2023 Travel Sketching Workshops

Bogardus Plaza, New York City

June 03, 2023

A 3.5 hour ink and watercolor workshop sketching on-location in a quintessential New York City plaza. Learn new ways to see and fun techniques to  make your sketches come to life. This workshop is open for all levels. Click to learn more.

Rome, Italy
September 4-8, 2023

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of RomeTour24, you are invited to join a local tour guide, Virgilio and Alán Ramiro on a 5-day Art Vacation Workshop in Rome. “SeeTheLines: Shape and Sharpen the Eternal City” Click below to learn more.

About The NYC Workshop

Workshop Info

This is a 3-hour art workshop to teach how to sketch in ink and
watercolor of our built or natural environment. “Urban Sketching” is a
worldwide phenomenon bridging the gap for the inner artist to grow
into their desired identity as an artist. Similar to “plein air”, this method is friendlier for the beginner as urban sketching requires less tools to get started and ALL styles are welcome.

WHERE: Bogardus Plaza. NYC
WHEN: Saturday, June 03, 2023 from 1:30pm- 5:00pm
HOW: Through a three phase cycle known as the seethelines method: learn to simplify your scene while bringing to life unique moments that you see.

SEE: Learn techniques to integrate in the environment and become one with your tools. See like an architect, with simple mind methods and understandings.

SHAPE: With bigger moves in ink wash or watercolor, shape elements in shade and shadows.

SHARPEN: After you’ve drawn in overall composition and simple elements it’s time to sharpen moments with detail and values you feel best represent the story you want to share.

SKILL LEVEL: All skill levels welcome

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What supplies should I bring?
The following are suggested items to best benefit the workshop
  • Small pocket sketchbook for quick practice drawings. 
  • Watercolor sketchbook
  • (1) color pencil (blue color preferred)
  • Watercolor kit: (Windsor & Newton travel kit recommended) add colors: ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson red.
  • Brushes: 2 round brushes, 2 flat brushes,  waterbrush also works.
  • Permanent ink pens: Min. (3) line size pens or a fude nib fountain pen filled with ink, a black brush pen. (Pentel brand recommended.)
  • Water/ cup and paper towel
  •  chairs/tables are provided by the plaza. 
If I am completely new to urban/ architecture sketching, Is this workshop appropriate for me?

Yes absolutely and it is encouraged. We will work through foundation building for the complete beginner in a fun hit-the-ground-running way.

If I am more advanced will I still find value in this course?

The exciting thing about this workshop is that it will equip you with new ways to SEE. You will get unique professional architectural trained methodologies while discovering Alán’s particular technique and approach. But more than that you will return home with a boost of inspiration and vision to continue in your journey.

What if I cancel at the last minute?

Because we are a small group, last minute cancellations are nonrefundable.

NYC Urban Sketching Workshop

Workshop Image Gallery

Images from New York. Mexico and Brazil

About The Rome Experience

 

ROME Art Vacation Workshop

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Rome Tour 24, you are invited to join Virgilio and Alán Ramiro on a 5-day Art Vacation Workshop in Rome. “SeeTheLines: Shape and Sharpen the Eternal City” is a combination of learning culture, history, and urban sketching with world class guides. Virgilio is a local certified tour guide with 20 years experience of knowing the ins and outs of Rome. Alán is a world traveling sketch artist with 10 years professional experience in architecture design. Join a group of 15 fellows to explore the most inspiring city in the world and leave with new skills, insights, and a palette for adventure. 

 

Walk & Explore

Discover Rome with a tour guide by your side and learn more about the history of art.

Locations and topics to be toured are: Campidoglio, Pantheon, a focus on Caravaggio; Ancient Rome and legend of the Eternal City: Colosseum and The Roman Forum; The Modern City by sunset: Bridge of the Angels and Vatican city; and Trastevere by day.

Create

Sketching in open air Rome classic spots, capture unique moments while learning new techniques. Tap into the most inspiring architectural and urban landscape in the world to awaken your inner artist.

