This TV show is described as “darkly comedic” and if you look up what DTF means it might sound unappealing. However it was instead a very well acted, heartwarming story of friendship, loneliness and was rather tragic and sad. I thought the best quote was “no one’s normal, it just looks like that from across the street”.
Thu-30-Apr-2026
On this day I spent part of my evening fiddling about squeezing in an extra few colours to my mini palette – so I got all my paints out. Do I have too many?
Wed-29-Apr-2026
Here is a sketch I did when I drove my wife to a meeting near the airport. I waited for her at a coffee shop in the Newport World Resorts Mall and was surprised that they have bottles of wine on the table. AI (which, annoyingly, you can’t seem to avoid these days, even when you just google something) says that this is “to highlight luxurious dining experiences” – I guess because the mall is pretty fancy and they have a casino there.
Tue-28-Apr-2026
After a long hiatus we finally went for a hike at the end of April. It was very hot and sunny but it was a relatively short walk and we were home by late afternoon. This is the sketch I did when we got to the top. I think I made the greens in the background too dark or too bright because the tree in the foreground should be standing out more.
Sun-26-Apr-2026
Here is my second batch of sketches done with UskManila at Dia del Libro. After lunch I decided to go and sketch in the children’s play area of the Ayala Triangle gardens. These playground animals, which you can climb inside of, appear to be sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund and each has some information about the animal. The sign for the carabao says it is “a symbol of hard work, perseverance and teamwork in Filipino culture”. The sign next to the hornbill says that this (endangered) species “lives only in Mindanao and nowhere else in the world! It helps the forest by spreading seeds, which grow into new trees”. These sketches were done in a new sketchbook made the Umae hot press watercolour paper.
Sat-25-Apr-2026
I have joined UskManila at Dia del Libro for several years now (see sketches 103-3088, 86-2677 and 1079 – the latter from 2019 – for example). Here are my first two sketches from this year – the second one being done at lunch time when a group of us ate at Bacolod Chicken Inasal (which surprisingly has quite a few veggie options). Dia del Libro is World Book day (which was actually April 23), as declared by UNESCO in 1995. It also marks the death of Cervantes and Shakespeare, and is a cultural festival celebrating literature and language.
Sat-25-Apr-2026
I like to sketch whatever happens to be in front of me and this evening we had takeout burritos from Army Navy. This is the paper bag that the food delivery came in.
Fri-24-Apr-2026
I have been trying (and kind of failing) to reduce what I carry about daily for sketching. This kit includes, my mini watercolour set, water, a few Derwent watercolour pencils, a black pencil, a Sailor Fude pen, a Platinum Preppy pen, a TWSBI pen, some tissues, a uni-ball pen, a water brush, a white Posca pen, a big squirrel brush, a syringe, a kneadable eraser, a little water pot, a Rosemary and Co. dagger brush and a wrist band for wiping my brushes.
Wed-22-Apr-2026
Here are the colours I can get with my (mini) limited palette – this time less greens and more blues and reds.
Tue-21-Apr-2026