"Sakura Hanami" Sketch Day

UPDATE: "Sakura Hanami" Sketch Day 
Now scheduled for Saturday May 21, 2016
Between 10:00 am and 2 pm 

Thanks to our Ottawa urban sketcher friends who have sent messages that the Lincoln Fields are ready for sketching, we have now scheduled to meet at Lincoln Field Saturday May 21, 2016 between 10 am and 2 pm.

This timing allows plenty of time to sketch and also participate in the Memorial Bike Run for our friend and fellow Ottawa urban sketcher Mathieu Trudel (known to friends as Mawt Trood.)

 And by scheduling on Saturday, sketchers can take advantage of Sunday May 22, 2016 being FREE museum day at the National Gallery of Canada.

 

UPDATE: Date delayed - New May date to be determined

Screen Capture: Traffic Cam: Lincoln Fields:
May 4 - Trees NOT ready to blossom

There are two colorful spring events in May that would be great fun to sketch and paint in Ottawa!

Canadian Tulip Festival

There is the Canadian Tulip Festival (http://tulipfestival.ca/) held in Ottawa and Gatineau, 12-23 May/Mai 2016 (Visit the website for more details)

The Tulip Festival is a perfect place to sketch spring colours in Ottawa

"Cherry Blossoms" at Lincoln Fields

And there are the  "Cherry Blossoms" at Lincoln Fields.

After watching the 2010 video below, we thought it would be great idea to organize a sketching event when the blossoms are at their peak again in Ottawa.

The last time that we checked the Lincoln Fields on the traffic cam http://traffic.ottawa.ca/map/cameraWindow?id=153 there was no evidence of any cherry blossoms.

The High Park Nature Centre (Toronto, Ontario) website currently has a cherry blossom watch in effect and they are reporting (on April 22) that, 

"A few buds are just starting to burst!......We are currently predicting peak bloom will begin May 7/8"

Let's Have a  

"Sakura Hanami" Sketch Day 

on May 8, 2016

I first became aware of term "Sakura Hanami" from reading the High Park Nature Centre  website.

Sakura is the Japanese name for flowering cherry trees and their flowers – often referred to as cherry blossoms and, in modern-day Japan, hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the sakura during daytime or at night.

2013 Flickr Art Journal Page by Cindi Moynahan-Foreman

 Are The Lincoln Fields Full of Cherry Trees?

(or crabapples?)

According to The Canada - Japan Society of Ottawa (CJSO), "While cherry trees do not do well in Ottawa, the colourful red, white and pink blossoms of crab apple trees provide a good alternative to cherry blossom viewing.  Crab apple trees are usually in full bloom by mid-May"

We were concerned that the Lincoln Fields trees were in fact crab apple trees and NOT cherry blossoms so we contacted Ottawa tree expert Owen Clarkin. Although Owen was unfamiliar with the Lincoln Fields trees that I was asking about, he replied,

"..... there are plenty of Crabapples and Cherries

to be found flowering in springtime in Ottawa."
 

Regardless of what kind of trees these are at Lincoln Fields, it would be fun to take some time to sketch them. We are predicting that (like the High Park Toronto cherry blossom trees) the Lincoln Fields trees will be in full bloom for Sunday May 8, 2016.  (If you live near Lincoln Fields and you can track for us please help us in the comment section below.)

DETAILS: 

• What: Sketch the Cherry Blossoms at Lincoln Fields.
• Where: Lincoln Fields
• When: Delayed - Date To be announced
• How To Get There: The BEST way to get there is by bus or bike. A bike path runs directly through the orchard

Google Maps

• Above: Routes going to OC Transpo Lincoln Fields (Stop ID: 3014)
• Below: Ottawa Bike Route Map - Lincoln Field: There are many bike paths that will take you to this spot. You can view the Official Cycling Map for Ottawa-Gatineau and the Outaouais Region online, download the [ PDF – 18.555 MB ]

LINKS

• DC Cherry Blossom Watch http://cherryblossomwatch.com/
• Ottawa Photographer Rob Huntley http://www.robhuntley.ca/Kite-Aerial-Photography/Kite-Aerial-Photography-2008/Lincoln-Fields-Ottawa/

FYI: The New York City urban sketchers organized a similar sketching event at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens http://nyc.urbansketchers.org/2016/04/saturday-blossom-sketching.html in April! (There are some sketches here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52358552@N06/26376366961/) and here https://www.flickr.com/groups/1922806@N25/pool/

Sketching the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra Open Dress Rehearsal

On Sunday May 1st, Ottawa urban sketchers met at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa to sketch an open dress rehearsal of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra.

