Urban Sketchers Vancouver

06/10/2026

Let's Sketch at False Creek — Science World & FIFA Fever ⚽

📆 Saturday, June 20, 2026

📍 Science World Entrance
1455 Quebec St, Vancouver, BC

🕑 Meetup: 2:00 PM
🎨 Sketch Throwdown: 4:30 PM

👩‍🎨 Host: Merlin Charls

Join us for an afternoon of sketching around False Creek during FIFA season! Science World's iconic dome has been transformed into a giant FIFA soccer ball, making this a unique opportunity to sketch one of Vancouver's most recognizable landmarks.

Sketch Subjects:
⚽ FIFA soccer ball installation at Science World
👥 Fans, visitors & waterfront activity
🌊 False Creek views
🏙 Cityscapes & architecture
⛵ Boats & marina scenes

☔ Weather Note: Primarily outdoor sketching. Updates will be posted if weather impacts the meetup.

🧰 What to Bring:
• Sketchbook & drawing tools
• Optional: portable stool
• Water bottle or snack
• Weather-appropriate clothing

🖊 Sketch Throwdown:
We'll regroup at 4:30 PM at the Science World entrance to share sketches and connect with fellow sketchers.

🚆 Transit:
• Expo Line → Main Street–Science World Station
• Multiple bus routes nearby

🚗 Parking: General parking in the area will be extremely limited due to road closures and tournament activities.

📢 Note: Science World admission is required for indoor sketching. Our meetup will focus on the outdoor spaces around False Creek.

Let’s sketch one of Vancouver’s most iconic landmarks in its FIFA transformation and capture the excitement of the city! ⚽✨🖊️🎨

06/09/2026

Another fantastic Tri-Cities UskVan meetup at Rocky Point Park! A warm welcome to several newcomers and a special guest from Urban Sketchers Korea 🇰🇷 who joined the group for the afternoon.
The weather threatened to be a challenge, but fortunately the rain stayed away and gave everyone plenty of time to sketch outdoors. ✏️

As temperatures cooled, the nearby Port Moody Station Museum graciously welcomed the group indoors for the throwdown.
Sketchers captured a wonderful variety of subjects, including the waterfront, the pier, the newly installed First Nations House Post, and the beautiful inlet views that make Rocky Point Park such a special location.

Thank you to everyone who joined and shared their creativity. Swipe through to see some of the sketches from the day! 🎨

06/04/2026

Let’s Sketch at Italian Day Festival 🇮🇹

📆 Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026

📍 Meeting Point: Grandview Park
Northwest Corner of Commercial Drive & Charles Street, Vancouver, BC

🕐 Meetup: 1:00 PM
🎨 Sketch Throwdown: 3:30 PM

👩‍🎨 Host: Bob Altwein  

Let's sketch together again at one of Vancouver's most vibrant street festivals!

Italian Day transforms Commercial Drive into a lively celebration of Italian culture, stretching across 14 blocks filled with music, food, performances, and community spirit. The Drive comes alive with piazza-style gathering spaces, outdoor patios, vendors, and plenty of opportunities to capture the energy of the festival.

If the crowds become overwhelming, there are plenty of cafés, bakeries, and eateries along the route. Venture onto the side streets and you'll also find charming heritage homes, colourful gardens, and quieter sketching spots.

Sketch Subjects:
🇮🇹 Italian Day festivities and cultural celebrations
👥 Festival crowds and people-watching
🎵 Live music performances and entertainers
🍝 Food vendors, patios, and market scenes
🏠 Heritage homes and neighbourhood architecture
🌺 Gardens and quieter side-street vignettes

☀️ WEATHER NOTE
Primarily outdoor sketching. Bring sun protection and be prepared for warm weather. Cafés and restaurants along Commercial Drive provide indoor options if needed.

🧰 What to Bring:
• Sketchbook
• Drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, etc.)
• Water bottle
• Hat and sunscreen
• Optional: collapsible stool
• Weather-appropriate clothing

🖊 Sketch Throwdown:
We'll regroup at 3:30 PM at Grandview Park to share sketches and connect with fellow sketchers.

🚆 How to Get There:

Transit:
• Bus #22 Knight → Walk uphill from Clark Dr
• Bus #14 Hastings → Walk south from Hastings St
• Expo Line SkyTrain → Commercial–Broadway Station, then walk north
• Bus #9 Broadway or #99 B-Line → Commercial–Broadway area

⚠️ No transit service will operate along Commercial Drive during the festival.

🚗 Parking
Driving is not recommended due to road closures and large crowds.

📢 Updates
We'll share any meetup updates on our stories closer to the date.

06/04/2026

It was a great sketching around downtown Vancouver in April!

Starting from at Harbour Centre, our group spread out across Waterfront Station, Gastown, Canada Place, and the surrounding streets, capturing everything from historic architecture and transit scenes to waterfront views and urban life.

It was inspiring to see such a variety of sketches and perspectives throughout the afternoon. Thank you to for hosting, to for providing a space for the throwdown, and to everyone who joined, and helped make the meetup a fun and creative experience.

Swipe through to see some of the sketches from the day! 🎨

06/03/2026

Let’s Sketch at Coquitlam City Hall Plaza (Buchanan Square)

📆 Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026

🕐 Meetup: 1:00 PM
🕐 Sketch Throwdown: 3:15 PM

📍 Meeting Point: 3003 Burlington Dr by the City of Coquitlam sign just past Divano’s Café and the entrance to the underground parking

👩‍🎨 Host: Sharon Russell

Join us for a sketch meetup in the civic heart of Coquitlam’s City Centre. This open plaza connects City Hall, the RCMP building, and nearby community spaces like Glen Pine Pavilion, and offers a mix of architecture, movement, and playful public design.

