Saturday, February 21, 2026

Architectural Heritage Center

I assumed that we'd have a small gathering today, cause who would want to come out on such a cold and wet day?  But people kept coming into the room, and we had to keep shifting around to make room for them.

















Want to help us add more sketching events?


 Portland Urban Sketchers is growing! We're regularly seeing more than 50 people at our events. In other cities our size, there are often a few events each month in different parts of town.

We'd love to find a few people--especially in NE or SE Portland-- to organize sketchcrawls in your own neighborhood!  Weekends, weeknights, whatever. You could schedule something every month or a few times a year. It's completely flexible.

And it takes very little time! We spend an hour at most organizing our Saturday events.

  • Check out the location to make sure it's workable
  • Write up the date, time, & details, and we'll help you get it posted
  • Show up at the event to welcome everybody, sketch, and enjoy the throwdown

We'd love to find 2-3 people in NE and 2-3 in SE to work together!

Talk to Amy or Ali at our next sketchcrawl and we'll share all the details, or just post a comment here and we'll get back to you with more info.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Februrary 21 Sketchcrawl - Architectural Heritage Center

The Architectural Heritage Center has generously offered to let us meet and sketch inside their beautiful space, or outside on the street, weather permitting.

The non-profit Literary Arts, with a bookstore and cafe, is across the street.  Mother Foucault's Bookstore is next door, and SCRAP has moved nearby, to SE 6th and Washington.  The whole area, known as the East Portland-Grand Avenue National Historic District, offers plenty of cool old buildings to draw. 

The 15 bus, 6 bus, and A line of the streetcar all stop nearby.

  • 10 AM: Meet inside the Architectural Heritage Center (701 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214) for introductions
  • 12 noon: Meet back at AHC for a sketchbook throwdown (optional!)

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Union Station

It was great to see everyone today, on a surprisingly sunny and warm(ish) day.  We couldn't have hoped for better weather in January.












 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Rose City Book Pub

 Thanks to everyone who came out to Rose City Book Pub last night! Stay tuned to our email list for future pub drawing adventures.













Monday, January 5, 2026

January 17 Sketchcrawl - Union Station

sketch by Anastasia Vasileva


Let's go back to Union Station (800 NW Sixth Ave).  There'll be people and architecture to sketch inside, and generous awnings for those who prefer to sketch outside.  

For coffee, there's a cafe inside the station, and also Lovejoy Bakers, at 10th and Lovejoy, and Ovation Coffee, at 10th and Overton.

  • 10am - Meet under the awnings outside the main entrance to Union Station
  • 12 noon - Meet again at the same place for an optional throw-down


Sunday, December 21, 2025

Farewell to Lloyd Center

We had a great turnout for what is expected to be our final Christmas at the Lloyd Center, with the coming demolition/redevelopment.  Perhaps we'll come back, after its rebirth, if it retains its public spaces.