Introduce Yourself
Where do you live and what do you?
Have you done much sketching before or are you just starting?
What are your other creative pursuits?
Please include a link to your Flickr account, blog, Facebook page, Instagram, Tumblr etc.
So I’ll go first…
I’m Liz (I think you all know that!)
I live in Sydney, Australia. I’m an architect by profession and worked 20 years on a range of residential and commercial developments, specialising in media projects. I’ve always drawn as part of my work but in 2007 discovered watercolour and started my first daily sketchbook. I haven’t stopped sketching since!
I’m very interested in architectural history and theory and drinking tea out of fancy china teacups… but I’m guessing you all know that too!
You can find me on: Facebook, Flickr, Google+, Instagram and Twitter using the buttons under ‘Connect on Social Media’ in the footer of this website.
Now it’s your turn…
I’m Laura, from Austria. I’ve recently been getting back into watercolor and stumbled across Liz blog – and was hooked. I have no prior experience when it comes to sketching, but I’m intrigued by the concept and I keep a journal – I should have thought about urban sketching way earlier! Excited for this class!
Hi, I am Diane and I live in NYC . I love painting in watercolor and have recently become addicted to sketching and watercolor journaling via Sketchbook Skool and Just Draw It . I love Liz’s blog and am looking forward to sketching with you over this 12 week course.
Hi everyone. My real name (not the ID) is Jose-Miguel and you can guess from the name I live in the sunny Barcelona.
Fully amateur on sketching for the last 2 years, think is time to move to a next step and no one can be better than Liz.
Hi Everyone, my name is Michelle and I live in Sydney, Australia. I used to do a lot of drawing and painting at school, but haven’t done much for many years now. I’m excited to start something new, but I’m hoping it will be a little familiar. I also love any arty crafty pastime (I’m currently crocheting a rug) and learning to play the flute.
Nice to meet you all.
Hi, my name is Diane Harvey. I live in Irvine, CA about 50 miles south of Los Angeles (and probably one of the least creative areas around.) 🙂 I’ve been an architectural interior designer for longer than I care to remember and my husband & fellow designer own a firm that designs interiors for seniors communities – Alzheimer’s & Assisted Living. I’ve become burned out working in this field, (meeting deadlines, tight budgets & demanding clients can put a crimp in your creativity). I joined SBS for the very first Beginnings class and every one since, hoping to recapture some of the joy I knew drawing as an art student in college. So enjoyed Liz’s class in the Seeings semester and want to expand on what I learned from that! Looking forward to drawing more buildings and drawing some of our wonderful historic missions & Victorians here in California!
Hi Diane,
I’m in Santa Monica and own an FF&E purchasing agency. I’m right there with you burnt out with deadlines, but I never attempted to be creative. My job is to squeeze the design details out of the designers so that I can buy the furniture! There are several others in the class from SoCal. I hope we can get together to sketch at least once!
Hi Diane,
I live in San Juan Capistrano so if you are looking for a sketching partner at the Mission there, I’m only a couple of miles away from there.
Hi Diane, Jacqueline and Heather,
I live in the Los Angeles area but sometimes visit my brother in San Clemente. Would love to meet up some weekend for a few hours of sketching!
I go to San Clemente on a regular basis so I am up for meeting up sometime when you are in the area.
Hi, I work in Irvine and live in HB. Nice to have sketching neighbors!
Due to to two car accidents, I don’t drive very far but if you want to go sketching in the Dana Point, San Juan, San Clemente, or Laguna Beach area sometime that would be fun.
I sketched with your daughter today, Diane. Caitlin is very talented.
I’m available for a painting trip in SoCal on Wednesday during the day and would love to meet up with other Sketching Now artists. Is anyone up for a mid day San Juan Capistrano, North Laguna Beach or further south? I’m staying in La Jolla.
Heather, I am available mid-day on Wednesday. I was only thinking yesterday that I’d like to sketch sometime soon at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano which is a few miles away from me. Laguna Beach is also doable.
My email is art.life@cox.net if that’s an easier contact for you.
