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Sketch of Forward Craft & Coffee\u00a0by member Cynthia Zick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Photo courtesy of Cynthia Zick <\/p>\n
“Urban sketching” started with the artist Gabriel Campanario, who created an online forum in 2007 for artists to share sketches of their cities. The sketches were to be created on location, without relying on memory or a photo. Today,\u00a0Urban Sketchers<\/a>\u00a0is an international organization with chapters across the United States, including four in Wisconsin: Chippewa Valley, Waupaca, Racine and Madison.<\/p>\n Urban Sketchers Madison was formed in 2011, and a few years ago, it became an official chapter. Their biweekly meetings typically consist of 5 to 22 participants. No matter the turnout, the sketchers\u2019 goal remains the same: to create something.<\/p>\n Cynthia Zick, one of the group’s administrators, recalls a meeting at Olbrich Botanical Garden\u2019s Royal Thai Pavilion. \u201cI sketched everything you can see from horizon to horizon. When we did the throwdown, some people had just drawn a leaf,\u201d Zick says. \u201cIt doesn’t matter how crappy it is or good it is, you created something that wasn\u2019t there before.”<\/p>\n The artists’ sketches capture moments across the city in a way they believe is more vivid than any photo.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you open it up, even a year later, you remember the sights, the sounds, the smells. Somehow it’s very different from just taking a photo,\u201d says sketcher Tsela Barr.<\/p>\n Sketch of the Capitol building by member Lily Chang.\u00a0<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Lily Chang <\/p>\n \u201cHere, There, and Everywhere,\u201d\u00a0features sketches created across the city. The artwork is displayed by location, including the north, south, east, and west sides of town, central Madison, coffee shops and transit.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s very approachable to all ages across the spectrum because it’s all places people will recognize in Madison,\u201d says Kathy Bradley, another one of the group’s members. \u201cThere’s something there for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n \u200bUrban Sketchers Madison is always open to new members of all experience levels and ages \u2014 they\u2019ve even had members’ kids join in, sketching with crayons. Information about joining and details about their weekly meetups is shared in their Facebook group<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lily Spanbauer is an editorial intern at Madison Magazine.<\/p>\n \u200bCOPYRIGHT 2026 BY MADISON MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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