USK Manchester Symposium : People Sketching

The most fun thing about the annual Urban Sketchers Symposium is the general acceptance for portrait-stalking.

We get to draw each other without that normal nervous feeling. You know? – If you draw a friend or family member, there’s that little worry – what if this one doesn’t turn out!? With other sketchers, it’s easier. Everyone understands.

Plus – you never have that instinct “don’t get caught staring!” And even better yet, nobody thinks you’re not paying attention when you sketch them.

So here’s some of my sketches from the various lunch breaks, after-parties and sketching hangouts:

There two Genine Carvalheira’s in here, a smudged Jenny Adam, a not-so-great Amber Sausen, a pretty good Paul “Jetlag” Heaston, The Dapper Hat Twins, Daniel Green and Spyro Rondos (Shari’s sig-other), plus Brits Hugh Winterbottom and Elspeth Murray.

Retake of Amber Sausen (who got me playing Pokemon Go: #TeamInstinct because I’m the Yellow Peril).

The never-holds-still-when-talking Liz Steel who y’all know around here. This one drawn with my new magic pen nib (more later on that).

Suhita Shirodkar: regular symposium sketch buddy and fellow Craftsy instructor, also a tireless editor of UrbanSketchers.org

Lapin sketchbombing the leading ladies: Fernanda Vaz de Campos, Simone Ridyard and Elizabeth Alley

Sketchers milling around waiting for the auction to open. Marion Rivolier is in there somewhere. Can  you guess which is her? (Also – this is last day workshop burnout. Down to the printer paper and ballpoint pen! Can’t manage much else :)

Liz Ackerley who took us on a guided tour of local murals – She’s just done an exhibition-and-book of urban sketching with views that incorporate the murals of Manchester.

And, best portrait sketch of the event: This fellow stopped for a chat while I was meeting Hugh and Elspeth. Couldn’t resist sketching that Manc mug!