ultraMARIN Sketch

I'm continuing to tell about my trip to Amsterdam, here is the first post . Symposium days started from faculty meeting (many hugs and kisses) and trip to the Royal Talens factory (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, sketchers' version ;)) Next three days were crazy and exciting marathon of teaching. My workshop "Face to Face" was dedicated to capturing urban portraits and took place at the Waterlooplein Market - great place with plenty of various faces! Wonderful symposium volunteers' team took care of every tiny detail. Even of weather, but maybe a bit too much, because Symposium days were really hot! Heat of close to 40C doesn't disturb fearless and enthusiastic participants - they all did wonderful, trying out different approaches, getting out of comfort zone and capturing a lot of stories by human faces! It was so nice to share the location with two of my favorite sketchers-instructors, who fancy people sketching and storytelling...

Trying to assume such a huge experience, as an Urban Sketchers Symposium is not an easy mission. It was my 6th one, and being a part of this organization from the beginning - 10 years round - adds to the whole feeling something epic. It feels strange to think that 10 years ago keeping a sketchbook was very individual and lonely activity, and today I can share my intimate experience of sketching with my big world family anytime I wish it! I remember my first Symposium in Lisbon, the shock of meeting in person virtual friends I felt I knew so well by following their sketches! Amsterdam Symposium was really a wonderful one, it has everything and even more! The magic of meeting old friends-sketchers and continuing conversations we started a year ago as it was yesterday. Being privileged to be one of the instructors, teaching groups of enthusiastic sketchers from all over the world. Making new friends. Drinking and drawing. Exchanging sketchbooks. And drawing again. And all this in beautif...

I think that sketching at a Pride Parade is really a must experience for a sketcher! I know it's incredibly hard – the colorful crowd doesn't stop moving for a moment. Every character screams: "Draw me!" Sounds and smells mixing with the colors... but it's such fun! I arrived early and walked through the relatively calm but already very colorful Ben-Zion Boulevard. Chore on stage was singing their last rehearsal of"The Show must go on!". I sat down on the grass and sank into my first sketch. By the time I had finished my sketch, the boulevard was filled with crowds and music. I moved to the meeting point to meet fellow sketchers who had come to the sketchcrawl. There was really no need to move - "models" just came to us and we had to be very fast and decisive! The sets of colorful markers in our hands looked like miniature pride flags :) I'm already waiting for the next year!!!!