The City is Our Studio: Urban Sketchers Doha bring the outdoors in

Doha, Qatar: En plein air, a French term that is used in the art world to refer to the act of painting outdoors, is the Urban Sketchers Doha s primary...

Doha, Qatar: En plein air, a French term that is used in the art world to refer to the act of painting outdoors, is the Urban Sketchers Doha’s primary lifeblood and the core tenet of their manifesto.

The inaugural exhibition showcasing the talents of the Urban Sketchers Doha ensemble titled “The City is Our Studio” kicked off on Thursday, February 12, at Lusail’s Art Factory.

Qatar resident Maria Theresa Tuates, a Filipino artist and founder of the art community, was one of five people who gathered on what she called a “lucky” Friday the 13th evening to capture the essence of Doha in their sketchpads, brushing aside any superstition about the date.

The original group of 5 has since grown to include 50 faithful members, who have found a place “where they belong” and could exist in a “safe space where they could meet like-minded people,” the brains behind the operation told The Peninsula.