A free outdoor sketching event hosted by the Phoenix West Valley Urban Sketchers and Conscious Creations Art Studio is scheduled to take place Friday, April 25, at The Wigwam resort in Litchfield Park.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 300 E. Wigwam Blvd. and is open to the public. Organizers said no prior experience is necessary to participate.
According to event materials, the gathering is part of the growing urban sketching movement, which encourages people to draw on location as a way to document the world around them. Participants are invited to explore the local environment, observe native plants and wildlife, and create sketches based on direct observation.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own supplies. Recommended materials include mechanical pencils with 2B lead, erasers, colored pencils, permanent and water-soluble pens, markers, watercolor kits, brushes, and sketchbooks. Organizers advise bringing compact and high-quality tools that are easy to carry.
Urban sketching is a global movement supported by Urban Sketchers, a nonprofit organization founded in 2007. The organization began when journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario created an online forum for individuals who enjoy sketching cities and locations from life. The group’s mission is to raise the artistic, storytelling, and educational value of on-location drawing while promoting its practice and connecting sketchers around the world.
The Phoenix West Valley Urban Sketchers group is working toward becoming an official chapter of Urban Sketchers. According to the organization’s website, there are currently 220 official chapters worldwide.
Conscious Creations Art Studio, which is co-hosting the event, was founded in 2012 by artist Karen Izzi. The studio offers art education, therapy, and workshops in a variety of media, with a focus on serving people of all ages and supporting local artists at all levels.
Visit karenizziphd.org to register for the event or for more information.
