THANK YOU

The Symposium is around the corner, and we think it is time to thank everybody that has been involved in the organization for the effort they have put into this huge event.

We want to give our warmest thanks to our people in Barcelona: Yadira Reyes, Marta Castro, Daniel Castro, Eduardo de Vicente, Isaac Duenyas, David Ramírez, Shiem, Swasky, Sílvia Xicola, César Caballud, Miguel Herranz, Sagar Fornies and Lapin. Everybody has been involved as much as their circumstances allowed. We know how much time and effort this event demanded, and we deeply appreciate all of their efforts to make it a great success.

We also want to thank the USK Board, Elizabeth Alley, Gabi Campanario, Jason Das and Orling Domínguez for their support across the ocean. It has been really helpful to have their insight and experience with similar issues on previous Symposiums. Their advice and assistance, as well as being part of the team, has been critical for the success of the organization. We also want to say thank you to the Workshops Committee for their work choosing such a great bunch of instructors. And we want to give our special thanks to Gabi Campanario and Orling Domínguez, for their hard work, involvement and contributions.

Thank you also to our sponsors and contributors, to the Barcelona City Council, Sant Lluc and the CCCB for supporting us financially, and providing us with excellent materials and logistics. We are grateful for having some of the best premises in Barcelona to host our Symposium.

Finally we want to thank all of the instructors, lecturers and attendees for their enthusiasm in being the essential part of this event, and because without them the Symposium would not take place. We know the expectations for Barcelona are very high, and we hope the Symposium will live up to them. We are doing our best to make it a great experience.

Looking forward to meeting all of you and drawing together in just a few hours!

bcn2013usk - first meeting

looking for some sketchers, half an hour before the meeting at the cccb bar, I met arno and flaf, both from germany, sketching in the street near by.
after 5:00, there were no doubt anymore, something is happening! some friendly faces arrived from all over the world: nina from sweden, tia from singapour, isabel from mauritania, eduardo from sao paolo, melanie from ny, leez from sydney… a endless list of friends I haven't met for months or years, and some others I met for the first time around a glass of beer.
I was very impressed to meet Kiah Kiean from malaysia, I admire so much his work:
in an hour, is starting the first public event, much more sketchers must have arrived in the night, I'm so exciting!!

 by lapin

Last minute reminder

Dear all, one week ago we gave to you some basic information that you have to keep in mind. Check it here: "What to know before you arrive". Nevertheless we want that you over all be punctual in all the places you have a meeting and don't forget that the first day Check-in starts at 8.00 h and the Opening Ceremony at 9.00h at the CCCB our headquarter.

CCCB
Montalegre, 5, 08001 Barcelona
Phone#: 933 06 41 00

Check the map

 

Hither, thither and yon workshop

For those BCN sketchers who are participating in my workshops, 'Hither, thither and yon',  I've uploaded some briefing notes, that you may find interesting and useful. But you don't need to read them to enjoy the workshop!

You'll find them on  workshop blog: 'Hither, thither and yon' at http://thitherandyon.blogspot.co.uk

And if you're not participating in one of my workshops you're still welcome to read the blog.

Comments welcome!

See you in a few days!

reminder of santo domingo's symposium

a few day before the opening of the 4th urban sketching symposium in barcelona, it's time to share the sketches I made last year as the 2012 symposium correspondent, for you to remember the mood of the past edition. this are all the drawing I sketched from july 9th to july 16th with fellow urban sketchers.
I get ready to do my best next week as the local correspondent…

Hello from New York and notes for Workshop G

Hello everyone!

I woke up this morning, in a bit of a panic, thinking that I was leaving for Barcelona and had not packed or gotten ready. Luckily, there are 3 more days before I leave.

 Some notes and a big favor:

If you're taking Workshop G (welcome!), I'm posting the sequence and an outline of the workshop exercises to avoid printing (there may be some changes, but don't worry. Also it looks like a lot of walking, but most of our time will be spent in La Plaza Reial).  I'll bring some sheets along just in case. If you want me to email them, or you have any questions, let me know (richard.alomar.la@gmail.com).

And now the big favor...I'm working on a sketching/urban sketching presentation for a professional conference with Jim Richards later this year. I would like to talk with landscape architects and architects attending the symposium to get information on how urban sketching informs their work. It would be great to get perspectives from the urban sketcher group.

Thanks so much and see you all next week!

