2024年を振り返ってみて / Looking back the year 2024
思えば2023年後半は自分がUSk Japanのイベントアナウンスやスケッチ会の後に動画を作ってupしたりの作業、問い合わせ対応にいささかうんざりしていて、FBのグループも（USk Japanを）クローズドに変更しスパムを避けて
なんならスケッチ会自体も年４回くらいに減らしちゃいたいと考えていたところ、アイディアとやる気に満ちたGroverさんの、「クローズドじゃなくてオープンなグループに変えて、もっと実質的に運営エリアである『東京』と名称も変えてみたらどうか」の提案に仲間も賛同し、あれよという間に生まれ変わったUrban Sketchers Tokyoが誕生しました。
その後にUSk本部へのChapter登録で必要になり新たなUSk Tokyoのadministrator3名が名乗りを上げてくれて、古いUSk Japanもその機能はFBのクローズドグループとして、相変わらずChapterとして残ることになったのでした。その際もUSk Japanのadministratorとして自分含め3名がボランティアで手を挙げたのでした。
それ以降はまあ、月に多い時で４回も行われるほど沢山の場所でスケッチャーが集まり、街で、カフェで、ミュージアムで、スケッチ会がありました。USK Tokyoのアドミンチームの連携、分担が素晴らしく、また、レギュラー参加者のCaseyさんやGolowさんなどの協力で情報交換もあったようで、（元気に歩き始めたグループの成長の目覚ましいこと！）
そんな訳で、元気に活動を始めたチャプターのUSk Tokyoと、とりあえずFBのクローズドグループとして残ることになったUSk Japanですが、この場を借りで、どんな仲間がその活動を支えているのかをチラリとご紹介すべく久しぶりのブログの更新、投稿します。
まずはアイディアがまとまると即行動に移し、勢いの波でガンガン改革をしていったGroverさん。
Urban Sketchers Tokyo: Building a Vibrant Sketching Community
Hello everyone! I'm Grover, one of the administrators of Urban Sketchers Tokyo. Originally from Hong Kong and now calling Tokyo home, I'm excited to share our journey and vision for the future of urban sketching in Japan.
A New Chapter Begins
In December 2023, I joined the core team of Urban Sketchers Japan at a pivotal moment. When faced with the decision to reduce meetups to quarterly events, I saw an opportunity for growth. By transitioning from USk Japan to USk Tokyo, we could maintain monthly meetups while encouraging the formation of new chapters across Japan. This restructuring has proven to be a catalyst for positive change.
Growing Our Team and Reach
Our administrative team expanded with the addition of Kendra and Sachi, bringing fresh energy and ideas. Through collaborations with dedicated member like Golow-san, we've successfully organized events across the greater Tokyo area, including Yokohama, Kawasaki, and various locations in Kanagawa prefecture. Casey and Sachi san's involvement has also helped us extend our reach into Ichikawa and other areas in Chiba prefecture, creating more opportunities for sketchers in different regions.
Building Our Identity and Sustainability
Early in our journey, we established our identity with a new USk Tokyo logo. Drawing from my experience in e-commerce, I launched the USk Tokyo online shop. The success of this initiative has allowed us to give back to our community in meaningful ways. Every sketcher who joins our events receives USk Tokyo badges and stickers as tokens of appreciation, creating a sense of belonging and shared identity. These branded items also serve as wonderful ambassadors for our chapter when our administrators travel overseas to participate in other chapters' events, helping to strengthen our connections within the global Urban Sketchers community.
Celebrating Art and Community
March marked a significant milestone with our first sketchbook exhibition in Yokohama. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Golow, Casey, and Atsuko-san, the exhibition was a tremendous success. We're already enthusiastically planning our second exhibition for March 2025.
Growing Together
During the International Urban Sketching Week in May, we achieved another milestone by organizing our largest event to date. Working with various sketch groups in Tokyo, including 東京を描く市民の会, Art Jammers and Walking Sketch, Casey San and I coordinated a gathering of 80 artists at Tokyo Station. The energy and creativity during this event were truly inspiring.
Empowering Artists Through Workshops
In August, we hosted a unique sketchbook-making workshop that perfectly embodied our community's spirit of sharing and innovation. Golow-san generously shared his expertise in creating large-format 8K watercolor sketchbooks on a budget. This workshop has had a lasting impact on our community, inspiring many members to explore larger formats in their urban sketching practice. It's been wonderful to see more and more sketchers confidently working in bigger sizes, bringing new dimensions to their artistic expression.
