The First United Methodist Church of Alexandria’s “Urban Sketchers” have met regularly since October 2025 throughout the Alexandria–Pineville area, emphasizing presence, community, and creative engagement rather than established artistic skill – It’s FREE!

You can join them this Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 10 AM, when the Urban Sketching Art Ministry with FUMCA Artist-in-Residence Rev. Jean Sanders meets at Tamp & Grind Coffee in downtown Alexandria. Open to the public and free to attend, the event welcomes participants of all experience levels. After coffee and fellowship, the group will head out into the surrounding area to sketch together. No prior experience is required.

So what is urban sketching?

At its core, urban sketching is the practice of drawing on location—indoors or outdoors—capturing what the artist sees through direct observation. It is about recording time and place: something happening, somewhere, at a specific moment.

Urban sketchers use any medium. The goal is not a polished, expertly executed finished piece, but capturing the essence of the moment. A drawing may be quick and loose with a short caption, or more developed over time on site. As long as it is created from firsthand observation and reflects lived experience, it qualifies as urban sketching.

While including the date or location is not required, written notes help strengthen the storytelling aspect. Unlike plein-air painting, which typically emphasizes aesthetic outcome, urban sketching prioritizes witnessing, documentation, and narrative.

Urban sketching does not have to take place in a city. It can happen anywhere—urban, rural, or natural settings. The defining element is drawing on location to tell the story of a place in real time. In its narrative form, known as reportage, urban sketching combines drawing and short written commentary to provide a visual account of events, culture, and human experience.

Another free art offering is coming up next Sunday, March 8, 2026 when a “Painting on Denim” Pop-Up Art Party will be held in the FUMCA art studio from 4–6pm also led by Rev Jean. Bring your own denim (shirt, jacket, pants) to paint on. All other supplies will be available. Please call the church office to reserve your spot.

Upcoming FUMCA Urban Sketching dates will be March 28 at 10 AM at Tamp & Grind, and on April 11 at 10 AM, the group will meet at the Alexandria Museum of Art. That gathering will include a special opportunity to sketch downtown Alexandria and the Red River from the museum grounds and third-floor gallery. The morning will begin with an informative tour by Gar Pickering, FUMCA Creative Engagement Director, in the museum’s medieval Spanish chapel reproduction from the 2003 “Heart of Spain” exhibition. The tour will explore the chapel’s biblical themes, the role of sacred imagery in Christian teaching, and its influence on the development of Western art. Sketchers may then do studies of the frescos or choose another location to capture downtown architecture. Admission to AMoA on Second Saturdays is free, so this event is offered at no additional cost.

Together, these gatherings reflect First United Methodist Church of Alexandria’s commitment to creative ministry, offering accessible spaces for thoughtful engagement with art, community, and spirituality.