Classes and Workshops
Santa Fe Sketchbook: Exploring the Spirit & Stories of the American Southwest:
MISA West Travel Sketching Retreat
SOLD OUT. Waitlist available.
April 20–24, 2026
Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, New Mexico, USA
The workshop is hosted by Madeline Island School of Art
We’ll dive into the spirit of this region – its warm adobe structures, vibrant plazas, weathered mission ruins, and quirky ghost towns. We will learn how to sketch traditional Santa Fe architecture, the breathtaking mountain landscapes and then wander through villages, drawing nostalgic roadside Americana in its colorful charm. You’ll develop an ability to simplify complex shapes and scenes without losing their essence, master architectural perspective to give your drawings depth and realism, and learn to identify and mix the true colors that capture the unique light and mood of this stunning region.
Portland Summer Workshops
May-Oct, 2026
Portland, OR
Join us for the 10th anniversary edition of Urban Sketching Workshops in Portland— on-location drawing series. These workshops are a chance to develop your drawing skills, meet fellow sketchers, and see your city with fresh eyes. To celebrate the 10th year of teaching Urban sketching in Portland we are going all out–offering 10 workshops celebrating the most iconic Portland’s locations and events–from Portland bridges to its gorgeous parks, river spots, festivals, and markets.
In-person workshops set in iconic and lesser-known spots around Portland
Live demos, drawing exercises, group and individual feedback
A handy booklet for each workshop, packed with examples and key takeaways
Fun, challenge, inspiration in the company of like minded sketchers
Vancouver BC Sketch Weekend
May 30-31, 2026
Vancouver BC, Canada
Rita Sabler will present a workshop “Where do I even begin? Learning to Simplify Very Complicated Scenes” on Saturday morning, May 30 and giving a demo during the Sketchwalk on Saturday afternoon.
The workshop is currently sold out. The waitlist is available.
The sketchWALK + DEMO are still open.
14th Urban Sketchers Symposium
July 15-18, 2026
Toulouse, France
Rita Sabler will present a lecture titled Practical Guide to Reportage. We will discuss how to find the subject for your story and what kinds of subjects make for compelling stories in documentary drawing. We’ll explore techniques for working quickly and effectively on location, choosing what to document, and developing a personal visual language. I will share practical insights from my work as a visual journalist, covering stories from political protests, border communities to disaster zones.
Sketchbook Evolution: A Drawing & Watercolor Retreat on Madeline Island
August 31st - September 4th, 2026
Madeline Island, Wisconsin, USA
This 5-day immersive workshop is designed to help you build a solid foundation in sketching while pushing your creative boundaries. With expert guidance from three world-class instructors, you’ll explore exciting subject matter around the island, experimenting with new techniques and concepts that will enhance your skills and boost your confidence as an urban sketcher.
The Art of Travel Reportage at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology (in person)
September 16-17, 2026
Otis, OR (Oregon Coast)
Workshop is sold out. Waitlist is available.
This workshop at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology invites you to slow down and really notice the places you visit through drawing and writing. You’ll learn how to capture the feel of a place through quick sketches, watercolor, and short written reflections. You’ll practice choosing what to draw, simplifying what you see, and combining images and words to tell a more personal story—skills you can use whether you’re traveling far or exploring close to home. Set on the stunning Oregon Coast at Sitka’s campus in the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area, surrounded by forest, estuary, and ocean, the workshop reflects the Center’s mission to bring art and ecology together and encourage deeper connection, curiosity, and creativity inspired by the natural world.
Urban Sketching in Guanajuato
November 8-15, 2026
Alma del Sol, Guanajuato, Mexico
Join us in Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town) of Guanajuato for a week long sketching retreat taught by Rita Sabler. We will be hosted by the owner of Alma del Sol Mexican artist and print maker Hugo Anaya. Guanajuato is located in central Mexico. The colorful town is surrounded by the mountains and boasts rich history, beautiful architecture, unique culture, and mild climate. Formally a silver mining place, the town of Guanajuato is now the Unesco World Heritage site popular with artists, musicians and students. It is famous for its colonial Baroque and neoclassical architecture, narrow streets, colorful homes scattered on the mountains, cozy plazas, relaxed pace of life, and great food.
