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.

July 18 sketch at Avanyu Plaza Starbucks; bring sketch exhibit submissions

On July 18, let’s meet a little earlier at *9:00am* on the patio at the Starbucks at Avanyu Plaza (12th St. north of I-40) across the street from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Starbucks has a large patio with fireplaces inside and out; enjoy an iced drink and sketch people and buildings. We’ll gather again at 11:00am to share our sketches. If anyone wants to have lunch afterwards, there are several options including a restaurant inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

If you haven’t yet submitted your sketches for the August Route 66 Sketch Exhibit at South Broadway Library, this is the last day to submit them to Virginia and Michele. Please download the PDF below, print it, fill out and bring the paper exhibit consent form with your sketch.

From the Streets to the Spotlight Exhibit GuidelinesDownload

For questions, please email me directly at jkisrob@gmail.com (do not comment on this post).

In June this great group, including a visitor and a couple of sketchers new to the group, braved the heat to sketch at the Albuquerque Art Museum Sculpture Gardens.

June 20, 2026, Sketch the Sculpture Garden around the ABQ Art Museum *9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.*

Join us at the Albuquerque Art Museum Outdoor Sculpture Garden, 2000 Mountain Rd NW 87104 https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum at 9:00 am. *NOTE EARLIER TIME!* We will be sketching the outdoor sculptures, and there’s a lot to choose with the variety of sculptures on all sides of the building. Access to the back sculpture garden is located through the gate on the south side of the building. We will meet in the back sculpture garden at 10:45 for our throw down, photos and introducing ourselves to new members. Bring something to sit on and a shade umbrella if you have one.

There is a public restroom close by in Old Town towards the back of the white courtyard area on the west side of the church if you’re not a member of the museum.

You can park for free at the covered parking structure located on the corner of Mountain and 20th St., across the street from the museum on the north side.

The museum currently has a Route 66 exhibit inside that you might want to visit.

Reminder about our exhibit and deadline!

Albuquerque–Santa Fe Urban Sketchers is celebrating the Mother Road’s Centennial with an exhibit from our sketching community at South Broadway Library during August. Remember that the drop-off date for your sketches and signed agreement are at our July 18 sketch meet-up unless you’ve arranged something else with Virginia or Michele. Here are the links to download the flyer and guidelines.

Sketches from our May 16 get-together

We had a good turnout at the Japanese Garden at the ABQ BioPark, including 2 newcomers. Many said that the garden is one of their favorite places to sketch. Linda McGuire didn’t go inside the Botanical Gardens and instead sketched the El Vado. The weather cooperated beautifully. Check out these lovely sketches!

Mark your calendars for 2 sketch meetings in Santa Fe in June!

In addition to our usual Santa Fe meetup on the fourth Wednesday (June 24th at El Rey Court) we are adding an impromptu meet up on Saturday, June 13th @ 10am at Cathedral Park, 131 Cathedral Way.

We will briefly gather at the steps of the Cathedral at 10 AM for introductions. Then sketch until 11:45 when we will meet to share our work and take a group photo. Pack a lunch if you’d like and enjoy afterwards. 

In honor of the Centennial of Route 66 (and our upcoming exhibition spotlighting the historic Route), we will have an opportunity to sketch the adjacent La Fonda Hotel which was a key location on the original Route 66. Additionally the park is a beautiful setting featuring fountains, sculpture, large trees and shaded benches–all endless options for architectural sketches in this historic part of town. 

There is shade and occasional benches, but bring a portable chair if you want more options for that perfect sketch location.

Free weekend parking is a few blocks away at the NM State Land Office, 310 Old Santa Fe Trail. Or park in the large lot across from the Roundhouse. Otherwise there is metered street parking in the immediate neighborhood. 

Alita Van Vliet, co admin for Santa Fe will be hosting this event. For any questions contact her via email at alita2vs@hotmail.com (don’t ask here on WordPress).

Let’s get charged up and ready for our upcoming exhibition in August! Sketches from Route 66 will be featured in addition to any others you’d like to submit. Alita will be accepting entries at our next few meet ups for those who can not make it to the July 18th meet up in Albuquerque.