Happy Rain Blesses Our Artwork

Posted: May 15, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Thank you everyone who braved the rain to join us at the Punchbowl scenic lookout for a morning of urban sketching. I know most of us didn’t get to finish our sketches due to weather. I still hope you found the view of Honolulu from Diamond Head to the airport inspiring. 

As the rain drifted in and out, we still found time to do quick sketches of the view.

Some of us chose the iconic Diamond Head as our focal point.

Even in the rain, we all enjoyed a nice morning of urban sketching.

I’m working on our next exciting sketching event for June. Check back here for updates.

A Quiet View of Honolulu

Posted: May 3, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

I’ve been wanting to sketch an aerial view of Honolulu for awhile now. Thanks to Christine who did some reconnaissance over the weekend to locate a spot.

We’re back to Saturday sketching. Sorry for the confusion last month. Hope everyone can make it.

If you haven’t been to Punchbowl, there is a great view of Honolulu from the scenic lookout with lots of free parking. It’s a short walk to the lookout from the parking stalls near the public restroom. Sorry, there’s no shade from the lookout.

Other sketching options are the Lady Columbia statue and the memorial itself. There’s a nice view of the crater from the entrance with lots of shady trees. Because Memorial Day falls on the last weekend of May, we are moving up our sketching day to the middle of the month, when it may be less busy.

If attending, please email us at uskoahu@gmail.com by Friday, May 14th with your name and phone number. We will retain the list for contact tracing purposes. Also, please read this previous post regarding Guidelines for Urban Sketchers Chapter Gatherings.

About the National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl Cemetery)

The cemetery opened to the public on July 19, 1949 and now is the final resting place for 53,000 World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans and their dependents. At the top of the staircase in the Court of Honor is a statue of Lady Columbia, also known as Lady Liberty, or Justice. She is reported to represent all grieving mothers. 

What a beautiful day to be sketching

Posted: April 25, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , | 5 Comments

Thank you everyone who joined Urban Sketchers O’ahu on Sunday at the historic YWCA on Richards St. It was such a beautiful day to be sketching together.

To our new sketchers:

You are brave. It’s not always easy to share your artwork. But you did it. Sharing is how we grow as artists and you took the first brave step forward. We welcome you to our group with open arms. Please share your sketch on flicker so we can see it again.

To our seasoned sketchers:

Thank you for your support and dedication to Urban Sketchers O’ahu. We are grateful for your valuable time to help us grow our small group every month.

To YWCA:

Thank you for opening your gorgeous double doors on a Sunday and letting us sketch the amazing detailed architecture of such a lovely historical building.

Sweet Sketching at Sweet Land Farm

Posted: March 20, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

Got a little worried driving to Waialua this morning with all the rain we’ve been having. But when we got there…

Abolutely gorgeous. Green grass. A little drizzle. Beautiful red barns. And the most adorable goats! 

For all the new sketchers, you picked a good one. Sweet Land Farm is a picturesque best kept secret in Waialua. I hope everyone had a nice time sketching in the country and immersed themselves into this adorable family farm.

If you missed it, please enjoy browsing our photos. 

Don’t miss our next event!

In partnership with AIA, our next event is April 24th at the historic YWCA in downtown Honolulu. AIA will be celebrating architecture month with events throughout April and we are honored to be invited to celebrate with them on the 24th. We’ll post more details in a few weeks.

Ready, Set, GOAT!

Posted: March 8, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

OMG. I’m so excited about our next sketching event. I hope you will make the drive to Central Oahu because I assure you, this is a GOAT one!

I recently visited Sweet Land Farm and I fell in love. First of all, the property is beautiful. Open pasture with red barns. Adorable plantation-style housing which are recycled from Schofield Barracks. And best of all, hundreds of the most adorable goats!

Please note, that we are moving our sketching time to 9am, with group sharing at 11:00 so that you’ll have extra time to walk around. Please bring your own chair. As we will be on private property, please be respectful to the farm and people around you. Wear a mask and remember to social distance.

About Sweet Land Farm

Sweet Land Farm is a certified goat dairy in beautiful Waialua. The property is 86 acres of old pineapple fields in Waialua on O’ahu. They currently have 160 lactating goats that are milked twice daily. The goats will give on average 3/4 to 1 gallon of milk per day.

