourself with the HOW. The first two steps do not even require any sketching gear!

BROWN INKS ...Side-by-Side

BY TEOH YI CHIE

Teoh Yi Chie is an infographics journalist who joined Urban Sketchers Singapore in 2009. He’s probably better known as Parka from Parkablogs.com, a website that reviews art books and art products.

This month Parka reviews a variety of brown inks that will add new life to your sketches. Check it out!

VALÉRIE GUITTER-ORSAT

KEEN OBSERVATION AND AN EMPHASIS ON TEXTURE – OF BOTH PAPER AND SEPIA INK – GIVE ENERGY TO VALÉRIE’S SKETCHES

BY TIM RUTHERFORD

The sketching path being taken by Valérie Guitter-Orsat is not a new route. It is a trek first trod by 19th-century Impressionists, the first generation of plein air painters to rely on observation, exclusively practicing drawing and watercolor on location, as Valérie explains, “with the aim of capturing the light of the moment.”

“My philosophy is to be an explorer of my immediate surroundings, to discover all its treasures, to contemplate them, to rediscover them through drawing,” she said, “to grasp all the nuances and subtleties of colors and to be in the present moment.”

Valérie embraces the slow life philosophy, practicing mindfulness, connecting with nature, and focusing on sustainable, present-moment experiences.

“It’s about putting on my ‘traveler’s clothes,’ taking a step back, highlighting what is abandoned: old signs with outdated typography, industrial wastelands with colorful graffiti, advertising walls, wrecks of all kinds, taking inventory of what is going to disappear or is hidden,” Valérie explained.

In short, it’s what we all do summarized in a well-defined explanation – urban sketching.

Her illustrated reports are supplemented by an eye-catching color palette.

“The aim is to capture the colorful atmosphere of the present moment; the light, depending on the time of day and season, can be cool and purplish or warm, brown or reddish. That’s what I enjoy capturing,” Valérie said. “I work the shadows with an uneven brown wash with hints of blue, red, and ochre. Then, the transparencies of the colors bring out the nuances of the light.”

Her spontaneous technique plays to the hallmark of Urban Sketching: no retouching is possible.

“Following my sepia Pigma Micron drawing, my focus is to quickly capture the light using a wash that varies between raw umber brown and Payne’s gray, with variations of Pozzuoli red and ochre. The colors then follow in transparency: a touch of yellow, ochre, violet, and Pozzuoli red, and everything is revealed; the facades of the houses and the surrounding vegetation emerge,” Valérie said.

Texture, in the subject and the drawing style, can’t be overlooked, she explained.

VALÉRIE GUITTER-ORSAT

“Subjects should be rich in multiple shades, blended together or juxtaposed, it is a pure joy for a watercolorist; to avoid the smooth effect, I work with small touches, just like the hatching in my drawing.”

Valérie trained at the Higher School of Applied Arts in Lyon and worked as a draftswoman in a workshop of textile creation. She has been a graphic designer and art director in a communication and advertising agency. Currently, she teaches Design and Art History at the high school level. Since 2017, she has created a body of work as an urban sketcher, watercolorist, and sketchbook artist. She sketches with the USk chapter Bourgogne Franche-Comté.

A SHIPWRECK AT NIMMO’S PIER IN GALWAY, IRELAND – TO BE SKETCHED URGENTLY BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS!

VALÉRIE’S TOOLKIT:

HAHNEMÜHLE “LE ROUGE” 325 GSM WATERCOLOR

PAPER, A3: ITS A3 SIZE IS EASY TO CARRY, AND AS A LOOSE SHEET, I’M NOT RESTRICTED BY A CREASE. IT’S ALSO LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR BEAUTIFUL PERSPECTIVES AND LARGE DRAWINGS. I SOMETIMES EVEN USE IT FOR TRIPTYCHS. THESE CHOICES REFLECT MY PERSONALITY; I DON’T LIKE BEING CONFINED, AND I NEED SPACE.

SAKURA PIGMA MICRON 0.5 PEN IN SEPIA: ANYTHING BUT BLACK! BLACK DOES NOT EXIST IN NATURE; YOU SIMPLY NEED TO PRACTICE WATERCOLOR PAINTING OUTDOORS. BY OBSERVING INTENSELY, ONE CAN CERTAINLY SEE

DARK SHADES, BUT SOMETIMES COLD ONES WITH SHADES OF PURPLISH BLUES OR WARM ONES WITH REDDISH AND BROWN SHADES.

SCHMINCKE HORADAM: A REDUCED PALETTE OF THE SIX COLORS: RAW UMBER; YELLOW OCHRE, POZZUOLI EARTH, LEMON CHROME YELLOW, PAYNE’S GRAY BLUE, PERYLENE VIOLET AND ESPECIALLY FOR ITS OPACITY, THE DARK, BRIGHT YELLOW.

