Urban Sketchers Community: A Global Movement for Location Drawing

Urban Sketchers is one of the most vibrant and genuinely global art communities in the world, connecting thousands of artists across dozens of countries through a shared commitment to drawing and painting on location. Founded in 2007 by Seattle-based journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario, the organisation has grown from a small blog into a global nonprofit with local chapters in hundreds of cities worldwide, an annual international symposium, and a community of hundreds of thousands of artists who share the conviction that drawing on location is one of the most rewarding and meaningful forms of artistic practice.

The organisation's founding document, the Urban Sketchers Manifesto, articulates the philosophy that unites the community: drawing on location rather than from photographs, sharing work with the community, and using sketching as a way of engaging with and documenting the world. This manifesto is not a set of rigid rules but a statement of values that reflects the community's commitment to a particular approach to art-making, and it has provided a coherent identity that has allowed the community to grow while maintaining its distinctive character.

The Urban Sketchers Manifesto

The Urban Sketchers Manifesto is the philosophical foundation of the community, articulating six principles that define the Urban Sketchers approach:

We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation. We are truthful to the scenes we witness. We go to the story, and draw on location. We show the world, one drawing at a time. We share our drawings online. We show the world, one drawing at a time.

These principles reflect a commitment to direct observation over working from photographs, to honesty in representing what is actually seen rather than an idealised version of it, and to sharing work with the community as a way of building connection and mutual inspiration. The manifesto has been translated into dozens of languages and has been adopted by Urban Sketchers chapters worldwide, providing a common language and set of values that unites the global community.

The Global Chapter Network

The chapter network is one of the most important aspects of the Urban Sketchers community, providing local communities of sketchers in hundreds of cities worldwide who meet regularly for sketchcrawls, organised sketching events in which participants draw together in a specific location and then share their work.

Chapters exist in cities across every continent, from major metropolitan centres including New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Sydney through smaller cities and towns where the Urban Sketchers community has taken root. The geographic breadth of the chapter network means that artists in virtually any part of the world can find a local Urban Sketchers community to connect with.

The sketchcrawl format is one of the most distinctive and valuable aspects of the chapter experience. A sketchcrawl typically involves a group of sketchers meeting at a specific location, spending several hours drawing independently or in small groups, and then gathering to share their work and discuss their experiences. The shared experience of drawing in the same location and then comparing the different ways in which different artists have interpreted it is both educational and genuinely enjoyable.

The Annual Symposium

The Urban Sketchers Symposium is the organisation's annual international gathering, bringing together hundreds of sketchers from around the world for several days of workshops, demonstrations, sketchcrawls, and community building. The symposium is held in a different city each year, with past locations including Singapore, Porto, Chicago, Barcelona, and other cities that provide rich and varied subjects for urban sketching.

The symposium is one of the most important events in the urban sketching calendar, providing an opportunity for members of the global community to meet in person, to learn from leading urban sketchers through workshops and demonstrations, and to experience the specific character of the host city through intensive sketching. The symposium has a reputation as one of the most welcoming and inclusive art events anywhere, reflecting the community's commitment to openness and sharing.

The workshops at the symposium are taught by leading urban sketchers from around the world, covering a wide range of techniques and approaches including watercolour, pen and ink, mixed media, and digital sketching. The quality of the instruction is consistently high, and the opportunity to learn from artists whose work is admired by the community is one of the most valued aspects of the symposium experience.

The Online Community

The online community connects Urban Sketchers worldwide through the organisation's website, social media channels, and the Flickr group that was one of the original platforms for sharing work. The online community allows members who are not near a local chapter to participate in the broader Urban Sketchers community, sharing their work and engaging with the work of sketchers from around the world.

The Instagram presence of the Urban Sketchers community is particularly active, with the official account and the accounts of individual chapters and members collectively reaching millions of followers. The Instagram community provides a daily stream of urban sketching work from around the world, offering a window into the specific visual character of different cities and cultures as interpreted by local sketchers.

The Educational Resources

Urban Sketchers has developed a range of educational resources that support the development of urban sketching skills, including the Urban Sketchers blog, which features tutorials, artist profiles, and other content that is relevant to the community. The organisation has also published several books, including the Urban Sketching Handbook series, which covers specific aspects of urban sketching technique and practice.

The educational resources reflect the community's commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting the development of sketching skills, and they provide a valuable complement to the community experience of sketchcrawls and symposiums.

The Bottom Line

Urban Sketchers is one of the most vibrant and genuinely global art communities in the world, connecting thousands of artists across hundreds of cities through a shared commitment to drawing and painting on location. For artists who want to develop their urban sketching practice, connect with a community of fellow sketchers, and participate in a global movement that celebrates the art of direct observation, Urban Sketchers is one of the most welcoming and inspiring communities available.