Saturday, November 21, 2015

Sketching Indoors at the Canadian War Museum


It was a great evening of indoor sketching on Thursday, November 19th.

Ottawa urban sketchers are meeting indoors to sketch for the months of November and December and Thursday was our first time taking advantage of free Ottawa museum Thursdays.

We met in the grand lobby of the Canadian War Museum and dispersed into the many areas of this great museum.

Inside the museum, there was a vast art collection (numbering some 13,000 pieces) and extensive artifact collections arranged in eight permanent collections including four Canadian Experience galleries as well as the LeBreton gallery.  There was plenty to sketch!

Part of the Ottawa sketching group at the end-of-evening "Show and Tell"

The challenge with sketching in museums such as the Canadian War Museum is that the exhibits are so incredibly interesting (and interactive) that you're tempted to look, read and participate in the exhibit rather than sketch. At least that was the case for a small group of us who enjoyed the temporary special exhibit "World War Women"

Despite these delightful temptations, everyone managed to complete several sketches and seemed to really enjoy the evening.

Here are some images from our night of sketching:

Suvitha Ramaswamy sketching in the LeBreton Gallery where part of our group started.
"The LeBreton Gallery is an expansive space with lots of natural light, and a stunning view of the Ottawa skyline. This impressive open storage gallery enables visitors to get a close-up look at large artefacts such as a Voodoo fighter jet, nineteenth-century artillery pieces, tanks, and other vehicles drawn from one of the most extensive collections of its kind in the world."
Suvitha Ramaswamy's sketch of Dodge ambulance

A few of the group's sketches from the "show and tell"
Mari Brown Virtanen's sketch of Death Jacket of General Brock;
and a sketch of  a box of prosthetic eyes and the woman who made them
Lots of vehicles by Cindi Foreman, Emily Lada and Suvitha Ramaswamy

Suvitha Ramaswamy's sketch of fountain pen and radio
Sketch of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Diane Duford

Cindi Foreman's sketch of rationing at a grocers/épicerie‎ during WW II
The group at the Show and Tell at the end of the evening

If you are interested in sketching with this group, follow ("like") our facebook page where we announce events. We always contact the organization or institution in advance to announce our intentions to sketch in a group and ask that they let us know of any guidelines for artists sketching at their venue.

Our "sketch crawls" are free and open to sketchers of all ages and levels. Anyone who sketches in Ottawa is welcomed to join us!

The next confirmed sketch crawl will be Thursday evening December 17 at the National Gallery of Canada. (see restrictions on materials allowed in the "details" section)

Other indoor venues for this winter that we are looking at include:


Outdoor venues being considered for future sketch crawls include:

If you have an idea for a great indoor (or outdoor) place to sketch this winter in Ottawa, please let us know in the comment section below!


Free things to do and sketch in Ottawa

If you are looking to do some solo urban sketching this winter, here are some of the museums you can explore and sketch for free:
Ottawa is home to a number of world-class museums, and most offer free admission to their permanent collections on Thursday evenings
  • Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 rue Laurier, Gatineau, 819-776-7000, civilization.ca
  • Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St., 613-566-4700, nature.ca
  • Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, 819-776-7000, warmuseum.ca,

Thursday, December 17 - An Indoor Evening Sketchcrawl!


The National Gallery of Canada


Various artworks from the Canadian collections of the National Gallery of Canada will be packed up temporarily in the new year in preparation for Canada's 150th birthday celebration in 2017. So what better time to go to the gallery and sketch your favourite pieces than now?


The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) (French: Musée des beaux-arts du Canada), is one of Canada's premier art galleries.

The Gallery is housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. 

The building was designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988.The Gallery's former director Jean Sutherland Boggs was chosen especially by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to oversee construction of the national gallery and museums.


There are 36,000 works of art from the 14th to 21st centuries and even a 19th-century chapel (saved from demolition in 1972, it was dismantled into 1,000 pieces, stored and reconstructed within the Gallery)!

The galleries are divided into six separate areas: the Canadian collection, the European, American, and Asian galleries, the Inuit galleries, a section for contemporary art (including video), another for prints, drawings, and photographs, and a separate space for temporary exhibitions.