Ottawa urban sketchers meet and line-up to enter Southam Hall

Principal Guest Conductor, Alain Trudel, briefly addressed the audience and explained how he runs his rehearsals and he also talked about the musical piece that was being rehearsed.

Conductor Trudel was incredibly generous with information on how he became a conductor and the rehearsal process. His humour and passion for the music were contagious.

The members of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra are amazing and when you sketch them while they play, you really witness their passion, precision and devotion to their instrument.

Sketch of Conductor Trudel by artist Joanne L.

The music piece that the orchestra practiced was Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique (which I later learned online was featured in the films The Shining, The Witches, and Sleeping with the Enemy)

• The complete Symphonie fantastique is 53 minutes long and you can listen to it in its entirety (by the Chicago Symphony) on youtube at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Kky5BC9Uk
• For a visual analysis of the 5th movement, visit YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVUAR8Nk8xQ

Sketch by artist Diane D.

First movement: "Rêveries – Passions" (Reveries – Passions)

 
The Ottawa urban sketchers would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the NAC staff. From our earliest inquiries through the box office manager Mary O’Shea to the amazing ushers who were so helpful when we were getting seated (referring to us as the "Ottawa sketchers" and assisting us with our wheelchair accessibility needs.)

The house lights were kept on during the rehearsal and the artists in attendance used a wide variety of materials to sketch the orchestra. Time really flew. The open rehearsal was scheduled from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM and when it ended we all could not believe that an hour and a half had passed and that  the rehearsal was actually finished!

Below is a small sampling of some of the sketches posted online. To see all of our sketches, please visit our Urban Sketchers Ottawa facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/937458512999363/)

Sketch by Laurie F

Sketch by artist Suvitha R.

Sketch by artist Cindi F.

Sketch by Cynthia M.

Sketch by artist Gillian H

Sketchers sharing their sketches at the end of the "show and tell" session

This sketching event was incredibly fun and one that we hope we can repeat in the future.

More Ottawa Sketching Events?

We try to organize sketching events in Ottawa at least once per month.
Winters are challenging but now that the weather is finally warming,
there will be an increasing number of opportunities to gather and sketch being offered.

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)

Chicago Symphony

 Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique 

(complete performance)

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.

The Clocktower Brew Pub on Richmond

Sign Up On Facebook!

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

• Parking: There is 1hr free parking along Richmond Road & 3hrs on neighbouring side streets. Find a spot in one of the 2 paid parking lots, located at Westboro Station on Byroing  
• Bus: The neighbourhood is served by two OC Transpo stations: Westboro and Dominion, as well as Route 2, which provides frequent local service along Richmond Road. Click below for directions on how to bus into Westboro Village. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Current+Location/45.3921306,-75.7538197/@45.3918247,-75.7559367,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e3?hl=en-US
• Cycle: over 70 bike post-and-rings located along Richmond Road. Find your route:You can view the Official Cycling Map for Ottawa-Gatineau and the Outaouais Region online, download the [ PDF – 18.555 MB ]

 

Read more about WW SketchCrawls here:

http://www.sketchcrawl.com/

Ottawa Urban Sketchers Sketchcrawl Links

• Ottawa World Wide Sketch Crawl 48 - (July 2015)
• Ottawa World Wide Sketch Crawl 48 - Report
• Ottawa World Wide Sketch Crawl 49 - Byward Market (Oct 2015)
• Ottawa World Wide SketchCrawl 49 - Report

"Sketch Journal"(John Wright) Sketchcrawl Links:

• 33rd WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (Oct 2011)
• 34th WW Sketchcrwal in Ottawa (Jan 2012)
• 35th WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (April 2012)
• 38th WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (Jan 2013)
• 39th WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (April 2013)

Other Ottawa Sketchcrawl Links:

• 33rd WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (Oct 2011)
• 37th WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (Oct 2012)
• 39th WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (Apr 2013)
• 46th WW Sketchcrawl in Ottawa (Jan 2015)

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/