SKETCHWALK

A themed route, 3-4 carefully selected locations, a 15-minute time limit per sketch - this is what a sketchwalk in Gdańsk looks like. They allow us to see urban spaces from a new perspective and learn more about places we likely pass by every day without giving them much thought.

Does it sound like a challenge? Not sure if you can keep up with the pace? Our experience has taught us how to approach it - beginners are encouraged to use a limited color palette, a small format, and to focus on form rather than details.

But where did our sketchwalks come from?

The very first sketchwalk in the history of Urban Sketchers Gdańsk was the SketchWalk Along the Coastal Fortifications Route, organized by Kasia Jędrys-Siuda. I loved the format so much that I immediately started looking for themes for future meetups, and soon, sketchwalks became a regular part of our group’s activities.

SketchWalk Along the Coastal Fortifications Route

organized by Kasia Jędrys-Siuda

My first sketchwalk focused on the viaducts along railway line 250 in Gdańsk - as a newly graduated engineer at the time, I had a certain appreciation for truss structures, and these particular ones over the years have been repainted to create a visually cohesive look. Leading a group of Gdańsk sketchers along their path felt like a natural choice. While preparing for this sketchwalk, I decided to research the history of each location. In the case of the viaducts, I even visited the Library of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Gdańsk University of Technology to gather information.

SKETCHWALK: viaducts along railway line 250

Next came Gdynia Modernism - since our meetups often mix locations from different parts of the Tricity and surrounding areas, Gdynia felt like a natural next step. I used pre-existing modernist architecture routes, selecting one with sketcher-friendly locations that featured both well-known and lesser-known buildings of the area.

SKETCHWALK - Gdynia Modernism

In the meantime, I became fascinated by Gdańsk’s waterways, which, compared to my hometown (Olsztyn), are far more numerous. The longest of them is Strzyża, and I decided to design a sketchwalk route along its course. This resulted in four meetups - in Matemblewo, Brętowo, Wrzeszcz, and Młyniska. We moved from forested areas to contemporary urban landscapes, then to more historical settings in Lower Wrzeszcz, and finally to industrial surroundings where Strzyża flows into Martwa Wisła.

SKETCHWALKI - Strzyża

Along the way, we also explored:

• The Przymorze “falowiec” buildings (long, wave-like apartment blocks)

• The “Tourist” sketchwalk, featuring key landmarks along Gdańsk’s iconic Długa Street

• Another water-themed sketchwalk, focusing on a section of the Radunia Canal running through Gdańsk’s Old Town

• Westerplatte

• The city’s bastions and fortifications

• Długie Ogrody Street

SKETCHWALK - The Przymorze “falowiec”

SKETCHWALK - BASTIONY

SKETCHWALK - The “Tourist” 

SKETCHWALK - RADUNIA

SKETCHWALK WESTERPLATTE

SKETCHWALK - Długie Ogrody Street

This year, I mainly plan to guide sketchers through the distinctive landmarks of various Gdańsk districts and neighborhoods. I want to draw attention to both famous and hidden locations - places that might be listed as historical monuments but don’t stand out as obviously as church towers, manor houses, or city gates. I hope that, despite the fast-paced format, you’ll join me for these meetings and rediscover Gdańsk together with me.

Julia Zienkiewicz

Urban sketcher, sketchwalker, admin of Urban Sketchers Gdańsk

kontakt@urbansketchersgdansk.pl