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)

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

• Urban Sketchers: Drawing People On Stage http://www.urbansketchers.org/2016/02/drawing-people-on-stage.html 
•  Drawing Auditoriums: Traditional and Hybrid Method http://jimleggitt.typepad.com/jim-leggitt-drawing-shortcuts/2011/03/traditional-and-digital-drawings-of-auditoriums.html 

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/

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.
• Driving: enter GPS location 45.386933, -75.706867 for directions. Note: Parking fees are now charged.($6 maximum for the day) http://cafmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/visit/parking.php
• Public Transportation: For OC Transpo routes and times, use the Trip Planner link: http://www.octranspo1.com/ottawa-destinations/central_experimental_farm
• Biking: enter GPS location 45.386933, -75.706867 for directions
• 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

Stay Connected With The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

• Like the Museum on Facebook
• Follow the Museum on Twitter
• Watch videos on YouTube
• Follow the Museum on Pinterest
• Photos on Flickr
• Follow the Museum on Instagram

March 5 and 6 - Warm Places To Sketch At Lansdowne Park !

Saturday March 5

Tim Horton's Brier

The Ottawa Valley Curling Association says "Go to TD Place for some great curling action....and pay NOTHING!"  

TD Place: Tim Horton's Brier Ottawa

 
Folks might be interested in sketching at Lansdowne Park this Saturday morning (March 5) when the Ford Hot Shots and the Opening Ceremonies of the 2016 Tim Horton's Brier are taking place and admission is FREE! (FYI: The Brier opening weekend tickets cost $119.00)

For details and history on the Brier visit this link: http://www.curling.ca/2016brier/history-of-the-brier/

If you can't make it early to sketch the curling events and Opening Ceremonies, visit the Aberdeen Pavillion which is being converted to a "The Brier Patch" and a food court. The Patch is championship curling’s legendary party place withlive music etc! (Check out the schedule here: http://www.curling.ca/2016brier/fan-zone/)

This is an informal sketching session being offered at the very last minute.

Ottawa sketchers should plan to arrive at 11:00 am for the Ford Hot Shot finals. Stay for the Opening Ceremonies or wander around the other interesting venues in Lansdowne Park.

As always, be sure to post your sketches online for others to see on our Facebook group page

Sunday March 6

Farmer's Market @ the Horticulture Building

Because of the the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier Cup , the Ottawa Farmers' Market at Lansdowne will be relocating (out of the Aberdeen Pavillion) March 6th and 13th
into the warm and cozy Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park.
Sundays 10:00 am – 3:00 pm,

For the history of the Horticulture building, visit Urbsite
http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2014/06/separating-frank-sullivan-from.html

Source: Urbsite

 Ottawa’s Farmer's Market at Lansdowne is the only year-round, producer-only farmers’ market.
You can get your local grains, meats, cheeses, produce, locally produced baked goods, and sweets throughout the winter.

There will be plenty to sketch here!

This is an informal sketching session being offered at the very last minute.

Ottawa sketchers should plan to arrive around 10:00 am and stay as long as you wish and wander around the other interesting venues in Lansdowne Park.

As always, be sure to post your sketches online for others to see on our Facebook group page

A Great Night of Sketching at the Carleton Tavern

"The Carleton" sketch above by artist Colin White

About twenty urban sketchers stopped over at the Carleton Tavern on the chilly, snowy night of February 10. 

Ottawa urban sketchers get busy

The Carleton Tavern was established in 1935 and little has changed through its 80 + years.

Sketchers arrived when they could and stayed for as long as they were able.

The tavern staff were warm and welcoming and the place really filled up with the Carleton regular patrons as the night went on.

Sometimes the sketchers become the subject matter for other sketchers.
This was the case with artist Mawt Trood.

To see some of the sketches that Ottawa urban sketchers shared, visit our facebook event page (click here) or our facebook group page (click here)

Below is a sample of some of the sketches that were shared on the facebook event page:

We would love if you would join us on our next outing. Please visit our NEW Facebook Group page and "like" it to receive updates. https://www.facebook.com/groups/937458512999363/

Meet + Sketch + Share

We have moved our Ottawa Urban Sketchers presence on facebook from a "Facebook page" to a "Facebook group" so that YOU can post your urban sketches!

Please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/937458512999363/

Our previous "Urban Sketchers Ottawa" facebook page meant that the three administrators were the only ones who could post. We want you to post YOUR urban sketches for everyone to see.

Please Contribute Your Sketches!

Whether you have attended one of our organized sketching events or if you have spent the day urbansketching in Ottawa on your own, please share what you have sketched. 

As with all of our Ottawa Urban Sketchers events, all ages and all skill levels are welcomed to join us and contribute. 

There are just a few simple rules that apply:

Before sharing your drawings on our new facebook page, make sure they meet these basic criteria and they are done in the spirit of the Urban Sketchers Manifesto (below).

• You did the drawing on location, not from photos or memory. 
• You have written the location of the sketch (town and state/country) in the headline 
• No sketches from figure drawing sessions or posed models. 

We reserve the right to remove any drawings that don't fit our mission. We also encourage members to write descriptions and stories associated with each sketch.

• We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation. 
• Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel. 
• Our drawings are a record of time and place. 
• We are truthful to the scenes we witness. 
• We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles. 
• We support each other and draw together. 
• We share our drawings online. 
• We show the world, one drawing at a time.

Q: "What Is Urban Sketching?"

In the embedded video (16:53) below, Jason Das, former president of Urban Sketchers, explains the Urban Sketching phenomenon to Sketchbook Skool students and suggests how they (and we) can be a part of it.