Saturday, October 17 Sketching at A Park Above in Rio Rancho, 10:00 a.m.

Let’s celebrate fall by sketching at a new venue: A Park Above, 2441 Westside Court SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (off of Westside Boulevard in Rio Rancho) at or before 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 17.

The park is well-marked and Westside Court is a small street. You’ll turn left into the parking lot. The main entrance is near the middle of the parking lot.

It’s a compact, thoughtfully designed park with plenty of features— free parking, restrooms, a labyrinth, a dog park, exercise stations, a small amphitheater, a musical play area, playground equipment, water features, and lots of fun things to sketch.

We’ll gather at 11:45 to share our sketches and experiences and take a group photo. Our tentative meeting place will be by the “A Park Above” sign (see below, first row, left) by the entrance. If that changes, I will confirm the exact spot when you arrive. See you there!

Updated location for Wednesday, Sept 23 in Santa Fe!

Due to the forecast of rain most of the day, we are revising our location to accommodate indoor sketching. We will meet at the Iconik coffee roasting company, 314 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe. This is in an old part of town in the Railyard District. There is a small parking area in back and metered street parking.Meet at 10am and sketch until 11:45 when we will regroup to share our experiences and take a group photo. Alita Van Vliet will be hosting this meet up.

This is a coffee shop with atmosphere, and plenty to bring inspiration. Bold color, contemporary lines, great lighting. The patio is really spectacular. Please come prepared to buy a drink/food. 

Note: we were really excited about meeting at Ojo Santa Fe and we plan to go at another time – when weather will allow us to fully engage.

Sketch Wednesday, Sept 23 at Ojo Santa Fe!

Join sketchers on Wednesday September 23rd at beautiful Ojo Santa Fe, 242 Los Pinos Road, Santa Fe. Meet at 10am at the circular “Ceremonial garden” patio and sketch until 11:45 when we will regroup to share our experiences and take a group photo. Alita Van Vliet will be hosting this meet up.

Entry is free, unless you wish to soak that day. We will meet for lunch afterwards on the lower lawn. You can bring a bag lunch or order from the Blue Heron restaurant on site. The food is excellent. 

The serene grounds feature reflective ponds, shaded grassy areas, magnificent trees, fountains and unique buildings.

September 19, 2026, Tingley Beach 10:00 am-12:00

Join us for some outdoor sketching at Tingley Beach, https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/tingley, 1800 Tingley Dr SW, Albuquerque, 87102 from 10:00 am-12:00 on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Admission is free.

You’ll find a large parking lot located at the north end of Tingley Beach and a small parking area located just north of the red cafe building. There are four ponds that have port-a-potties for your convenience.

The cafe is currently closed and it’s the only building structure at Tingley Beach. Around the cafe are tables, flowers and sculptures to sketch.

Sketching opportunities around the ponds are two stone waterfalls, people fishing, water fowl, sculptures and trees and plants.

For those of you who like to live on the wild side, you can venture west at the south end of the four ponds on the bosque walking paths, where there are two nature preserve ponds with more wildlife to sketch. Don’t forget to bring bug repellent!!

We will meet in front of the red cafe building at 11:45 for our throw down, group photo and introductions. Feel free to linger afterwards if you’d like to show your sketchbooks to each other and get to know one another a bit.

Exhibit Sketches

Didn’t get a chance to pick up your sketches from the exhibit? No problem – I’ll bring them.

Saturday’s Impromptu

Here are photos from our Impromptu Sketching in Madrid – what a fun event!

Sketch in Madrid NM this Saturday, Sept 5 & Exhibit of art by fellow USk Albuquerque sketcher at Juan Tabo library

Linda McGuire is hosting a very impromptu sketch outing this Saturday, September 5th, 9:30am. A couple of sketchers from out of town will join us. Meet in front of the Mine Shaft Tavern at 9:30am for introductions (Linda often wears a big hat) followed by sketching. If you’d like to have lunch together at the Mine Shaft afterward, let Linda know.

Artwork by fellow sketcher Maggie Morawietz can now be viewed at the Juan Tabo Library, 3407 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, Albuquerque until the end of September. Open hours at the library are Tuesday/Wednesday 11am – 7pm and Thur/Fri/Sat 10am-6pm:

Pickup Exhibit Sketches this Sat 8/29 (10–11 AM) or at September Outing

You can pick up your sketches from the exhibit at the South Broadway Library from 10-11 am on Saturday, Aug. 29, the last day of the exhibit (the library is closed on Sunday and Monday). If you’re not available that day, you can collect them at our September outing.

Our Route 66 exhibit looked fantastic — colorful, varied, and full of energy. The South Broadway Library manager told us the display is attracting quite a few visitors, which is wonderful to hear and a testament to everyone’s work.

Last Saturday’s sketches

Twelve sketchers, including a few first-timers, gathered at the South Broadway Library on Saturday, Aug. 22 to see our four display cases of Route 66 sketches and other on‑location work. We expected a larger crowd because of the Seed Exchange, but turnout stayed light. Even so, Tamara offered demos for several visitors — including a young girl who lit up while sketching and had a great time.

