A happy day is always one in which we do something that gives us true pleasure, and for those who love to draw, the Urban Sketchers’ gatherings always become special moments of outdoor creativity.

The Avenida Association challenged this creative community with a simple but powerful goal: to draw the Avenida da Liberdade and, through each participant’s individual perspective, reveal the richness of this space that is a cultural, commercial, and social one. On a typical summer morning, the Sketchers of Portugal came together, inspired by Lisbon’s most iconic avenue — the same one that was also the subject of several drawings by one of its founders, Eduardo Salavisa, who this year has been honoured with several invitations to sketch his favourite places.

Each artist found an inspiration to capture in their sketchbooks: centuries-old trees, façades of the most emblematic buildings, green spaces, or the traditional Avenida Fair.

More than just an artistic practice, the initiative was an invitation to contemplation. In a fast-paced world, sitting down to sketch what surrounds us becomes an act of pause and connection with the present.

The gathering resulted in a collection of incredible drawings that we are delighted to share — each one also serving as a challenge to those less experienced, inviting them to take a blank sheet of paper and a charcoal pencil to let their imagination soar. As in all of the Sketchers of Portugal’s programs, the atmosphere naturally becomes one of reunion and conviviality, with plenty of art to share and experiences to cherish.

The Avenue gained new perspectives and new stories, told through lines, shadows, and colors. With the certainty that creativity, when lived in community and in harmony with the city, is a powerful way to value the present and turn routine into inspiration.