Urban Sketchers Vancouver

11/05/2026

11/03/2026

Let’s sketch at Henderson Place Mall and the Coquitlam Public Library

📆 Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
🕐 Meetup: 1:00PM
🕐 Sketch Throwdown: 3:30 PM
📍 Meeting Point: Under the cover between the mall and the library, directly across from the Lincoln Skytain Station
👩‍🎨 Host: Sharon Russell

Join us for urban sketching, exploring two neighbouring locations in Coquitlam’s City Centre!

Henderson Place is a quiet Asian shopping mall with a food court, atrium and skylight, an eclectic mix of shops including an Asian supermarket, herbal pharmacy, bakeries, restaurants, and a dollar store.

The Coquitlam City Centre Library next door to the mall offers display cases of interesting objects, book stacks, comfortable seating and discreet “sneaky artist” possibilities for sketching people. Outside, the small plaza between the library and Henderson Place Mall features colourful, modern seating, gardens, and murals.

Sketch ideas for the session:
- Inside the library with its display cases, book shelves, and people
- The seating, gardens, and art outside the library next to our meeting spot
- The atrium in the mall and food court on the upper level
- Everyday activity of shoppers, people eating, reading, etc.
- Storefronts and their wares and colourful shop signs

Sketch Throwdown:
We will meet back at the covered area between the mall and library for the sketch throwdown at 3:30.

☔ WEATHER NOTE
Sketching can be indoors or outdoors. 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:
Skytrain to Coquitlam’s Lincoln Station

🚗 Parking:
Up to 4 hours of free parking is available in the lot directly above the library. Do not park at Henderson Mall if sketching at the library. Additional parking is available at the Coquitlam Center parking lot across the street.

11/02/2026

It could have been a wet and gloomy afternoon of sketching, but over 20 bright and cheery sketchers still showed up at the cenotaph in Port Coquitlam last Sunday. The rain held off for most of the afternoon so some people sketched outside while others kept warm and sketched in the local cafes.

After the usual throw down, we wanted to see which artist belonged to which sketch, so we tried something new. We lined up shoulder to shoulder holding up our sketches in front of us. The first person in the line, turned so they faced the second person and could see both the sketch and the artist who drew it while, at the same time, that person could see them and their sketch. Then, as the first person stepped to face the next person in line, the second person rotated so they faced an artist and sketch too. This line rotation continued until everyone had a chance to see all the artists and sketches. It was a fun way for the group to support and recognize each other.

Thank you Naomi Kiyooka for hosting.

Photo credit: SharonRussellSketchbook kalyan vaddi

10/20/2026

We met up at Yaletown on a pleasant sunny Saturday. The crisp fall air and warm autumnal colors made the day perfect! Some people sketched Yaletown’s iconic red brick buildings and others went close to the water to draw boats and waterfront views. Thank you for joining us! It was a pleasure to meet you all.

Hosted by Momoko

10/15/2026

Let’s sketch at Port Coquitlam City Center

📆 Date: Sunday, October 25 2026
🕐 Meetup: 1:00 PM
🕐 Sketch Throwdown: 3:30 PM
📍 Meeting Point: Veterans Park cenotaph /obelisk at 2580 Shaughnessy St., next to Port Coquitlam City Hall

👩‍🎨 Host: Naomi Kiyooka

Come explore the heart of downtown Port Coquitlam, once an Indigenous homeland dating back over 10,000 years. Although landlocked, the name "Port Coquitlam " was chosen in 1912 due to grand visions of shipyards which never developed. Recent revitaizations include Veterans Park, Leigh Square and the expansive Port Coquitlam Community Centre.

Veteran's Park is lined with trees, benches and the Take 5 coffee shop. Behind it, is Leigh Square, a large community plaza. For those seeking nature, a 5 minute walk heading west down McAllister Ave. leads to a footbridge crossing the Coquitlam River.

Coffeeshops: Take 5, Waves, and Goldies, across the street on Shaughnessy St., with various pizza places and ethnic restaurants nearby.

Sketch Subjects:
Veterans Park plaza
Old Post Office on McAllister Ave.
Port Coquitlam Community Centre, the outside of the modern building or hockey practices inside, about 4 blocks from Veterans Park with free underground parking
Cafe or street scenes such as storefronts, people waiting for buses, drinking coffee, sitting on benches or other sketchers.
Coquitlam River Footbridge

Sketch Throwdown:
We will meet back at Veteran’s Park to share our work.

☔ WEATHER NOTE
Indoor or outdoor sketching. In case of rain, you can duck into a nearby coffee shop or restaurant to finish drawing with a coffee and dessert.

