Notes from the USk Symposium, Porto

I can't believe it has been a month since the 2018 Urban Sketchers Symposium in Porto, Portugal. It was the first time I have attended a Symposium, but I hope it's not the last. It was amazing to be so immersed in sketching and surrounded so continuously by sketchers! I am posting just a few sketches here, but more are on Instagram. I am Sue.Heston on Instagram.



This is one of the drawings I did in Jose Louro's workshop. I also took a workshop with Joao Catarino, and both of these guys stretched the way I think of urban sketching.



What? A watercolor? Charline Moreau demoed a monochrome watercolor underpainting technique that was all about values!



This was the scene at the Final Sketchcrawl - sketchers as far as the eye could see (over 500!).



And one of my personal favs from an earlier sketchcrawl to wrap up a picture-heavy post.

Paper Makes a Difference

I thought I would post this image as I think it is a good illustration of how the sketchbook - and paper - you choose can effect the images you create. I just finished my last sketchbook, and, while my regular favorites are Stillman & Birn Nova and Alpha, I like to try something new now and then. Since I generally work in just one sketchbook at a time, I usually spend some time choosing each one. I think about the materials I am using and whether I will be traveling with the sketchbook. This time, I pulled out the four blank sketchbooks I had in my stash at the moment, and I decided to test them by sketching the same view of a hollyhock in each, using the same pen, paints and brush. Left to right they are: Leuchtterm1917 Sketchbook (not the notebook!),Stillman & Birn Alpha, Collins & Davison sketchbook, and a Handbook Travelogue Sketchbook.

Both the S&B Alpha and the Handbook Travelogue describe their paper as sized for light washes. The other two do not. And I think that shows in the sketches. The paint sank into the paper of the Leuchtterm and Collins & Davison sketchbooks but sat on the surface (and took much longer to dry!) on the S&B and Handbook. Because of that, the colors are darker and more intense on the S&B and Handbook paper.

In my view, none of these papers is better or worse, just different. I have happily used all of these before, except the Leuchtterm1917, which is new to me. The only issue that I found with any of the papers was some bleed-through on the Leuchtterm1917. But remembering to carry a couple of scrap/blotter pages will take care of that and, considering that the paper isn't recommended for watercolor, it isn't surprising. All of the papers had a bit of buckling, but dried flat with the use of a few clips

I haven't made a decision yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if I went with the Leuchtterm.

A Few Sketches from Mexico

#oneweek100people2018 (my) best of...

Last week was all about sketching people. And, much as I was ready for it to be OVER by Friday, this kind of intense and focused challenge does pay off. By the end of the week, you are observing more and drawing it more easily. So I am sure I will be back for more in 2019. Meanwhile, here are some of the highlights...






On Friday I got to take advantage of an Urban Sketchers outing at Fran's Chocolates in Georgetown, where they are gearing up for Easter. Sketching the chocolate makers at work made a great change. It was fascinating to watch the speed and precision of the truffle maker. And I was amazed when I realized one of the other women was gilding chocolate eggs - dusting it on with what looked like huge cosmetic brushes.

One Week 100 People 2018

It’s that time of year again! Urban sketchers Marc Taro Holmes and Liz Steele are hosting their annual challenge to sketchers to draw 100 people in one week. I did it last year for the first time, and wow! When you focus that hard on your drawing, you will see improvements. I cannot keep up that level of focus throughout the year, so I have been looking forward to this challenge to get me motivated again. I will be posting daily on instagram and will do a roundup here at the end of the week. Meanwhile, how many people will you draw? #OneWeek100People2018

Urban Sketchers Seattle 10x10 classes in 2018

For the second year, USk Seattle is taking part in 10x10, the worldwide initiative to offer educational workshops wherever sketchers live. Launched in celebration of Urban Sketchers’ 10th anniversary in 2017, the program brings a variety of courses on urban sketching techniques taught by talented local instructors in their home cities. All workshops are on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration begins Sunday, March 4, 2018, 9 a.m. The cost is $60 each. A free Program Kickoff Event will be held March 3, 4:30 p.m., at Daniel Smith’s Seattle store. (Although the kickoff is free, registration is required.) Meet the instructors, see their sketchbooks, and learn about the workshops before registering. The kickoff will be followed by an unhosted, informal “drink & draw” at a nearby location, which will be another opportunity to talk with instructors who attend this optional event. Hope to see you there!

A Little Scattered...

As usual, January was a mixed bag...



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I am still drawing in the Stillman & Birn Nova (tan) book. In fact, I have started my second one. I like the paper a lot. It has a little texture, but is very compatible with fountain pens. The paper is very opaque and most everything I have tried on it works well.

Grand Central Bakery in Pioneer Square

More experiments with dry-brush technique in a Stillman & Birn Nova tan sketchbook. I did the line drawing on location and most of the tone and hatching was finished later.