Hi, I’m Kathleen. I live in Canada but am originally from Singapore. I’ve dabbled in art for most of my life but have been taking it seriously in the last 10 years after I took early retirement with the move to Canada. I stumbled upon Urban Sketching 2 years ago and love it! I really enjoyed Liz’s course on Sketchbook Skool and hope to improve my skills and spontaneity in this course. My Blog: http://nowismystoryinsketches.blogspot.sg/
Hi all. I’m Angie and from West Sussex in the south of the UK. I first heard of Liz when I did Sketchbook Skool and love her approach. I am looking forward to (hopefully!) learning how to sketch fast and loose – in fact how to sketch at all would be nice 🙂
I’m also doing an online course on Tapestry Weaving with Rebecca Metzoff so both ends of the spectrum as tapestry weaving is definitely a slow process!
Hi, 🙂
My name is Olga and live in Mexico City with my husband and two children. I’m a computer system engineer and had discovered drawing last year, while attending a technical training course. I found out that if I was drawing, the tiredness disappeared (my training course was after work, until very late). I love drawing and having a sketchbook as a journal is my “escape”. I have also taken Sketchbook Skool (the three current courses) and… I love being here.
Hello!
My name is Shelley and I am from Nova Scotia Canada.
It is a bit of a daunting prospect of winter sketching considering I am ALWAYS frozen!! Looking forward to the next 12 weeks.
I can not remember a time I did not draw. I did the last three sessions of SBS and discovered Liz in session two. No real formal art training. Trying to find my own way of doing. Often it seems slow going on my own. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s progress over the next 12 weeks!
I enjoy drawing with my kids. Yoga, hot or regular, knitting, watching mysteries and riding my bicycle.
Hi, Ann Sinarski here. Live in Virginia, USA. Dabbled in the arts all my life. Graduated with an art degree many years ago. Have been with Sketchbook Skool since April 2014 and have also taken courses with Koosje Koene.
Hello, fellow sketchers,
I stumbled upon Liz’s work at Urban Sketchers and signed up as soon as she announced her class. I have drawn and sketched off and on throughout my various careers (travel guide (scenes, etc), teacher of basic art (class examples), detective (crime scene sketches!). Although I enjoy linoleum block printing, I love the challenge of quick sketching. Now I want to sketch for fun, have a reason to practice and a way to improve. My home is in Tucson, Arizona-a fortunate climate for outdoor sketching, even in winter. Excited to participate with you all!
Hi again, classmates. My “real” name is Marilyn.
Hello, I’m Katie and I live in the US in a suburb of Sacramento, California. I am retiring on December 1rst from a 35+ year career in finance. Over the years I have dabbled in quite a few different arts and crafts hobbies. I have always admired those who could capture the moment in a quick sketch and now I will have time to learn the art of sketching. I am so looking forward to this class!
Hi, Katy. I live in Oakland, CA so we are not too far away. I retired last December. I was always very busy so I had no problem knowing what to do with myself. Hahaha. I wondered how I ever found time to work in fact. Glad to be on this journey with you.
Hi Katie, I live in Concord, CA. Several of us, including Aikya, have started sketching together. Maybe you can join us sometime. We are EastBay Sketchers on Facebook.
I’m Dutch living in Germany in the moment. Always liked to draw, started a few years ago with oil and acrylic paint and for about a year discoved watercolour. Love horses and dogs and not to forget my guitar.
Email overflowing removed from comments
Hi, I’m Jo and I live in Cedar Mill, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. For most of my life I was a fiber artist. The first time I drew on location was in Adelaide Hills, Australia, in 1991 and was immediately hooked on drawing as an aid to memory of place. My primary art medium is collage and i paint and draw as well? I’ve taken all 3 sessions of Sketchbook Skool and look forward to studying with Liz.
