The North Orange County chapter of Urban Sketchers made a morning visit to the historic Hillcrest Park on June 18 to capture its beautiful scenery and outstanding views. An enthusiastic group of nearly 20 members, all with varying ages and skill levels, gathered under a shady tree in front of the Hillcrest Recreation Center and sketched the surrounding area.

The artists primarily focused on the architecture of the recreation building in their works, with some including intricate details of its front walkway and neighboring greenery. Each member employed a unique medium for their illustrations, ranging from physical styles like watercolor and pencil to digital styles on a tablet. At the end of the meeting, all the members celebrated their hard work by displaying their pieces to one another and taking a group photo.

The Urban Sketchers of North Orange County are part of a larger nonprofit organization of artists dedicated to telling stories of the places where they live and travel through on-location drawing. The initiative began in 2007, when journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario established an online forum from his home in Seattle, Washington, for artists like him who enjoyed capturing the sights and scenery of the world on-site.

This forum soon blossomed into a sprawling community of sketchers, and within a year of its creation, a dedicated blog sprang up for them to make their work visible to the world. Urban Sketchers officially became a nonprofit the following year, and the organization has expanded to over 300 chapters worldwide since then, all with a mission to spread awareness of the incredible storytelling capabilities of on-location art, as well as the social and educational value that comes with it.

This chapter of Urban Sketchers hosts events two to four times a month, each at varying locations within North Orange County, and they are always open to new members. If you would like to be a part of their journey to sketch the world, feel free to join their Facebook group, titled “Urban Sketchers North Orange County.” There, you can find all the information for upcoming events, connect with other artists in the area, and view the artworks of talented group members from past events.

Additionally, you can join their mailing list at usknorthoc@gmail.com for consistent announcements and meeting information. So, if you are interested in encapsulating the beauties and wonders of Orange County’s finest offerings, such as the gorgeous Hillcrest Park, then the Urban Sketchers of North Orange County just might be the group for you.

Sources:

https://urbansketchers.org/who-we-are/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/698672195473550

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