Inktober 29-31

It is with a bit of relief that I post my final #inktober2017 #inktober sketches. There is also a little regret too. I know that, without the daily challenge, I won't draw as frequently as I did in October. That challenge to draw each day made me try new techniques and made me draw things that I would not ordinarily draw.



I did not limit myself to any particular theme or type of drawing. I knew it would be a challenge just to finish. And, technically, I missed two days. And there were some days I made myself draw something, just to get it done. But there were also a lot of drawings that I really enjoyed making, and I am glad the Inktober challenge gave me the push to do them.

Most of Inktober 19-27

A little bit of everything in the penultimate week of #Inktober #Inktober2017. I have been having a good run with the new Stillman & Birn Nova sketchbook. Once we settle back down to a normal sketching schedule, I should post more info about the paper. Meanwhile, to see all the Inktober sketches, hit that Flickr button in the sidebar.

Inktober 14-18

Putting five days of #intober #inktober2017 sketches on one page might seem a little like cheating. But, if I want to do an ink drawing every day in October, I can not spend hours on every one. During a busy week, drawing the same ordinary object every day meant I didn't need to spend time asking myself, "What to draw?"

Inktober 7-13

Still on track for #inktober2017 with 13 ink drawings on the 13th! My rules (since everyone can customize this challenge to suit themself) are:
1. I can draw from photos, which I do not usually do. But 3 of the sketches above were done from photos, and I think I learned things from each one.
2. I can do more than one drawing to catch up if I miss a day. But I am not letting myself do extra drawings for upcoming days. Arbitrary, yes. But the idea is to get in the habit of drawing more regularly, using small bites of time in my day.
But all of the drawings below were done from life. The windbreak at Steamboat Rock State Park was so absorbing to draw that I lost track of time!

Intober 2017 sketches 2-6

A mixed bag here, but that is what you get in #inktober #inktober2017. A few sketches of the fans at the Copper Coin during the Seahawk's game on Sunday. And some small sketches of two of Seattle's best parks. I have discovered Ian Sidaway's blog - which I recommend for anyone who loves pen and ink - and you can see his influence on these sketches.

A Don Colley Workshop and #Inktober!

Sunday I attended a workshop with Chicago artist, and Urban Sketcher Don Colley. I have admired his lush, textural drawings for years, and never miss an opportunity to see his work in person. It was under his influence that I first started sketching with the Faber Castell Pitt Markers, although my techniques evolved in a more minimalist direction. If you are interested in a detailed description of the workshop, check out Sketcher Tina's post.

It is also #inktober2017 #inktober and I am counting this as my first ink drawing of the month. Only 30 to go. Actually, it is the scanning/posting that I fall behind on (I am on track for drawing), so I will probably post in 2 or 3 batches for the month.

A Grumpy Sketcher

The USk Sunday meeting was at Ballard Locks this month, and I was feeling contrary. It was the first day I had to put on a raincoat since June, and I wasn't in a "scenic" mood. So I sat on one of the benches, with no view of the locks at all, and drew what was in front of me!

Coastal Trees

I love the wind sculpted forms of coastal trees. We spent a couple days camping at Kalaloch in Olympic National Park on the Washington coast. Simple pen and ink wash seemed enough.

Perspective Practice: Beacon Hill Light Rail Station

A recent outing with the Urban Sketchers at the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station gave me a good opportunity to practice basic one point perspective. It was hard to spend a sunny August morning underground, but I am hoping for a few more weeks of outdoor sketching this year!

Markers - how I use them

With a class coming up this weekend on sketching with markers, I thought I would show a few examples of how I use markers when I sketch on location.


Just three markers - a light, medium and dark - can be really effective. I start sketching with the lightest marker and then fill in shadows and tones with the middle and dark marker. Your markers don't need to be traditional gray for this, either!



Often, I mix markers with a variety of media. In this case I used them with ink, white gouache and gray-toned paper. (This is "Whale Tail Park", in West Seattle.)



By far my favorite way uses just one medium value color marker with a pen and ink line drawing. This is a simple way to do location sketches quickly with a very small, light kit.

Markers are such a useful addition to a sketcher's kit. If you are interested in the class I am teaching next Saturday, call the Daniel Smith Seattle store to register: 206-223-9599.

Upcoming Classes at Daniel Smith

I will be teaching a couple of Saturday classes this month as part of the Summer Drawing Series at the Daniel Smith Seattle store.
On the 22nd it will be grayscale markers. We will practice using them to do quick compositional studies, and also for finished drawings. I use them frequently for on-location, urban sketching because they are so light and portable.
On the 29th we will be drawing on toned paper. This is another favorite of mine for location drawings and there are lots of different drawing materials that can be used on toned and colored papers.
See Daniel Smith's events calendar for details and registration information and materials lists.

#oneweek100people2017 days 3-5

Yup, there are a few missing. Thursday I went to life drawing at Daniel Smith. Those sketches will not fit on my scanner, but I did actually draw 100 people this week. I enjoyed it, but I like drawing people. I was thinking that it would be harder for me if the challenge was to draw a building every day.