Join us for our first plein air event of 2025 and second annual Sketch and Skate in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden! We’ll be outdoors, with an array of subjects before us, including sculptures, visitors, skaters, diners in the pavilion cafe, vistas of the mall, architecture, and winter garden foliage; there are endless possibilities!
We can set up on benches dotting the garden and sketch from our laps. Pathways meander through the garden amongst modern sculptures by such greats as Louise Bourgeois, Henry Calder, Roy Lichtenstein and Marc Chagall.
Date: January 26, 2025
Time: 11am - 3pm
Location: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Constitution Ave 7th Street NW, Washington, DC.
Cost: Free if sketching only; there is an additional cost if ice skating (payable directly to Sculpture Museum upon arrival, see below).
Maximum Number of Registrants: 30. (Maximum includes member registrants plus guests; each registrant is limited to 1 guest.)
What to expect: We will sketch (and ice skate, if you desire) from 11-2. We’ll then gather in the pavilion café to share our art and chat over coffee or hot cocoa. Restrooms are located in Cafe Pavilion. Water Fountains are available.
What to bring: We are allowed to bring dry materials such as pencils, pastels, charcoal but no paint or easels are allowed, to protect sculptures. Also dress warmly in layers. Bring ice skates if you desire. Rental skates are available.
Getting There: The Sculpture Garden is located on the National Mall between the National Gallery's West Building and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Parking: Parking is limited. There are some metered spots near the sculpture garden but usually they are hard to find. We recommend using the Metro. The closest Metro stop is Archives – Navy Memorial – Penn Quarter on the Green and Yellow Lines. It is not a far walk to the garden. Also the DC Circulator National Mall route will take you near the Gallery's buildings and Sculpture Garden.
If you'd like to try to find a ride or carpool with other participants, please post a note in our members-only Facebook group.
Skating Session: Skating is available for $12 and rental skates for $6. Please pay for the session directly to the Sculpture Museum at the venue upon arrival. Skating session starts at 11:00 and cost covers two 45-minute parcels of time; ice will be resurfaced by the Sculpture Museum in between parcels.
Photos: Photos are permitted on the grounds.
Rain Date: Event will be held only if it is not raining on this day. Mild snowfall acceptable. Check with Lynn if you have questions.
Sneak Preview of Some Sculptures: See the website!
Questions: If you have any questions or concerns please contact Lynn Lewis at lynnlewisstudio@gmail.com.