A small group of sketch enthusiasts are chronicling history through art.
Dubbed as “Urban Sketchers Baguio (USK Baguio),” ten artists meet once a week and collectively choose a location and proceed to draw what they see.
Local artist, Sharla Ngayodan said USK is a group of artists in Baguio who get together and sketch on location, “We are a small number of local artist enthusiasts though we welcome everyone to join our sketch events. It started early this year when we thought of taking our art tambays from inside coffee shops and trying them outdoors.”
The first urban sketching session as held at the Baguio Post Office Park which was the start of many “sketch walks” in around the city, since then the group has created an online communication platform where they decide where ang when to meet to sketch.
Aurelio Castro, from Urban Sketchers Manila established in 2011 shares it was in 2022 during his sketching exhibit at the Baguio Convention Center that he and co artist, Ged Alangui planned to create a sketching chapter in Baguio, but was overtaken by schedules.
“A few months ago nakita ko na may small group na nag sketching sa Post Office park. I reached out to them and helped na magawa na yung group as chapter na ng urban sketchers sa Baguio.”
Castro made the logo for the BSK group and plans to join them soon. USK Baguio is a loose group composed of budding and seasoned artists who take to the art of urban sketching, coming together when they can and drawing scenes as it happens.
Ngayodan said urban sketching is drawing what you see on location, where you live, or when traveling. It tells the story of a moment. More than just drawing architectural structures or landscapes, it can include people, cars, and the life around the location. Any art material of choice can be used to sketch.
“We desire to share our enthusiasm for urban sketching with everyone. We hope to pioneer an inclusive, passionate, and inspiring community of people who will create and share one drawing at a time with the city and the world,” she said.
In early May, USK gathered 56 attendees for their City Hall Park session, with the youngest sketcher pegged at 3 years old and the most senior at 90 years old, who caught on to the craze they saw in social media. 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙖 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙟𝙖𝙣