Our October workshop with renowned German sketch artist Felix Scheinberger in Ginza was another highlight of our year. Thanks to Naoko-san's dedicated efforts, we secured a valuable sponsorship for this workshop, which enhanced the experience for all participants. Attendees not only had the opportunity to learn from Felix but also got to experiment with various sketching products and received a special watercolor dot card as a gift. The overwhelming positive response reinforced our commitment to bringing world-class sketching experiences to our members.
Celebrating Seasonal Beauty
As autumn painted Tokyo in vibrant colors, Kendra and Sachi san organized a special series of events that captured the changing seasons. Our sketchers gathered to document the majestic golden Ginkgo trees at Tokyo University, the breathtaking autumn colors at Rikugien Gardens, and the timeless beauty of traditional Japanese folk houses at Minka-en. To make these events even more memorable, we created a special wood stamp for participants to mark their sketchbooks, adding an extra touch of Japanese tradition to our urban sketching experience. These events perfectly showcased how urban sketching can capture both the seasonal transformations and cultural heritage of Japan.
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
・The future of Urban Sketchers in Japan looks bright. We’re excited to:
・Support the growth of new chapters across Japan
・Host multi-day sketching trips to regions like Kansai
・Organize our second exhibition in March 2025
・Create more opportunities for sketchers to connect and share their passion
At its core, Urban Sketchers is about community and collaboration – bringing like-minded people together to celebrate and enjoy the art of sketching. The plural in “Urban Sketchers” reflects our belief in collective creativity, where we inspire and grow through shared experiences.
Looking forward, we hope to see even more chapters flourish across Japan, enabling us to dream bigger and aim higher – perhaps even hosting Asialink events or a Symposium!
Let’s keep drawing our world, one sketch at a time!
そして、初参加されてからあれよという間にグループの顔になり、英日でスケッチ会の進行をガイドし、時にツアーガイドのようにみんなで飲みにいく時は予約や案内を買って出てくれる頼もしいKendraさん。
Welcome! I’m Kendra, one of the three admins of Urban Sketchers Tokyo.
I started sketching in 2023, after a serendipitous trip to Traveler’s Notebooks in Nakameguro, Tokyo. I admired the travel sketches on display, and I was inspired to learn how to do it myself. After taking a watercolor sketching class taught by a friend, I learned about Urban Sketchers, and so I went online to find out if there was a chapter near me.
I attended my first USk event in the spring of 2023. I was greeted by Casey Toriumi, a true sketching ambassador, who was kind and warm and welcoming. I had no idea what I was doing, but everyone made it clear that this was a safe space. They were kind and friendly, and there was a lovely sense of camaraderie in the group. At the end of the event, I knew I would come back. I could not have imagined that a year later I would become one of the admins for the Urban Sketchers Tokyo group, but what a joy it has been to work and sketch with Sachi and Grover! We have really enjoyed coming up with cool ideas for new sketch spots, special events, and making sure that we are keeping that sense of joy and camaraderie that makes USk Tokyo a special place.
The best thing about being an admin is that I have gotten to really get to know and appreciate our members and their talents. We have some really amazing members, and I’m really grateful to have gotten to know them But I’m most appreciative of my two fellow admins, Sachi and Grover. Our brainstorming sessions are always interesting and full of ideas, and our combined talents blend and complement each other really well.
The hardest part of being an admin is making sure I show up early to every event! And trying to figure out where fifteen people can eat lunch together — yet somehow it always works.
遠方から参加されているけれど決して手を抜かない、情熱家のサチさん。
昨年よりUSk Tokyo のアドミンとして参加させていただいています、Sachiです。（千葉県在住）
I am Sachi, and I've been participating as an admin for USk Tokyo since last year. (I live in Chiba Prefecture.)
私はコロナ禍のシンガポールでスケッチを始め、Urban Sketchersに初めて参加したのもUSk Singapore でした。（2021年）
I started sketching during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, and my first participation in Urban Sketchers was with USk Singapore in 2021.
当初シンガポールでは知り合いはゼロでしたが2022年に帰国する事になる頃にはたくさんの方とスケッチを通して知人・友人となる事が出来ました。
At first, I had no friend in Singapore, but by the time I returned to Japan in 2022, I had made many friends through sketching. (Special thanks to Yakun sketches!)
