Members drew the blueprint of Abids book market. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Hyderabad chapter of Urban Sketchers (USK-H) is celebrating an important milestone – its 300th event – this month. This global community of artists practicing drawing on location has turned the occasion into a month-long celebration. “Instead of celebrating the milestone as a single event on one day, we planned to spread it out over the entire month,” says Faraz Farshori, USK-H co-founder and software architect.
sunday session
In Mozzamjahi Bazaar… telling this with diagrams. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
At a recent Sunday Meet-up held in Abids, members of this global community of artists presented the Sunday Book Fair, Taj Mahal Hotel and Mojjamjahi Market through sketches. While the sketching session in Banjara Hills on December 8 includes Lamakan, GVK Mall and City Center shopping areas, the focus on December 22 will be on Bara Gali, Hussaini Alam, Charminar and Khilwat in the Old City. However, the group is most excited about the session to be held on December 14 at the Police Commissionerate on Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, as they have never drawn any blueprint of this building.
The Hyderabad group, a chapter of the US-based Urban Sketchers (USK), held its first event in November 2017, in which members sketched the Boat Club at Tank Bund. Since then, around 30-60 members have captured a slice of the city’s landscape on paper in their two-hour sessions at various locations. Members display sketchbooks with various expressions, come together for a group photo and post it online. “The idea is for everyone to put their observations and insights on paper as urban sketchers,” says Faraz.
Faraz Farshori (wearing glasses) takes a selfie. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
USK-H’s vibrant community has brought together individuals from diverse professions. These hobbyist/amateur artists set out on individual sketch journeys to present different dimensions of the same building/road through sketches. “Most individuals are not professional artists; They take it up as a weekend hobby, something they had missed until then,” says Faraz, who made art as a child but later stopped it and started Urban Sketchers as a tool Saw it again while using.
home for creativity
See and sketch. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For Di Hu, an education consultant at Amerigo Education, USK-H provides an avenue for her creativity and a way to discover the city. Di Hu joined Urban Sketchers in Washington in 2021 and takes her sketchbook to cafes, doctor’s appointments, and on her travels. “It’s a great way to observe and record my surroundings. Every place where I draw became deeply a part of my life. I feel as if I have interacted with the place and its people and made a deeper connection than if I had just walked through or photographed it. With my sketchbook and brushes, I become part of the scene and the scene becomes part of me.
USK-H also conducts free workshops on the basics of watercolor, sketching and charcoal drawing, helping budding artists broaden their creative boundaries.
Those interested in attending Sunday’s session can find more information through USK-H’s social media pages.
published – December 05, 2024 11:34 am IST
