CTN COMMUNITY

You never know where we’ll pop up next. Parks, cafés, galleries, or somewhere unexpected—our community loves to gather, sketch, and explore together. These outings are casual, creative, and open to anyone who wants to come along. Event may be un-hosted, member hosted, or CTN hosted.

TRACKS - Community, Un-Hosted
LEVEL - All
DATE- April 18-19, 10:00am - 6:00pm

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (often referred to as the LATMG Fest of Books or LA Times FOB) is the largest, free, public literary and cultural festival in the United States. Held annually in April on the University of Southern California (USC) campus, it brings together hundreds of authors, poets, journalists, artists, and celebrities to celebrate the written word.

Key Details:

• The Event: It spans the entire USC campus, featuring over 300 exhibitors, 500+ authors, book signings, panel discussions, live music, and food trucks.
• When: The 2026 event takes place April 18–19, with hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..
• Cost: General admission is free, though some exclusive panels or special events may require paid tickets (with a small processing fee for online reservations).
• What to Expect: Panels, author interviews, cooking demonstrations, poetry readings, and children's storytelling.
• Attendees: The festival attracts around 150,000–160,000 people annually
• Key Guests: Featured guests for the 31st annual event (2026) include Sarah Jessica Parker, Larry David, and Lionel Richie.
• Programming: The weekend features over 100 panels across 15 indoor venues and 7 outdoor stages, plus a variety of Spanish-language programming.
• Book Prizes: The Festival also hosts the annual Los Angeles Times Book Prize ceremony.

Read more details at: https://www.latimes.com/events/festival-of-books

Recommended by Mike Kunkel

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TRACKS - Community, Member-Hosted
LEVEL - All
DATE- April 26th 

Renaissance Pleasure Faire Life Sketch With Patty

Member Host: Patty Changkaew (Contact)

Date: 04/26

1 - 2:15 PM at the seating area near the food court (see map below)

1 - 2 PM - Life Sketching + Mingle

2 - 2:15 - Group Photo & off to adventure!

MORE DETAILS 

TRACKS - Networking,  Visual Development, CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All 

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN- 11:00am - 4:00pm

The CTN First Saturday.   CTN Sandbox - Play Day   Details

The Experience Focus: Relax, Play, Explore

Unplug. Slow down. Just be creative, no deadlines, and just relax.

Start your Saturday with coffee and donuts care of our favorite partner, Donut Hut, and share some space to reconnect with the joy of being an artist with other artists — no pressure, no expectations.

• Food and Bev 
• Can be Indoor or Outdoor
• Bring your favorite book or personal sketchbook or project to share and spark conversations.
• Sketch on the SketchWall and add a tip or meaningful quote or in your own sketchbook.
• Explore new materials, mediums + mixed techniques (Some materials provided by CTN or bring your own to share and experiment.)
• Enjoy a curated pre-recorded podcast, film, or lecture in the background.
• Join in round table activities
• Optional outdoor sketch walks + field trips.

No big plans—just space to play, experiment, and connect with other artist friends.

These saturday mornings set the tone for the weekend…come feel relaxed, inspired, and energized.

This is what community-powered creativity looks like. :)

TRACKS - Networking,  Career, Show and Tell, Portfolio Review, CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN- 11:00am - 4:00pm

April 11th. The CTN Second Saturday.  Show and Tell + Portfolio + Lunch 

Details

The Experience Focus: Share, Be Seen and Grow

• Show and Tell, Portfolio or Project Feedback and open ideas give artists a platform to be seen in a relaxed, supportive space to share work, bounce ideas, get feedback, and spark conversation over lunch. 
• Pitch your project. Spotlights highlighting journeys, not just achievements. 
• If you aren't working on a project or portfolio, bring a book to swap or share and in exchange for a different book.
• Raffle to win a stuffed book bag. 
• Lunch and Learn, good energy, and a casual organic connection—because community matters.

Everyone walks in at a different stage in their career — some just beginning, others well into their journey. Something great always unfolds when artists gather and are helping each other.

