Life Drawing in Ottawa

NOTE: Updated April 13, 2017
I attended the inaugural evening of Life Drawing at the Art House Cafe in Ottawa last night (March 28, 2017) and I am so glad to hear that this will become a weekly event in the future.

Some of my sketches from last night's "Life Drawing at the Art House Cafe" l

Ottawa artist Kat MacGregs organized and hosted this great event at the Art House Cafe and the semi-clothed male model of the night was incredible and did the following poses:

• five one-minute poses
• five two-minute poses
• four five-minute poses
• two ten-minute poses
• two twenty-minute poses
• one forty-five minute pose

It was a full house at this first Art House Cafe Life drawing session that started at 7 pm and ended at 10 pm. There were several breaks where artists could grab a beverage or something to eat. The cost was $10 which went towards paying the model and renting the Art House Cafe space.This is a non-profit event and any surplus cash will be put towards the purchase of more equipment (easels, lighting etc) in the future.(The Art House Cafe had limited drawing equipment/utensils available: easels were $2 to rent).

I love that the organizer/host Kat welcomes all skill levels to this event. The official promo material also states that "ALL orientations, ethnicities, ages, sizes, skin colour, genders, etc." are welcome.

Kat also reminds everyone participating that "the drawing sessions are hosted on unceded Algonquin territory".

Best wishes for continued success Kat and thanks so much for organizing and hosting this great life drawing event. Details on how to sign up to the Facebook group are below.

The official poster.

OTHER OTTAWA LIFE DRAWING VENUES

Below is a list of all the Life Drawing venues that I could find in Ottawa.
Please use the comment section below to notify me of any errors or omissions.
NOTE: Updated April 13, 2017

Drawing At The Rooster - The Femme Fatale session - April 2016

ATELIER DENU: This summer workshop series cycles through instructed lessons, classic life drawing, costumed poses, and long-pose compositions. Participants can drop in for one session, can register for four weeks at a time, can register for all workshops of a type, or can commit themselves to regular practice all summer long.

FREQUENCY:  Every Thursday from 18:30 to 21:00, May 11 to August 31 uOttawa Laurier Building, room 302* (100 Laurier Avenue)
ACCESSIBILITY NOTE: The painting studio LRR 302 is up three flights of stairs.

COST: $10.00 fee (see bundle prices above).

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/AtelierDenu/ For more information
atelierdenu@gmail.com atelierdenu.blogspot.com

 SANDY HILL: This is the oldest venue in Ottawa for Life Drawing. "Our workshop has been running for over 30 years. It is probably the largest and cheapest in Ottawa. The class is co-operative and non profit. There is no registration fee and no up-front payment. You only pay for the sessions that you attend. Everyone helps with the room set-up before the session and then helps in the clean-up afterwards as much as they are able."

FREQUENCY:  Every Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:30 at the Sandy Hill Community Centre basement

COST: $5.00 fee (includes tea and a snack).

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/SandyHillLifeDrawingWorkshop/

DRAWING AT THE ROOSTER: This event is hosted by Ottawa artists Peter and Rebecca Purdy. Each month there is a new theme and thee three models for the night wear costumes.

FREQUENCY:  The first Tuesday of every month 7:00 to 10 pm at the Atomic Rooster on Bank St.

COST: Non-profit. Pay what you can. Money goes to models. Best sketch wins a Rooster Gift Certificate

SOCIAL MEDIA:  Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/854616347887771/

LIFE DRAWING AT THE ART HOUSE CAFE  This event had its launch on March 28. 2017 and had to turn away interested artists due to space limitations.

FREQUENCY:  Every Tuesday starting April 11 7:00 to 10 pm at the Art House Cafe
ACCESSIBILITY NOTE: NO wheelchair access

COST: Non-profit. $10

SOCIAL MEDIA:  Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/290806461336951/

THE DRAWING ROOM STUDIO  This is a professional studio. "Poses are 5-6 hours per day. We start at 9:30am on the nose, and doors open at 9am to come get set up. We draw from 9:30am – 12:30pm, and then break for an hour for lunch. The afternoon session runs from 1:30pm – 3:30pm or 4:30pm."

FREQUENCY:  Sign up to be notified when new sessions are announced. (A minimum of 5 artists required)

COST: Approximately $60 for two full days (9:30-4:30)

SOCIAL MEDIA: Website: http://www.thedrawingroomstudio.ca/

P(a)INT AND DRAW

FREQUENCY:  second Wednesday of every month from 6:00-9:00 PM in the beautiful church hall of St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts (a re-purposed Roman Catholic church), located just past the Byward Market in Lowertown.

COST: $15 (cash only)

SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/799476493518862/

GREENBORO LIFE DRAWING WORSHOP

FREQUENCY:    Saturdays 1:00pm to 3:30pm at the Greenboro Pavillion 14 Tapiola Crescent, South Keys Youth/Senior Room

COST: The model cost is shared among attendees, and is currently $10 per person.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: Greenboro Pavillion Life Drawing Workshop https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreenboroLifeDrawing/

LIFE DRAWING INITIATIVE AT ALGONQUIN COLLEGE This is an uninstructed life drawing session  
FREQUENCY:   Tuesdays and Thursdays in room A145H at Algonquin College  5PM-8PM from May to August

COST: They now offer a $40 Membership for Algonquin College students and $100 for non- Algonquin Students. This is for the duration of the summer. Walk-ins for non-members/non-Algonquin students is $10. Proceeds go to pay for the models (often in costume) and for equipment.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/540356179474714/

LIFE DRAWING LINKS

• Life Drawing Classes, Workshops, and Open Studios in Canada http://www.artmodelbook.com/figure-drawing-canada.htm
• Line of Action - Free online tool that provides you with a figure drawing class of any length you choose, anywhere you have internet access. Practice often! https://line-of-action.com/practice-tools/figure-drawing/

OTHER WEEKLY VENUES WORTH LOOKING INTO 

(With thanks to Laurie Foster-MacLeod)

SATURDAYS:

Greenboro Pavillion Life Drawing: Drop in and join us any Saturday afternoon 1:00 to 3:30 pm / Registration is free, and everyone is welcome. Many members who join us are drawing for the first time. The model cost is $10 per person. Location: 14 Tapiola Cres. (near Albion Rd. & Johnsston Rd., east of Bank St.)