帰国直後の日本はまだコロナモード。 USk Japan も休眠中だったため、一緒にスケッチしてくれる人を探すべく千葉の地元で友人たちに声をかけ小さなスケッチ会、BOSO Sketch Together を立ち上げました。 それと同じ頃、USk Japan が始動。 参加するたびにスケッチ仲間が増える喜びを感じていました。
Japan was still in COVID mode just after my return. Since USk Japan was dormant at that time, I reached out to friends in Chiba and started a small sketch group called BOSO Sketch Together. Around the same time, USk Japan got started. Every time I participated, I felt the joy of making new sketching friends.
1年前、USk Tokyo のアドミンを引き受ける話になった時は自分の住む千葉からどれくらい通えるのか不安もありましたが、一緒にアドミンとなったKendraとGroverのスケッチ愛に触発されて一年のアドミン活動を心から楽しんで駆け抜けました。
When I was asked to take on the role of an admin for USk Tokyo a year ago, I was worried about how often I could commute from my home in Chiba. However, being inspired by the love for sketching shared by fellow admins Kendra and Grover, I thoroughly enjoyed my year of admin activities.
USk Tokyo アドミンチームが誇るもの、それはチームワーク。
What the USk Tokyo admin team takes pride in is teamwork.✨
それぞれの得意分野を活かして活動できていた事、これに尽きると思っています。
I believe it all comes down to utilizing each member's strengths in our activities.
サポートしてくれたJapan team, そしてスケッチ会場を探す時はCasey さんの様な東京を熟知するスケッチャーのお知恵や助けを借り、どんどんと新たな世界へスケッチの扉を開け放ち、たくさんの出会いに恵まれました。
With the support of the Japan team and the knowledge and assistance from sketchers familiar with Tokyo (like Casey san) when searching for sketch venues, we opened doors to new worlds of sketching and were blessed with many encounters.
今はまだ公式のチャプターはTokyoしかありませんが、Tokyoの活動が関東の各エリア、北海道・関西・九州など、チャプターが広がって行く事に繋がれば素晴らしいなと思います。 もちろん千葉にも将来的に公式チャプターが出来ることを夢見ています。
Currently, USk Tokyo is only the official chapter in Japan, but I hope that the activities in Tokyo will expand into various areas in Kanto, as well as Hokkaido, Kansai, and Kyushu. Of course, we dream of having an official chapter in Chiba in the future.
これからもスケッチを通して繋がる人の輪をどんどんと広げていけたらと思っています。
I hope to continue expanding the circle of people connected through sketching.
☆ 2020年コロナ禍に知り合いもなく孤独からスタートしたシンガポール生活… スケッチが無ければ、その後の私の生活はこんなに楽しいものではなかったはず…
My life in Singapore began in 2020 during the pandemic, with no acquaintances and a sense of isolation... Without sketching, my life afterward wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable.
たくさんの友人を作り、充実した時を過ごせているのはまさにUrban Sketchのおかげなのです。
Thanks to Urban Sketch, I’ve made many friends and have been able to spend fulfilling times.
-
それぞれのスタイルでそれぞれが一緒に楽しむ。
-Each person enjoys in their own style, and together we have fun.
私にとってスケッチは大切なコミュニケーションの手段であり、楽しみの源でもあります。
Sketching is an important means of communication and a source of joy for me.
これからもスケッチを通じて新たな出会いや発見を楽しみながら、多くの人とつながっていけることを心から願っています。
I sincerely hope to continue enjoying new encounters and discoveries through sketching, connecting with many people along the way.
スケッチで出会ってくれた全ての方にありがとう！
Thank you to everyone I’ve met through sketching!
そして、この一年を一緒に駆け抜けたTokyo アドミンチームのGrover とKendra のふたりに感謝を伝えたいと思います。
I would like to express my gratitude to Grover and Kendra, Tokyo admin team members who ran alongside me this past year. Sketch together, shall we?😊 Sachi Saito
☆☆☆ BOSO Sketch Together について
千葉にて活動しているスケッチグループです。
BOSO Sketch Together is a small sketch group in Chiba.
USk と同じで、その日その場に集まった人でスケッチする時間を共有します。
Similar to USk, we share a sketching time with those who gather on that day and at that place.
固定メンバーではなく、どなたでも何処からでも大歓迎。
We do not have fixed members, so anyone is welcome to join us, no matter where you live or come from.