Hi Jo — My studio is in NW Portland. So far there are about a half dozen of us — possibly enough to meet sometime! Kate
Hi. I am Cheryl. I live in Hillsboro, Oregon. I would love to meet with other sketchbook artists in the area. (tallcheryl@gmail.com)
My name is Lorraine and I live near Coupeville, WA, USA which is in the center of Whidbey Island north of Seattle. Right now I’m in the third month of a cross country rode trip and am passing through the southwest on my way to San Diego before heading north along the coast. As a novice sketcher, my challenge until next month will be to keep up with the class while traveling and visiting friends. I’m really looking forward to the learning and experimenting. I’m also a textile and fiber artist currently working with my own computer enhanced photos on fabric.
Hi Lorraine. I live in Anacortes. We have a sketching group that meets on Mondays. Maybe you can join us sometime when you get back from your trip. (Anacortes Sketchers).
Hi Missy! There’s a sketching group on Whidbey too but thanks for the invitation. I’m hoping to use what I learn in this course to improve my visual record keeping for design ideas and not so much to just sketch so likely won’t be joining a group. Lorraine
Hello All, I’m Anne from Monte Sereno, California (between San Jose and Santa Cruz). I have a husband of 44 years, two sons, two grand kids, and a ESS named Riley. I love art and took courses in college, but did not do much until I retired about 10 years ago. I love sketching, watercolor, bookbinding (wanted to make my own watercolor journals), and quilting!
Several years ago I started a sketching meet up group that meets every Friday in our area. I loved SBS and here I am!
Hi all! I’m Gwen, I’m French but living in the Netherlands, in Amsterdam.
I started to draw at the start of this year and since then, I have been obsessed with drawing (almost) daily and keeping a sketchbook. This addiction has been fed by Sketchbook Skool (1, 2 and 3… and I know I will sign up for 4 ;)).
I’m here mainly because I draw neither fast, nor (very) spontaneously and so I’m very curious to see what this class to do to me 🙂
I hope to loosen my lines at least a bit and to get more confortable drawing outside. And I’m happy to be in such an international group!
Hi Gwen! So glad to find you here! Don’t you think this is the right place for us to loosen up?
Hope to see you soon!
Petra Dammer
Hi Gwen,
Nice to see you.
Dale
Hey Gwen I am so glad to see you here.
Hi! I’m Marilia.
I’m very happy to join this group and eager to leanr! I’m a respiratory doctor (pulmonologist) and I love Art (before Medicine I started the Art School and Architecture, too bad I didn’t continue them…).
I’m 61 and live in Brazil, close to Sao Paulo city, in a place called Mogi das Cruzes. I used to draw and paint when I was a young girl but had to stop for many years, since 2013, when I started working less and having more time for myself. The result is that I now follow the Urban Sketchers group and became addicted to drawing!
See you all soon!
sorry for that = Learn, not leanr….untill 2013/2014, not since …. 🙁 learning how NOT to use an eraser !
Hi all, I’m Cyd. I live in the USA near Chicago, Illinois.
I have a past life as a geology student in university & later, a landscape architect. The latter brought me to sketching & drawing. In my attempts to make sketching a habit, I have taken smattering of classes over the years, but let myself get distracted by life’s other demands, and put the sketchbook down.
I have followed Liz & Borromini for a long time (when I should have been sketching!) & am captivated by Liz’s style & speed. I really appreciate her verbal communication skills, too. She really understands how to get the 3-D brain to record on a 2-D media. I am SO excited that this class is being offered! And my mother (RIP) would be thrilled to know that I am developing an appreciation for fine china teacups!
Hello everyone, I’m RJ (Ruth) I have recently moved to Northwest Arkansas where I am surrounded by nature and enjoy the woods and beautiful lake view. I have kept a sketchbook for several years and am passionate about developing my drawing skills. I have admired the work of Liz Steel and am especially looking forward to learning to sketch quickly. I have a Flickr site Artstudio309. I’m looking forward to learning from Liz and all of you.
