John Pitblado

Born and raised in the wide open and profoundly horizontal plains of rural northwestern Minnesota, John studied Fine Arts, and Textile Design at the University of Minnesota and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.  

Moving to Los Angeles his career path led from garment, textile design and retail design to corporate public relations for a major western retailer. With the economic downturn in 2007 he began working as a freelance chef, culinary instructor, baker and caterer with client.  

 His love for illustration was always alive in his heart and in 2018 he joined the Los Angeles Urban Sketchers chapter.  This began his journey of on-site documentation of his travels in pen, pencil and color developed and grew to include his love of teaching and making urban sketching accessible and understandable. 

As a member of Urban Sketchers Los Angeles  John has led sketch walks, developed workshops for the local and regional chapters in addition to private sketch classes and workshops.