県民の私たちはもちろん、県外や国外からの方々に千葉の魅力を発信する事も出来たらと思っています。
As residents of Chiba, we hope to share the charm of Chiba with people from outside the prefecture and even from abroad.
皆様の参加を心よりお待ちしております！
We sincerely look forward to your participation!
BOSO Sketch Together Facebook この3名が現在のUSk Tokyoのadministratorとして企画、運営をしてくれています。
お次は画材のメーカーさんとのやりとりで窓口になり、かつ交渉を一人で担ってくれたり、Felixがこちらでワークショップする際もスポンサーさんサイドとの話を円滑に進められてきた舞台裏のドン、ナオコさん。
昨年2024年は、とにかくたくさんの方々とお会いできた年でした。
2017年にUSk Japanに参加して以来、最大規模のイベントやスケッチ会が続き、それを実現したアドミたちの頑張りとチームワークと、諸先輩がたのお力に感嘆しています！日々描き続ける仲間たちの熱意にも圧倒されました。
私も微力ながら、主に各画材スポンサーとの連絡役として引き続きお手伝いさせていただきました。特に10月のFelix Scheinberger氏来日の際は、イベント内容の立案から調整まで一から任せていただき、非常に頭を悩ませましたが、USkならではの貴重なやりとりを経験できました。当日は力強いアドミチームの素晴らしい現場対応のおかげで、70名を超えるスケッチャーが集い、皆さんたくさん描かれ、すごいパワーに感動しました！
なお、画材好きにはやりがいのある役ですので、スポンサーのお手伝いに興味ある方はぜひご連絡ください。
みんなが安心してその笑顔で癒され、英語わからないと言いながら一番誰とでも話ができちゃう丸山敦子さん。多分自分以外で、一番多くスケッチ会に参加されてきた功績者かと。
Urban Sketchers Japan の活動は、約10年です。
絵は職業の広告用絵コンテライターとして長年描い てきました。
一人ではなく仲間達と一緒に、特に初めて会う海外か らの人々と街中や野外更に店で飲食しながらスケッ チする楽しさを知り、この活動をできる限りサポート をしてきました。
2024年 7 月に USk J のアドミンになりました。
まだこの仕事の役割を果たしていませんが、今後もス ケッチを通じて貢献していきたいと思います。
丸山敦子
そして自分は最初にUSk Japanを立ち上げ、一番古くからやってきた人、松川久美です。
Grover さんの書いたコメント見ると、あれ、自分何もしてないみたいに聞こえるじゃん！って思うんだけど、実際、みんながテキパキと持ち場でスキルを発揮してくれていたので、2024年自分はほぼ乗っかって参加したり、感心してたりで、餅は餅屋って改めて適材適所の意味を知ったのでした。
スケッチ会を通じて学ぶこと、知らない土地に行く、スケッチャーでありオーガナイザーであり続ける楽しさと苦しさを分かち合える仲間がいてくれて、今ここにいます。USk Japanのアドミンとしてのタスクは多くはないですが、各地のチームと連帯して今後どうなっていくのか、口を挟み、体を動かし出来ることは続けていきたいと思います。
そしてもう一つ特筆すべきは、神奈川地区でアーバンスケッチを広めようと立ち上がってくれたLopaさんとその仲間が、USk Kanagawa(今はまだunofficial ）グループを作り、活動を初めてくれたことです。
Lopa Shigakiさんの行動力のあること、スケッチ会の企画、ビデオの編集、どんどん始めています。
Due to daily life's demands, I wasn't sketching as much as I would have liked. However, my train commutes to work offered an unexpected opportunity to sketch on the train.
Initially, my focus was on sketching people and landscapes with the intention of transforming these sketches into paintings.
I wasn’t much active in Urban Sketchers Japan until 2021. I began posting sketches more frequently, finding inspiration in the interaction with other sketchers.
The first sketch meetup I attended was at Yokohama’s Yamashita Park in October 2023.
However, during that year, I found myself with less time to paint and consequently, focused more on sketching.
Over time, a deeper appreciation for urban sketching emerged, and I began to grasp its true essence. What I love about urban sketching is that it requires no specific skills; it enables people who are not professional artists to appreciate everyday sceneries.