Richard Alomar

BE AWARE OF PICKPOCKETS!!!

We hate and it's a shame for us to have to write a warning like this about our own city but this cannot be said enough to tourists visiting Barcelona.

BE AWARE OF PICKPOCKETERS! THEY ARE EVERYWHERE AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!

In Barcelona it is not a crime to pickpocket! The Police have to prove that the value of the stolen goods or money exceeds 600 Euros to be able to prosecute the picpocketer, if they even get arrested. They say they are going to change the law but there has not been anything so far.

SO THE PICKPOCKETERS WORK WITHOUT DISTRACTION FROM THE POLICE! YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT YOURSELF!

Barcelona is in general a safe town where violent crime is rare, however you should always be aware of pickpockets as they are extremely good, some people say that Barcelona is The Pickpocket Capital of Europe. Tourist are usually the main target so just be extra careful with your belongings as sometimes robberies can be avoided by just being a little bit extra careful.

Basic security advice:
 - Keep your documents safe: Do not carry your ID or passport, always leave it at your hotel. A photocopy is usually enough. Neither carry all your Travel money or at least just on one place.
- Do not leave your luggage or belongings unattended at any given time.
- Suspect of anyone that seems to be too friendly (except for the Symposium's Staff!).
- Do not let people get too close to you.
- Be especially careful of people saying that you have a stain on your clothing, don’t let them clean it as they are probably trying to rob you. Also be careful with groups of kids asking for your signature or a donation, just tell them to go away.
- Be especially careful when using public transport and while visiting touristic landmarks (Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, etc).
- Do not show large amounts of money.
- Be careful with people asking for directions, as this is also one of the tactics used. Again, don’t let people get too close.
- Be careful when withdrawing money from an ATM, always have a look around before withdrawing money.

10 QUICK BARCELONA PICKPOCKET SAFETY TIPS:

1. Don't carry your wallet in your back pocket
2. Don't put phones, cameras on table at cafes
3. Wear your rucksack on your front
4. Keep bags on your lap at cafes/coffee bars
5. Be wary of any strangers approaching you or touching you
6. Don't play any street games
7. Be extra aware on beaches and in the metro
8. Be extra aware when watching street shows
9. Be extra aware on Las Ramblas and in the metro
10. Be extra aware around airport buses and airport transport

PLEASE READ a comprehensive Barcelona Pickpocket Safety Guide article:
http://www.barcelonayellow.com/bcn-tourist/115-safety-barcelona-top-tips-pickpockets

What to know before you arrive

Here is some information about the Symposium schedule and travel in Barcelona. Please comment on this post with any questions you might have, and we will answer them as we can and post a new "What to know" email a couple of weeks before the Symposium.

 See you in one week days!


Wednesday, July 10

The Symposium starts on Thursday, but if you are already in Barcelona on Wednesday, please stop by
and enjoy a Mini-Sketchcrawl At 10AM in the Hospital Sant Pau’s main entrance.


Thursday, July 11

8:00 (Early) Check-in (Be punctual and do not come 10 minutes before it starts)
9:00 Opening remarks at CCCB
10:00 Morning workshop session
13:00 Lunchbreak
14:30 Demos at Sant Lluc and Lectures at CCCB
16:00 Coffee break
16:30 Afternoon workshop session
19:30 Optional "Drink and Draw" at CCCB Cafeteria

Friday, July 12

9:00 Panel discussions at CCCB
10:00 Morning workshop session
13:00 Lunchbreak
14:30 Demos or lectures at Sant Lluc
16:00 Coffee break
16:30 Afternoon workshop session
19:30 Optional "Drink and Draw" at CCCB Cafeteria

Saturday, July 13

9:00 Panel discussions at CCCB
10:00 Morning workshop session
13:00 Lunchbreak
14:30 Demos at Sant Lluc and Lectures at CCCB
16:00 Coffee break
16:30 Open sketchcrawl
20:00-22:00 Closing reception at CCCB (at Pati de les Dones)


CCCB
Montalegre, 5, 08001 Barcelona
Phone#: 933 06 41 00

Sant Lluc
Mercaders, 42, 08003 Barcelona.
Phone # 93 302 45 79

Check the locations in the map.

What to bring:


· Sunscreen and a hat! All workshops will be outside, so be prepared for some sun.

· Bring your favorite sketchbook and sketching materials.

