The Saugerties Artists Studio Tour is coming on August 10th and 11th 2024
It’s always the second week in August in Saugerties, NY. This year is the 22nd annual Tour, and 45 artists who have studios in Saugerties will be opening their studios to the public from 10 AM – 6 PM on both Saturday and Sunday that weekend.
I am on the tour this year again, with Urban Sketching
I decided to be a part of the Tour last year and this year because I want to introduce people to Urban Sketching. That is, people who want to do something creative that’s easier and less time-consuming than creating large paintings and artworks. And no art school is required.
Last year I set my studio up with some of my sketchbooks, open so visitors could see examples of my sketching. I also put supplies and paper out so they could try them out. That part was popular. Many of the visitors hadn’t heard of Urban Sketching before, and immediately thought of places they could go to sketch.
This year I’ll set the studio area up with more sketches, and examples of different styles of sketching. For the show that just finished at The Barn at the Saugerties Historical Society, I made a collage that shows the difference between drawing, painting and sketching. That’s a question I’m asked all the time — What is urban sketching? Is it the same as plein air painting? Is it the same as drawing? See the image with this post.
There’s an example of a pencil drawing I did of two seashells. And an example of a sunflower in a vase that I painted in watercolor. Plus, several examples of sketches I’d made.
When people saw the piece in the art show, they saw the difference, and said that they didn’t know about urban sketching, and they might be able to do it. Yes!
If you’re in the Hudson Valley of NY, come join us on the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour – August 10th and 11th 2024. Before you come, check out the Tour website and Tour Map on the website. You’ll see the artists and their works, some videos, and a Tour Map. You’ll be able to pick up a paper map at a number of stores in Saugerties, and then easily drive to the studios you want to visit.
Keep on Sketching! (Or start, if you haven’t already. It’s easier than you think.)