Starting Urban Sketchers Kanagawa
I had always wanted to join sketch meetups in Tokyo, but it proved to be challenging due to the distance from Kanagawa. Despite my long-held desire to organize a sketch meetup in my local area, it took about two years of contemplation and hesitation before I finally took the leap to establish Urban Sketchers Kanagawa
I am excited about the possibilities and growth that Urban Sketchers Kanagawa will bring, fostering a sense of camaraderie and artistic exploration among its members.
USk Kanagawa のアドミを引き受けてくれたお一人の石井寛美さん
石井寛美（Hiromi Ishii） 神奈川県の西部（小田原市）に住んでます。東京のスケッチ会では、1番遠くからの参加です。 2024年にLopaさんの呼び掛けでuskkanagawa が誕生しました。これからは多くのスケッチャーさんに来ていただけるよう、神奈川の魅力をスケッチで発信していきたいと思っています。
USk Kanagawa のアドミを引き受けてくれたもう一人、冨田圭子さん
何年もの間、USkメンバーとしてスケッチをただ呑気に楽しんできました。今回USk神奈川のadminの一人となり、管理する側の大変さを痛感しています。慣れないことばかりで右往左往していますが、一つひとつ前に進んでいこうと思っています。
その後にUSk本部へのChapter登録で必要になり新たなUSk Tokyoのadministrator3名が名乗りを上げてくれて、古いUSk Japanもその機能はFBのクローズドグループとして、相変わらずChapterとして残ることになったのでした。その際もUSk Japanのadministratorとして自分含め3名がボランティアで手を挙げたのでした。
それ以降はまあ、月に多い時で４回も行われるほど沢山の場所でスケッチャーが集まり、街で、カフェで、ミュージアムで、スケッチ会がありました。USK Tokyoのアドミンチームの連携、分担が素晴らしく、また、レギュラー参加者のCaseyさんやGolowさんなどの協力で情報交換もあったようで、（元気に歩き始めたグループの成長の目覚ましいこと！）
そんな訳で、元気に活動を始めたチャプターのUSk Tokyoと、とりあえずFBのクローズドグループとして残ることになったUSk Japanですが、この場を借りで、どんな仲間がその活動を支えているのかをチラリとご紹介すべく久しぶりのブログの更新、投稿します。
まずはアイディアがまとまると即行動に移し、勢いの波でガンガン改革をしていったGroverさん。
Hello everyone! I'm Grover, one of the administrators of Urban Sketchers Tokyo. Originally from Hong Kong and now calling Tokyo home, I'm excited to share our journey and vision for the future of urban sketching in Japan.
A New Chapter Begins
In December 2023, I joined the core team of Urban Sketchers Japan at a pivotal moment. When faced with the decision to reduce meetups to quarterly events, I saw an opportunity for growth. By transitioning from USk Japan to USk Tokyo, we could maintain monthly meetups while encouraging the formation of new chapters across Japan. This restructuring has proven to be a catalyst for positive change.
Growing Our Team and Reach
Our administrative team expanded with the addition of Kendra and Sachi, bringing fresh energy and ideas. Through collaborations with dedicated member like Golow-san, we've successfully organized events across the greater Tokyo area, including Yokohama, Kawasaki, and various locations in Kanagawa prefecture. Casey and Sachi san's involvement has also helped us extend our reach into Ichikawa and other areas in Chiba prefecture, creating more opportunities for sketchers in different regions.
Building Our Identity and Sustainability
Early in our journey, we established our identity with a new USk Tokyo logo. Drawing from my experience in e-commerce, I launched the USk Tokyo online shop. The success of this initiative has allowed us to give back to our community in meaningful ways. Every sketcher who joins our events receives USk Tokyo badges and stickers as tokens of appreciation, creating a sense of belonging and shared identity. These branded items also serve as wonderful ambassadors for our chapter when our administrators travel overseas to participate in other chapters' events, helping to strengthen our connections within the global Urban Sketchers community.
Celebrating Art and Community
March marked a significant milestone with our first sketchbook exhibition in Yokohama. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Golow, Casey, and Atsuko-san, the exhibition was a tremendous success. We're already enthusiastically planning our second exhibition for March 2025.
Growing Together
During the International Urban Sketching Week in May, we achieved another milestone by organizing our largest event to date. Working with various sketch groups in Tokyo, including 東京を描く市民の会, Art Jammers and Walking Sketch, Casey San and I coordinated a gathering of 80 artists at Tokyo Station. The energy and creativity during this event were truly inspiring.
