See The Story
Driven by a passion for creating, connecting, and serving, Alán Ramiro brings his unique blend of creative and technical experience to the world of urban sketching. His decade of working in the architecture industry in the United States multiplied by numerous travels around the world has honed his ability to translate complex structures into lively sketches.
During a recent sketching journey through Rome, Italy, Alán was met with the challenge of intricate facade details that birthed a new technique that revolutionized his approach – sketching shadows first. This simple yet powerful technique transformed the way he approaches architectural details, instilling freedom and energy into his sketches.
Alán’s childhood sketches took a backseat until his architecture studies in Barcelona in 2013 reignited his passion. Faced with time and financial constraints, he embraced the urgency to master sketching, giving rise to ‘seethelines.’ “La necesidad agudiza el ingenio,” his Spanish family host remarked—necessity is the mother of invention. Through rigorous visualization exercises, Alán discovered the transformative power of urban sketching for self-actualization. Now based in Lisbon, Alán’s journey has evolved, embracing the dual roles of artist and educator on a path of creative exploration. His workshops guide sketchers to infuse personal experiences into their art, transcending mere replication. Urban sketching, for Alán, translates the essence of time, place, spirit and mood in each sketch.
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This Sketchbook took
SEVEN YEARS to Complete!
YouTube Feature with SLEW!
Yup, you read it right, I met the one and only SLEW in Brooklyn, New York. We had an artist jam on my travel sketchbook of 7-years.
Traveling has a way of connecting you to the right people at the right time, it’s called, “divine timing”. And this session with, Slew brought about inspiring conversations through the journey of my travel sketchbook. Check out the video here on, Slew’s incredible YouTube channel.
Sketching the World
Embracing Uncertainty
and Following your Dreams
Podcast Episode with Sean Joyner
“In this second episode, I spoke with artist and traveler, Alán Ramiro Manning. Alán has been traveling the world and sketching for over ten years, visiting over 25 countries, and still going.
He is an urban sketcher who has set out to create beautiful art, connect with people of all cultures, and serve them in the process. We talk about his path to becoming a full-time traveler, his background in architecture, embracing uncertainty, and much more.”
Rising Stars:
Meet Alán Ramiro Manning
Voyage Phoenix Features: 2022
Hi Alán, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
There I was catching my breath on the train after running through the halls with a bag full of coins. The train door closes and a full rush of chills envelopes me as a tear drops from my eye. It really worked. I made enough money to eat for two weeks selling my sketches on the streets of Barcelona. This is where “see the lines” began. Now let me take you to the beginning.
Meet Alán Ramiro Manning | Travel Artist, Designer & Teacher
Shoutout LA Features: 2021
Hi Alán, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
There I was catching my breath on the train after running through the halls with a bag full of coins. The train door closes and a full rush of chills envelopes me as a tear drops from my eye. It really worked. I made enough money to eat for two weeks selling my sketches on the streets of Barcelona. This is where “see the lines” began. Now let me take you to the beginning.
Artist and designer Alán Ramiro Manning launches new architectural hand sketching course
Archinect Features: 2021
“”I created the Travel Sketching in Puerto Vallarta online course because travel sketching has been a vehicle for me to connect with people all around the world, and I want to share that gift with others by empowering them to do the same,” Alán told Archinect about the course. The 2-hour course covers principles including one-point perspective and proportions, pencil work, pen work, and watercolor.”
EP 72 :: Alán Ramiro & Finding Connection Through Sketching
Etchr Podcast Interview: 2021
“With ten years of experience and 20 countries visited, Alan Ramiro is no stranger to Urban Sketching. His desire to connect, create and serve fueled him to share his artistic gift with the world through teaching.”
In this episode, we talked about :
- Urban Sketching is a form exchange
- Art as a vehicle for connection
- How life experiences can be pivotal for pursuing a deeper calling
- Letting go of the desire to be perfect
- How to create a 7-minute sketch
- How eye-level is a magnet
- Fundamental values of Urban Sketching
LIVE Interview with Dean Graziosi
Project Next LIVE Masterclass Interview: 2021
Read ther interview: coming soon…
True Grit: How One Designer Taught Himself to Draw and Became an International Artist
Archinect Features: 2019
“I went to School with Alan and I remember how underappreciated his sketching was until he came back from Barcelona and believe me when I say he inspired a lot of us to fill sketchbooks of rough drawings again. Great Article Sean”
– Byron Marroquin
“Inspired me to start Sketching keep up the grit Alan “
– Warren Maugo
Hello, we are the New York City chapter of the international group called Urban Sketchers. We had the pleasure of collaborating with Alán Ramiro Manning in November 2022 and presented our members with the opportunity to take his workshop “See the Lines-Shape and Sharpen the World Around You.”
Alán was very enthusiastic about these workshops and willing to collaborate with us. We met a few weeks before to talk about his ideas for the workshop, review his portfolio, pick a location, scout out sketching spots and discuss how to facilitate his workshop for our membership. I know he also went back multiple times on his own to the location to sketch and scout out the venue.
Alán gave two sessions, three hours each; both sessions sold out and were given in an indoor space in downtown Manhattan. The response from attendees was enthusiastic, and we look forward to working with Alán again on his next visit to New York.
Work with Alan is a pleasure, very simple comunication and at the same time a smart speaker ready to understand different situations. The artistic sensibility brought us together, his professionalism ensures that we are still connected. Last but not least…a very funny person to join together the beauty of life. Bravo