MEET, PLAY, DRAW!
Sketchy Bitches is a fun & friendly sketchworking club Open to anyone aged 18+ Our interactive portrait-sketching sessions are Informal & inclusive social experiences designed to unite, uplift and empower people through drawing and creative play.
We started out as women-only but anyone can be a Sketchy Bitch these days! All levels of experience are welcome and the vast majority of us are self-taught sketchers who want to explore and share their creativity with others. Whether you’re just getting started or a professional artist, our sessions are open to anyone who wants to play and draw freely, just for the fun of it!
Our aims?
To unite, inspire and ignite your creativity using a combination of fun themes, friendly chat, experimental sketching, and cracking playlists! We’re here to help you find your flow, boost your creative confidence, and ultimately, to make you SMILE :)
Our rules?
Be kind, be curious and be YOU!
Forget capturing likeness - just experiment and have FUN!
Why portraits?
The format of Sketchy Bitches was born by accident, at our first ever meetup in January 2018. Dulcie (our Founder) loves a portrait, so brought some blank business cards along thinking it could be fun to draw each other on them, then exchange them at the end. Initially the plan was to set different prompts each month, but people loved these mini portraits so much the format kinda stuck!
Trading cards aside, it’s the empathy, time and trust that we exchange that is the invaluable gift of Sketchy Bitches, as we allow ourselves to be seen and drawn by others. It’s a unique and special experience that reminds us how important and powerful eye contact is, and how connective and uplifting drawing with others can be.
STaYING CONNECTED THROUGH COVID
Our weekly themed Zoom sessions kept us connected, creative and uplifted throughout 2 intense years of COVID-19. Our community grew beyond borders - attracting regular sketchers from NYC to the Netherlands. Together, we shared, held and uplifted each other through the tough and ever-changing times, and of course we drew thousands of portraits! We were in it together and it was never easy, but despite the circumstances we had a lot of fun! Watch and listen to some of the highlights and reflections below.
Epsidoe 5 of our podcast was recorded in December 2020
Special events
In March 2020, just before the pandemic kicked in, we hosted a special International Women’s Day celebration at Rich Mix in East London. We invited the iconic Artist Sue Kreitzman to join us as guest muse, and over 40 people came to meet and draw her in full technicolour awesomeness! It was an incredible event - the atmosphere and creative energy in the room was truly ELECTRIC!
In 2019, we held a special 1 day event at Huckletree West, feat. our first ever guest panel, a fashion sketching masterclass, a mass portrait sketchathon, and Sketchy Bitches cupcakes! (#GOALS!)
Why join Sketchy Bitches?
We asked some of the regulars in our lockdown crew to share some of their favourite work and tell us what they’ve got out of coming to Sketchy Bitches online.
“Drawing together with Sketchy Bitches gives me a sense of peace and exhilaration at the same time. I love the women I’ve met and the courage I’ve found.”
Helen
“I love the events as I love drawing and dressing up with like minded people. I find it a very welcoming group and I would recommend it to anyone. It's great seeing the portraits afterwards.”
Sarah T
“Sketchy Bitches has brought so much joy to my life, I have physical and mental health issues so being able to join a group of beautiful women on a regular basis who are supportive of each other and just have fun, has meant the absolute world to me! Therapy via Art is definitely what this is! <3 Love you all.”
Lene
“I love the community - such a welcoming and warm environment.”
Emily
”These are such fun events and it's so lovely to meet every time some lovely sketchers! Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys drawing!”
Estelle
“Many of us believe we can't draw but it's not true. Sketchy Bitches helps us let our hair down!”
Aileen
“I love the non-judgemental atmosphere - I always feel very welcomed and seen, and feel free to express my creativity. They have definitely contributed to me finding the inner calm, and I always come away from the SB events feeling more connected to myself.”
Martyna
”I love the freedom of drawing in a non-judgmental environment and chance to mix with a fab gang!”
Michèle
”I love the upbeat fun, music and commmunity at Sketchy Bitches!"
Louise