Sketch Canyon Road in Santa Fe on August 26

Let’s seize the opportunity to escape the heat of the day and enjoy interesting morning shadow patterns along adobe walls, gates framed by weathered wood, cottonwoods arching over the road, hidden courtyards and of course outdoor sculptures. 

On August 26, 2026 (Wednesday), meet 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM at Canyon Road (Gallery Strip). You can park (free) at 225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe (GPS coordinates: N 35.684116, W 105.932859). After you park your car in the lot meet us by the restroom located in the same parking lot next to Galleria Gaia. See attached photo for a landmark object.

Bring: Water, hat, sunglasses, stool, sunscreen, art kit, (lunch)

For lunch, meet at the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail at the food truck circle.You can drive there in two minutes and park in front of the food trucks in their lot. We will meet behind the trucks at the picnic tables in the shade under the trees. Bring your own lunch or grab some lunch from the lunch trucks.

Saturday, 8/22 at 10 am see our exhibit and sketch at the South Broadway Library!

We’ll be sketching at the South Broadway Library, 1025 Broadway Blvd SE (the same building as the South Broadway Cultural Center library) again next Saturday. Join us at 10 am, when the library opens, see the two displays cases featuring Route 66 and two display cases with other on-location sketches, and have fun sketching the lively scene of people participating in the Seed Exchange.

Tamara Williams will have supplies to show participants a quick demo of continuous line drawing – one of her favorite techniques. Please invite friends and family;

Flyer Correction

Unfortunately, the previous flyer had the wrong address. Please let friends and family know, and print the updated flyer instead.

Sketch Pick‑Up — Saturday, Aug. 29, 10-11 am

You can pick up your sketches from the exhibit at the South Broadway Library at 10-11 am on Saturday, Aug. 29, the last day of the exhibit (the library is closed on Sunday and Monday). If you’re not available that day, you can collect them at our September outing.

Admin Update

A warm thank‑you to Michele Smith, who came up with the idea for our impromptus and made them happen—her creativity and initiative have added so much to our chapter. Michele is stepping away from regular admin responsibilities but will be available when we need her! Thanks, Michele.

We’re happy to welcome Cristelle Baskins and Amy Atkinson to our admin team. Christelle will be available for backup and Amy is taking on Impromptus. Thank you both! We’re glad to have you on the team!

Last Saturday’s sketches

We had a fun outing last Saturday, Aug. 15, when 15 sketchers enjoyed seeing the exhibits and sketching the beautiful library. It was a relaxed, creative session and everyone seemed to have a good time!

Sketching at the South Broadway Library on Aug. 15 and Aug. 22!

We’re excited to share that Urban Sketchers ABQ–Santa Fe has a large exhibit at the South Broadway Library during the month of August! We received so many beautiful submissions for our first‑ever sketching exhibit. The range of styles and subjects really makes our group shine; thank you to everyone who contributed! Even better, we were able to include all the sketches in the four exhibit cases — including two cases celebrating the Route 66 Centennial. The library is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., so be sure to stop by and take a look.

Saturday, August 15 — 10:00–11:45 a.m. including demos

Join us at the South Broadway Library, 1205 Broadway Blvd. SE, right when it opens. Invite friends and family!

Amy Atkinson will be demonstrating a couple of easy techniques, and participants can sketch along with her. Supplies are provided and no experience is needed. Everyone is encouraged to join in the fun of drawing on location.

Saturday, August 22 — 10:00–11:45 a.m., also including demos

We’ll be sketching again during the library’s Seeds Swap, so it should be a lively morning with lots of people.

Tamara Williams will be doing the demos and showing participants how to “take a line for a walk.” Again, supplies are provided, and all are welcome. Please invite friends and family to join us!

Please print the flyer and help us spread the word!

Tamara is also reaching out to local media outlets this week to help promote the exhibit and both sketching events. A little publicity goes a long way, and it’s exciting to share what Urban Sketchers ABQ–Santa Fe is doing.

Sketching at Avanyu Plaza in July

Our July group at Avanyu Plaza enjoyed sketching outside with the partly cloudy sky. We welcomed a few sketchers who have returned after some years away. Many sketched other sketchers!

Let’s sketch in Cerrillos on Wednesday July 22

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 22nd at *9am* to sketch this small town with wide gravel streets and heaps of history. Many buildings from the old times remain – some spruced up and some looking their age. Saloons, a Trading Post, Mercantile Shop, Church and Galleries. Take your pick, it’s all fun and leaning towards funky. 

9:00 am: meet at the Visitor’s Center, 37 Main St. Cerrillos. (Yes, we are meeting an hour earlier than usual to beat the heat.)

We will sketch until about 11:00am when we will gather again to share our work and take a group photo. 

Alita Van Vliet, co-admin for the Albuquerque Santa Fe chapter will be hosting this event.