VSW (Short for Virtual Sketch Walk): Amsterdam

Posted on August 4, 2015 by dkatiepowellart

A virtual sketch walk is one in which
you never leave your chair.

The opposite of urban sketchers, which is all about sketching your environment
from real life, as a virtual sketcher you are sketching from your own,
another person’s (with permission), or Google map images.
I did my first one during the International Fake Journal Month,
when I took a virtual trip while recouping from surgery.
(Note all the writing was fakery too — part of the game of IFJM!)
All my travel was done from my bed (I was laid up) using Google maps and Google virtual street views, and an occasional Wikipedia Creative commons photograph.

As an Urban Sketcher, I enjoy getting out and sketching the city or my real travels.
And, I also work full time and often my sketching time is between 4-6am or early evening.
Virtual sketching allows me to continue to enjoy myself, hone my drawing skills, and basically do when I used to sketch at architectural lectures — draw from slide shows!

(All photographic images from Google maps.)

Amsterdam!

This virtual walk in Amsterdam was mapped by Rene Fitjen, an architect and artist,
and part of a small group of artists who sometimes play alongside each other in
sketching games that allow us to see how we handle the same basic images.

You can take any walk you want anytime you want!

My walk:

I love doing these exercises!

They are like a meditation to me, as I draw in pencil and ink.
After I play with watercolor at the end of my more sketching time.

I find a virtual image (this is from Google streets) and
sketch from it as if I am there in real time.
I can also use my own camera on a walk — or have a friend take a walk
and capture what they see — and then sketch it “as if.”

They are fast and fun and I can do them anytime!

I map out a page to allow for a certain congruity in my “walks.”

Depending upon the size sketchbook, your images will be small —
mine are in the 3″x3″ range, or double that for the long ones.
The size came out of my Moleskin Journal which is A4 landscape sized.

I lay in a pencil outline — a few lines — or not,
and then use ink, followed by watercolor — or not!

No rules except it these are virtual!

I also learn about the places I sketch. I knew Amsterdam had Red Light districts,
and the idea that Oude kerk (one of the oldest churches) might be near the red light districts was predictable. However, they had sculptures all AROUND
it that were celebrations of the world’s oldest profession! Whoa!
Made me think about the Puritanical nature of the USA.

Some artists look down their noses at those that
sketch or paint from images.

I don’t.

First of all, drawing and painting are drawing and painting, period.
You define if you are an artist or not.

I also heartily encourage everyone to paint and sketch from real life whenever possible.
Images flatten out reality and influence the way you perceive and therefore depict images.

AND, this year I also learned what it is all about to be confined to an inner space,
be it a bed, a wheelchair, or a hospital —
or even keeping someone company daily in that situation.
Three months of virtual painting saved me from
going stir-crazy, as one can only sketch the cats, one’s toes, a stack of books,
one’s art tools and the items next to the bed or the room for so long!

I started a Facebook group page to allow everyone to comfortably post their virtual sketches, and also where we will, from time to time, take virtual sketch walks. For a short time I am letting the group be public, so anyone can see what this might be about.
Eventually we will be closed to public viewing, and then you must play to view!

Why a closed group?

Sometimes you want to be able to experiment as an artist and it is nice to know that only the other artists who “have skin in the game” can see your experiments. If you are interested, you can ask to be admitted after the group is closed for privacy.

I also created an accompanying Flickr group!

Come join us if you are inclined!

Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, De Artramentis
Document Black ink and Platinum Carbon ink; Daniel Smith and Holbien watercolors.

All my International Fake Journal Month posting are copyrighted.
It is unusual for me to not do Creative Commons but there is a reason.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.

About dkatiepowellart

hollywood baby turned beach gurl turned steel&glass city gurl turned cowgurl turned herb gurl turned green city gurl. . . artist writer photographer. . . cat lover but misses our big dogs, gone to heaven. . . buddhist and interested in the study of spiritual traditions. . . foodie, organic, lover of all things mik, partner in conservation business mpfconservation, consummate blogger, making a dream happen, insomniac who is either reading buddhist teachings or not-so-bloody mysteries or autobio journal thangs early in the morning when i can't sleep

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