Empowering Artists Through Workshops
In August, we hosted a unique sketchbook-making workshop that perfectly embodied our community's spirit of sharing and innovation. Golow-san generously shared his expertise in creating large-format 8K watercolor sketchbooks on a budget. This workshop has had a lasting impact on our community, inspiring many members to explore larger formats in their urban sketching practice. It's been wonderful to see more and more sketchers confidently working in bigger sizes, bringing new dimensions to their artistic expression.
Our October workshop with renowned German sketch artist Felix Scheinberger in Ginza was another highlight of our year. Thanks to Naoko-san's dedicated efforts, we secured a valuable sponsorship for this workshop, which enhanced the experience for all participants. Attendees not only had the opportunity to learn from Felix but also got to experiment with various sketching products and received a special watercolor dot card as a gift. The overwhelming positive response reinforced our commitment to bringing world-class sketching experiences to our members.
Celebrating Seasonal Beauty
As autumn painted Tokyo in vibrant colors, Kendra and Sachi san organized a special series of events that captured the changing seasons. Our sketchers gathered to document the majestic golden Ginkgo trees at Tokyo University, the breathtaking autumn colors at Rikugien Gardens, and the timeless beauty of traditional Japanese folk houses at Minka-en. To make these events even more memorable, we created a special wood stamp for participants to mark their sketchbooks, adding an extra touch of Japanese tradition to our urban sketching experience. These events perfectly showcased how urban sketching can capture both the seasonal transformations and cultural heritage of Japan.
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
・The future of Urban Sketchers in Japan looks bright. We’re excited to:
・Support the growth of new chapters across Japan
・Host multi-day sketching trips to regions like Kansai
・Organize our second exhibition in March 2025
・Create more opportunities for sketchers to connect and share their passion
At its core, Urban Sketchers is about community and collaboration – bringing like-minded people together to celebrate and enjoy the art of sketching. The plural in “Urban Sketchers” reflects our belief in collective creativity, where we inspire and grow through shared experiences.
Looking forward, we hope to see even more chapters flourish across Japan, enabling us to dream bigger and aim higher – perhaps even hosting Asialink events or a Symposium!
Let’s keep drawing our world, one sketch at a time!
そして、初参加されてからあれよという間にグループの顔になり、英日でスケッチ会の進行をガイドし、時にツアーガイドのようにみんなで飲みにいく時は予約や案内を買って出てくれる頼もしいKendraさん。
I started sketching in 2023, after a serendipitous trip to Traveler’s Notebooks in Nakameguro, Tokyo. I admired the travel sketches on display, and I was inspired to learn how to do it myself. After taking a watercolor sketching class taught by a friend, I learned about Urban Sketchers, and so I went online to find out if there was a chapter near me.
I attended my first USk event in the spring of 2023. I was greeted by Casey Toriumi, a true sketching ambassador, who was kind and warm and welcoming. I had no idea what I was doing, but everyone made it clear that this was a safe space. They were kind and friendly, and there was a lovely sense of camaraderie in the group. At the end of the event, I knew I would come back. I could not have imagined that a year later I would become one of the admins for the Urban Sketchers Tokyo group, but what a joy it has been to work and sketch with Sachi and Grover! We have really enjoyed coming up with cool ideas for new sketch spots, special events, and making sure that we are keeping that sense of joy and camaraderie that makes USk Tokyo a special place.
The hardest part of being an admin is making sure I show up early to every event! And trying to figure out where fifteen people can eat lunch together — yet somehow it always works.
遠方から参加されているけれど決して手を抜かない、情熱家のサチさん。
I am Sachi, and I've been participating as an admin for USk Tokyo since last year. (I live in Chiba Prefecture.)
私はコロナ禍のシンガポールでスケッチを始め、Urban Sketchersに初めて参加したのもUSk Singapore でした。（2021年）
I started sketching during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, and my first participation in Urban Sketchers was with USk Singapore in 2021.
当初シンガポールでは知り合いはゼロでしたが2022年に帰国する事になる頃にはたくさんの方とスケッチを通して知人・友人となる事が出来ました。
At first, I had no friend in Singapore, but by the time I returned to Japan in 2022, I had made many friends through sketching. (Special thanks to Yakun sketches!)
Japan was still in COVID mode just after my return. Since USk Japan was dormant at that time, I reached out to friends in Chiba and started a small sketch group called BOSO Sketch Together. Around the same time, USk Japan got started. Every time I participated, I felt the joy of making new sketching friends.
