Gabi Campanario

New site address

2016-04-10T14:29:00.003-07:00

Take note of my new website address: http://www.gabicampanario.com

The Art of Urban Sketching is off to press

2011-09-30T17:58:00.001-07:00

It's been about a year since I signed the contract to produce this book, so imagine how it feels to see it go off to press! Thanks to all the urban sketchers around the world who contributed, trusting me with with their words and pictures, and to my publisher, Quarry Books, for making this inspiring volume a reality.

The Art of Urban Sketching, featuring more than 500 sketches from 55 cities around the world, will start arriving at a bookstore near you in February. For a guaranteed discounted price, you may pre-order it now on Amazon.

Above is the book jacket, which, just like the prototypes my kids drew, features great drawings, great typography and a classy design by British design firm studioink. Click on the image to get a closer look.

The longest floating bridge in the world

2011-02-16T18:16:00.001-08:00

The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, also known as the 520 bridge, has been in the news recently because drivers will have to start paying tolls in the spring. I contacted the press officers at the Washington Department of Transportation and was able to take a tour of its inner workings.

The bridge tower was the first stop of the tour. Bridge technician Brian Watkins comes here every time the draw span needs to be opened.

Watkins was really friendly but I could tell that he was eager to get back to work. I find it hard to get a sketch done under these circumstances, when the clock is ticking, but I try to stay calm. If I get nervous, I lose my confidence and the sketch suffers. In this case, I kept asking questions as I drew to buy myself time. Even unrelated stuff that I didn't need for my story and I wasn't going to be able to remember. It's hard to switch back from drawing mode to listening mode and more often than not I have to repeat my questions after I'm done sketching or get a phone number to call the subject of my story later.

See the finished sketch from the tower and other drawings I was able to do during the 3-hour visit on my Seattle Times blog. I colored 90 percent of Watkins' sketch on site. With some of the other sketches I had to do most of the color back in the newsroom.

Winter sketching gear

2011-01-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

This week I sketched at Matthews Beach Park for my Saturday column. Read it on my Seattle Times blog in case you missed it. It's about two women who started the largest organized polar bear plunge in Seattle. Brrr! I get cold just thinking about jumping into the lake. But these folks love to start the year getting into the frigid waters of Lake Washington up to their necks to earn a "badge of courage."

Urban sketching, thank goodness, doesn't require jumping into lakes, but it can still be cold outside to practice our sport. These days I don't leave the house without my fingerless gloves, beanie hat and scarf. An umbrella is also a must because you don't want to miss out on a sketching opportunity just because you don't have a way to keep your sketchbook dry. I brought two in this occasion just in case —one for my subjects— but it didn't rain. Sketching outdoors while holding an umbrella is tricky, but still doable.

The fashion conscious reader may like to know that I'm wearing a winter coat by Portland-based global outfitter Columbia Sportswear. Michelle got it for me a couple of years ago and I love it. I just wish it had more pockets to put more art supplies.

Below is another photo shared by polar bear plunger Lilette Player (thanks Lilette!) More on my flickr page.

The artist as reporter

2009-09-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

"The Artist as reporter" is the title of an inspiring book by the late British illustrator Paul Hogarth. I borrowed his title for my talk at the sketching workshop "de vuelta con el cuaderno" that I attended in Spain earlier this month. Here's the text of my class in Spanish. If enough people are interested, I will translate it to English when I get a chance.

Open publication