July 2023 Sketch-Meet

PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE TO JULY 22

Thanks to Angie for planning our July sketch-meet on Saturday July 22 from 11am to 1pm at Borden Park:

July’s Sketch-Meet will be at Borden Park (7507 Borden Park Road) on Saturday July 22 from 11 am – 1 pm. If it’s a super hot day it’ll provide us with plenty of options for shaded sketching spots. Please remember to plan for the sun with a hat, sunscreen and water in case the spot you choose isn’t so shady. There are a number of things for us to sketch in the Borden Park area but it would be nice to focus on spots within the park. There’s the Vaulted Willow sculpture, the Borden Park Pavilion, natural swimming pool, a playground, tennis courts, the band shell and a number of picnic sites. Let’s meet at the Borden Park Pavilion to start and then again at 1 pm to share our drawings. The closet parking spots are on 113 Ave and 78 Street. Many buses stop round the park. A few are Stop Id’s are #1451, #1474, #1332 all on 112 Ave.

A bit about the park from the Alberta Register of Historic Places:

“Borden Park was established in 1906, and was first named East End City Park. This park was re-named for Sir Robert Laird Borden, the eighth prime minister of Canada (1911-1920), after he visited Edmonton in 1914, on the eve of the First World War. In the early 20th Century up to seven thousand people were reported to congregate in the park on sunny Sundays. Picnics, musical concerts and baseball seem to have been the preferred activities in those days. The first Edmonton Zoo was located in Borden Park, as were a popular tea room, rides such as a carousel, roller coaster and tunnel of love. The roller coaster was a feature from 1915 to 1935 when it was dismantled. When the entire park was restored, the band shell was designed by City Architect R.F. Duke with W. Pasternak. The band shell was constructed in 1956 as part of a $100,000 capital works approved by City Council to cover its drainage system, new walks, a band shell and picnic/sports area. The opening of the refurbished park was held on Dominion Day in 1958. It was a big event, and three thousand people turned out. Mayor Hawrelak gave an address, and the loyal Edmonton Regiment band played in the new band shell.”

Highlands School Sketch-Meet, 17 June 2023

Our week of solid rain let up a bit for our Sketch-Meet at the grand old Highlands School. Neither rain nor snow….

Diane Smarsh

Angie Sotiropoulos

Zulima Acuña

Karen Boschee

Other sketches were created around and about.

Gordon Ramsey, truck on street in Bonnie Doon neighbourhood, Edmonton

Gordon Ramsey, downtown Edmonton

Stephanie Myers, Muttart Conservatory, Edmonton

Heather Markham, University of Alberta Devonian Botanic Gardens, Alberta

Heather Markham, University of Alberta Devonian Botanic Gardens, Alberta

Luise Mendler-Johnson, St. Albert Botanical Garden, Alberta

Beth George, New York, New York, USA

Beth George, New York, New York, USA

Merts Belmes, Fort Santiago, Manila, Philippines

Merts Belmes, Fort Santiago, Manila, Philippines

Merts Belmes, Hong Kong International Airport

Merts Belmes, Hong Kong International Airport

Merts Belmes, Vancouver International Airport, B.C.

Merts Belmes, Vancouver International Airport, B.C.

Posted by Marlena Wyman

June 2023 Sketch-Meet

June’s Sketch-Meet will be at Highlands School (11509 62 Street NW) on Saturday, June 17 from 11 am – 1 pm.

This building underwent a modernization in 2021. It’s a blend of the old brick architecture and some modern additions. On the back side the playground merges with Highlands Park North and the Highland Community League. The Park has washroom facilities and a community garden. As I understand it the Community League will also be holding their Annual Community Event that day called Highlandia. This runs from 2-11pm. This is after our sketching time but sketchers are welcome to stick around. You may get to draw some set up depending on where you decide to sketch that day.

The school is right on 118 Ave which is a busy street but there is some boulevard, lots, grounds and fenced areas that we can safely set up on or near to sketch the front of the building or from the back. Let’s meet at the junior high entrance on 11509 62 St. It’s a bit quieter on that side and then we can disperse to wherever we’d like to sketch and meet back there at 1 pm to share our sketches. Parking wise, I suggest somewhere behind the school in the neighbourhood on 62 street or 61 street. Bus stop ID 1124 stops out front of the school.

From ACI Architects website they say,

“The modernization and addition of Highlands K-9 School consists of a modernization to the main and second floors of the original 1914 building. It also includes the demolition and replacement of the 1954 addition with a two storey building with new programmatic spaces and a new Gymnasium; new parking lot and drop off loop off 118th Avenue, and new staff parking lot and related site work.”

Downtown Spark Sketch-Meet, 27 May 2023

We had a great turnout for the Downtown Spark event in Alex Decoteau Park and other Downtown Spark venues.

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Vivienne Garbutt

Sarah Lee

Sarah Lee

Marlena Wyman

Karen Wall

Karen Wall

Diane Smarsh

Angie Sotiropoulos

Other subjects were sketched too:

Gordon Ramsey, alleys in Riverdale neighbourhood, Edmonton

Gordon Ramsey, North Saskatchewan River, SW Edmonton area

Luise Mendler-Johnson, downtown St. Albert, AB

Zulima Acuña, Sicily, Italy

Zulima Acuña, Sicily, Italy

Zulima Acuña, Sicily, Italy

Zulima Acuña, Sicily, Italy

Merts Belmes wins a gold star for the most sketches posted in May: I counted 39! Here is a selection of his travel sketches from his trip to The Philippines. The rest can be viewed on the Urban Sketchers Edmonton Facebook page. Well worth a look.

