Artful Explorers

As Explorers of Art and explorers full of art, we strive to provide a free, welcoming and safe space weekly for artists and artful explorers of all skill levels to gather, learn, and create in all mediums online via Zoom. Developing themed events geographically encompassing landscapes, architecture, history, festivals, people and their traditions throughout the world to inspire artistic exploration and creativity

Follow us on Eventbrite, and find us on FaceBook both as Artful Explorers

More about us!

Since the pandemic began in 2020, NYC Urban Sketchers has conducted free virtual sketching events every Saturday, open to people all ages and skill levels. The events have drawn participants from around the world. While these virtual sketching events started as a response to the pandemic, they have grown into something much bigger. As Covid numbers grew or lock downs occurred, we began to see large clusters of attendees from the worst affected areas. Often the breakout rooms were filled with voices from Germany, Spain, Italy, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales as well as the United States. The weekly events have become a community of artists sharing their passion for art with each other. For two hours each week sketchers push aside their worries and the problems of the world.

Now that the world is opening up, NYC Urban Sketchers is holding to the urban sketchers manifesto, and thus, since the virtual group by definition cannot follow the manifesto, we are branching out on our own to continue this wonderful online activity.

For each Saturday online event, a committee selects subjects, performs research, and then creates original content, which provides participants an online opportunity to travel around the world exploring world heritage sites, history and diverse cultural traditions. A reference website is created for each event, containing topical and historical information with photographic references that can be used for virtually exploring art the day of the event. All reference links are archived and accessible for participants to utilize in the future.

On the day of the event, a video created by an Artful Explorer provides an overview of the subject with suggestions on possible inspiration options. Participants are assigned to breakout rooms in groups of 6 to 10 within the Zoom application. This allows participants to get to know each other and learn from each other, and promotes a nurturing atmosphere that inspires the creation of themed images in the artist’s medium of choice. The whole group comes back together at the end of the session for for sharing. Participants are encouraged to post their work on our FaceBook page and offer supportive comments on the work of others.

In many cases artists would not be able to attend an in-person event. And in some cases geography prevents artists from attending events on location. The Saturday virtual events have allowed artists to continue using and refining their skills while sharing the camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts. Our weekly events provide a life enriching program of learning and socialization for those who are homebound due to physical/mental health disabilities, high risk chronic health conditions, cancer patients; respite for caregivers, parents, teachers, and seniors; and those who live alone or in shelters or group homes. We have received a host of testimonials from participants about the importance of these events in helping individuals maintain a sense of community, fellowship, and mental health during these difficult times. People from all walks of life from around the world come together to share their passion for artful exploration through our weekly online sketch events. Creating is the the thread that brought these artists together.