Toulouse Urba sketchers Symposium 2026

My preparation for the Toulouse Symposium demo began on my very first day in the city—although at that moment, I didn’t yet know that I was preparing for it.

I was sitting near the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, excited to finally be in Toulouse and unsure which view I wanted to sketch. In front of me was the beautiful church. Directly behind me was a completely different view: a lively street leading away from the square.

The symposium had not officially opened yet, but sketchers were already everywhere. Two women stopped and asked if they could watch my process. Of course, I was happy for them to stay, and suddenly this quiet preparation began to feel like a small, spontaneous demo.

They were quite surprised by my constant turning, but this is often how I like to work: allowing one sketch to rest while continuing with another, staying flexible, and letting the process help me make decisions.It was playful, slightly confusing—and a lot of fun.

In the end, I chose the street view rather than the famous church as the subject for my official demo. Perhaps this was already an important part of the lesson: the most recognizable view is not always the one that tells the most interesting story.

Toulouse in Four Moves

My presentation, Toulouse in Four Moves: Wash, Shape, Line, Life, explored how I gradually build an urban sketch—from loose watercolor washes to structure, connections, figures, and expressive details.

During the demo, I wanted to show not only a sequence of techniques, but also the decisions and uncertainties behind them: how to begin without planning everything, how to allow the sketch to evolve, and how to bring architecture and people together into one lively urban story.

Sharing this process with an international group of sketchers was exciting, intense, and very special. I loved the questions, the reactions, and the feeling that we were exploring the scene together rather than simply trying to reproduce it.