Left: Penguin at the Como Zoo from one of my journals. Just one of the many subjects you'll have available if you join us on the SketchCrawl. Click the image to view an enlargement.
Saturday, April 11, 2009 is the next scheduled SketchCrawl.
What is SketchCrawl? It's a world-wide drawing marathon event founded by Enrico Casarosa. It's held all over, wherever even just one sketcher goes out to sketch. If you aren't in the Twin Cities and want to organize something in your area see how to participate here.
Ken and Roberta Avidor and I have been talking about getting a group together to participate in the Twin Cities. It looks like we have some interested folks: we pitched it to the MCBA Visual Journal Collective last night before the meeting started.
So here's our plan. If you are a sketcher in the Twin Cities area and want to join us, please do. You don't have to be a member of the Collective, and you don't have to do anything more than have a desire to sketch out in public, have some fun, and, well for our event, enjoy cake, but more on that in a moment.
This is NOT a class, it is a get together of people who enjoy drawing. All skill levels are welcome. If you have never sketched out in public before I recommend that you come and join us because there is strength in numbers and you will be having too much fun to be embarrassed.
Here are the details for our group:
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009—Rain or shine!
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (come any time during that window, see below for additional details)
Location: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory (admission donation $2 suggested) in St. Paul, MN
Wrap Up Get Together Location: Cafe Latte on the corner of Grand Ave. and Victoria St., St. Paul, at 4:30 p.m.
How it works: Show up at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory any time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Start sketching. You can do this on your own, come with a friend, or walk around until you see a group of us sketching and just join in with us. (If you come right at 10 a.m. you'll probably see a group of us going in and you can join with us right then.)
At 1:30 p.m. (in order to miss the lunchtime rush) we will meet as a group at the Zoo's restaurant (or just outside it if we are a really large group). (The restaurant is in the main building as you enter and pass into the Zoo. It's on the right, just after the information desk and you can't miss it.) We are going to meet at this time so that people can check in and see how it's going, split into new groups, and welcome new folks just showing up.
By 2 p.m. we'll go off sketching again and continue sketching until 4 p.m.
At 4 p.m. we'll all leave the Zoo (or conservatory if you have been sketching people and flowers) and head to Cafe Latte, where we will regroup at 4:30 p.m. You'll be able to purchase an early dinner, a snack, or a delicious dessert and coffee, in short, whatever you feel like. And we will share the art we've made that day and what is sure to be some lively discussion (the people I sketch with regularly are always lively talkers when the sketching is over).
So you can come for as long as you like, stay as long as you like, meet up with us for any or all of this.
Alternative: you can sketch out anywhere in the Twin Cities you want and still show up at Cafe Latte at 4:30 and we'll be happy to see you!
Safety Suggestion: For safety it's best not to bring a young child (any child needing supervision and tending) because your attention will need to be on the child and his safety, rather than on your sketching. Como is a crowded place. Keep that in mind. This is the perfect time to get a babysitter to entertain your kids at home while you get away for a little creative time.
Tips on What to Bring and Wear
April can turn cold and snowy or rainy. Sure it feels like spring right now, but who knows in 24 days?
Show up prepared for all conditions: dress in layers.
Have a hat for sun/rain/warmth as needed. Have a raincoat to move from building to building if inclement weather keeps us inside.
Bring: sunscreen, sunglasses, a bottle of water, a light snack/lunch if you like, admission money and a bit of spending money if you wish to join us at Cafe Latte later.
Wear COMFORTABLE SHOES.
If you like to sit down when you sketch you should consider bringing a lightweight, collapsible, portable chair. Some folks (I'm one) like to simply stand. If that isn't for you, plan ahead. Seating at the Zoo and Conservatory is always utilized by someone and typically not where the best view is.
What to Bring for Sketching
The first time you sketch out you'll probably think about bringing too much stuff. Don't. This won't be the last time you sketch out so keep it simple. On the day, check out what others brought and what you might like to try, and adjust the next time you come out. That said the essentials are:
Your journal, filled with the type of paper you enjoy working on.
Your favorite pen for sketching. (Mine are the Staedtler Pigment Liner and the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen.) (Click on the "Pen" category in my category list to see posts on different pens you might consider.)
If you like to sketch with a pencil, bring your favorite pencil for sketching.
If you like to color your sketches with watercolor bring also a Niji waterbrush and a small, limited palette of watercolors that won't weigh you down. A couple paper towels would be useful too. (I recommend you not try to bring regular paint brushes and a small water "jar" if this is your first time out, as that can be cumbersome and you might spill the water in the crowd.)
The first two items will pretty much have your needs covered. The goal is to get out and sketch, not mount an expedition and bring anything you think you might need.
If you limit yourself to your journal and your pen (and watercolors limited as suggested above if you need color) then you will be able to concentrate on sketching and not fussing with art supplies. (Trust me on this. I'd really like to see you have some success at this.)
If you are wondering what sort of palette would be good to bring you can find some suggestions in my October 22, 2008 post.
The main thing is to bring stuff you already have and are comfortable sketching with, or if you are totally new at this, simply a pen you like the feel of on the paper you have in your journal. Keep it that simple.
Still Not Convinced?
Look, if the idea of sketching in public with the prospect of chocolate cake at the end of the day can't convince you then I'm at a loss. If sketching in public is a skill you already employ, or one you want to improve at, then come and join us. You'll be glad you did. Look for the group of people dressed in layers, carrying journals (and maybe chairs), sketching, and having a lot of fun. I'll be sketching animals, so if you miss us at a meeting place, start wandering around in the zoo. You'll probably find us, but if you start sketching we will probably find you!
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