· Remember to leave ample space in your luggage for the goodies you will receive at the Symposium, including sketchbooks from Sennelier, Canson, Strathmore, Stillman & Birn, Laloran and Moleskine.

Arriving in Barcelona:

· Take the suitable care to of your belongings. You can reach the city center using a train or an a coach called Aerobus from the airport to the city center.

While in Barcelona:

· Don't be shy, and ask to any person of the staff member if you have a doubt question.

· Enjoy the city and the food (tapas, croquetas, and many more delis). Draw, draw and draw.

Don’t forget to check the Facebook group Barcelona Urban Sketching Symposium 2013 (Pictures) to connect with others at the Symposium. You can also use the hashtag #bcn2013USk to connect on Twitter and Instagram.

One day drawing on the beach. Enjoying La Caleta, Cádiz( Spain)

Nib, chinesse ink and watercolour

staedtler and watercolour

Today I was laying on the beach, with my brother, and while he was talking I felt like drawing; of course I had my nib , my chinesse ink, my staedtler and my watercolour in my bag. I tried to take some postcards of my enviroment. This beach is so cute, so small and perfect; I need this place to live, so...I hope that all the people feel what I trying to transmit.
Enjoy!!

Greetings from Barra do Piraí

Hello, everyone! I believe you've never heard of my city before, and let me explain why: It's a small city in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but it was pretty important by the time Brazil had great coffee plantation farms, called "A Pérola do Vale" (translating roughly, 'The Pearl of the Valley', refering to the Coffee Valley region). Around here, there are some historical buildings and farms, many of which I intend to sketch in the near future.

About me, I'm an English teacher who has been in love with drawing for years, but only in 2012 did I have the guts to get some pens and paper and start sketching and taking classes. It's been an important part of my life, and nowadays I can't go out without taking at least a pen and a small sketchbook. My favourite medium is the coloured pencil; though it takes more time to colour big areas, I really like the precision and the effects I can get in different kinds of paper.

If somebody wants to find me on Facebook, here you are my link: www.facebook.com/figueiredosantos

So, this is it: a small part of Brazil being humbly represented in the USK Symposium blog!

Yesterday, it was a bit cold, but I decided to get my sketching stuff and sit down in the square to sketch one of the most beautiful buildings (people call it the 'postcard' in my home town), 'São Benedito' church. And, on top of it, there is a statue of Christ, that I decided to represent in colours. Hope you like it, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all in Barcelona!

A test for my Workshop Capturing Space through Form and Color.

Hello from Paris, France - I am Marion Rivolier. Only three weeks before the Symposium, I can't wait to meet all the participants! For a couple of weeks, I have been working on my workshop and a kind of booklet I want give to the participants.

So last Saturday, we made a test for my workshop « Capturing Space through Form and Color ».

I invited 7 volunteers to meet in front of the Fontaine aux Lions de Nubie in the Parc de la Villette. This is a large place with a lot of choices of nice points of view.

I wanted test the continuity of my exercises and time the session.
I wanted to do this test in English to practice and all the participants played the game! It was very funny and a little stressful for me!

The rules of the day were: bring a box of watercolors with some basic colors, a big brush and a watercolor sketchbook in the landscape format, NO PEN, NO PENCIL, NO BLACK.
Thank you so much Kim, Flo, Fleur, Laureen, Krytzia, Fabienne and Sébastien for your participation, your great work, your good mood and your comments on my workshop. It was very interesting for me.

Fleur made the panoramic pictures. Thank you Fleur!
You can see some watercolors from Flo, Fleur, Fabienne and Laureen, thank you girls!

I am very happy to be meeting you in Barcelona and painting with you!
See you soon.

Greetings from Cape Town!

Hola fellows sketchers! We are Lizette Liebenberg and Peter Sutherland from Cape Town, South Africa.

We absolutely adore Barcelona (this is our third trip there in 3 years!), so we were super-excited to hear that the Symposium will be held in Barcelona this year. Looking forward to meeting all of you who we've been talking to online and also all the new friends we'll meet.

Urban Sketchers Cape Town https://www.facebook.com/groups/urbansketchcapetown/ was established earlier this year and our group is growing, sketching and sharing up a storm in Cape Town and surrounds.

We are both Graphic Designers and just love having an outlet for our creativity outside of work restictions. Urban Sketching is a wonderful way to get out and about, learn something new about  your city and meet new friends.