Hi All I am Nadine Heidacker from Walnut Grove, Ca. I am a retired Program Director for a non-profit agency working with developmentally delayed adults. I was a passionate photographer for 10+ years. I wanted to expand and out of curiosity took a watercolor class a few years back and then a couple more. I felt I wanted to develop my practically nonexistent drawing skills and saw Sketchbook Skool and have done the 3 Semesters. I don’t post ..not quite ready ..but want to push myself to try that. I have a flickr account nadine1016 and a friend mad a LONG You Tube video ( with music ) of my work. I am So looking forward to this !
Hi Nadine! Jules from The Artist’s Journal Workshop FB group here! So glad you are doing Liz’s class too!
Hello Everyone, I’m Maria Chiara, I live in Venice, Italy, with my husband, two sons and a cat. I like creativity, I love bookbinding and watercolors and I’m trying to learn sketching.
Thank you Liz for this opportunity!
Hi Maria! I would be interested to see your bound books. Did you make them for the Foundations course?
Hi classmates! Hi Liz!
I have always dreamed to learn to draw but my mom said I was too small to ride the bus across the town to the drawing school. So now that I have grown up to be 31 years old and travelled across the word from Russia to Australia I thought it is a good time to have a go. I am an architect who suffered too much from 3D design so I want to be able to draw the building in minutes. Excited to be in such a warm company.
Hi all, I am Helena Monteiro from Portugal – Lisbon. I am a retired teacher of nothing to do with arts. Since I retired I began to draw and have had some workshops but the real turnover come with being part of the Urban Sketchers of Portugal where I met a lot of very good sketchers and people who really know to draw. With them I have learned a lot and I’ve participated on the Lisbon Symposium of the Urban Sketchers where I’ve met Liz. Hope to learn a lot with Liz and all of you. Particularly I love watercolours and Indian ink but I am open to try all kinds of media, I love to do experiences.
Hello, my name is Ellen. I live in Royersford, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. I work as a Web design manager for a large financial company. I’m trained as a graphic designer so I had a good foundation of art classes (many years ago), but I’ve only started sketching again in the last few years. Last spring I took a “sketching flowers” class and enjoyed the online format. I follow Urban Sketchers through social media and am inspired by their outings and their ability to sketch quickly onsite. You can follow me on Instagram @ellenking or through social media of choice: http://ellenkingdesign.com/. I’m married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren, and I’m owned by a ginger cat named Sonny. I look forward to getting to know you all better and learning from Liz!
P.S. I love that there are so many Ellens taking this class. Yay!
Hi Ellen, this is Patty also from Pennsylvania. There are a few of us here!
Hello Everyone, My name is Cassandra and I am an American living in France. I am a mother of 4 and my favorite thing to do is to travel. I first heard of Liz during sketchbook skool and was very impressed by her klass and the SPEED. I do what I can when I can and have been very happy to see some progress in my drawing skills.
Hi everyone, my name is Gloria Hansen. I’m from central, New Jersey where I work from my home office where I primarily do graphic design (I also started when cut and paste wast literally cut and paste), photography, and consulting. I was bitten early by the computer bug and ended up writing 15 books on topics for computer users and artists/crafts persons. While I’ve been a textile artist for several decades, over the past few years I’ve been concentrating more on drawing/painting. I learned of Liz through Sketchbook Skool. If interested, my website is http://www.gloriahansen.com
Hi! My name is Pat. My current home is Ohio. I have lived many places in the U.S. My husband and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this year! We currently have one pet “Minnie Cat” (AKA Minnie Cato), who is a constant subject for my sketching and an absolute source of amusement. I am a retired RN.(worked too many years to count). I love music, art, dancing, nature, animals, Aqua Zumba and cooking. My recent love of sketching really began in April of this year with Sketchbook Skool. That’s where I met Liz and I’m delighted I did!
Hello everyone,
My name is Sandra and I live in Montreal, Canada. I’ve recently retired and I have started taking some lessons in drawing, oil painting and watercolor.
Last year I took a 5-day sketching workshop which I enjoyed immensely. From there, I discovered the online world of urban sketching, through which I found Liz. I consider myself a beginner to sketching and very much look forward to this course and to improving my sketching skills. Thank you for this opportunity Liz!