More than fifty (50) illustrators are taking part in the UrbanSketchers National Meeting, which this year is being held for the first time on Terceira Island, in a joint organization between UrbanSketchers Portugal (USkP) and UrbanSketchers Terceira Island (USk Terceira).

“The organization of the National Meeting on the island is an important milestone for the group, but above all, proof that the urban and natural landscapes of the Azores are an asset with universal potential,” states UrbanSketchers Ilha Terceira in a press release.

Between August 31 and September 3, the meeting will bring together 58 local and national illustrators who will draw pictures of the island’s urban and natural landscape.

Urban sketching is a drawing in which illustrators draw “in situ.” The artists group in regional and local communities, organizing meetings in predefined locations to create their works collectively.

The practice has been taking place on Terceira Island since 2015. The group of illustrators from the island has already organized more than 100 drawing meetings. Every two weeks, usually on Saturday afternoons, they meet “in places as diverse as a square, the interior of a church, a public building or a viewpoint” to illustrate what they see, “according to the inspiration and technique of each artist.”

“There is no age or talent limit. Everyone is welcome to the meetings, which do not require registration and do not cost anything,” guarantees USk Terceira.

Linked to the global urban sketching movement, UrbanSketchers Portugal (USkP) “brings together people whose passion is drawing and who take that passion into their daily lives.”

The work of the USkP sketchers, who meet regularly to record what they observe, can be seen on the blog https://urbansketchers-portugal.blogspot.com, which anyone can access, both to view and to publish.

UrbanSketchers Portugal wants more and more people to do this kind of drawing, regardless of their training or talent.

“The practice helps us to improve, but above all, it helps us to be happier,” stresses the press release.

Urbansketching is described in a manifesto, divided into eight points: “We draw in situ, indoors and outdoors, directly recording what we observe; our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places where we live and where we travel; our drawings are a record of time and place; we are faithful to the scenes we witness; we use any kind of technique and value each style; we support each other and draw in groups; we share our drawings online; and we show the world, one drawing at a time.”

The program for the National UrbanSketchers Meeting kicks off on August 31 with a reception for participants at the Luís da Silva Ribeiro Public Library and Regional Archive in Angra do Heroísmo.

The following day, participants can draw in the center of Praia da Vitória and at the Wine Museum in the parish of Biscoitos.

On Saturday, the program occurs in the center of Angra do Heroísmo, at Monte Brasil and the São João Baptista Fortress.

The meeting ends on September 3 with a guided walking tour of the historic center of Angra do Heroísmo, followed by the presentation of the urban sketching book “Angra: património de linhas e cores” (Angra: Heritage of Lines and Colors), which brings together 136 drawings by USk Terceira.

As well as visiting some of the “most iconic places on Terceira island,” participants will also have the chance to sample the local cuisine, guarantees USk Terceira, which refers to its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/USKTerceira) for the complete program.

“As well as promoting socializing among urbansketchers, this initiative will be an opportunity to publicize the region since the drawings produced will be authentic works of art about the Azorean landscape,” states the press release.

This unique event is partly sponsored by the municipalities of both cities in Terceira Island, Angra do Heroísmo, and Praia da Vitória.

In Diário Insular newsppaer-José Lourenço, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Medial Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno.