The Urban Sketchers Texas Anniversary Weekend- Part Two

Lunchtime

The day was divided into two parts. Our choice of sketching in morning and afternooon. By lunchtime it was hot, and we were tired. One choice was to brown bag it and go back to the art center. This gave sketchers more time to finish sketches, look at sketchbooks or chat. Another choice was lunch somewhere out of the heat downtown.

In both the morning and afternoon sessions we offered an "Urban Sketching 101" for people new to sketching. It covered the manifesto, supplies, how a sketchout works and all the basics. When we were unable to meet at the Art Institute downtown 602 Brewing Company stepped up and let us hold those sessions in one of their rooms.

Fahmi teaching

The third sketching location was called The Yard. It was an area just above the river where there was a large restaurant and some shops. The main item of interest to sketchers seemed to be a very large and rusty old truck.

Carlos

sketchers at The Yard

I can almost guarantee that a lot of the people in these pictures were drawing that truck. There was a lot of rusty and interesting farm equipment all over the area. I chose the tractor.

Chris

Mary and Sharon and Michele chose something a little different too.

Mary

Sharon

Michele

throwdown at The Yard

Here's the throwdown. Just look at all those rusty, red trucks.

The final sketching location was along Main Street. By the time I got there around lunchtime, the locals and all the tourists knew who we were. "Just look at all the sketchers" Every bench or chair along Main was full of busy sketchers.

sketchers everywhere

Joel

Mary

Michele

Martha

Fahmi

Chris

Michael

Fahmi

Michele

Joel

One favorite spot was the bookstore. People sat in front of it to sketch and people went inside of it to sketch.

The bookstore

The owners used a dead tree from their property inside. And the fireplace constructed entirely of books was amazing. The sketch is from  San Antonio sketcher Zindy Infante.

Michael

Michael

more sketchers

And here are all the sketchers busy at work on the benches out front.

Another popular spot were the benches near the hot dog vendor. That vendor appeared in a few sketches.

hot dog vendor

Carlos

Several people drew the courthouse.

Francisco

Peter

Downtown throwdown

Saturday night we went back for one last gathering at the art center.

Mary's husband Keith tending bar

signing a thank you to the sponsors

We celebrated the successes of the weekend and then there was the last door prize drawing.

door prize winners

The lovely pen was won by Ray Marques of San Antonio. It was hand-made by Judith's husband Dave. 

Stephen herded all the cats and we took the big group photo. Let's take another look at all those happy sketchers.

Our group

Next, it was time for dinner and drink and draw.

Veronika

Susan

Fahmi

Chris

Sunday morning the remaining sketchers went downtown for one last sketchout.

Chris

Bastrop Christian church-Michael

Several people drew this church, but I was not able to get photos of them all. The congregants noticed us and we were recognized from the pulpit...or so I heard.

Martha

Kathryn DeCourcy

Susan DeCourcy

And Judith finally got in some quality drawing time. She went into the record store next to the book store.

Judith

I was sitting minding my own business drawing the 602 Brewing building.

Chris

When I looked up, Michele had drawn this:

Michele drew me

Susan drew this treat from the bakery.

Susan

There was a throwdown and a group photo.

throwdown

the group

And just like that, the weekend was over.

Last time I thanked all the organizers. This time let me thank the volunteers from all the chapters: the ticket takers, check-in workers, sketchbook wranglers, sketchwalk leaders, and clean up crew.  It wouldn't have happened without all of you.

Here are the last group of hero sponsors, Sketchbox, QOR watercolors, Portable Painter, Just Go Sketching, Jerry's Artarama-Dallas, Dave Dollar Custom Pens. You all helped make this weekend a success.

Stay tuned. It would certainly be fun to do this again. And maybe next time more of you can join us. For Houston sketchers....the end of the month is our trip to Galveston. Everyone is welcome. Join us for a fun day.