Charming Chicago

The 2025 USk Chicago Sketch Seminar began in earnest for with a Sketch Meetup: at the Lakefront Park overlooking The Drake Hotel.

Hello there! So, I recently had the chance to visit the vibrant city of Chicago for the first time this year. Why? Well, I was attending the USK Chicago Urban Sketchers Seminar 2025, and let me tell you, it was an absolute blast! 

My partner and I were completed smitten by the city and the incredible event hosted by USK Chicago. All the fellow Urban Sketcher participants and the instructors were so generous and enthusiastic that the weekend just flew by. Not one to miss out on exploring, of course we sampled the cuisine and culture of this great metropolis but truth be told, we immersed ourselves in the unbelievably rich experience of the workshops and the sketch walks. It was an experience like no other!

A big shoutout to USK Chicago for making this such a memorable trip!

USK Chicago Sketch Seminar 2025 – my second sketch of Nishant Jain’s workshop on Saturday 12 July 2025 that helped us tap into our natural curiosity to prioritise what interests us or grabs our attention in a scene, challenging us to make good use of the continuous line.

David Roberts guided us through on how best to create urban sketches on black or dark paper using colour pencils, gel or Posca pens, black markers or crayons with his Sketching on the Darkside (s) workshop.

Of course one had to drink in the stunning views and attempt to immortalise the captivating vistas of the Chicago River. On Saturday 12 July 2025 after a day for exhilarating workshops, I headed out in the late evening to do just that – by the DuSable Bridge along the Chicago River, I ventured forth in me accordion sketchbook to capture what lay before me.