Urban Sketchers Columbia, SC

08/26/2026

Join us Saturday afternoon on September 12th to sketch Gather COLA . Bring a blanket if you'd like to spread out on the lawn. There are several places to grab some food or drink.

08/15/2026

Our next urban sketchers meet up will be held on Sept. 12 from 3 - 5 pm at Gather Cola, 2191 Pickens Street in the Bullstreet District. https://gathercola.com/

There is some seating but you may want to bring a chair in case you need it. Or you might prefer a blanket to spread out on the lawn.

Food and drinks trucks surround the lawn, a variety of items available for purchase.

Parking: Street parking adjacent. Parking garages nearby with hourly/daily parking fees. The Passport Parking app must be downloaded to pay and to receive FREE two hours of parking.

Gather Cola welcomes well behaved pets on a leash or in a carrier.

Gather COLA is a celebration of community, flavor, and the art of bringing people together. Inspired by Southern traditions and guided by seasonal ingredients, our kitchen creates dishes tha...

07/24/2026

We had a great time sketching at the Ensor-Keenan House tonight which houses One Columbia. We so appreciate being able to sketch at such a beautiful part of Historic Columbia.

07/19/2026

Our JULY sketchout will be held this Thursday, July 23 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Ensor-Keenan House, 801 Wildwood Avenue. There is plenty of private parking and a bathroom is available. Bring a chair or stool if you'd like. We are invited to sketch indoors or outdoors on the grounds.

07/13/2026

Our JULY sketchout will be held on Thursday, July 23 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Ensor-Keenan House, 801 Wildwood Avenue. There is plenty of private parking and a bathroom is available. Bring a chair or stool if you'd like. We are invited to sketch indoors or outdoors on the grounds.

06/27/2026

We had a nice time sketching in the hot sun at Finlay Park today. It wasn't bad in the breezy shade. The park is gorgeous!

Our next sketch out is Thursday, July 23 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Ensor-Keenan House, 801 Wildwood Avenue. There is plenty of private parking and a bathroom is available. Bring a chair or stool if you'd like. We are invited to sketch indoors or outdoors on the grounds.

06/26/2026

Sketch with us tomorrow! Our JUNE sketchout will be held tomorrow - Saturday, June 27 from 9:30 am - 11:30 am at Finlay Park in downtown Columbia, 901 Laurel Street. https://finlaypark.columbiasc.gov/ You can park at their parking lot on Laurel Street or at the Arsenal Hill, Taylor Street or Cannon garages. There are parking meters on the streets surrounding the park as well.

FINLAY PARK HAS A CLEAR BAG POLICY. There is no check-in point, but park rangers are on hand to enforce this rule. I know this will be difficult for us. If you pack your supplies in a bag, it has to be a clear bag. You are welcome to bring a folding chair, but I recommend you bring it without the carrying bag. Bicycling is not permitted inside the park. You can walk your bike or park it.

RAIN PLANS: If it's raining, we will meet at Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea, 1002 Park Street.

Finlay Park offers a host of amenities, green spaces, nooks, playgrounds, playscapes, and rental spaces for our Columbia community, as well as visitors to the Midlands.

06/12/2026

Our June sketchout will be held on Saturday, June 27 from 9:30 am - 11:30 am at Finlay Park in downtown Columbia, 901 Laurel Street. https://finlaypark.columbiasc.gov/ You can park at their parking lot on Laurel Street or at the Arsenal Hill, Taylor Street or Cannon garages. There are parking meters on the streets surrounding the park as well.

FINLAY PARK HAS A CLEAR BAG POLICY. There is no check-in point, but park rangers are on hand to enforce this rule. I know this will be difficult for us. If you pack your supplies in a bag, it has to be a clear bag. You are welcome to bring a folding chair, but I recommend you bring it without the carrying bag. Bicycling is not permitted inside the park. You can walk your bike or park it.

Finlay Park offers a host of amenities, green spaces, nooks, playgrounds, playscapes, and rental spaces for our Columbia community, as well as visitors to the Midlands.

05/13/2026

Charles Akins facilitated the sketch session at Gather Cola last night and did this fantastic sketch.

We've had 3 to 6 participants attending lately, and our email list includes 42 recipients. We welcome your feedback on improving attendance and tailoring our services to better meet your expectations.

05/11/2026

We will meet to sketch on Tuesday, May 12 at Gather Cola, 2191 Pickens Street, Bull Street District from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Gather Cola is described as an open-air food hall. There is a grassy lawn with a variety of seating or you may prefer to bring a blanket and sit on the ground. All the parking decks in the Bull Street Disctrict offer 2 hours of free parking using the passport app. There is also some street parking, but it's not free.

Come join us!