Urban Sketching Class at Art Academy with Mark Willenbrink

Race Street by Mark Willenbrink

Art Academy of Cincinnati- Introduction to Urban Sketching

A few seats are still available! Beginning this coming Saturday, September 22, I will be teaching the Introduction to Urban Sketching Class at the AAC. As we sketch at various locations throughout the next six weeks, we will be learning drawing principles and techniques including shading and perspective. Hope to see you there! ~Mark

Class meets for 6 Saturdays
September 22nd-October 27th
9:30am-12:00 noon

Please visit for more information and sign up https://apm.activecommunities.com/artacademyce/Activity_Search/introduction-to-urban-sketching/3222

Urban Sketchers Drawing Course

Urban Sketchers Beginning Drawing Course

Celebrate your artistic talents by joining Mark Willenbrink for a 4 week Urban Sketching Beginning Drawing Course. Mark, the best selling author of "Drawing for the Absolute Beginner," has years of experience teaching plein air art classes. Celebrate your artistic talents by enjoying this 4 week Urban Sketching Course. Each class will meet at a different location around Cincinnati. Mark will provide demonstrations and instruction on perspective, values, proportioning and tricks of the trade for successful urban sketching.

Saturdays, March 24th - April 14th

1pm - 3pm

Full Course Price $100 to be paid at the first class

Students should provide their own materials such as a 9"x12" drawing pad and 2B pencils

Sign up is required by Wednesday, March 14th.

Urban Sketchers Cincinnati

Although a group of us has sketched around Cincinnati for years, we are finally making it official and starting an Urban Sketcher group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/356776268058161/

Come join us! We sketch next at the Samurai Exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum. https://www.facebook.com/events/1335225446525465/ 

Their manifesto is beautiful:

1. We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
2. Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
3. Our drawings are a record of time and place.
4. We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
5. We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
6. We support each other and draw together.
7. We share our drawings online.
8. We show the world, one drawing at a time.

   

   Sketching at the Art Museum in 2014

   
   
   

Robin Ewers Carnes Urban Sketching Workshop

Check out Robin Ewers Carnes workshop in January!

You know how it is... You go on vacation, and you think about all the opportunities you'll have to sketch some new scenery. But no one ever wants to wait around while you whip out your sketchbook and draw. So you take photos. Lots and lots of photos. Alas, the moment has passed and those photos stay tucked inside a folder on your phone or computer.

Well, not anymore! Join us as we explore the art of urban sketching, but from your photos.

In this workshop, we'll talk about:

- The art of urban sketching and what makes it different
- The process of building a sketch
- Different materials to use while on the go
- Which colors to choose for your palette
- How to take a photo so that you can properly draw from it later

Then we'll get to work on our urban sketching, so bring some photos that you've taken from your travels.

This 3 hour workshop is for the artist who is looking to expand on new techniques and learn a new way of sketching on the go. (If you're new to Urban Sketching, stay tuned for our Beginner's series.)

Each guest will receive the following supplies in their kit:
- A Stillman & Birn Mixed Media sketchbook
- A Sakura Koi Waterbrush
- An 01 Micron waterproof pen

Recommended materials to bring with you are:
- Any sketchbooks or materials you currently use including:
- A pencil
- Eraser
- Watercolors
- Brushes
- A few of your photos to sketch from

There will be 2 offerings of this workshop, please choose accordingly when checking out.
Friday, January 20th from 12-3pm.
Saturday, January 21st from 10am-1pm.

Light refreshments and snacks will be offered. Classes are limited to 6 people.

No refunds or exchanges.
In the event of inclement weather, rescheduling will be discussed.

This event will be help in the R.Ewers Designs Studio, located within Brazee Street Studios.
4426 Brazee Street, Unit 1O, Cincinnati, OH 45209. (First floor, main building.)
Please use the door under the steel staircase for the most convenient access to the studio. We are the first studio on the left once you enter the building.

To access the back parking lot:
Once on Brazee Street, continue straight past the main entrance and follow the residential road. You will dead end into train tracks, that street is Enyart St. Take a right and the parking lot entrance will be the first right after a bright blue house.

RSVP Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/707751039394393/

Sketch Outing to Music Hall

Jeb Brack, Christina Wald, Sarah Rocheleau, Amy Bogard, Vanessa Sorensen, Margot Madison, Darcy Vorhees

A group of us (Jeb Brack, Christina Wald, Sarah Rocheleau, Amy Bogard, Vanessa Sorensen, Margot Madison, Darcy Vorhees Van Horn) went sketching at Music Hall March 7th.

I have wanted to sketch Music Hall again for a while and we were filmed as park of a segment they are doing on me for Arts Bridge on CET.

Here are some of the sketches!

The sketchbooks! Photo by Amy Bogard

Sketch by Jeb Brack

Sketch by Sarah Rocheleau

Sketch by Vanessa Sorensen

Sketch by Christina Wald

Our next outing is to the Cincinnati Zoo on March 23rd at 9am before the next illustrators lunch at Dumesh. Hope to see you there!

Sketch Outing at Mother of God Church in Covington

The daunting view!

Vanessa, Jeb, Robin and I met last Wednesday afternoon to sketch the Mother of God Catholic Church in Covington.