Hasta Pronto!

Greetings from Seattle!

Hi All,
Greetings from Seattle, I am Gail Wong a long time Seattle Urban Sketcher. Though I have taught sketching and architectural drawing with Frank Ching for years, I really didn't get to sketch for my own pleasure until Gabi started Urban Sketchers in Seattle (I think it was either 2008 or 2009). Of course once you catch the sketching bug you can't stop! I am one of the coordinators for Seattle Urban Sketchers and a committee member of Urban Sketchers Workshops. It has been great fun being involved in Urban Sketchers and has really transformed my life. What I find amazing is how powerful hand drawings are and how they move people. 

This will be my first Symposium and I am coming as a student to learn and get inspired by all of you.
I look forward to meeting everyone with whom I have been corresponding over the flickr and facebook and following on the blogs.  Below are some sketches done over the years that depict Seattle in the summer.  The only time it rarely rains! See you in Barcelona!

Bell St. Pier overlooking the Waterfront

Montlake Bridge at the Montlake Cut by University of Washington

South Lake Union Park and Center for Wooden Boats

Greetings from Canada

John Wright here. Greetings from Ottawa, Canada !  Wow, the symposium is sneaking up quickly! I was in Santo Domingo last summer and was one of the first in line to be sure I got a space this year in Barcelona.

I've had a great deal of fun sketching since being inspired by discovering USk two years ago.  I started my blog as a sort of public commitment to practice and have been filling sketchbooks every since.  Last summer I arrived at the symposium the night before, tired and disorganized, so it took a day to get in the rhythm.  This year I am deliberately arriving a few days early to adjust to the time change and warm up my hand before the actual symposium starts.  It sounds like there will be a gang there early, so I'm really hoping to find some of you to sketch with pre-event.

I draw a lot of urban landscapes, but lately have been including more people, largely as a result of a couple of the sessions I attended last year with Melanie Rheim and Ronnie Lawlor.  This  illustrator's approach of 'telling a story' really grabbed me, and I've been working that into the selection of my subjects.

Oh, and while I am up on the soapbox, I'll do a plug for Laloran sketchbooks.  They gave us sketchbooks last year and are sending some again this year to Barcelona.  I really like the paper and the binding is excellent.  I just filled two more last month. They open flat for two pagers and don't fall apart after lots of handling and being squashed on the scanner.  I'm going to order some, which they will bring to the conference without charging for shipping.  Rah Laloran!

The "Elvis Bar" in a small town along the Camino - northern Spain - May 2013

this is typical of my urban landscape sketch subjects 

I did this a week after last years symposium - in New Orleans

I am fascinated with construction and have been following a couple of projects

3 more weeks!

hello everyone!

My name is Juliette Plisson, I live very very close to Paris  in France, and I'm getting ready to Barcelona!
it's such a pleasure to be with you this year. I couldn't make it to Santo Domingo, so I'm really really happy to come to the symposium. I attended to Lisbon's symposium, I remember how great it was.
I hope I'll have enough time to sketch-meet everyone-discover BCN-learn-try new things... it's going to be a wonderful week! I'll be in BCN on tuesday evening, we will probably meet somewhere around...
















here are some of my last sketches in Lyon where lots of french USK met in june.

 my flickr gallery is here and here is my blog.

see you very soon!

juliette

Greetings from Barcelona

My name is Antonio but I like to leave my tracks in the path of drawing as Shiembcn. Born, raised and established in Barcelona, I work in marketing and advertising since many years.
I feel more comfortable when I draw architecture and objects, due to my passion for antiques but mostly because they do not complain so often. I find it harder to integrate people in my sketchbook.
When I was a child I loved to have a look at the drawings of the illustrated tales or the black ink of the comics vignettes. They took me to impossible places... My life followed paths different to the ones desired at those times and my love for drawing was left aside somewhere in my past.
A few years ago, that same path brought me to a meeting of sketchbook's artists. The need to share space, paper and ink with that group caught me immediately, and fortunately it has been like that since we returned to Barcelona with a group of them.
I'll be at the Symposium in Barcelona and I belong to the local organizing committee. I would like to share at least five minutes with each one of you that is going to come, to expand that way that circle drawn in ink and watercolor.
Regards and see you soon!

Greetings from Israel!

Hello fellow sketchers, greetings from Israel! One month left until the USk Symposium starts, and I can’t wait to meet you all in Barcelona! 