A place where:

• You can show unfinished work without fear 
• Conversations turn into collaborations 
• And over time, strangers become a creative circle 

Where people don’t just attend—they grow, contribute, and belong

APRIL 18th  The CTN Third Saturday. Community Sketch and Share

TRACKS - Networking,  Drawing, CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All 

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN- 11:00am - 4:00pm    

LIVE MODEL 11:00am - 1:00pm

TICKETS (We rrequest $20 but you can pay what you are comfortable paying so No Artist is Left Behind)

• Theme: SPRING
• Model Daniella Traub
• ONLINE LINK:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83233989665

The Experience focus is on Supportive, Casual, Sketch and Share

• Join us off the grid, in person for a welcoming day of sketching.
• Open sketch tables and benches.
• Try new mediums
• Food and Bev picnic vibes
• Optional pin-up wall to share your work
• Or just hang out indoor or outdoor.

Bring your curiosity to try drawing differently, to follow your 'what if' and your passion for community.

See what it looks like when our community comes together for a sketch and share.

If you’re in the area and have been curious, you’re always welcome to pop in. 

APRIL 25th The CTN Artist Fourth Saturday.  Off the Grid: Coffee Talk & Lunch with  Linda Bel  plus Special Guests 

TRACKS - Networking,  Career, Animation,  CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All 

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN - 11:00am - 4:00pm  

LECTURE 12:00pm - 3:00pm
YOUR PRESENTER Linda Bel

TICKETS (We rrequest $20 but you can pay what you are comfortable paying so No Artist is Left Behind)

Every artist is on a journey. The question is—are you waiting, or are you walking?

Join us at CTN Studio for an intimate, off-the-grid Coffee Talk with storyteller, filmmaker, and mentor Linda Bel—a gathering centered on the real, evolving path and options available for an artist.

Linda will reflect on her own path—from her experiences at Disney and ILM during a time of massive industry change known as ‘the digital revolution’, to independently bringing her children’s book to life as a short film through the Studio X program where she now teaches in the animation department at Academy of Art University . Along the way, she’s mentored emerging artists who have stepped into their own journeys at studios like Adobe, Electronic Arts, Framestore, DNeg, Disney Feature Animation, Pixar and beyond and will share their journey and may bring some additional guest mentors with her as well.

But this isn’t about outcomes. There are no final tests. It’s about the journey and opportunities.

Taking charge of the pivots and the risks in your life with that quiet persistent voice that whispers ‘never give up’.

Together, we’ll explore:

• What it means to trust your own timing
• How to take the next step even when the path isn’t clear
• The power of creating your own opportunities
• Why “just doing it” can change everything
• 
  

Bring something that reflects where you are—a sketch, your film, a thought, a roadmap of your journey, or simply your presence. Those moments when YOU make the choice to move forward—when no one is watching or tells you to do it are the most empowering  moments. 

Lunch will be shared. Stories will unfold. New friends are found and  favorite conversations happen in the CTN Studio where you may find your next step.

• Linda Bel is your host who has dedicated her career to working and teaching animation. CLICK HERE
• Jihyun Kim is an animation rigger specializing in building expressive, production-ready character rigs for 2D/3D animation. 
• Sunny Wei is a Senior/Lead Creature Modeler at Industrial Light & Magic with 25+ years in the industry, contributing to blockbuster films such as Pacific Rim, The Lone Ranger, Battleship, and Rango. He specializes in complex creature modeling and high-resolution surface detail, and is recognized for his deep expertise in ZBrush-driven workflows and production pipelines.
• Jordan Rose is an editor focused on crafting compelling visual narratives through precise pacing, structure, and performance-driven storytelling. 
• Robin Burney is an aspiring producer driven by a passion for storytelling and creative collaboration. As a student producer, Robin is actively developing the skills to shepherd projects from idea to screen.
• Karen Frazier is a hard surface modeler known for crafting detailed, production-ready assets ranging from vehicles to props and environments. 

Limited seating. Intimate setting. Your journey is welcome.

Thank you for supporting our mission, your support is invaluable.

You never know where we’ll pop up next. Parks, cafés, galleries, or somewhere unexpected—our community loves to gather, sketch, and explore together. These outings are casual, creative, and open to anyone who wants to come along. Event may be un-hosted, member hosted, or CTN hosted.

