DRAW
Pop-up art studio
DRAW is an open-air drawing studio, offering access to fine art materials and a place to draw together in public. Designed for New Yorkers of all ages and always free, elements include:
- high-quality paper, pencils, charcoal, drawing boards, and tools for drawing
- prompts for drawing, conceived by artists and educators
- art books for inspiration
- benches for seating and a custom-designed cart that stores, moves, and displays the collection
- a “street gallery” displaying drawings made by other New Yorkers
staff who set up and run the program
The program can also include teaching artists and options for local organizations and businesses to add special activities (e.g. a still-life display from a local florist).
Here’s what happens: people of all ages approach, sit down, pick up materials, and begin drawing. Some follow artist prompts or are introduced to different materials like blending sticks and watercolor pencils by our staff. Some draw for a short time, others for much longer. People feel good to be drawing together and are transformed into artists, no matter their skill level, on a public stage.
This program has served New Yorkers since 2015.
Help bring drawing to all NYC neighborhoods.
From our Artists in Residence
“I felt like some moments could change something, maybe one moment could change someone’s life.”
— 2017 AIR Luyi Wang
“What I enjoyed most were the personal interactions I had..Being an AIR strengthened my desire to take a more active role as an artist in my community, and to engage with the public more as an artist and art educator.”
— 2015 AIR Susan Coyne
“Most of all, I appreciated the opportunity to connect with members of so many different communities in NYC through art, rather than producing work as an anonymous observer.”
— 2015 AIR Genevieve Irwin
Materials donated by
Blick Art Materials has generously donated high-quality art materials to DRAW NYC since 2015.
The Drawing Center has generously donated a number of its Drawing Papers and provided passes for free admission to its galleries in SoHo.
Supporters
DRAW is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Updates about DRAW
Our residency at Chelsea Market wraps up as we head outdoors
This weekend we gathered around an elegant still life created with local shop Pearl River and ended our residency at Chelsea Market in style. Thanks to Chelsea Market for hosting us this winter. We now head outdoors—see you on the street![ngg src="galleries"...
Pop-up drawing studio for all at Chelsea Market
Our residency at Chelsea Market is in the home stretch as we prepare for our outdoor season! This weekend we gathered around a still life from local shop Chelsea Market Baskets. Catch us one final time in the market next Sunday, April 14, from 11am-2pm. Check our...
Gathering at Chelsea Market to draw…bread!
This weekend we gathered around a still life full of baked goods from Amy's Bread at Chelsea Market. Draw with us every Sunday from 11am-2pm in Chelsea Local through April 14. Check our calendar for details. Made possible by Chelsea Market—see you on Sunday!...