Learn Urban Sketching Workshops
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Learn Urban Sketching Workshops *
Illinois & West Virginia Workshops Now available
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Illinois & West Virginia Workshops Now available *
Illinois, McHenry County College
The Power of Light and Shadows - 8/24/2026
Do your sketches feel flat or lacking dimension? As the saying goes, “Color gets all the glory, while value does all the work.” Learn what that means and how to apply it to take your sketches to the next level. Urban sketching is the practice of drawing the world around you—capturing what you see in real time. It’s a great fit for artists of all skill levels, including beginners, and for anyone who enjoys being part of a creative, like-minded community. As part of a worldwide movement, you can take your sketchbook anywhere and connect with other chapters while traveling.
Travel Journal: Food and Drink - 9/14/2026
Many artists capture their travel experiences not only through landmark sketches, but also through food and drink. In this workshop, you’ll explore how to document meals, settings, and atmosphere in your sketchbook—creating rich visual memories that engage all the senses. Urban sketching is the practice of drawing the world around you, capturing what you see in real time. It’s a great fit for artists of all skill levels, including beginners, and for anyone who enjoys being part of a creative, like-minded community. As part of a worldwide movement, you can take your sketchbook anywhere and connect with other chapters while traveling.
Exploring Different Mediums - 9/28/2026
One of the most enjoyable aspects of urban sketching is experimenting with different art mediums. Your sketchbook becomes a space to explore ideas, techniques, and personal style. In this workshop, you’ll try a variety of mediums, learn how to use them effectively, and discover creative ways to combine them to enhance your work. Urban sketching is the practice of drawing the world around you, capturing what you see in real time. It’s a great fit for artists of all skill levels, including beginners, and for anyone who enjoys being part of a creative, like-minded community. As part of a worldwide movement, you can take your sketchbook anywhere and connect with other chapters while traveling.
Color Demystified - 10/12/2026
This class reveals the secrets of choosing vibrant palettes and perfect hues to make your city scenes pop. Sketchers will learn the essentials of color theory to create harmony and bold compositions. traveling.
Designing Pleasing Compositions - 10/26/2026
Are you struggling to grasp the rules of composition? Do your sketches and page designs feel disorganized or lack a sense of flow? This course will not only help you master essential composition principles but also inspire you with creative alternatives in layout and design.
K.I.S.S. Keep it simple sketcher- 10/26/2026
Urban sketching can feel overwhelming—there’s so much to see and too many supplies! In this workshop, we’ll focus on simplifying what you see. You’ll learn to sketch complex scenes using basic shapes, strong contrast, and confident marks to capture a place’s essence without fussing over details. Through demos and real-world sketching, we’ll practice choosing what to draw, what to leave out, and how to streamline your materials to lighten your kit.
Capturing the Energy of a Cafe - 11/23/2026
Cafes are lively places with many interesting things to draw. This workshop will show you how to simplify your focus and capture the unique stories you see—from barista interactions and personal connections to the decor and table conversations.
Characters in Your World, Drawing faces - 12/07/2026
Drawing people can feel intimidating, but every face tells a unique story that brings life to your sketchbook. Especially in cafes. In this class, you’ll learn facial proportions and how to recognize basic facial planes. We’ll also explore ways to exaggerate features and capture the character and movement of your subjects.