The Art of Travel Reportage in Southern France
April 17-25, 2027
Atelier Clos Mirabel, Jurançon, France
Framed by the snowcapped Pyrénées mountains – where vineyard covered hills roll gently beneath snow-dusted peaks and evenings glow with unforgettable sunsets – Clos Mirabel and Rita Sabler invite you to explore the art of the carnet de voyage, the travel sketchbook. Inspired by the legacy of Eugène Delacroix, who once sought out the clear mountain air of southwest France and found endless inspiration in its landscapes and villages, we will follow a similar path. His sketchbooks reveal scenes that still echo today—timeless, textured, and full of life.
Now, you have the unique opportunity to spend a week in this inspiring setting, creating your own travel sketchbook and capturing the spirit of a place that has moved artists for generations.
Student Testimonials
“I want to thank you for a wonderful experience this morning, it was the highlight of my week! Your instruction and your process are so clear and "do-able", they give one confidence to just go.
Thank you for your insights and your very clear instruction. Your paintings have a friendly accessible quality that makes one think "I can do that too!". And the handout is genius. I look forward to taking another class with you.”
-Liz Williams , Portland, OR
“The online class I took with Rita Sabler was my favorite activity of the year. I have a degree in studio art from 25 years ago, but having worked in a different field, my drawing and painting became rusty. Rita’s online class was a crash course, helping me to remember perspective, composition, tonal values, storytelling, drawing, and seeing. She demonstrated ways to prepare and complete a sketch that I wasn’t taught in art school.”
- Jen, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
“Drawing Cities in Ink and Watercolor with Rita Sabler provided not only the technical foundations, but also the practice and confidence to develop my urban sketching skills. The live zoom classes provide ample opportunity to receive personal feedback and guidance during class. Each class is developed around solid content for a specific topic, building on top of the skills developed on previous classes. I highly recommend the course!”
- César Landin, Mexico
“I really enjoyed the logical approach to the “Fundamentals of Drawing Urban Spaces.” The instructor explained the steps of the process we need to complete in sequence, emphasizing that troubleshooting practice makes the difference in the final drawing we do. Thank you for sharing your valuable sketching knowledge and experience!”
-Diane Mills, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
“An unexpected "gift" of this course, was being retaught how to really look and observe life all around me. I look forward to attempting more urban sketching as the weather improves! Thank you for everything, Rita!”
-M.P.
“Rita Sabler is an excellent instructor, super helpful and inspiring. The course was really enlightening, she made difficult concepts very simple to understand. I learned a lot from her drawing process and her feedback every week.I am so glad I decided to take this course. I would highly recommend it!”
- Marisol Pastrana, Italy
“Rita Sabler makes the problem of simplifying the chaotic visual scene easy to follow. No one has taught me that so clearly. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!”
-Thia Bankey, Portland, OR
“Really enjoyed the class and appreciated the feedback. I thought Rita Sabler did a great job of explaining in a way that was accessible and understandable to me - a beginner - even though she also needed to present in a way that was also good for the more experienced class members. Thank you!”
-2024 Fundamentals of Drawing Urban Spaces Student
“Rita Sabler ‘s manner of instruction is always so clear, non-judgmental and supportive. I value the way she reviews the basics – line, value, thumbnails, etc – all of the elements of a strong composition. It's like first getting all of the ingredients together before making a delicious cake!”
Susan, Portland OR
“I was impressed and pleased at how quickly the instructor responded to my questions. She quickly understood what the question was about and then answered it clearly. Not all teachers do that. A lot of instructors let themselves be de-railed. As a teacher, Rita Sabler is a Gem!”
-Student from Lantzville, BC
“Drawing architecture and complicated scenes has always been a challenge for me - something always seemed wrong in my sketches. Rita’s “Drawing Cities'' online course equipped me with valuable know-how and suggestions for a process which gave me confidence to sketch even the busiest surroundings.”
- Martina, Germany
“Rita is approachable and relatable, and she teaches with focus and patience. She has a talent for selecting what is good about a student’s sketch, and she suggests tweaks to make future sketches more successful.”
- Jen, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
I was not new to urban sketching or a beginner sketcher when I signed up for this course, but I struggle with where to start when sketching a big scene on location and I feel like I sketch very tight and controlled, which frustrated me. This course gave great tips on how to approach a scene and not feel so overwhelmed. Over the 7 weeks I could feel my approach to sketching really loosen up. I loved the tips Rita shared and really feel grateful for the skills I learned.
-2025 Fundamentals of Drawing Urban Spaces Student