7/11 NJ Sketchers at Laurelwood Arboretum

Laurelwood Arboretum is a 30 acre botanically diverse property featuring woodland trails and gardens, wildlife, ponds, streams and hundreds of varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas and other unusual species of plants and trees. Gravel paths wind and connect through the arboretum showcasing hidden nooks that draw attention to artist created sculptures.

DATE: Saturday, July 11, 2026

START TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: 725 Pines Lake Dr W, Wayne, NJ 07470

RSVP: Kim Maniscalco
KJM.artistry@gmail.com
201-424-6777

NOTES:

• Kim and Joey will greet sketchers infront of the gated entrance located between the Parking Lots by the Sensory Garden.

• PARKING: Two parking lots are offered on Pines Lake Drive West and Vale Road. Both lots provide access to the trails, but they are relatively small and can fill up quickly. Possibly consider ridesharing.

• PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Most public transportation routes to the arboretum require a bus trip followed by a short taxi or rideshare to reach the entrance. NJ Transit bus lines 197 and 194 serve nearby Pompton Lakes and the surrounding Wayne area.

• BATHROOMS: Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are located in the Knippenberg Center and a porta-potty is on site.

• Benches on site but a stool is always helpful

• Consider bringing a hat, sunscreen, walking shoes and water. 

All skill levels welcome, free to attend.

Saturday 6/27/26: Special Event: Weekend and Westchester Sketchers co-hosting at Van Cortlandt Park

 

Van Cortlandt Park boasts more than a thousand acres in the Bronx and is New York City's third largest park. The park is home to the country's first public golf course and the borough's largest freshwater lake.

The Van Cortlandt House Museum, the oldest house in the Bronx, will be our home base for the day. The 18th-century fieldstone and brick Georgian style manor house is both a New York City Landmark and a National Historical Landmark.

Not far from the Museum, the Grand Central Stones are another interesting and sketchable part of Van Cortlandt Park. In the early 1900s, Grand Central Terminal’s architects, Reed & Stem and Warren & Wetmore, tested 13 stone mockups in Van Cortlandt Park to determine the most durable materials, ultimately selecting Stony Creek granite and Indiana limestone- choices still evidenced by the surviving test monoliths today.

HOST: Frieda Christofides (917) 747-6060
DATE: Saturday 6/27/26
TIME: Sketching 11am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Van Cortlandt House Museum- 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY

MEETING SPOT: There will be a kickoff meeting in front of the The Van Cortlandt House Museum at 11am.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: We will meet at 3pm in front of the Museum. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms near the museum. There is food in the neighborhood, but not in the park. Bring a stool, it will give you more options.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

Workshop ADDED: July 18 • Loose Colored Lines. Discovering a new way to draw with Santi Sallés

Morning session sold out!

AFTERNOON SESSION ADDED-2pm-5pm

Practice drawing in a different way, painting with watercolor and making marks on top with colored pencils in a loose and casual style.

Santi Sallés is a great lover of fresh, emotional, colorful drawings and especially ones that could have been created by a child. He is currently teaching urban sketching at a private university in Barcelona and he regularly participates in travel sketchbook festivals. Join this workshop to experience his exciting approach to urban sketching.

No experience is necessary for this workshop - all are welcome.

Every attendee will receive a free Stillman & Birn beta series sketchbook, containing 180 pound natural white paper in a soft cover.

Saturday July 18, 2-5pm 

Tickets and more information available on Eventbrite.

 Sitting in the middle of the East River, Roosevelt Island offers us wonderful views of both Manhattan and Queens. Choose the view of the United Nations, the Queensboro Bridge on the west side, or the iconic Coca Cola sign on the East side.  Wander to the south end of the island to capture the Roosevelt Memorial or the old hospital complex. No matter what, you will have a great time sketching the sites and leaving with wonder pictures in your sketchbooks. 

DATE: Wednesday June 24 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

MEETING SPOT:  We will meet on the plaza in front of the Cafe at Cornell Tech.  Walk south from either the subway or tram station. Pass under the bridge.  Cornell Tech will be on your left.  The plaza is on the east side of the building. 