Each day will have a 4-hour workshop included where you will leave the day with a competed drawing. Also sprinkled throughout the day will have moments to quickly sketch amongst your peers while having Alán by your side to guide you. 

proces

Taste

Local food & drinks will be part of the workshop selected for you everyday. Be ready to share together another good moment. This treat is included in the total price of the workshop!

Love Art

Not a simple holiday, not just a workshop….be ready to enjoy Rome and return home inspired with a lot of knowledge…enjoy the best Art Experience! 

Alán Ramiro Manning

@seethelines

 

Alán Ramiro Manning is on a passionate mission to create, connect, and serve through drawing and teaching on-location all around the world. He is a graduate from Woodbury University in Los Angeles, California with 10 years experience working in the field of architecture. Alán provides a strategic combination of creative and technical skills in the arts, design, and video story telling. Boots on the ground, he is tangibly making an impact country to country by inspiring a movement to live in the moment, be yourself, create fearlessly, and to take action on your dreams

Virgilio

@RomeTour24

 

We would like to give you a local warm hospitality in 4 different languages thanks to Virgilio, tour leader & founder of Rometour24. Formed in the University of history of Art in Rome, started touring around since the university days thanks to the teachers and the beauty of the city. Loves travel, art, paint & sculpture. Specialized in classic history, local culture & photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from other programs out there?

“SeeTheLines: Shape and Sharpen The Eternal City” is one of its kind. You learn from a team of a local tour guide and a full-time travel artist. The workshop itself is particular to Alán’s nomadic travel sketching experiences combined with his professional years working in architecture.  You’ll get aspects of the technical side from architecture, but more importantly you’ll get the intuitive framework that has been developing over last 10 years. This is a program made by two real travelers.

What supplies should I bring?

Please see the recommended supplies list PDF download with your welcome email to your participation.

How many and how long are the workshops?

Each day will have one 4-5 hour workshop where you will complete a drawing. This means you will leave the experience with five refined sketches in addition to all the practice work and exercises we do. 

If I am completely new to urban/ architecture sketching, Is this course appropriate for me?

Yes absolutely and it is encouraged. We will work through foundation building for the complete beginner in a fun hit-the-ground-running way.

If I am more advanced will I still find value in this course?

The exciting thing about this course is that it will equip you with new ways to SEE. You will get unique professional architectural trained methodologies while discovering Alán’s particular technique and approach. But more than that you will return home with a boost of inspiration and vision to continue in your journey.

What if I cancel at the last minute?

Because we are a small group, last minute cancellations are nonrefundable.

Workshop Image Gallery

Images from New York. Mexico and Brazil

Rome Art Vacation Workshop 

Here's what students experience learning The SeeTheLines Method™

I really enjoyed this course by Seethelines! I would highly recommend anyone seeking to start or improve their travel/urban sketching, to take part in the course. Alán is not only shares expert knowledge of sketching and watercolour but also inspires to enjoy the whole process from start to finish. It was a great experience following and trying out the process for myself. I’m already a fan of his work but looking out for any more courses by Alán!

Joshua Takaoaka

Architect | @sketchjt

Great course breaking up the sketching process in proper phases. I am partial to organized approaches 😀 Main necessary knowledge for a great start imparted & good practical examples demonstrated. There’s everything here for a beginner & some good ideas for a more seasoned sketcher. 

Adina Schisler

Engineer | @adinaschisler

Wow, I really enjoyed this class! Alan breaks the material down into steps simple enough for a beginner, but there is plenty of content for an intermediate watercolorist as well. His tips on perspective were especially useful. The scene we painted was quite complex. It included plants and trees, buildings, water and boats. It was fun to paint and very informative. Thanks, Alan! I look forward to enrolling in more of your classes!

Shannon Silver

Mom & Aspiring Watercolorist | @dorkemomsart

What's it like working with me?

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.

Frida Christofides

NYC Urban Sketchers

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

Virgilio

Lead Tour Guide, Rome Tour 24

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