Pods, Pumps, and Pools

Posted: May 21, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Archie Baker Park in Makiki may appear unassuming but yesterday magnificently illustrated the Urban Sketcher credo: to the curious eye, worthy sketching targets will reveal themselves everywhere. At Archie Baker Park, many of us found themselves enthralled by the most enormous Earpod tree (a designated Hawaiʻi Exceptional Tree) at the makai end of the park, but the pumping station and water tank at the other end were featured in several sketches too, as were many of the charming residential dwellings in the neighborhood. Following in Mayumi’s footsteps, Sebastian presented a brief architectural and historical overview (Archie Baker served the Board of Water Supply for 46 years) that had us wishing the wading pool in front of the pumping station (a deliberate adornment added by architect Hart Wood) was still around. Show-and-tell proved as inspiring as ever, offering a wide range of media, styles, and subjects. And the weather was perfect too –– what more could one ask for?

As always, don’t forget to check out our sketches on Flickr and upload your own!

Stay tuned for our next event in June… to be announced soon!

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Next Event!

Posted: May 14, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: | Leave a comment

Reads, Rides, and Rhythms

Posted: May 7, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

The Hawaiʻi Book and Music Festival served up a veritable party yesterday, with public readings, delightful music, panel discussions, bouncing castles, and lots of good food. Oh, and books of course! Trees seemed to have been the theme of the day among sketchers, with many of us trying to find the right balance between large-scale appearance and detail. Or, as Keith put it: “isolate shapes”. After show-and-tell, the nearby book swap tent proved irresistible, adding a literary dessert to our sketching main course. An event we will make sure to attend again next year!

As always, don’t forget to check out our sketches on Flickr and upload your own!

See you at our next event on May ​20​ at Archie Baker Park!​

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Next Event!

Posted: May 1, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: | Leave a comment

For a detailed layout of ​the ​Hawaiʻi Book and Music Festival click here.

The People’s Climate March

Posted: May 1, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Last Saturday was the People’s Climate March, and a sister event was held near Waikīkī Beach in Honolulu. I sketched on the move as the march headed down Kalākaua Avenue, and also tried to capture the crowd that gathered at the end by focusing on all the feet. The colors, outfits (including snorkels!), and signs were fun to draw.

Wrapping Up Architecture Month

Posted: April 29, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

The venue for our second April event was one of downtown Honolulu’s historic landmarks, the Dillingham Transportation Building. Undoubtedly as the result of a flash flood warning just an hour prior, turnout was on the low side. Those who attended were treated to perfectly dry conditions though, in a lovely setting. We sketched the surrounding high-rises (of which there was no shortage), searched (under Mayumi’s guidance) for nautical elements and other architectural Easter eggs in the Dillingham Transportation Building, shared our sketches (some exhibiting new approaches and tools), and chatted into the evening.

Thanks to Mayumi and AIA Honolulu for including us in their April calendar of events! We hope to be part of Architecture Month again next year!

As always, don’t forget to check out our sketches on Flickr and upload your own!

See you at our next event on May 6 at the Hawaiʻi Book and Music Festival!

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March for Science

Posted: April 27, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Last Saturday was Earth Day! Throngs of people attended the March for Science in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Many were carrying self-made signs with clever phrases like “science has no sense of rumor”, which were a highlight of the event. Below is my sketch of everyone gathered on Bachman Lawn (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus) just before marching down University Avenue.

This Friday!

Posted: April 26, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: | Leave a comment

April ain’t over yet!

Posted: April 18, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Architecture month is still in full swing. Don’t miss this month’s events and don’t forget about our second sketch outing (a collaboration with AIA’s Honolulu chapter) on April 28!

Architecture Month!

Posted: April 9, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Using the AIA Center for Architecture as our base, 30 sketchers (our biggest turnout so far) fanned out to explore the neighboring streets of downtown Honolulu. The view of picturesque Aloha Tower proved too much to resist for many of us, but the intricate details of building facades, gates, and doors, as well as the many shrubs, trees, and planters in the area all received due attention too. And who knew there was a cannon nearby!

To add an educational element to the sensory experience, Mayumi treated us to an overview of the architecture and history of some of the prominent buildings on and around Fort Street Mall. Hands up: who knew about the Russian fort (and later prison) that lends Fort St. Mall its name?

Show-and-tell was stunning in the wonderful setting of the AIA Honolulu headquarters, which also provided a great environment to mingle afterwards and talk about upcoming opportunities and events during Architecture Month.

We closed out the day with a raffle and our usual celebratory group photo (fitting everyone in the frame proved challenging).

As always, don’t forget to check out our sketches on Flickr and upload your own!

See you at our next event on April 28 at the Dillingham Transportation Building!

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