In Memoriam: Ottawa Urban Sketcher Mike Lomas

Forever remembered - our friend and fellow urban sketcher Michael ("Mike") Lomas passed away peacefully on May 27th, 2019 at home with his beloved wife Liz at his side. 

The Ottawa Urban Sketchers will miss Mike's presence at future sketching events and would like to pay tribute to him by sharing some of our photo memories of sketching with Mike over the years.

Mike Lomas sketching at the Rideau Mall - December 2016

Mike was one of our regular and most enthusiastic sketchers rarely missing an event. He was loved for his humour, his kindness, his sketching support and his wonderful smile.

Urban Sketchers (L to R) Mike Lomas and Michael Lukyniuk at WorldWide SketchCrawl #61 -October 2018

Mike had an extensive collection of sketching books and wanted to share them with the Ottawa Urban Sketch group. It was Mike's suggestion that we create a section on our Ottawa Urban Sketcher's blog for book reviews that we later called Mike's Books and Reviews.

On Friday, May 3, 2019 Mike wrote: "I've just got a diagnosis - cancer - but before I get disabled by chemo, I hope to send you the remaining reviews. ..... Cheers, Mike"

On May 15th, following our sketching event at the Experimental Farm (which Mike would always attend ), I emailed him "Checking in on you Mike. The Urban Sketchers missed you last weekend at the farm and signed a card for you. Can I mail it or drop it off to you? Hope you are well"

Mike sketching at the Experimental Farm - April 2016

Mike never let on about the seriousness of his diagnosis and was worried about completing the book reviews for our blog. In his last email, he told me to enjoy my trip to Ireland and before I returned from overseas Mike had already passed on. 

Mike's wife Liz, who contacted me about Mike's passing, said that the card that was signed by all of the Ottawa urban sketchers at the farm cheered Mike immensely in his final days.

Mike with the Ottawa Urban Sketchers at the Ottawa Art Gallery December 2018

Mike sketching a very challenging view of the Ottawa art Gallery - December 2018

Mike and the Ottawa Urban Sketchers at the National Art Centre: Ottawa Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal May 2016

Mike and the Ottawa Urban Sketchers at the National Art Centre: Ottawa Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal May 2016

Mike and the Ottawa Urban Sketchers at the Ottawa Pops Orchestra rehearsal at the Centrepointe Theatre May 2018

Mike and the Ottawa Urban Sketchers at the Ottawa Pops Orchestra rehearsal at the Centrepointe Theatre May 2018

Mike's sketch of the Ottawa School of Art - October 2018

Mike with the Ottawa Urban Sketchers at World Wide Sketchcrawl #48 - July 2015

Mike sketching the Rideau Canal Locks for World Wide Sketchcrawl #48 - July 2015

Thanks for the memories Mike - you will be missed by your fellow Ottawa Urban Sketchers. 

We offer our condolences to Mike's family, his partner Liz and Mike's many friends.

Rest in peace dear friend.