The collections 

The Details
  • When: Thursday, December 17, 2015. We will meet in the main lobby at 5 pm and sketch until 8 pm; (arrive whenever you can)
  • Admission Cost: FREE
  • Show and Tell: 8:30 pm Location to be determined
  • How to get to 380 Sussex Drive: The NGC located within walking distance of ByWard Market, Château Laurier and Parliament Hill and is accessible by both the OC Transpo and STO; Visit the following link: http://www.gallery.ca/en/visit/getting-here.php for details.
  • Parking: There is underground parking at the gallery $2.75 per half-hour, daily maximum $14 (Members $12). The clearance for our underground parking garage is 6 feet. Parking also permitted on adjacent streets.
  • Register: A facebook event page has been created: https://www.facebook.com/events/693187980818238/. Please share with your networks. Notifications will also be posted to http://ottawaurbansketchers.blogspot.ca/ (to be phased out) and the *new Urban Sketchers Ottawa facebook page* at group https://www.facebook.com/urbansketchersottawa/
  • Museum Rules: "Drawing is permitted in the galleries with pencil only (erasers are not permitted). You may be asked to stop if the galleries are too crowded.  If you wish to do so, portable seats are available for you to take with you through the galleries. They are available at the top of the ramp in the Great Hall."; Eating and drinking is not permitted in the exhibition galleries; Cellular phones may not be used in the exhibition galleries. They ask that you turn the ring tone off; photographs are permitted in some areas - please observe signs where photography is prohibited;
  • Official website: http://www.gallery.ca/en/
  • Downloadable App: There is an android/iPhone app that gives you access to all new content about the Canadian collection.  http://www.gallery.ca/mobileapp/

Monday, November 16, 2015

This Thursday Nov. 19 - An Indoor Evening Sketchcrawl!

Thursday, November 19, 2015
The Canadian War Museum


November 11th is National Remembrance Day in Canada so what better place to visit for November's SketchCrawl than the Canadian War Museum? 


The (CWM) (French: Musée canadien de la guerre) is Canada's national museum of military history.

The current CWM building opened in May 2005 and is located less than 2 km west of Canada's Parliament Buildings. The building's architecture has received professional and public acclaim.

Inside the museum, there is a vast art collection (numbering some 13,000 pieces) and extensive artifact collections arranged in eight permanent collections including four Canadian Experience galleries as well as the LeBreton gallery.  There is plenty to sketch!

Samples from the permanent and special collections

The Details
  • When:  Thursday, November 19, 2015. We will meet in the main lobby at 4 pm and sketch until 8 pm; arrive when you can
  • Admission Cost: FREE
  • Show and Tell: 8:30 pm Location to be determined
  • How to get there: The Museum accessible by bike or on foot. It is located right on the scenic Ottawa River Pathway; bicycle racks are available by the main entrance of the Museum. The CWM is also accessible by public transportation OC Transpo – Transitway – Lebreton Station – Routes: 8, 86, 87, 95, 96, 97
  • Parking: There are 310 indoor parking spaces available. Rate: $2.50 per half hour Daily maximum rate: $12.50 Flat rate from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.: $6.00
  • Register: A facebook event page has been created. Please indicate if you will be attending and invite your sketcher friends https://www.facebook.com/events/185634955111664/ Notifications will also be posted to http://ottawaurbansketchers.blogspot.ca/
  • Museum Rules: "There is no specific rule to follow is you wish to come to the museum for drawing sketches.  We only ask that please you do not obstruct the view of other visitors, and the use of tripods or drawing table is not allowed. Please advise us if this is a large group, but if it is for a small group or an individual, there is no problem."; Photography is permitted within the exhibition galleries.
  • Official website: http://www.warmuseum.ca/home/
  • Downloadable App: Thre is a free application is designed to enhance the Museum experience for both onsite and offsite users. http://www.warmuseum.ca/plan-your-visit/explore-the-museum/mobile-application/

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Mark Your Calendars - Two Winter Evening Museum SketchCrawls

Urban sketchers are moving indoors to sketch this winter.

This winter, we will take advantage of Ottawa's Free Museum Thursdays and we have planned two indoor evening SketchCrawls for  November and December 2015. If successful, we can add more dates and museum locations.


Thursday, November 19, 2015
The Canadian War Museum


November 11th is National Remembrance Day in Canada so what better place to visit for November's SketchCrawl than the Canadian War Museum? 


The (CWM) (French: Musée canadien de la guerre) is Canada's national museum of military history.

The current CWM building opened in May 2005 and is located less than 2 km west of Canada's Parliament Buildings. The building's architecture has received professional and public acclaim.

Inside the museum, there is a vast art collection (numbering some 13,000 pieces) and extensive artifact collections arranged in eight permanent collections including four Canadian Experience galleries as well as the LeBreton gallery.  There is plenty to sketch!