Currently, Sweet Land Farm is opened to the public every Saturday 9am to noon. They have a little farm store that sells farmstead goat cheese, homemade caramel, soaps, lotions, goat-loving t-shirts, and other goat-inspired products. I encourage to check out their products. Support local!

Directions from Honolulu

Best way to locate Sweet Land Farm is to use google maps on your cellphone. Address is 65-1031 Kaukonahua Rd, Waialua, HI 96791. https://goo.gl/maps/86LUqgrmS8RkxawV9

Travel north on H-1. Take H-2 to Wahiawa. Stay on Wilikina Drive, until it turns into 803. Travel on 803. After you pass Hawaiian Earth Products on your left, take the next left. There should be a sign that says “Goat Cheese for Sale.” Travel until the fork in the road. Turn left. There is plenty of grassy parking near the structures.

If you plan to attend, please email us at uskoahu@gmail.com by Friday, March 19th with your name and phone number. We will retain the list for contact tracing purposes. Also, please read this previous post regarding Guidelines for Urban Sketchers Chapter Gatherings.

I hope you will join us for a fun day of sketching on the farm. This is going to be a good one!

Sharing our aloha at Aloha Tower

Posted: February 27, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

The rain may have dampened our sketchbooks, but not our spirit at today’s Urban Sketchers event at Aloha Tower. Super proud of our little group of O’ahu Urban Sketchers who braved the weather to sketch together.

Don’t forget to post your sketches to our flickr group so we can see your beautiful work.

Announcements
I passed out flyers with information on how we can connect together.
Website
Our main source of communication is our blog. Usually updated on Mondays before an event and Saturdays after an event. Click the follow box to get notifications by email.
flickr.com
Share your sketches to our flickr account so that other members can see your art. If possible, post on same day of event.
facebook.com
Share and post comments about your sketches on Facebook.
instagram.com
Share and make comments about your sketches on Instagram. Use hashtags so that your sketches can be easily found by other Urban Sketchers globally. You can use up to 30 hashtags per post. #urbansketchers. Also tag us @urbansketchersoahu
urbansketchers.org
Read mission statement, latest news, and stories from headquarters. Also see details on Reportage grant celebrating storytelling through sketching. Deadline is May 1, 2021.
YouTube.com
Find inspiration with other urban sketchers from around the globe. Participate in weekly usktalks challenges on Instagram using #usktalkschallenge. The live broadcast is every Sunday at 5am. You can always watch the rebroadcast anytime.

The Return to Virtual Sketching

Posted: January 18, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Sounds like a sequel to Star Wars, right?

As we are seeing an increase in COVID-19 numbers, we will return to virtual sketching in January.

This Saturday, January 23rd, let’s sketch together while remaining safely apart. The theme, “A Day in the Pandemic” is inspired from USk Talks Season 2, Episode 2. You can watch the entire episode on YouTube here.

You can choose to sketch throughout the day or share one sketch that captures the mood of the day.

The challenge of sketching throughout the day is filling the page as day progresses.

Choosing to sketch a moment in time allowed me space to journal my emotions.

I hope you enjoy this process. At the very least, you’ll have a page of your day documented to always reflect upon. 

Please share your sketches on our flickr page this Saturday or Sunday. Looking forward to see your day in the pandemic.

Happy sketching.

Take your sketching to a new level

Posted: January 4, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: USkO | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

If you are looking for inspiration to up your sketching game, here are a couple of suggestions worth trying.

A few weeks ago, spoonflower.com announced their second-annual #doodleadayJan challenge with daily doodling prompts. Anyone can participate. Keep in mind, this is not urban sketching, rather a way to practice sketching on a daily basis. Post your doodle on Instagram and tag it with @spoonflower and @ellolovey with #DoodleADayJanELSF. Special prizes will be awarded at the end of the month. Visit www.spoonflower.com for more details.

Last year, during the first lockdown, Urban Sketchers launched USkTalks on Instagram. It was a wonderful way to connect to other Urban Sketchers around the world. On January 3rd, they launched their second season. This time, it’s on YouTube. It’s a live broadcast at 5 a.m. HST every Sunday.

It’s fun to sketch during the show.

If 5 a.m. is too early for you night owls, you can watch the replay anytime. 

Every episode offers sketch challenges. These are fun. You can participate by posting your sketch on Instagram with #usktalkschallenge. 

Save the date!

Our next event will be Saturday, January 23rd. More info will be posted shortly.

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

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!

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