When I was asked to take on the role of an admin for USk Tokyo a year ago, I was worried about how often I could commute from my home in Chiba. However, being inspired by the love for sketching shared by fellow admins Kendra and Grover, I thoroughly enjoyed my year of admin activities.
USk Tokyo アドミンチームが誇るもの、それはチームワーク。
What the USk Tokyo admin team takes pride in is teamwork.✨
それぞれの得意分野を活かして活動できていた事、これに尽きると思っています。
I believe it all comes down to utilizing each member's strengths in our activities.
サポートしてくれたJapan team, そしてスケッチ会場を探す時はCasey さんの様な東京を熟知するスケッチャーのお知恵や助けを借り、どんどんと新たな世界へスケッチの扉を開け放ち、たくさんの出会いに恵まれました。
With the support of the Japan team and the knowledge and assistance from sketchers familiar with Tokyo (like Casey san) when searching for sketch venues, we opened doors to new worlds of sketching and were blessed with many encounters.
今はまだ公式のチャプターはTokyoしかありませんが、Tokyoの活動が関東の各エリア、北海道・関西・九州など、チャプターが広がって行く事に繋がれば素晴らしいなと思います。 もちろん千葉にも将来的に公式チャプターが出来ることを夢見ています。
Currently, USk Tokyo is only the official chapter in Japan, but I hope that the activities in Tokyo will expand into various areas in Kanto, as well as Hokkaido, Kansai, and Kyushu. Of course, we dream of having an official chapter in Chiba in the future.
これからもスケッチを通して繋がる人の輪をどんどんと広げていけたらと思っています。
I hope to continue expanding the circle of people connected through sketching.
☆ 2020年コロナ禍に知り合いもなく孤独からスタートしたシンガポール生活… スケッチが無ければ、その後の私の生活はこんなに楽しいものではなかったはず…
My life in Singapore began in 2020 during the pandemic, with no acquaintances and a sense of isolation... Without sketching, my life afterward wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable.
たくさんの友人を作り、充実した時を過ごせているのはまさにUrban Sketchのおかげなのです。
Thanks to Urban Sketch, I’ve made many friends and have been able to spend fulfilling times.
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それぞれのスタイルでそれぞれが一緒に楽しむ。
-Each person enjoys in their own style, and together we have fun.
私にとってスケッチは大切なコミュニケーションの手段であり、楽しみの源でもあります。
Sketching is an important means of communication and a source of joy for me.
これからもスケッチを通じて新たな出会いや発見を楽しみながら、多くの人とつながっていけることを心から願っています。
I sincerely hope to continue enjoying new encounters and discoveries through sketching, connecting with many people along the way.
スケッチで出会ってくれた全ての方にありがとう！
Thank you to everyone I’ve met through sketching!
そして、この一年を一緒に駆け抜けたTokyo アドミンチームのGrover とKendra のふたりに感謝を伝えたいと思います。
I would like to express my gratitude to Grover and Kendra, Tokyo admin team members who ran alongside me this past year. Sketch together, shall we?😊 Sachi Saito
☆☆☆ BOSO Sketch Together について
千葉にて活動しているスケッチグループです。
BOSO Sketch Together is a small sketch group in Chiba.
USk と同じで、その日その場に集まった人でスケッチする時間を共有します。
Similar to USk, we share a sketching time with those who gather on that day and at that place.
固定メンバーではなく、どなたでも何処からでも大歓迎。
We do not have fixed members, so anyone is welcome to join us, no matter where you live or come from.
県民の私たちはもちろん、県外や国外からの方々に千葉の魅力を発信する事も出来たらと思っています。
As residents of Chiba, we hope to share the charm of Chiba with people from outside the prefecture and even from abroad.
皆様の参加を心よりお待ちしております！
We sincerely look forward to your participation!
