UPCOMING SKETCH EVENTS
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN VENICE - Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 - 10:30am-12:30pm
Urban Sketching Botanicals at the Venice Garden Club’s 35th Annual Home and Garden Tour - Friday Feb
Urban Sketching Botanicals at the Venice Garden Club’s 35th Annual Home and Garden Tour - Friday Feb
Sketch the unique Old Florida charm that is abundant in Downtown Venice, a beautiful historic city dating back to the 1920s with moss-covered oaks, swaying palm trees, and pastel Mediterranean Revival architecture.
Meet Urban Sketchers at 10:30 am near the Gazebo in Centennial Park located in the heart of downtown Venice for a quick meet & greet. From there you’ll be able to walk Venice Avenue to find a sketching location that appeals to you. Options include the park and gazebo itself, historic architecture, sidewalk cafe culture, beautiful gardens and trees, or any other eye candy that delights you.
Plentiful benches dot the downtown area, and if you want a particular view you’ll want to bring a portable stool with you.
Public restrooms available in Centennial Park.
Parking in Centennial Park and street parking are plentiful.
Re-group at the Gazebo in the park at 12:20pm for our throw down to share your work and see what other sketchers have done, and take a quick group photo to commemorate our event.
Find many food and beverage options at multiple restaurants and specialty shops along Venice Ave.
Rain or Shine event. In case of rain, there are multiple restaurants and spaces to sketch indoors where you can capture the unique experience of this historic city.
Centennial Park Address: 200 W. Venice Av., Venice, FL 34285
Connect with us on Facebook to RSVP for this and coming events. Or just show up!
Urban Sketching Botanicals at the Venice Garden Club’s 35th Annual Home and Garden Tour - Friday Feb
Urban Sketching Botanicals at the Venice Garden Club’s 35th Annual Home and Garden Tour - Friday Feb
Urban Sketching Botanicals at the Venice Garden Club’s 35th Annual Home and Garden Tour - Friday Feb
A very special opportunity to sketch within the gardens of the Annual Venice Garden Club's Tour
Urban Sketchers Sarasota is offering a unique opportunity for urban sketchers to capture the action of a live event in March!
Join us to sketch the gardens and homes on display during the Venice Garden Club’s Annual Garden and Home Tour on Friday, March 13, from 10:30 am - 1:30 pm.
Although the Venice Garden & Home Tour requires attendees to buy tickets to view the gardens, this opportunity for our artists to sketch the gardens during the event is FREE!
TICKETS REQUIRED:
The number of sketch artist entries is limited so you must reserve an EVENTBRITE TICKET to attend as a sketcher.
The garden tour locations are dispersed throughout Venice and you’ll need to have transportation to get to some of them unless you choose to stay and sketch in the public botanical garden.
Details:
10:30 AM: Meet Urban Sketchers Sarasota in Venice at Monty Andrews Arboretum in West Blalock Park. Address: 401 Pensacola Rd, Venice, FL 34285.
Ample free street parking is available.
We will have a quick meet & greet, provide the day’s instructions, and provide a list of locations where you may choose to sketch. Then, everyone will depart for their chosen locations for sketching.
You’ll sketch until 1:00 PM and then head back to Monty Andrews Arboretum in Blalock Park for a celebratory meet up, photo and sketch throw-down at 1:20 PM.
Because these locations are dispersed and unique, we suggest you bring a stool so you can select the best view and get up close to botanical subjects of your choice.
Public restrooms are available in the public park, and each botanical garden location will provide you with access to a restroom. If you need to use the facilities, just ask the host.
Food and beverage options are plentiful in Venice if you want to make a longer day of your experience.
Five Points Park Downtown Sarasota - Saturday, March 28th, 2026 10:30am-12:30pm
Five Points Park sits in the heart of Downtown Sarasota. Surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, sculpture and nature. The park offers views of the historic Sarasota Opera House, The Selby Public Library and lively town square activities.
Meet Up
We will meet at 10:30am across from the library near the corner of Central & 1st. We'll have a short meet & greet and then you can disperse to sketch your favorite scene(s) of the area. We'll then meet back up in the same location to throw down and share our sketches.
Parking is available in several ramps in the area and on the street.
Ramps are located on 1st Street in the Plaza at Five Points Garage.
The Palm Ave Parking garage located at 1289 N Palm Ave.
Whole Foods Ramp
There are several restaurants, cafes and shops in the vicinity with a Starbuck just across the street from our meeting spot. There are also restrooms located in the Selby public library.
NOTE: The Sarasota Farmers Market takes place Saturday mornings until 1:00pm in the area of Lemon and Main. This brings a lot people into the area. You can always arrive early and enjoy a stroll around the market too.
One of the often missed additions to Five Points park is at the southwest entrance to Five Points Park. The stained‑glass‑adorned clock. This beautiful clock has a fun history. It very nearly disappeared forever. The clock's story begins in the 1920s, when it was first mounted on the corner of the Palmer Bank Building at the bustling Five Points intersection. For decades it kept time for downtown Sarasota. But when the building was remodeled, the clock was removed and placed into storage. There it sat—disassembled, dusty, and forgotten—for roughly twenty years.
Until 1992, when Carroll “Corky” Ramsey, an employee with Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, stumbled upon the clock while searching for materials at work. Ramsey, a professional welder for more than two decades and a stained‑glass artist in his own right, immediately recognized the beauty hidden in the pile of parts. He asked the commissioners if he could have permission to restore it. Piece by piece, Ramsey restored the clock—repairing its structure, reviving its stained‑glass panels, and bringing back the character it once lent to downtown Sarasota. When the work was complete, the clock was mounted on two poles at the south corner of Five Points Park, where it still stands today.
Connect with us on Facebook to RSVP for this and coming events. Or just show up!