Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Ottawa World Wide SketchCrawl 51

The last world wide sketchcrawl organized in Ottawa was in October 2015 (see our report for WW Sketchcrawl 49 here http://ottawaurbansketchers.blogspot.ca/2015/10/a-great-day-in-ottawas-byward-market.html).

Ottawa is overdue for another WW Sketchcrawl so artist Laurie Foster is organizing a SketchCrawl in Westboro Saturday April 23, 2016. So mark your calendar!


World Wide SketchCrawl?


The idea for a world wide sketchcrawl originated with Enrico Casarosa of San Francisco in late 2004 . Enrico is an  Italian storyboard artist and director who works at Pixar Animation Studios.

Since 2004, SketchCrawl has become a worldwide phenomenon participated by artists around the world armed with sketchpads, pencils, watercolor and other sketching materials.

(To see the list of other countries paricipating in WW Sketchcrawl 51, visit http://www.sketchcrawl.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=78 )


Join Us - In Westboro - April 23 

 


So - put your pen to paper on April 23 for as long as you can (be it 20 minutes or 5 hours) drawing, sketching, journaling about your day and what you see around you. For one day, slow down, look around you, see ... and draw or write. Record your day. No specific level of skill is expected ! Anyone is welcome.



10:00
We will start by meeting over coffee at Starbucks at 421 Richmond Rd

12:00
 The stop for lunch will be decided in the morning (when numbers of sketchers is known)
You can choose to meet at lunch or keep sketching

3:00
Final check-in is back where we started the day to make it convenient to grab your bike or car
at the Clocktower on 418 Richmond Rd.

Sign Up On Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/events/221200848258494/
Link to our FB public event page
(please share on social media)

 
Read more about WW SketchCrawls here:

Ottawa Urban Sketchers Sketchcrawl Links
"Sketch Journal"(John Wright) Sketchcrawl Links:
Other Ottawa Sketchcrawl Links:

Monday, April 18, 2016

What a GREAT Day at the Farm!

On Sunday April 17th, the Ottawa urban sketchers group went Sketching at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. We chose Sunday because on Saturday there were lots of activities scheduled and we wanted to miss the crowds. Not a chance! The weather was beautiful and the farm was packed! That added to the fun!

Note the urban sketcher at the bottom left sketching the entrance gate
There was a great turn out, many sketchers showing up to sketch inside the farm while many others seized the beautiful day to bicycle and sketch the perimeter around the outside of the farm.



Below I have posted a very small sampling of  sketches posted to our facebook event page but please visit that page to see them all. https://www.facebook.com/events/1708303006086325/.

We would like to thank the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum for being so welcoming and accommodating towards the artists on this busy and beautiful Sunday. We hope to visit again!

Sketching in the small animal barn
Sketches by artist Trish W.
Artist Sophie L. sketch of the building
More sketches of the buildings by artist Colin White

Artist Colin W. sketches on the facebook page

Artist Suvitha R. sketch of the hay bale decoration at the farm.
Quite a few of us were super excited to sketch the two new Clydsedales(Paul and Padrig, who arrived on St. Patrick's Day) and below, artist Jaymie Dylan makes the first sketch.

Artist Jaymie D. sketching the new Clydesdale
Sketches by artist Jaymie D.
Sketching in the small animal barn
Sketches of the newborns by artist Diane D.
Artist Leisl G. sketching in the small animal barn
We NEVER mind if artists can't stay the full day like artist Leisl Gallagher. We understand. And even though she did not stay long - she still managed to do a LOT of great sketches in a short amount of time.


Sketching the cattle paddock
Artist Cindi F. sketch inside the dairy barn
Artist Diane D.sketching the horse paddock

Sketch by artist Gillian RT
Artists Gillian and Matt sketching the Clydesdales from the comfy bench at the farm
More Ottawa Sketching Events.  

Now that the weather is warming, stay tuned for plenty more sketching events. 


If you would like to join us, be sure to join our facebook group and/or look for the #urbansketchers hashtag on twitter (also #USkYOW) and/or sign up to follow this blog by email (add your email in the space provided on the right)

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

May 1st - Let's Sketch the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra!


 By Francesc Muñoz Found on Twitter Apr 4, 2016 (used here with permission from the artist)

Ottawa is a city that hosts many music festivals throughout the summer. Ottawa’s summer music festival season kicks off in June and goes until mid-September.

For urban sketchers, this is an excellent opportunity to sit and listen to great music and sketch the musicians on stage.

We have organized a free sketching event on May 1 (3:30-5:30 pm) at the Open Dress Rehearsal  "Inside the Music" at the National Arts Centre (NAC) (Ottawa). We have twenty FREE seats reserved for urban sketchers.
"Principal Guest Conductor, Alain Trudel, will briefly address the audience, explain how he runs his rehearsals, and talk about the musical piece that is being rehearsed."
We can then sketch a real professional orchestra in action!
Photographic and recording equipment is strictly prohibited inside the NAC hall without prior written permission from the NAC. We sought permission to sketch at this event and we can now confirm that sketchers are welcomed to sketch the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra rehearsal on May 1st at the National Arts Centre.

Date: Sunday, May 1, 2016
Time: 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Tickets are required and FREE: I have twenty set aside for sketchers.  

Use the contact space on the right 
if you would like to have 
one of the twenty reserved tickets.