BOSO Sketch Together Facebook この3名が現在のUSk Tokyoのadministratorとして企画、運営をしてくれています。
お次は画材のメーカーさんとのやりとりで窓口になり、かつ交渉を一人で担ってくれたり、Felixがこちらでワークショップする際もスポンサーさんサイドとの話を円滑に進められてきた舞台裏のドン、ナオコさん。
昨年2024年は、とにかくたくさんの方々とお会いできた年でした。
2017年にUSk Japanに参加して以来、最大規模のイベントやスケッチ会が続き、それを実現したアドミたちの頑張りとチームワークと、諸先輩がたのお力に感嘆しています！日々描き続ける仲間たちの熱意にも圧倒されました。
私も微力ながら、主に各画材スポンサーとの連絡役として引き続きお手伝いさせていただきました。特に10月のFelix Scheinberger氏来日の際は、イベント内容の立案から調整まで一から任せていただき、非常に頭を悩ませましたが、USkならではの貴重なやりとりを経験できました。当日は力強いアドミチームの素晴らしい現場対応のおかげで、70名を超えるスケッチャーが集い、皆さんたくさん描かれ、すごいパワーに感動しました！
なお、画材好きにはやりがいのある役ですので、スポンサーのお手伝いに興味ある方はぜひご連絡ください。
みんなが安心してその笑顔で癒され、英語わからないと言いながら一番誰とでも話ができちゃう丸山敦子さん。多分自分以外で、一番多くスケッチ会に参加されてきた功績者かと。
絵は職業の広告用絵コンテライターとして長年描い てきました。
一人ではなく仲間達と一緒に、特に初めて会う海外か らの人々と街中や野外更に店で飲食しながらスケッ チする楽しさを知り、この活動をできる限りサポート をしてきました。
2024年 7 月に USk J のアドミンになりました。
まだこの仕事の役割を果たしていませんが、今後もス ケッチを通じて貢献していきたいと思います。
丸山敦子
そして自分は最初にUSk Japanを立ち上げ、一番古くからやってきた人、松川久美です。
Grover さんの書いたコメント見ると、あれ、自分何もしてないみたいに聞こえるじゃん！って思うんだけど、実際、みんながテキパキと持ち場でスキルを発揮してくれていたので、2024年自分はほぼ乗っかって参加したり、感心してたりで、餅は餅屋って改めて適材適所の意味を知ったのでした。
スケッチ会を通じて学ぶこと、知らない土地に行く、スケッチャーでありオーガナイザーであり続ける楽しさと苦しさを分かち合える仲間がいてくれて、今ここにいます。USk Japanのアドミンとしてのタスクは多くはないですが、各地のチームと連帯して今後どうなっていくのか、口を挟み、体を動かし出来ることは続けていきたいと思います。
そしてもう一つ特筆すべきは、神奈川地区でアーバンスケッチを広めようと立ち上がってくれたLopaさんとその仲間が、USk Kanagawa(今はまだunofficial ）グループを作り、活動を初めてくれたことです。
Lopa Shigakiさんの行動力のあること、スケッチ会の企画、ビデオの編集、どんどん始めています。
Due to daily life's demands, I wasn't sketching as much as I would have liked. However, my train commutes to work offered an unexpected opportunity to sketch on the train.
Initially, my focus was on sketching people and landscapes with the intention of transforming these sketches into paintings.
I wasn’t much active in Urban Sketchers Japan until 2021. I began posting sketches more frequently, finding inspiration in the interaction with other sketchers.
The first sketch meetup I attended was at Yokohama’s Yamashita Park in October 2023.
However, during that year, I found myself with less time to paint and consequently, focused more on sketching.
Over time, a deeper appreciation for urban sketching emerged, and I began to grasp its true essence. What I love about urban sketching is that it requires no specific skills; it enables people who are not professional artists to appreciate everyday sceneries.
Starting Urban Sketchers Kanagawa
I had always wanted to join sketch meetups in Tokyo, but it proved to be challenging due to the distance from Kanagawa. Despite my long-held desire to organize a sketch meetup in my local area, it took about two years of contemplation and hesitation before I finally took the leap to establish Urban Sketchers Kanagawa
I am excited about the possibilities and growth that Urban Sketchers Kanagawa will bring, fostering a sense of camaraderie and artistic exploration among its members.
USk Kanagawa のアドミを引き受けてくれたお一人の石井寛美さん
石井寛美（Hiromi Ishii） 神奈川県の西部（小田原市）に住んでます。東京のスケッチ会では、1番遠くからの参加です。 2024年にLopaさんの呼び掛けでuskkanagawa が誕生しました。これからは多くのスケッチャーさんに来ていただけるよう、神奈川の魅力をスケッチで発信していきたいと思っています。
USk Kanagawa のアドミを引き受けてくれたもう一人、冨田圭子さん
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