Two years ago I've participated in 2nd Symposium in Lisbon, and came back totally overwhelmed by its wonderful experience. Sketching among more than 200 sketchers from all over the world, finally meeting in person people behind the sketches, exploring together the beautiful city of Lisbon, chatting & eating together, switching tools & sketchbooks and, again, sketching, sketching and sketching...

I feel privileged and very excited to be one of instructors at coming Symposium, and together with Ea Ejersbo, look forward to sharing our approach to sketching. At our workshop we’ll focus on looking for stories in everyday situations by opening our eyes wider, finding our heroes, trying to figure different ways to tell stories though our sketches and, maybe the most important, on enjoying the process!
Sketching for me is first of all a way to enjoy the pleasure of drawing for its own sake and a very fun way to go to a journey every day without getting far. It’s great to sketch in exotic spots, but finding stories in everyday places and situations – that’s what I love most about it! 
Here some sketches from the place I live – maybe general views are very different, but we also have beaches:

colorful markets:

and people enjoying themselves in coffee shops:

I can’t wait sketching beautiful and effervescent Barcelona together with you all! See you soon!

7 Tips For The Symposium

View from la Pedrera rooftop

Are you ready for the 4th International Urban Sketching Symposium? Here are a few tips that the attendees should keep in mind in order to make the most of it:

1. Get involved wherever you can, in order to make new friends and learn new things. Take part in as many events as possible and enjoy them: the symposium is only 3 days long, but you can turn them into a lifetime experience.
2. Immerse yourself in another country. It is a good opportunity to expose yourself to a new country and new ways of doing things. Open your mind to local traditions and do not be afraid to try them out. You can also practise a foreign language.
3. Be prepared to be more flexible about your drawing. You may have to try new techniques at the workshops, or you might be influenced by the work of others. Be prepared to adapt yourself to new ways of doing things.
4. Do not be afraid to ask for help. If you are not sure what to do about a particular issue, ask a Symposium coordinator. We are here to help you with anything we can.
5. Seize every opportunity available to you. Be ready to make new contacts, and have your business card prepared- or whatever you create to promote yourself among colleagues. Be original!
6. Have fun! This may seem rather obvious, but at times the stresses of drawing in a new environment, with people you do not know, might get you down. Remember though that the time for you to enjoy it is now! Have all the fun you can, too, but...
7. Do not forget to draw. The social opportunities can certainly be great, but they can prove to be a big distraction when it comes to drawing. Do not put your sketchbook down!

Adapted from http://www.aprendelo.com/news/nine-tips-for-erasmus-students.html by Sílvia Xicola

Greetings from Los Angeles

Hello, I'm Shiho Nakaza, and I am one of the Los Angeles correspondents for Urban Sketchers. I finally booked my flight and hotel and am doing further preparation for the trip - I can't believe it's only a month away! I am so excited because this will be my first time ever in Barcelona, and this city has been on top of my list of places I'd love to visit - and the best way to experience it is by sketching!

I have attended the first Symposium in Portland and the third Symposium in Santo Domingo. Going to the workshops and meeting other sketchers from all over the world was so much fun - and I learned to push beyond my usual ways of sketching by thinking about capturing the scene. Here are two sketches, top one from Portland and bottom one from Santo Domingo.

I'm looking forward to sketching La Sagrada Família when I'm in Barcelona - let me know if anybody is up for sketching there as a group! Another favorite subject (you might say it's a hobby within a hobby) is sketching people selling street food. And, yes, I plan to explore some food options with sketchbook in hand while I'm in Barcelona! Looking forward to meeting some of you soon!!

Have Fun Expressing Yourself

Hello all, I can't wait to meet all of you in Barcelona! So excited!
Paul and I will be conducting a workshop together under the category of "Express Yourself".
We hope participants in our workshop will achieve the following objectives:

•To explore ways of creating a strong focal point in our sketches.
•To experiment with alternative drawing tools and mediums during the sketching process.
•To create a bold & fluid exchange between sketching, mark-making and painting.

The key words are "focal point", "experimentation" and "mark-marking" which I did in my sketch posted here. I have been sketching the same view a few times and no two sketches are the same in terms of these three key words. At the end, it is to enjoy, have fun and express myself!

Size : 250mm x 250mm
Medium : ink and watercolour
Technique : splashing, blind contour, scribbling.