Samples from the permanent and special collections

The Details
  • When:  Thursday, November 19, 2015. We will meet in the main lobby at 4 pm and sketch until 8 pm; arrive when you can
  • Admission Cost: FREE
  • Show and Tell: 8:30 pm Location to be determined
  • How to get there: The Museum accessible by bike or on foot. It is located right on the scenic Ottawa River Pathway; bicycle racks are available by the main entrance of the Museum. The CWM is also accessible by public transportation OC Transpo – Transitway – Lebreton Station – Routes: 8, 86, 87, 95, 96, 97
  • Parking: There are 310 indoor parking spaces available. Rate: $2.50 per half hour Daily maximum rate: $12.50 Flat rate from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.: $6.00
  • Register: A facebook event page has been created. Please indicate if you will be attending and invite your sketcher friends https://www.facebook.com/events/185634955111664/ Notifications will also be posted to http://ottawaurbansketchers.blogspot.ca/
  • Museum Rules: "There is no specific rule to follow is you wish to come to the museum for drawing sketches.  We only ask that please you do not obstruct the view of other visitors, and the use of tripods or drawing table is not allowed. Please advise us if this is a large group, but if it is for a small group or an individual, there is no problem."; Photography is permitted within the exhibition galleries.
  • Official website: http://www.warmuseum.ca/home/
  • Downloadable App: Thre is a free application is designed to enhance the Museum experience for both onsite and offsite users. http://www.warmuseum.ca/plan-your-visit/explore-the-museum/mobile-application/


Thursday, December 17, 2015
The National Gallery of Canada


Various Artworks from the Canadian Collections of the National Gallery of Canada will be temporarily closing so what better time to go in and sketch than now?


The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) (French: Musée des beaux-arts du Canada), located in the capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.

The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. 

The building was designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988.The Gallery's former director Jean Sutherland Boggs was chosen especially by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to oversee construction of the national gallery and museums.

The collections 

The Details
  • When: Thursday, December 17, 2015. We will meet in the main lobby at 5 pm and sketch until 8 pm; (arrive whenever you can)
  • Admission Cost: FREE
  • Show and Tell: 8:30 pm Location to be determined
  • How to get to 380 Sussex Drive: The NGC located within walking distance of ByWard Market, Château Laurier and Parliament Hill and is accessible by both the OC Transpo and STO; Visit the following link: http://www.gallery.ca/en/visit/getting-here.php for details.
  • Parking: There is underground parking at the gallery $2.75 per half-hour, daily maximum $14 (Members $12). The clearance for our underground parking garage is 6 feet. Parking also permitted on adjacent streets.
  • Register: In December, a facebook event page will be created. Notifications will also be posted to http://ottawaurbansketchers.blogspot.ca/
  • Museum Rules: "Drawing is permitted in the galleries with pencil only (erasers are not permitted). You may be asked to stop if the galleries are too crowded.  If you wish to do so, portable seats are available for you to take with you through the galleries. They are available at the top of the ramp in the Great Hall."; Eating and drinking is not permitted in the exhibition galleries; Cellular phones may not be used in the exhibition galleries. They ask that you turn the ring tone off; photographs are permitted in some areas - please observe signs where photography is prohibited;
  • Official website: http://www.gallery.ca/en/
  • Downloadable App: There is an android/iPhone app that gives you access to all new content about the Canadian collection.  http://www.gallery.ca/mobileapp/

Report: Sketching Mellos

The weather was great for sketching Mellos yesterday. A few sketchers were on Dalhousie right at 2 pm and others showed up at various times all the way through to the last session 6-8pm where the sketching took place inside Mellos. (If you have an urban sketch of Mellos that you would like to have on this page, contact us through the contact section on the right.)

Workers at Mellos really appreciated the love.

Here are some tweets from yesterday and a photo of that iconic Mellos sign when I left:

Colin White @ColinWhite

Mawt Trood @mawttrood 

Cindi Foreman @cindiforeman

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Sketching Mellos Today!

Mellos Restaurant, 290 Dalhousie St, Ottawa
Source: Ottawa Citizen

With the developments surrounding Mello’s diner the past few days, artist Colin White has organized some Ottawa urban sketchers to get out on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 for a day of sketching this iconic market diner..

Mellos 73 year history in the ByWard market appears to be coming to an end.  Mellos has been in the same location at 290 Dalhousie street since 1942 and is being kicked out after their landlord offered the space to neighbouring restaurant Ace Mercado.

Join Us Today for Some Sketching

Any Ottawa urban sketchers wishing to join other urban sketchers for the "Mellos sketchcrawl" on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 are welcome to bring their sketchpads downtown anytime between 2 to 8 pm.

The plan is:
  • 2 - 4 pm: meet to sketch Mellos outside in sun (weather forecasted to be 15°C)
  • 4 - 6 pm warm up across the road in “Atari” - to sketch from across the road 
  • 6 - 8pm -Food & Drink inside Mellos - sketch interior 
Mellos Diner, 290 Dalhousie St., Ottawa
Source: Google Maps

Mellos Restaurant, 290 Dalhousie St, Ottawa 
Source: Ottawa Sun

Some Mellos Links




If you want Mellos to stay your neighbour, 
let the Ottawa community know with #SaveMellos.

Visit Jack Pine's "Mellos - Let's Stay Neighbours"

Buy a Poster (money goes to Mellos workers) http://www.oldambrand.com/shop/mellos

Mellos Restaurant - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MellosRestaurant/
Mellos Restaurant (@Mellos1942) | Twitter https://twitter.com/mellos1942