It was a little daunting at first because we were so close; it was a bit of a forced perspective. We wanted to be in the sun though. This was the type of fall day that gets chilly the second you are not in direct sun.

It is always so interesting to see how each person sketching handles the composition.

The intrepid sketchers: Vanessa, Jeb, and Robin

We sketched until it got too cold and then finished the color portion at home.

The church bells tolled frequently as we drew which prompted interesting discussion of recorded over hand rung.

Group sketchbook shot

Here are the final results!

Sketch by Robin Ewers Carnes

Sketch by Jeb Brack

Sketch by Vanessa Sorensen

Sketch by Christina Wald

Shot on location

Cincinnati Zoo Sketch Outing Friday, October 23rd

The stars of the day were the Visayan Warty Pigs with their cute pompadours.  Sketch by Amy Bogard

Amy Bogard and Robin Ewers Carnes aketch the African Dogs

Amy Bogard, Robin Ewers Carnes and I (Christina Wald) went to the Cincinnati Zoo Friday morning to sketch. It was a glorious fall day! The temperature was perfect and the animals were very active.

The Meerkats, African Painted Dogs and Lions were our favorites, but the Visayan Warty Pigs were unexpected stars of the day.

I just renewed my membership so plan to go back a lot!






We also saw the Sumatran Rhino before he leaves this Thursday for Indonesia.
He was pretty chill and enjoying a spa day in his mud bath...

Farewell Harry the Sumatran Rhino! We will miss you!

Here are some of our on-site sketches. 

Visayan Warty Pig by Robin Ewers Carnes

The regal John the Lion By Robin Ewers Carnes

John's Cub Sketch By Robin Ewers Carnes

On-site sketches by Christina Wald

By Christina Wald

African Painted Dogs by Amy Bogard

Meerkat by Amy Bogard

More Meerkats by Amy Bogard

by Amy Bogard

John the Lion by Amy Bogard

Visayan Warty Pig by Amy Bogard

There were a couple displays we were obsessed with like the Meerkats. Amy did this wonderful character later.

A meerkat quite dapper! by Amy Bogard

Baby fox by Christina Wald

I was obsessed by this baby fox. It had just been added to its enclosure and was a little shell shocked. So adorable!

As we walked out, we saw this really friendly and surprisingly docile monitor lizard who took a liking to Amy.

Amy and friend...

Sketching at Taft Ale House

Vanessa Sorensen's sketch

Vanessa Sorensen and I took a quick break from deadlines last Friday to get out and sketch. I had my eye on Taft's Ale House to sketch the exterior but was just as happy to sketch inside, drink beer and eat smoked chicken wings.

The Ale House is a gorgeous renovated church. They also have this great logo.

It is an homage to Ohio President William Howard Taft getting stuck in the bathtub. There is even a delightful children's book about it by Caldecott winner Mac Barnett called President Taft is Stuck in the Bath that seems to have a place here even though it has nothing to do with the Ale House.

Blast!" said Taft. "This could be bad."

I never did add color to my sketch. I have been in a deadline vortex.

Christina Wald's sketch

Here is Vanessa's write-up: http://nessydesigns.blogspot.com/2015/06/taft-ale-house-sketch.html

Sketch Outing at St. Mark's in Norwood

Sketch by Vanessa Sorensen

It is finally nice enough to sketch outdoors again! Or at least it was since there is currently a bit of snow flurrying as I write this...

Vanessa Sorensen and I went to St. Mark’s, a catholic church that has closed in Norwood close to the Xavier campus. It is gorgeous! There was a creepy boarded up convent next door. We would love to tour the inside. It is attached to a school that is still open.

I hope they find a good use for the building. The bell tower is so cool!

View from our sketching spot...

Sketch by Christina Wald

Sketch Outing at Krohn Conservatory

Sketch by Amy Bogard

Amy Bogard, Vanessa Sorensen and I recently took an afternoon to sketch at the Krohn Conservatory. It is one of our favorite spots, especially during the winter. We long to sketch outdoors; cherry blossom season cannot come too soon!

Check out Amy's post here: http://www.amybogard.com/2015/02/16/deep-winter/

Check out Vanessa's post here: http://nessydesigns.blogspot.com/2015/02/philodendron-sketch-krohn-conservatory.html

Sketch by Vanessa Sorensen

Sketch by Christina Wald

Holiday Sketches and Sketching at Krohn Conservatory

a tower of poinsettas, amy bogard

roebling bridge of sticks and bark, amy bogard

christina's sketch with the location

christina wald's finished sketch

Amy Bogard and Christina Wald can often be seen around town sketching city sites, and we don't slow down during the busy holiday season.  Yesterday we visited the lovely Krohn Conservatory to sketch their holiday display.  It is beautiful, filled with Cincinnati icons made out of natural materials.We found out later from Chuck Rekow that the display was done by Applied Imagination.

we were fortunate to find a bench to settle into

christina wald sketches

When not out sketching, we both work on our own projects.  Amy's character, Ginger Small, really enjoys readying for the holidays.  

And Christina created this Stagfox to grace her holiday cards. 

Wishing all of you and yours a wonderful and restful holiday and a Happy New Year!