Calgary Urban Sketchers

A year ago I was fascinated by the confluence of the CPR main line with the Sculpture Garden and the ironworks of the Inglewood bridge and did this sketch.

The rusted rivets and beams of the bridge evoke in me the  pre world war one era of optimistic industrialization and progress.

It is slated for demolition and replacement so I look forward to sketching and recording a piece of Calgary’s history.

Our recent sketchwalks visited other structures of that prosperous era.

The First Baptist Church in the Beltline is a 1912 Gothic revival with a rich mix of brick, sandstone and timber.

The Colonel James Walker house was built in 1910.

Built in 1912/1913 St. Matthew’s Lutheran church has its own unique details of brick and stone. There is history of the structure on this link: https://www.bigdoer.com/20711/then-and-now/calgary-then-and-now-st-matthew-lutheran-church/

Looking forward to our SketchWalk at the Inglewood Bridge.

Here is some information I should have passed along. This crumpled announcement lists a number of weeks of urban sketching classes going on in Calgary. At least one of our group is attending all of them. I don’t know the instructor so have no comment on him, but I believe he is an accomplished artist.  I also think that individual places in sessions are still available if you are interested. The website to check it out is shown on the bottom of the crumpled sheet. Looks like a worthwhile endeavour.

 

We had a beautiful afternoon to sketch the Colonel James Walker home on the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary grounds. As it turns out, Colonel Walker called his beautiful home, ‘Inglewood’ and that is where the community derives its name. Who knew?

We were six in total, including Simone, our youngest member, a lovely nine year old who loves to sketch and accompanied her Dad, Matteo, who is also a recent addition to our ranks. Welcome to you both. oh, and thanks, Jeff, for holding my work so that I could hold the camera.

After three years living and working in the Calgary area, I finally discovered Heritage Village Park in the city’s south end. I jumped in with both feet and took an annual pass to avoid having to pay parking and lining up every time I want to visit. I am so glad I did. This is a sketcher’s dream. Classic old houses and business from years past, old style costumes and vehicles all over town, and this train that runs a circuit all day, affording the opportunity to jump bac\k and forth on this 100+ acre treasure of a site.

The train doesn’t spend too long sitting still, but that’s alright. If you don’t finish your sketch, grab a coffee and’ relax in the shade. You can pick it up when it returns to exactly the same spot in 35 minutes.

 

 

#calgarytransit #commutesketchers #urbansketchers

There we were, lined up on the welcome wall of Central Memorial Park, kitty-corner from 1sr Baptist. It was a lovely shady area, and except for the little green (unidentified) bugs that kept dropping onto our workspace (and probably our hair), it was the perfect sketch meet. Norman, an interested visitor was there as well, but backed up when I took out the photo phone. I was there too, on the side of the camera I prefer.

The weather was goegeous, the company, great and the subject, excellent. We had a great sketch walk at the Simmons by the Bow, a wonderful example of an old warehouse style building re-purposed into a busy combination of eateries and cafe. We had a great time.

Continue reading “The Simmons Building”