2026 Summit Recap and Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Ohio Regional Urban Sketchers 2026 Summit, held Aug. 7-9 in Cleveland!

Our fifth Summit kicked off late Friday afternoon with a sketch outing at North Coast Harbor. The next morning nearly 90 participants met at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) before going to their workshop. After lunch and a keynote speech by Jenny Jing Zhang, each participant chose a bookbinding workshop at CIA or an instructor-led sketch walk for their afternoon activity. Sketch walk groups stopped at various locations throughout University Circle and Little Italy, including Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Peter B. Lewis Building, and Lakeview Cemetery. 

The Summit concluded on Sunday with a mid-morning sketch outing on the grounds of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This outing also included four demos: two featured Caran d’Ache and Winsor & Newton art supplies, and three showed general sketching techniques.

A good time was had by all, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you. In addition to Ohio, we welcomed participants from Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.

We look forward to announcing the next Summit location and seeing you in 2027!

Many thanks again to our workshop instructors, keynote speaker, volunteers, the CIA events management team, and sponsors:

Instructors
Ana Lucia Araya       Nancy Lick          

Brent Eligado           Jeff Suntala     

Jeff Evans                Jenny Jing Zhang 

John Hancock

Keynote Speaker            

Jenny Jing Zhang

Demos
Kendra Brown           Jeff Suntala

John Hancock           Jenny Jing Zhang

Nancy Lick  

Volunteers
Rebekah Eligado (photography)
Adrian Slattery

Special Thanks
Jordan Goens, CIA Event Manager

Sponsors

Cleveland Institute of Art            Dixon Ticonderoga          Quarto
Design Interface Inc.                  Etchr LAB                        Silver Lock Designs
Blick                                           Legion Paper                   Stillman & Birn
Caran d'Ache                             Luchetti                            Roman Szmaal
Chartpak                                    OLO                                 Winsor & Newton
Cretacolor                                  Pilot/Enso
                                                   Lettering Pens

The Ohio Regional Urban Sketchers Summit Organizers 

Ana Lucia Araya (1); Carla Blackman (2); Matt Blair (3); Kendra Brown (4); 
Janet Dodrill (5); Brent Eligado (6); Kenny Moore (7); Jeff Suntala (8); Christina Wald (9); and Jordan Goens. Not pictured: Jean Robbins 

Photos credits: Top right (courtesy of Matt Blair); middle left and right (Rebekah Eligado); bottom (courtesy of Janet Dodrill)

2026 Summit merch is now available!

 

Summit registration is now open!

 ➔Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-ohio-regional-urban-sketchers-summit-registration-1987383073271

Tickets are $75.00 each + Eventbrite fees and include:

• 1 workshop (morning session)
• 1 boxed lunch and drink from Normandy Catering 
• Note: A lunch is automatically included with each registration. You will be required to select a lunch choice when buying your ticket.
• 1 sketch walk (afternoon session) OR 
• Optional Bookbinding Workshop: Create Your Own Sketchbook
  (afternoon session) 
• You must sign up for this workshop in person on the morning of the Summit. 
• Participation is first-come, first-served and limited
  to 13 attendees. 
• An additional $10.00 (cash) materials fee is due at sign-up. The instructor will provide all materials plus printed reference guides.

Check out the full Summit schedule here. 

Workshop and supplies list information is available here or via a downloadable PDF. 

It's almost time to register!

 

Register Saturday at 9:00

Are you excited for the 2026 Ohio Regional Urban Sketchers Summit? Find all the information you need right here! Starting Saturday, May 16 at 9:00 in the morning, you can go to our EventBrite page and sign up! We can't wait to see you in Cleveland! 

Registration opens in 1 week!

 

Morning Session Information Update! (Edited)

The morning workshop and recommended art supplies details are now available. Go to 2026 Summit > Morning Workshop & Art Supplies Information or click on each instructor's name/workshop link below:

• Jeff Evans • Creating Clarity from Chaos
• Chris Greco - Sketching People in a Coffee Shop
• John Hancock • Sketching on Toned Paper with Watercolor & Ink
• Nancy Lick • Creating Value and Impact with Ink
• Jeff Suntala • Designing the Montage
• Jenny Jing Zhang • Fractured City: Drawing Reality Through Reflection

New Optional Bookbinding Workshop Added!

We are offering a new workshop, Bookbinding Workshop: Create Your Own Sketchbook, taught by Summit organizer Ana Lucia Araya. This optional afternoon session will take place at CIA during the same time as the sketch walks and is an alternative for those who prefer an indoor activity and want to focus on a hands-on creative project.

• Sign up for this workshop in person during the morning portion of the Summit. Participation in this workshop is on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to 13 attendees.
• Cost: $10.00 (cash) materials fee is due at sign-up. The instructor will provide all materials plus printed reference guides.

Click here for more information!

Photo © Ana Lucia Araya

Registration opens in 2 weeks!

 

2026 Summit Instructors (UPDATED)

 

Summit Schedule

 

Registration Date & Ticket Price

2026 Summit Hotel Information

2026 Summit Instructors!

Save the Date!

 

 

Join us in Cleveland for the

2026 Ohio Regional
Urban Sketchers Summit

Dates: Aug. 7‒9, 2026

Main venue: Cleveland Institute of Art

Full schedule and details to come.
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See you there!