This is a surprisingly varied sketching location. The plaza includes stairs, tiered levels, public seating, swings, a slide, and ping pong tables—alongside sculptural and artistic elements that make it a great place to observe both structure and activity. It’s a space where formal civic architecture meets everyday use, which gives plenty of interesting contrasts to draw.

In case of rain, both the nearby Café Divano and Glen Pine Pavillion offer indoor areas where we can find shelter and interesting sketch subjects.

Sketch Ideas:
The contrast between the civic buildings and open plaza space 
People interacting with the swings, slide, and seating areas 
Stairs, levels, and strong geometric lines of the space 
Public art and sculptural details 
Candid movement: walkers, groups, and passing activity between buildings

Sketch Throwdown:
We will meet back at the entrance to Buchanan Plaze (near the City of Coquitlam sign) for the sketch throw down at 3:15 PM. 

☔ WEATHER NOTE
Primarily outdoor sketching so bring sun/rain protection as needed. 

🧰 What to Bring: 

• Sketchbook
• Drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, etc.)
• Optional: portable stool
• Water bottle or snack
• Weather-appropriate clothing

🚆 How to Get There: 

🚌TransLink Bus Routes: 
• Millenium Skytrain to Lafarge Lake-Douglas, 5 minute across Pinetree and to Burlington Dr

🚗 Parking:
Some parking in the underground City Hall lot as well as across Burlington beside the Glen Pine Pavillion.

05/25/2026

05/04/2026

Let’s Sketch At Rocky Point Park — Waterfront & Inlet Views

📆 Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

📍 Meeting Point: Rocky Point Ice Cream
    2800 Murray St, Port Moody, BC

🕐 Meetup: 1:00 PM
🎨 Sketch Throwdown: 3:15 PM

👩‍🎨 Host: Gina Johns

Join us for a relaxing sketch meetup at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody — a scenic waterfront location with a mix of nature, views, and lively park activity. From the inlet and pier to forest paths and playgrounds, this spot offers a wide range of sketching inspiration.

Take a stroll along the shoreline, explore nearby Shoreline Park, or capture the energy of people enjoying the outdoors.

Sketch Subjects:
🌊 Port Moody Inlet and waterfront views
🪵 Long wooden pier and boardwalk
⛰ Distant views toward Seymour Mountain
🌲 Forest pathways and natural scenery
👥 Walkers, families, and everyday park life
🛝 Wooden playground structures

☔ WEATHER NOTE
Primarily outdoor sketching. Some covered picnic tables and benches are available. Optional indoor sketching nearby at cafés, Brewers Row, or the Port Moody Station Museum.

🧰 What to Bring:

• Sketchbook
• Drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, etc.)
• Optional: portable stool
• Water bottle or snack
• Weather-appropriate clothing

🖊 Sketch Throwdown:
We’ll regroup at 3:15 PM at the meeting point to share sketches.

🚆 How to Get There:

Transit:
• SkyTrain → Moody Centre Station
• Bus #160 or #180 → St. Johns St, then walk over Moody St overpass

🚗 Parking:
• Paid parking lot on Murray St
• Free 2–4 hour street parking on St. Johns St and nearby side streets

Let’s explore, sketch, and capture this beautiful waterfront gem in Port Moody! ✨🖊️🎨

04/24/2026

🎟 tickets just went live

Sketch Weekend 2026 is now open for registration ✏️
workshops + sketchwalks led by our guest artists, plus artist talks included with your ticket.

👥 limited to 140 spots
these usually go quickly — just a heads up 👀

link in bio to register

11/19/2025

🎨 Let’s Sketch at Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch)

📆 Saturday, November 29, 2025
📍 Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
📍 350 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC
📍 Meeting Point: In front of the library entrance on West Georgia St & Homer St (see next slide for location)
🕐 Meetup: 12:00 PM
🎨 Sketch Throwdown: 2:15 PM
👩‍🎨 Host: Devina Kirloskar

It’s late fall — crisp air, warm light, and perfect sketching weather in one of Vancouver’s most iconic architectural landmarks! Join us for an afternoon of urban sketching at the Vancouver Public Library, surrounded by grand architecture, lively street scenes, and cozy cafés.

Sketch subjects include:
🏛️ The Library Building – iconic postmodern architecture with sweeping curves and grand arches
🌆 Urban Views – the surrounding plaza, street life, and architectural details
☕ Cafés and Shops – capture everyday life along Homer and Robson Streets
👥 People Sketching – candid moments, visitors, and city bustle

Please visit the library’s website for more information about the venue and amenities.

☔ WEATHER NOTE
This event will go ahead rain or shine — most sketching areas are sheltered, and indoor options are available within the library.

🧰 What to Bring
- Art supplies
- Water
- A collapsible stool or chair
- An umbrella and/or hat (for outdoor sketching)
- A light snack or coffee for the session break

🚆 How to Get There
By Transit:
The Vancouver Public Library is centrally located and easily accessible by SkyTrain or bus.

Canada Line / Expo Line: Get off at Vancouver City Centre or Stadium–Chinatown Station (about a 5-minute walk).

By Car:
Paid parking is available in the library’s underground parkade (enter from Hamilton St), as well as nearby lots and metered street parking.

📢 We’ll post updates closer to the date — please join our Facebook group or check our stories on the day of the event!