“The Drawing Studio”, Hamilton Ave. south (Civic Hospital area). Long poses, varying from 5 to 6 hours per day (with lunch break), same model & pose for Saturday & Sunday; monthly or bi-monthly. Facilitator: Sarah Marie Lacy: sarah@thedrawingstudio.ca http://www.thedrawingroomstudio.ca/

SUNDAYS:

Life Drawing: Nepean Visual Arts Centre @ Nepean Sportsplex, Woodroffe Ave., just south of Huntclub – Mornings (September – June)

Kanata Art Club @ 1030 Riddell Drive, Kanata (Kanata Montessori School), located near the intersection of March and Dunrobin Roads – Life Drawing, 1:00 – 3:30 pm, 6-week session (not in summer); participants must be members of the Kanata Art Club. Share model fee, due on registration, which is on first-come, first served basis. Info: www.kacl.ca / Info: Kie Delgaty: 613-623-2638 / kdelgaty@sympatico.ca The Kanata Art Club also runs a weekly Portraiture Studio & Costumed model Studio.

“Go Figure” Life drawing group in Burritt’s Rapids: meets about once a month, for the day. Bring lunch. Contact: Arlene Hare: <arhare@ripnet.com>

MONDAYS:

Portraiture: Nepean Visual Arts Centre @ Nepean Sportsplex, Woodroffe Ave., just south of Huntclub – Mornings, 9:30-12:00 noon (year round)

Kanata Art Club @ 1030 Riddell Drive, Kanata (Kanata Montessori School), located near the intersection of March and Dunrobin Roads – Costumed Model Drawing, 1:00 – 3:30 pm, 6-week session (not in summer); participants must be members of the Kanata Art Club. Share model fee, due on registration, which is on first-come, first served basis. Info: www.kacl.ca / Info: Kie Delgaty: 613-623-2638 / kdelgaty@sympatico.ca The Kanata Art Club also runs a weekly Portraiture Studio & Life Drawing Studio.

TUESDAYS:

Life drawing: Nepean Visual Arts Centre @ Nepean Sportsplex, Woodroffe Ave., just south of Huntclub – Mornings, easels, chairs & small movable side tables supplied (September – June)

“The Bottom Line” held at Sandy Hill Community Centre, Somerset Street East in Sandy Hill, mornings / Chairs provided, bring own materials / Co-ordinator: Colin Buckett art.stuff@hotmail.com (September – June)

The Atomic Rooster, Bank Street (near Somerset): monthly “Drawing at the Rooster” with costumed models, in restaurant/ bar. Free, fun. Info on Facebook

WEDNESDAYS:

NECTAR (New Edinburgh Community & Arts Centre), 255 MacKay, The Community Room; ‘Figure Drawing & Painting Workshop,’ an extended pose workshop; 9:30 am – 12:30 pm; http://nectarcentre.ca/adult-arts-programs - Coordinator: John Jarrett; Contact: 613-745-2742 / <nectarcentregm@gmail.com>

Sandy Hill Life Drawing Workshop @ Sandy Hill Community Centre, evening: 7:00 – 9:30 pm; open workshop, $5/ evening (cash only), drop-ins welcome. (year round) Chairs provided; co-ordinator: Dan Northcott: 613-523-7365  dannorthcott@yahoo.ca / Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SandyHillLifeDrawingWorkshop/home

Kanata Art Club @ 1030 Riddell Drive, Kanata (Kanata Montessori School), located near the intersection of March and Dunrobin Roads – Portrait Drawing Studio, 1:00 – 3:30 pm, 6-week session (not in summer); participants must be members of the Kanata Art Club. Share model fee, due on registration, which is on first-come, first served basis. Info: www.kacl.ca / Info: Kie Delgaty: 613-623-2638 / kdelgaty@sympatico.ca The Kanata Art Club also runs a weekly Life Drawing Studio & Costumed model Studio.

THURSDAYS:

Life drawing Studio: Nepean Visual Arts Centre @ Nepean Sportsplex, Woodroffe Ave., just south of Huntclub – Mornings; easels, chairs & small movable side tables supplied (September – June)

FRIDAYS:

Long pose Life Studio in Hintonburg: @ Takahashi Martial Arts dojo, 5 Melrose Avenue / morning; same model and pose for 6 weeks, naked, costumed or draped; Fee: $100 / 6 sessions or $20. per session; Facilitator: Miki Chart: 613-581-6617 mtakashima@hotmail.com; held in a martial arts studio, so please bring drop clothes for the area you are working in plus all your easel and materials. Please make sure to arrange with Miki in advance, so she can let you know if there is room.

Atelier Denu: (See 2017 information above) summer life drawing workshops (June 24 – Aug. 12, 2016); evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pm in room 307 of the Grad House, 601 Cumberland, above the Café Nostalgica at the University of Ottawa. Cost: drop-in $5 per session / free for high school students or U of Ottawa graduate students. Bring your own materials. http://atelierdenu.blogspot.ca/