COLUMBUS - More than 100 artists met from August 11th through the 13th for the Ohio Regional Urban Sketchers Summit in Columbus, Ohio. This is the second year that USk chapters from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton have sold out their event.
The Ohio Regional Urban Sketchers Summit was one of only four communities to receive a Regional Grant from the Seattle-based organization and the only one in North America. Other recipients include groups in Itú (Brazil), Johannesburg (South Africa), Namur (Belgium), and Firenze (Italy).
“The goal of this summit was to continue building the community with first-rate instructors,” says Ana Lucía Araya, an avid sketcher and graphic designer from the Columbus chapter who is organizing the effort. “What makes urban sketching so enjoyable is that beginning artists and professionals come together, share their art, and learn from each other.”
88 attendees met mid-morning on Saturday at the Columbus Metro Library to receive grab bags filled with items from generous sponsors, then spread throughout the downtown area with seven instructors, including Robin Carnes, Mike Daikubara, Kay Bea Jones, David Rankin, Jeff Stahler, Jeff Suntala, and Christina Wald. When participants reconvened for a catered lunch, Jeff Stahler spoke about his growth as an artist, and raffles were held for special door prizes before instructors and students left for another instructional session.
In addition to Saturday’s workshops, attendees met Friday night to sketch along the Scioto River and Sunday morning to sketch the centuries-old Ohio Statehouse.
Attendees included four high school students who received scholarships to attend and generous sketching kits donated by ArtToolKit and QoR.
The Ohio Regional Urban Sketchers Summit’s organizing committee is already planning another event to be held in Dayton in 2024.
Kenny Moore, an educator and member of the organizing committee, says that “these events have been great learning opportunities and chances to create camaraderie. The students and instructors bring a tremendous amount of skill. Mix that with the creativity and energy that exists within all artists, and the end result is truly memorable.”
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