If you are interested to attend with friends and family and wish to secure your own free tickets, visit Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/open-dress-rehearsal-inside-the-music-with-the-ottawa-symphony-orchestra-tickets-23062393239

Open Dress Rehearsal  "Inside the Music"

About "Inside the Music"
"Inside the Music features free admission to a dress rehearsal of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra in Southam Hall of the NAC. This event is geared towards young people and their families. The goal is to enhance their understanding of how an orchestra works. This event is part of the OSO's community outreach program designed to make live symphonic music accessible to all."
Links About Drawing People On Stage

Screen Capture: Jim Leggitt 
Drawing Auditoriums: Traditional & Hybrid Methods


Montreal Urban Sketcher Marc Talo Holmes 
FREE Handouts and Online Craftsy Courses
Screen capture of Marc Talo Holmes FREE pdf Actors on Stage: Sketching Characters on the Street

Marc Talo Holmes FREE pdf Actors on Stage: Sketching Characters on the Street
Montreal's Marc Talo Holmes offers a printable PDF version of his class notes for his session at the 2015 USK Symposium in Singapore "Actors on Stage: Sketching Characters on the Street" . It’s a collection of simple tips really, but I hope you find it handy. Feel free to try out the approach to sketching people – and use it in your own Urban Sketching outings.

Screen capture of Marc Talo Holmes FREE pdf  Drawing People In Motion

 Montreal's Marc Talo Holmes also offers a short (7 page)  printable PDF version called Drawing People In Motion packed with helpful drawing tips and step by step sketches. It was designed as a handout for his class at the 2013 Urban Sketchers symposium in Barcelona.

Craftsy Class with Sketching People in Motion with Marc Taro Holmes

Ottawa's Summer 2016 Music Festivals

Like the idea of sketching musicians on stage? Get your portable chairs, sketchbooks and pencils ready.....Here are the dates for some of Ottawa's summer music festivals in 2016
  • Westfest (June 3-5, 2016)
  • TD Ottawa Jazz Festival (June 23-July 3, 2016)
  • Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival (June 23-26, 2016)
  • Canada Day: Parliamnet Hill (July 1, 2016)
  • Music & Beyond (July 4-17, 2016):
  • RBC Bluesfest (July 7-17, 2016):
  • HOPE Volleyball SummerFest (July 16, 2016):
  • Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival (July 21-Aug. 4, 2016)
  • Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival (Sept. 1-5, 2016)
  • CityFolk (Sept. 14-18, 2016):  
Note: Many of the summer music events in Ottawa cost money to attend but there are many free events offered as well. If you volunteer at the Ottawa music events you are generally entitled to free admission after a specific number of volunteer hours. We will post details on the free events on this blog and our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/937458512999363/

Friday, April 1, 2016

April 17 - Sketching at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum (CAFM)
To be on a farm in spring time! The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum (CAFM) is the location for our next Ottawa Urban Sketching event on April 17 from 11 am to 5 pm

Confirm your attendance and/or share our facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1708303006086325/

Sketch the Spring Animal Arrivals!

Meet and sketch the Toggenburg goats that were born March 20 or meet the new lambs (heritage breed: Rideau Arcott) born March 19 or the new Ewe (a Hampshire sheep) that recently arrived on the farm!

Or sketch the new Clydesdales, Paul and Padrig, who arrived on St. Patrick's Day. (Padrig is the Welsh spelling of Patrick!)

Reminder to please be respectful of the animals. When sketching do not get too close or do anything sudden (such as quick movements) or make any loud noises that could cause stress for the animals.


Spring arrivals at the museum found on the CAFM instagram

Sketch the Historic Buildings
Sketch the historic structures like the Cereal Barn, the Dairy Barn, the Meadowview barn or the small animal barn. And there are lots of tractors to sketch on the second floor of the dairy barn.

Cereal Barn: Photo Source: Wikipedia: List of historic places in Ottawa

Main Dairy Barn: Photo Source: Wikipedia: List of historic places in Ottawa

Small Dairy Barn: Photo Source: Wikipedia: List of historic places in Ottawa
In the event that we have more than 16 attendees confirmed on the facebook event, we may be able to negotiate a different rate for admission with the museum.

In the event of a rainy day, the sketching will be restricted to the indoor venues on the farm.

Map Source: Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

The Details
  • When: Sunday April 17, 2016.from 11 am to 5 pm. Arrive when you can and stay for one hour or until 5 pm
  • Admission Cost: Urban sketching events are free. The only times that the Agricultural museum is free is daily between 4 pm and 5 pm. NB: We tried to reserve a date with the museum and get a discounted admission, however,  we were informed that a minimum fee does apply for groups under 16 participants. (If you cannot afford the admission fee, please direct message (DM) @cindiforeman on twitter. If you can afford to contribute to support another urbansketcher's attendance, should the need arise, please DM me.)We are scheduling this on the weekend and therefore there are costs as follows:
  • Show and Tell: Meet inside the Learning Center at 4:30 to share your sketches or to see other sketchers' work and take a group photo (voluntary)
  • How to get there: The museum is located at (901) Prince of Wales Drive (parking lot location). The Museum is accessible by public transit, and there is plenty of parking for both bikes and cars.
  • Misc: Bathrooms are conveniently located throughout the farm, in each building, including the exhibition space on the second floor of the Dairy Barn. There are also vending machines for hot and cold beverages and light snacks in the learning center.
  • Museum Rules: Cameras are permitted at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. However, please remember that this is a working farm, exposed to the elements and sometimes harsh conditions. Also, please be respectful of the animals. Getting too close or being too aggressive in your attempt to get a picture could cause them stress. Small collapsible stools are permitted as long as they do not interfere with the other visitors.
  • Protect yourself and the animals by practising biosecurity. Biosecurity is the word we use for simple, inexpensive steps that prevent the introduction and spread of diseases. Learn about biosecurity and the precautions you can take to protect yourself and the Museum’s animals. Download this PDF from the Canada Food Inspection Agency prior to your visit.
  • Official website: http://cafmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/index.php and Friends of the Farm http://www.friendsofthefarm.ca/
Follow the museum on twitter @AgMuseum