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Posted by Marlena Wyman

May 2023 Sketch-Meet

The Downtown Business Association has invited Urban Sketchers Edmonton to sketch at their Downtown Spark event in Alex Decoteau Park (10230 – 105 Street) on Saturday May 27 from 11am to 1pm. NOTE: This is one week later than our usual sketch-meet date.

The May 27 Downtown Spark event includes inflatables, street performers, caricature artists, live music by Stella Johnson and Hayle Ryane, DJ Nab, food trucks, and more. If you want to sketch a bit later, “Bark & Brew” will be at Alex Decoteau Park (a free dog-friendly party with a beer garden that is on from 1pm to 6pm), with a doggie photo booth, and dog training demos by Naughty Boyz.

I’m not sure what the layout of the park will be for the event, but there is a red sculpture in the park where we can meet at 11am, and once we are there we can scope out a place to share sketches at 1:00pm. Sketchers wanting to stay for lunch can get together after 1:00 for lunch from the food trucks.

Bonnie Doon Mall Sketch-Meet, April 15, 2023

There were a few sketchers around and about Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, but it’s a big place!

Photo by Angie Sotiropoulos

Angie Sotiropoulos

Other sketchers documented various urban sketching locations (and times) elsewhere.

Gordon Ramsey, Riverdale, Edmonton. 87 Street – view north

Heather Markham’s garden, Edmonton

Cary Brown, Metro Cinema, Edmonton

Gian Carlo Kaguitla, commute from Edmonton to Leduc

Gian Carlo Kaguitla

Gian Carlo Kaguitla

Gian Carlo Kaguitla

Diane Smarsh, Leighton Art Centre, Millarville, AB

Heather Markham, Riverside Park, Kamloops BC

Bev Middleton, Open Hall NL

Aeris Osborne, Besalu Spain

Aeris Osborne, Girona Spain

The season for open-air sketching has begun, so we’ll see you outdoors for our May sketch-meet.

Posted by Marlena Wyman

April 2023 Sketch-Meet

Saturday April 15 from 11am to 1pm

Bonnie Doon Shopping Mall 8330 – 82 Avenue, Edmonton AB

Bonnie Doon is a technically a mall, but in practice a carnivalesque gathering place for eclectic and even bizarre retail, model railway and other clubs, an art gallery and so forth, not to mention excellent people watching wandering or sitting in the food court. Where we could gather for lunch and discussion after sketching. Bonus: parking! and get your Saturday grocery shopping done. Oh wait–and a bowling alley!

Downtown Farmers’ Market Sketch-Meet, 18 March 2023

We had a great venue to sketch for our March sketch-meet: the Downtown Farmer’s Market in the historic GWG building.

Photo by Shelby Rae

Shelby Rae

Sarah Lee

Sarah Lee

Luise Mendler-Johnson

Brenda Raynard

Brenda Raynard

Brenda Raynard

Carol Burgess

Julie Daly

Marlena Wyman

Sketches from other locations too:

Diane Smarsh, farmers’ market in Peori Arizona

Justina Smith, Night of Artists event, Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, Edmonton AB

Justina Smith, Bonnie Doon Bowling Alley, Edmonton AB

Gordon Ransey, Riverdale neighbourhood, Edmonton AB

Gordon Ramsey, from 84th Street over Argyll Park – view north. Edmonton AB

Gordon Ramsey, Locomotive in the east Edmonton rail yards

Gordon Ramsey, from top of Whitemud hill staircase, view northwest. Edmonton AB

Karen Boschee, Hawrelak Park, Edmonton AB

Karen Boschee, Hawrelak Park, Edmonton AB

Karen Boschee, Hawrelak Park, Edmonton AB

Janet Smith, neighbourhood North West from Boston

Marlena Wyman, Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver BC

Posted by Marlena Wyman

March 2023 Sketch-Meet

Downtown Farmer’s Market, 10305 – 97 Street

11AM, Saturday March 18

Free parking in the lot behind the market

Thanks to one of our sketchers, Pauline, for the great idea to have our March sketch-meet at the Downtown Farmer’s Market. It’s in the historic GWG building, with beautiful produce, two floors, vendors and shoppers, so there are lots of sketching opportunities.

We will sketch from 11am to 1pm, and share sketches at the second-floor seating area at 1pm. There are vendors who sell hot lunch items and beverages if anyone wishes to get together afterward for lunch.

Muttart Conservatory Sketch-Meet, February 18, 2023

We had a great turnout for our sketch-meet at the Muttart Conservatory. A chance to see, sketch and breath in some greenery in the winter is always welcome. The exhibit “Gaia”, a 3-dimensional planet earth, was rotating overhead in the Feature Pyramid.

Yvonne Rezek

Yvonne Rezek

Sarah Lee

Marlena Wyman

Julie Daly

Julie Daly

Jack Twells

Heather Markham

Heather Markham

Janet Smith

Janet Smith

Justina Smith

Justina Smith

Other great sketches from Edmonton and away:

Karen Boschee, Cloverdale neighbourhood, Edmonton

Karen Boschee, back yard, Edmonton

Karen Boschee, back yard, Edmonton

Brenda Raynard, Fort Edmonton Park foot bridge, Edmonton

Aspen Gardens neighbourhood, Edmonton

Brenda Raynard, Ermineskin neighbourhood, Edmonton

Gordon Ramsey, Hardisty Rec Centre parking lot, Edmonton

Shelby Rae, Jiu Jitsu tournament at the Expo Center, Edmonton

Shelby Rae, house in Saskatoon, SK

Aeris Osborne, St, Albert Art Gallery

Beth George, New York, NY

Beth George, Mesa, Arizona

Cary Brown, Hawaii

Posted by Marlena Wyman