TRANSPORTATION: M train to Roosevelt Island or the Tram at 59th St and 2nd Ave

HOST: Mila Genkin 718-909-3606

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available 

There is limited  food service in the park.  Please bring your own lunch and snacks, or purchase something on the island

Bring a stool 

Saturday 6/20/26: Weekend Sketchers at Green-Wood Cemetery

 

Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery, in a time of rapid urbanization when churchyards in New York City were becoming overcrowded. Described as "Brooklyn's first public park by default long before Prospect Park was created", Green-Wood Cemetery was so popular that it inspired a competition to design Central Park in Manhattan, as well as Prospect Park nearby.

The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a National Historic Landmark. In addition, the 25th Street gates, the Weir Greenhouse, and the Fort Hamilton Parkway Gate & Green-Wood Cemetery Chapel were separately designated as city landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. So there’s lots to sketch at Green-Wood!

HOST: Susan Toplitz (631) 948-3233
DATE: Saturday 6/20/26
TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Green-Wood Cemetery- 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY. The Main Entrance is at 5th Avenue and 25th Street in Brooklyn (not in Manhattan, for any out-of-towners). The R train stops one block away from the entrance on 25th Street.

MEETING SPOT: There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching. If you are new, look for people with sketchbooks and say hello, we are a friendly bunch.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: We will meet at 3 just inside the main Gothic entrance. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms on the premises, and parking, although be mindful if there is a burial that day. There is food in the neighborhood, but you can picnic on the grounds.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

SATURDAY, June 20, 2026: WESTCHESTER Sketchers at the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Gardens

A visit to The Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden is a chance to experience the peace of nature and the wisdom of Eastern culture, right in Westchester County. These weeks are the most colorful in the Japanese Stroll Garden with the many azaleas, Japanese primrose, yellow iris, and water lilies all blooming brightly.

Located in North Salem, New York, The Hammond Museum serves visitors worldwide with Japanese art and a beautifully-preserved 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden. Come take a walk and sketch in the gardens, or see the art on show in the museum's galleries. The museum offers changing exhibits, lectures, and programs that reflect the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.

Currently on exhibit in the main gallery: 

Threads of Connection: Traditional Forms, Contemporary Stories. Featured Artists: Mohamed A. Yakub and Jane Wilson-Marquis. AND Falling from the Floating World: Tattoo Art by Geoff Horn.

HOST: Cathy Gutterman (914) 625-0766 

DATE: Saturday, June 20, 2026

Start time: 11 AM (Note: Later start time)

LOCATION: The Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden28 Deveau Road, North Salem, NY 10560-2115 Phone: 914-669-5033

DIRECTIONS: Take I-684 to Exit 7. Take Route 116 East to Salem Center. Follow signs for the Hammond Museum on June Road north until reaching Deveau Road. https://www.hammondmuseum.org/visit

Transportation from NYC: Take METRO NORTH Harlem line trains to Croton Falls. From the Croton Falls station, the museum recommends taking a Taxi or Car Service to the museum.

LUNCH: Since we will be starting later, we will not stop for lunch, please bring your own lunch/snack and water.

SHOW and TELL: 3:00 PM. We will share our drawings and tell stories. This is the social part of our day and should not be missed.

NOTES:

- Museum hours: 11-5 PM   

- Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $8.

- Bring a stool if you have one.  It gives you more options.

- Dress for sunshine and warm temperatures.  

- Bring a hat and sunscreen.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

At the lower end of Manhattan, in Battery Park, is a carousel that seems to be part of a dream: Pastel hued glass fish “swim” past huge windows, making it seem that the people inside are riding in an aquarium. Join us this week and capture this fantasy in your sketchbook.  Then wander through the rest of the park to sketch the statues, playgrounds, trees and Fort Clinton. 

DATE: Wednesday June 17 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

TRANSPORTATION: 1 train to South Ferry or the R, W to Whitehall/South Ferry

HOST: Lorraine Smith. 929-614-1930

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available 

There is no food service in the park.  Please bring your own lunch and snacks

Bring a stool 

6/20 Saturday NJ Sketchers at Verona Park

 

We welcome you to join the NJ Urban Sketchers at Verona Park. Located at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Drive, this 54-acre public park features a 13-acre lake, a boathouse, swan boats, tennis, pickleball and bocce courts, a children's garden, and an arched pedestrian bridge, popular for taking special occasion photos. The park was originally designed by the Olmstead Brothers and has many lovely features to sketch or paint. It also has plenty of shade trees.

Please meet at 10:30 at the boathouse, which is where the restrooms are. You can park near the children's playground or the tennis courts. There is overflow on the street parking as well.
Bring a stool for more options and your lunch or a snack. We will sketch for two hours, then eat, show & tell at 12:30, and talk about favorite art supplies.

