NYC Urban Sketchers Blog

Let's Take the Show on the Road

Spring is here.  Let's hit the road!

There has been a lot of interest in having events for the NYC Urban Sketchers outside the NY Metro Area.  Here are three trips that will be taking place over the next few months.  Put the dates on your calendars and join in the fun.

Overnight Trip to Philadelphia June 8 

Suzala is coordinating with the Philadelphia USK group for Saturday June 8, 2019.  Details will follow.  

Day Trip to Weir Farm, Wilton Conn June 12  

You may not have heard of Julian Weir but you do know his friends and associates. 

Julian Alden Weir (1852 to 1919) was one of the pioneering American Impressionist.  He and his famous friends—artists Childe Hassam, John Twachtman, and Albert Pinkham Ryder—painted at his summer home in Wilton Connecticut, a farm whose landscape offered the perfect setting to paint en plein air. 

Today, the farm is a 68-acre National Park, only one and a half hours from NYC and the only National Park dedicated to American Impressionist painting. We will be able to sketch the site’s meadows, woodlands and pond and the exteriors of its historic buildings. Park Rangers will happily give us tours of building interiors, including the artist and sculptor studios, the Weir house and his famous portable studio on wheels.  Unfortunately we can’t sketch inside those locations but the exteriors and grounds are ours for the day. To learn more, visit the Weir Farm website at https://www.nps.gov/wefa/index.htm. 

Early June will be a perfect time to capture the flower gardens and meadows.  Join us for a trip into the past to walk, sketch and paint where the great American Impressionists did.  

Note: There is no public transportation to the area and parking is limited,  so we will have to arrange car pools for those who don’t drive.  If you are interested, please contact Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net by May 15th   Only those who RSVP will receive updates and instructions for transportation, materials and food.

Two days In Mystic Seaport September 10-12, 2019

Join us for a drawing excursion to Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Ct., the nation's largest maritime museum, a fully realized 19th century fishing village on the banks of the beautiful Mystic River.  Among it's 17 acres are more than 50 historic houses, shops, galleries and trade buildings that promote an understanding of life in a seaport of that time.  It features the Charles W. Morgan, the last of the wooden whaling ships, a beautiful subject for the sketcher/painter.  In addition, musicians and role players can be found walking the streets and performing in venues. 

 Date; Tuesday, September 10 through Wednesday, September 11 

Group rates for hotels have been arranged.  Interested? Contact Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net for all the details.  


This trip will be announced again during the summer.