BRUSH PENS: I USE BRUSH PENS FOR QUICK PORTRAITS; I LIKE WORKING WITH THE LINE, THE THICK AND THIN STROKES, AND THE SPEED OF EXECUTION.

RIGHT: WITH USK CHARLEROI AND LIÈGE –AND ON THE OCCASION OF THE BELGIAN TRAVEL SKETCHBOOK BIENNIAL, “VENT DES ROUTES 2026.” A 1952 FORD “K” (KÖLN) AMBULANCE IN FLORENNES.

BELOW: USK INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 2025 IN POZNAŃ, POLAND. SHELTERED FROM THE RAIN ON THE SECOND FLOOR, A BEAUTIFUL PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE CITY. ULICA PODGÓRNA, KUPIEC POZNAŃSKI – WITH LAURENCE VUILLEZ.

ABOVE: AT THE CROSSROADS OF THE FOUR ROADS OF LA ROCHEPOT, THE “SUZE” ADVERTISING WALL INVITING PEOPLE TO CONSUME ALCOHOL.

RIGHT: AT THE CORNER OF PLACE CARNOT IN BEAUNE, IN THE SUN.

A FACTORY IN TOURNUS – ON SITE IN WINTER: 13°C.

PRINTMAKING in urban sketching

NINA

KHASHCHINA IS A CALIFORNIA-BASED SKETCHER, ILLUSTRATOR, AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER. HER WORK IS ROOTED IN OBSERVATION OF EVERYDAY MOMENTS THAT SHE FINDS BEAUTIFUL -- PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSIENCE AND MUNDANITY. SHE HA S BEEN TEACHING DRAWING AND PAINTING FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS AND IS A MEMBER OF THE URBAN SKETCHERS COMMUNITY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. BY SUHITA SHIRODKAR

The Inspiration: My subject is a new building that is a part of the Google headquarters in Mountain View, CA. I chose it for the unusual shapes of the dome, the iconic Moffett Field hangar in the background, and beautiful greenery surrounding it all.

NINA’S MATERIALS

• GOUACHE PAINTS: SOME PRE-MIXED AND STORED IN JARS, SOME IN TUBES

• PALETTE

• BOX KNIFE AND PAPER PAD WITH STURDY BACKING FOR CUTTING STENCILS

• BRUSHES AND SPONGES TO CREATE DIFFERENT TEXTURES

• ERASER (FOR USE AS A STAMPING TOOL)

• WATER JAR WITH A LID (DOUBLES AS TWO CONTAINERS: A CLEAN AND DIRTY WATER SOURCE)

• RAG FOR CLEANING BRUSHES

STEP 1: THINK IN THUMBNAILS

First, I design my composition as a thumbnail sketch. Then, I pick a few repeating shapes that form the scaffolding for my composition. Two curves of the canopy and vertical lines of the windows and lamp posts are what I choose - you can see it in blue overlapping my thumbnail. These shapes and the negative space they create (form and contraform) help create visual unity in the composition through repeating patterns and motifs.

STEP 2: THE BIG BLUE

I like starting with the sky for two reasons: Firstly, it allows me to paint with not-yet-dirtied brushes and water. Secondly, I can extend sky colors to other parts of the sketch, especially if I have trees through which the sky might be visible or, in this case, windows that reflect the sky.

STEP 3: CUTTING STENCILS

I cut out two shapes of the piece of paper and use all three resulting parts of the paper as stencils and masks. A very simple way of thinking about this is to imagine you are cutting a paper shield to create a defined edge between two distinct areas of your sketch.

STEP 4: USING STENCILS AND MASKS

You can see how I create the stencil for a shape out of two masks – protecting the sky above and the building below the area which I am painting in. I also use a mask to protect the pathway while painting grass on both sides of it.

STEP 5: PRINTING WITH ERASERS AND SPONGES

I use the edge of an eraser dipped in gouache to make the many straight lines in the windows. And I use a sponge dipped into different mixes of gouache to make swooshes for the paths. The sponge allows me to pick up a multi-color mix and create bold swooshes for the path.

STEP 6: MANY USES OF STENCILS AND MASKS

Here you see how I combine the same masks and stencils to create more forms, keep crisp edges, and also protect the rest of my sketch while I work.

STEP 6: RHYTHM AND LAST DETAILS

Identifying repeating shapes throughout the piece allows me to design my composition. Having repeatable lines and textures (like lamp posts and the pattern on the roof of the building, both made with the eraser dipped in gouache) creates rhythm that holds the composition together. A tiny brush adds in details: bicycles, people, some dots for flowers.

NINA KHASHCHINA

NINA’S YOUTUBE

2026 INTERNATIONAL

URBAN SKETCHERS WEEK CELEBRATED BY USk CHAPTERS WORLDWIDE

Hundreds of events were organized by the local chapters to show the world all the different ways that urban sketching brings people together and changes lives.

We collected some of the chapter photos to give you a preview. Want to see more? Enter #USkWeek2026 in your Instagram search bar.