RSVP or any questions, e-mail Julia - jazaz7658@gmail.com or (551)206-1273.

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Time: 10:30am
Location: Verona Park, Verona, NJ 07044

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YCFoHfbuvppTH5kC7

All skill levels welcome, free event

Saturday 6/13/26: Weekend Sketchers at Little Island (and Pier 57)

 

Little Island features a unique design supported by 132 tulip-shaped concrete pots, creating elevated green spaces and performance areas. Designed by Heatherwick Studio, with landscape architecture by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, the team reimagined the pier as a sculptural, immersive green oasis, blending art, architecture, and nature to provide a whimsical and restorative urban experience.

***Right now it looks like Saturday will be a very sunny 90 degrees. The Little Island can get very crowded on nice Saturdays, and I don't believe there is a shady spot large enough for us to do show and tell. Therefore let’s use the immediately adjacent Pier 57 as our show and tell spot, as well as an escape from the sun throughout the day should you need it. Pier 57 is very comfortable with a food hall, restrooms, seating, and an incredible view of the Little Island from the comfort of an air-conditioned seating area. The views from the rooftop of Pier 57 are also incredible (the main photo above is from the rooftop of Pier 57). 

HOST: Joana Miranda (414) 217-5624

DATE: Saturday 6/13/26

TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm. 

SKETCHING LOCATION: The Little Island- West side piers @ 15th Street, NY, NY. 

MEETING SPOT:  There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching. If you are new, look for people with sketchbooks and say hello, we are a friendly bunch. 

SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: The “Public Living Room” area of Pier 57- Walk past City Winery, through the Market 57 Food Hall, and about halfway to the end of the pier on the left you will see a large seating area.

Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location. 

FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: Yes to all.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event.  #nycurbansketchers.

TUESDAY, June 9 2026: Nyack/WESTCHESTER Sketchers at Nyack Library

Come and join the next meet-up of the Nyack/Westchester Sketchers at the Nyack Library. Meet in the Creative Lab at 2 PM, then gather gain at 4 PM to share sketches. Choose whatever you would like to draw inside or outside.

Free, informal and friendly!  All levels welcome. Beginners welcome. No registration required.

HOST: Kay Copp Brown (631) 432-6526

DATE: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

TIME: 2:00 - 4:30 PM 

LOCATION: Nyack Library, 59 South Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960.

Meet in the Creative Lab at 2 PM. Return at 4:00 PM for Show and Tell.

DIRECTIONS: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//Nyack+Library,+59+S+Broadway,+Nyack,+NY+10960 

NOTES:

• Park on the street or in the library lot behind the building.

• Restrooms are available.

For more information contact Kay at kcoppbrown@aol.com 

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

 

Fort Tryon Park is a wonderful place to sketch with  views of the Hudson River looking toward George Washington Bridge, flagstone terraces, flower gardens and exterior views of the Cloisters. Bring your sketchbook and sit in the shade of ancient trees while enjoying the views. 

DATE: Wednesday June 10 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

TRANSPORTATION: A train to 190th Street. There is an elevator that goes up to the park. Proceed to Margaret Corbin Circle to enter the Heather Garden where the group will gather. 

HOST :Carol Kreider 949-929-2616 

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available 

There is no food service in the park.  Please bring your own lunch and snacks

Bring a stool

Saturday 6/6/26: Conservatory Garden, Central Park

 

The Conservatory Garden is considered one of the most significant public gardens in New York City, and truly is one of the most special places in the city. Central Park’s only formal garden is actually composed of three gardens, each one with its own unique style: the French-style North Garden, the Italianate Center Garden, and the English-style South Garden. The main entrance is marked by an ornate Vanderbilt gate that once adorned the mansion of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, at 58th and Fifth.

HOST: Joana Miranda (414) 217-5624 and Rowan Bordewieck- 718-926-6855 (Text preferred)
DATE: Saturday 6/6/26
TIME: Sketching 10am - 3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Central Park’s Conservatory Garden. The entrance is at 5th Avenue and 105th Street.

MEETING LOCATION: There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching. If you are new, look for people with sketchbooks and say hello, we are a friendly bunch.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: Under the elevated pergola on the west side of the central garden. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are benches throughout the garden, and restrooms on the west side of the central garden under the elevated pergola. There is no food in the garden, but street vendors are never far away. The Museum of the City of New York, which is “pay what you can” for NYC residents, is right across the street and that has a cafe and restrooms.