TRACKS - Community, Un-Hosted
LEVEL - TBA
DATE- TBA

TRACKS - Networking,  Storytelling, CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All 

LOCATION - CTN Studio

ACTIVITY TBA
OPEN- 11:00am - 4:00pm

May 2nd, The CTN First Saturday.   CTN Sandbox - What if? - Play Day   Details

The Experience Focus: Relax, Play, Explore

Give chance a chance. Unplug. Slow down. Just be creative, no deadlines, and just relax.

Start your Saturday with coffee and donuts care of our favorite partner, Donut Hut, and share some space to reconnect with the joy of being an artist with other artists — no pressure, no expectations.

• Food and Bev 
• Can be Indoor or Outdoor
• Bring your favorite book or personal sketchbook or project to share and spark conversations.
• Sketch on the SketchWall and add a tip or meaningful quote or in your own sketchbook.
• Explore new materials, mediums + mixed techniques (Some materials provided by CTN or bring your own to share and experiment.)
• Enjoy a curated pre-recorded podcast, film, or lecture in the background.
• Join in round table activities
• Optional outdoor sketch walks + field trips.

No big plans—just space to play, experiment, and connect with other artist friends.

These saturday mornings set the tone for the weekend…come feel relaxed, inspired, and energized.

This is what community-powered creativity looks like. :)

TRACKS - Networking,  Career, Show and Tell, Portfolio Review, CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN- 11:00am - 4:00pm

May 9th. The CTN Second Saturday.  Show and Tell + Portfolio + Lunch 

Details

The Experience Focus: Share, Be Seen and Grow

• Show and Tell, Portfolio or Project Feedback and open ideas give artists a platform to be seen in a relaxed, supportive space to share work, bounce ideas, get feedback, and spark conversation over lunch. 
• Pitch your project. Spotlights highlighting journeys, not just achievements. 
• If you aren't working on a project or portfolio, bring a book to swap or share and in exchange for a different book.
• Raffle to win a stuffed book bag. 
• Lunch and Learn, good energy, and a casual organic connection—because community matters.

Everyone walks in at a different stage in their career — some just beginning, others well into their journey. Something great always unfolds when artists gather and are helping each other.

A place where:

• You can show unfinished work without fear 
• Conversations turn into collaborations 
• And over time, strangers become a creative circle 

Where people don’t just attend—they grow, contribute, and belong

May 16th  The CTN Third Saturday. Community Sketch and Share

TRACKS - Networking,  Drawing, CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All 

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN- 11:00am - 4:00pm    

LIVE MODEL 11:00am - 1:00pm

TICKETS (We rrequest $20 but you can pay what you are comfortable paying so No Artist is Left Behind)

• Theme: TBA
• Model TBA
• ONLINE LINK:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83233989665

The Experience focus is on Supportive, Casual, Sketch and Share

• Join us off the grid, in person for a welcoming day of sketching.
• Open sketch tables and benches.
• Try new mediums
• Food and Bev picnic vibes
• Optional pin-up wall to share your work
• Or just hang out indoor or outdoor.

Bring your curiosity to try drawing differently, to follow your 'what if' and your passion for community.

See what it looks like when our community comes together for a sketch and share.

If you’re in the area and have been curious, you’re always welcome to pop in. 

May 23rd The CTN Artist Fourth Saturday.  Off the Grid: Coffee Talk & Lunch TBA

TRACKS - Networking,  Career, Animation,  CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All 

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN - 11:00am - 4:00pm  

LECTURE 12:00pm - 3:00pm
YOUR PRESENTER TBA

TICKETS (We rrequest $20 but you can pay what you are comfortable paying so No Artist is Left Behind)

TBA

Limited seating. Intimate setting. Your journey is welcome.

Thank you for supporting our mission, your support is invaluable.

May 30th The CTN Artist Fifth Saturday.  TBA

TRACKS - Networking,  Career, Animation,  CTN Hosted
LEVEL - All 

LOCATION - CTN Studio
OPEN - 11:00am - 4:00pm  

LECTURE 12:00pm - 3:00pm

ACTIVITY TBA

TICKETS (We rrequest $20 but you can pay what you are comfortable paying so No Artist is Left Behind)

TBA

Limited seating. Intimate setting. Your journey is welcome.

Thank you for supporting our mission, your support is invaluable.