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

🚆 How to Get There:
🚌TRANSIT: take Bus 160 or 159, from the Coquitlam bus loop. Get off at McAllister Ave. then walk across the street to Veterans Park. Check the Sunday bus schedule.
🚗PARKING: free parking can be found on McAllister Ave.

📢 Updates
Check our Facebook group or Instagram Stories on the day of the meetup for any updates.

10/14/2026

What a wonderful day for sketching! This event was a little different from our regular meetups. Through our collaboration with the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, we had the special treat of sketching alongside local artists Ian De Hoog Ian de Hoog and Broderick Wong Watercolor Artist , who shared inspiring live demonstrations around the beautiful surroundings.

We are so grateful to the Shadbolt Centre for welcoming the Urban Sketchers community and making us a part of their Culture Days celebration.

And what a crowd! We had an awesome turnout, lots of creativity, and some truly inspiring sketches.Thank you to everyone who came out and made the day so special.

Thank you Devina Kirloskar for hosting!

Photo credit: Devina Kirloskar M E R L I N C H A R L S Momoko

10/09/2026

Another beautiful day, this time at the Shipyards, North Vancouver.

Some of us drew the navy vessel and others captured colorful floating houses. The iconic Q sign is also spotted in many sketches.

Thank you Midori Kawahara for hosting!

10/01/2026

🍂 Let’s Sketch at Yaletown

📆 Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2026

📍 Meeting Point: Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre *Meet at the rear entrance of the Roundhouse
🕐 Meetup: 11:00 AM

📍 Sketch Throwdown: Same as meetup point
🕑 Throwdown: 1:30 PM

👩‍🎨 Host: Momoko Momoko

Join us for a relaxing autumn sketch meetup in Yaletown, one of Vancouver’s most vibrant and photogenic neighbourhoods! With historic brick buildings, waterfront views, modern architecture, colourful fall foliage, and plenty of people-watching, there’s no shortage of subjects to capture.

Find a spot along the seawall, wander through Yaletown’s streets, or settle near Roundhouse Community Centre and sketch whatever catches your eye.

🎨 Sketch Subjects
🍂 Autumn leaves, trees & fall colours
🚂 Historic Engine 374 & Roundhouse
🏙️ Yaletown’s historic brick buildings & lofts
🌊 False Creek & seawall views
⛵ Boats, marinas & passing vessels
🏢 Modern architecture & Vancouver skyline views
☕ Cafés, patios & neighbourhood scenes

☀️ Weather Note
There are plenty of indoor sketch options in the neighbourhood in case it rains, including local cafes, the Roundhouse Community Centre and the Engine 374 Pavilion, a small railway museum that houses a Canadian historic locomotive. Get dressed for the weather if you sketch outdoors.

🚻 Washrooms
Public washrooms are available at the Roundhouse Community Centre.

🧰 What to Bring
• Sketchbook & drawing tools
• Optional: portable stool
• Water bottle or snack
• Rain jacket if you sketch outdoors

🖊 Sketch Throwdown
We’ll regroup at the designated meeting point to share our sketches and catch up.

🚌 Getting There
2 minute walk from Yaletown-Roundhouse Station on the Canada Line

📢 Updates
Check our Facebook group or Instagram Stories on the day of the meetup for any updates.

09/30/2026

We returned to The Grit GRIT., a modern, spacious café in historic Port Moody. The cafe owner, Cezar, an enthusiastic arts supporter, displayed his collection of clocks, cameras and suitcases for those who chose to sketch indoors.

Outside, in the courtyard, down alleys and around the corner, others sketched old buildings, jewelry, shoe repair, and flower shops.

In all, about 15 sketchers showed up. Some sketchers came all the way from Surrey, Chilliwack, and Aggassiz! It was a fun afternoon of sketching, sharing, and inspiration.

Thank you SharonRussellSketchbook for hosting!

09/27/2026

A lovely afternoon of urban sketching at VanDusen Botanical Garden VanDusen Botanical Garden!

We met at 1:00 PM near the Visitor Centre, and then everyone spread out to find their favourite spots to sketch.

From the beautiful fall foliage and colourful gardens to the peaceful ponds with their stunning reflections, there was no shortage of inspiration. The garden’s architecture, pathways, landscapes, and little details gave everyone plenty of subjects to explore in their own style.

At 3:30 PM, we gathered for the throwdown and shared our beautiful sketches with the group.

The weather was absolutely pleasant, making it a perfect afternoon to be outdoors. We had a great turnout, wonderful energy, and, of course, some amazing artworks!

A big thank you to everyone who joined, sketched, shared, and made the meetup such a warm and creative afternoon.

We also have the guest Judith Coe, an admin for USk Kansas City. Thank you for joining us!

Thank you kalyan vaddi for hosting!
Photo credit kalyan vaddi M E R L I N C H A R L S