ABOUT NYC URBAN SKETCHING EVENTS: All are welcome, no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

THURSDAY, June 4, 2026: WESTCHESTER SKETCHERS at Harrison Library

We will be sketching in the charming Town/Village of Harrison - on the expanse of land and park directly in front of the Harrison Library (Halperin Building) and across from the Harrison Train Station. What is there to sketch? Quaint houses, a gazebo, war memorials, the train station, a municipal building, or people.

HOST: Cathy Gutterman (914) 625-0766 

DATE: Thursday, June 4, 2026

START TIME: 10:00 AM. We will meet in front of the Library.

LOCATION: The park expanse between the Harrison Train Station and the Harrison Library. 

2 Bruce Ave, Harrison, NY 10528 Phone: (914) 835-0324.

DIRECTIONS by TRAIN (From NYC):

Metro-North New Haven Line from Grand Central Terminal to the Harrison Station. You will need to cross the elevated bridge over the tracks to reach the park in front of the Harrison Library. 

LUNCH: 12:45 PM, followed by SHOW & TELL. This is the social part of our day when we share our drawings, tips, and stories.  It is a time not to be missed.

NOTES:

• There is a deli on the corner of Harrison Avenue, within walking distance of the park.

• There is street parking near the private houses on Bruce Street, one-hour parking in front of the municipal building, and 2-hour parking in front of the train walkway.

• Harrison Library opens at 10:00 AM so you should be able to find parking in front of the library.

• There are seating options in the park and around the Library, but bring a stool for more options.

• In case of rain showers, we will head indoors to sketch in the Harrison Library or St. Gregory's Church on Halstead Avenue.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event.  #nycurbansketchers.

Workshop: June 27 - Plein Air Watercolor at the Lake in Central Park with Patrick King

Students of all levels are welcome in this outdoor workshop in Central Park. They will learn basic watercolor techniques as well as advanced methods of glazing to achieve deep, rich, layered colors. They will learn to bring a greater depth and intensity to watercolor through multiple glazes and other intensive painting techniques. An emphasis on composition, drawing and perspective will be an integral part of the workshop. The first part of the workshop will consist of a brief demonstration, after which you will be aided in planning your composition and moving on to painting.

Legion Paper will provide paper for this workshop. @legionpaper

When:  Saturday, June 27th, 10am-1pm

For information and tickets: Eventbrite

 The Flatiron District centers around the wedge-shaped Flatiron building (1902, Burnham and Dinkelberg) at 23rd at 5th and Broadway. Once a symbol of modernity, it sits across 23rd Street from the beautifully landscaped Madison Square Park. Broadway and Fifth Avenue, below 23rd, are lined with wonderful 19th and early 20th century buildings. From 22nd to 26th street you’ll find lots of public seating, coffee and treats.

This district has had many identities over the decades. In the mid 19th century it was the eastern side of “Ladies Mile”. Lord and Taylor was once located at 21st and Broadway. It has more recently been known as the “Toy District” and is now known more for tech businesses, advertising agencies and high end home furnishings. You’ll find many shops and restaurants including Eataley, The Harry Potter Store, Design Within Reach. 

Pull up a chair and grab a cup of coffee, there is plenty to draw!

Host: Donna David (212) 685 2930 (text is best)

Date: June 3, 2026 

Time: 10:30am

Meeting location: Seating area north of the Flatiron in the plaza on the north side of 23rd Street, facing the point of the Flatiron. Look for anyone with a sketchbook and say hello.

Transportation: The 6 to 23rd street and the R, W to 23rd are the closest trains

Notes: 

-Water, bathrooms are available in nearby establishments. 

-Food, water and coffee are available nearby

-There’s plenty of moveable seating around, but bring a stool for more options

Wait, there’s more!

-There is a fabulous dog run in the park - draw the pooches!

-The phrase “23 skidoo!” is rumored to have been coined at the Flatiron. (https://www.edwardianpromenade.com/new-york-city/the-flatiron-building-and-23-skidoo/)

-For the brave of heart there is an “Automated Public Toilet” at the southeast corner of the park. It may or may not be open and it may or may not cost 25 cents. Let us know how it goes :)

-The fence around the Worth monument at 25th and Broadway uses a sword design for the verticals.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event.  #nycurbansketchers.