Looking Back at 2020

Posted: December 27, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

One thing is for sure. No one will forget 2020. We survived COVID-19, lockdowns, furloughs, unemployment, the 2020 election, and more. Through it all, Urban Sketchers was the bright spot in my long year. I hope it was for you too.

Thank you to everyone who sketched with us every month. A special thank you to those who joined us for virtual sketching during both lockdowns. Your dedication to urban sketching is commendable.

As we say aloha to 2020, we gladly welcome 2021 with optimism and hope.

Best wishes and happy 2021,

Terri, Bill, and Christine

Happy Holidays

Posted: December 21, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | 4 Comments

Poinsettia watercolor by Terri & Bill Dux

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

Happy Sketching,
Christine, Bill, and Terri

Planting for the future

Posted: December 14, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: | 3 Comments

Well, we didn’t get to do any sketching at Ka’ena Point on Sunday BUT we did plant native trees and plants on the shoreline!

Christine digging a hole for her native plant.

Mission accomplished!

Bill and me scouting for suitable spots for our Milo trees. Photo credit: Kia Atkins.

Years from now, we can say “Hey, we planted that tree!” Photo credit: Yan Li.

The heat cut our outing short. I nearly fainted a few minutes after this photo was taken. It was touch and go for awhile. But rest assure, I am fine now. I guess I’m not a sun person!

Shout out to Kris Mar from DNLR for organizing this opportunity to meet each other and give back to our community.

Kris on the left. Photo credit: Kia Atkins.

Jolly time sketching at Honolulu Hale

Posted: December 12, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

There were certainly less decorations on the lawn of Honolulu Hale this COVID holidays but nothing could stop our Urban Sketching spirit!

It was so wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones. And of course thank you to our devoted sketchers who make it to every sketching event in 2020.

Thankfully the crowds were small (mostly just us and the security guard). And Shaka Santa and Mrs. Claus were watching over us beaming in the Hawaiian sun.

Here we are in groups of 5 or less.

As for announcements, don’t forget our unofficial Urban Sketchers event at Ka’ena Point tomorrow at 9am to 1pm. See post here. (I baked more cookies!)

As we say aloha to 2020, we at Urban Sketchers O’ahu wish you and your families a very happy and safe holidays. See you in 2021!

Sketching, hiking, and giving back to our community

Posted: December 12, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , | 2 Comments

We have a last minute opportunity to sketch, hike, and give back to our community that we hope everyone can participate.

Sorry, this is really last minute! One of my online classmates (I’m taking a Digital Design class with the O’ahu Back to Work program) has offered our Digital Design classmates and us at Urban Sketchers O’ahu a rare opportunity to plant native trees at an endangered Yellow-faced bee site and then guide us on a 2-mile coastal hike to a bird sanctuary. Our guide, Kris Mar works for Wildlife and Forestry Division for DNLR. He is also a talented artist.

Artwork by Kris Mar. Created in Adobe Illustrator. ®2020

This is not an official Urban Sketcher Oahu event. But a great opportunity for us as artists to experience the beauty of our island in a personal and reflective way.

Kris will bring garden gloves and trowels. But says you can bring your own gloves if you want. Also he says to bring plenty of water, snack, and sun protection.

Planting is at the entrance of the park. Then he will take us on an optional hike to see a bird sanctuary.

Please email us if you are interested in attending at uskoahu@gmail.com

Are you ready to ho-ho-ho?

Posted: December 7, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Shaka Santa and Mrs. Claus are donning their facemasks and waiting for us at Honolulu Hale. We are so excited to see you as we sketch together this Saturday, December 12th at 10am. Please read previous post here for location.

To RSVP, email uskoahu@gmail.com by Friday, December 11th with your name and phone number. It looks like there will be 9 of us so far, so we will break up into 2 groups to be compliant with Oahu’s Tier 2 guidelines. You can also review Urban Sketchers guidelines here.

See you on Saturday 10am to noon!

Happy sketching.