After lunch with some Urban Sketchers Manila friends at Mitre (a rather expensive restaurant right next to San Augustin), we sat in front of the church and sketched. I’ve drawn here multiple times before of course – see sketch No.84-2617, when I noted that this is the oldest stone church in the Philippines.
Sat-26-Sep-2026
This is the first sketch I did when we joined Urban Sketchers Manila for the Manila Art Sihan event last month. When we arrived in Intramuros at Foro de Manila we found it so noisy in the tented event space, that we went to the Plazuela de Santa Isobel instead, to sketch this memorial sculpture by Peter de Guzman. This depicts the horror of the battle to liberate Manila in 1945. The write up on the panels nearby make for some really sombre reading – but sadly very few of the hundreds of students queuing up for group photos, seemed interested in reading any of the history. You can read more about it here.
Sat-26-Sep-2026
I was still suffering from jet lag when I sketched this when I got back to the Philippines – so I chose to do a simple sketch of the paints I bought in Jacksons – this was all I could manage. I restrained myself and bought only paint I actually need (replacing stuff that has run out).
Wed-23-Sep-2026
I think Gatwick is one of the most boring airports in the world. Even getting from the security to the departure area is a maze of perfumeries and then the departure area is like sitting in a shopping mall – without a window in sight. Then they only announce the gate an hour before the flight leaves, and you rush to the gate… to find you have to sit in an even more poky and overcrowded space. At least I managed to amuse myself by sketching this guy.
Sun-20-Sep-2026
I sketched this one on my last day in the UK (yes it was a very brief stopover). After packing my bags my daughters and I went for a walk in Hove Park which I have never been to before. Apparently the park covers about 40 acres and has lots of sports and play facilities – people are so lucky to have this. They also have a nice little cafe where we had a coffee and snack – and where I sketched this….very quickly!
Sun-20-Sep-2026
On my first day in Hove I did some shopping, buying prunes, vitamins, cheese and some replacement paints from Jackson’s (mostly things that are unavailable or expensive in the Philippines). My daughter and I stopped for a break and a coffee at “Sofis Coffee House” – and so she could pee. Public toilets seem to be non-existent in the UK these days. The streetscape in Hove is also dominated by bins (hence my sketch)…it’s great that they segregate and recycle…but it’s a bit ugly.
Fri-18-Sep-2026
I sketched this on my way to Hove. I felt a bit chilly sitting on the platform as the sun set – though I have no doubt most people in the UK would have considered the weather warm! I added the colour to this from a photo.
Thu-17-Sep-2026
These ceramic cockerels used to belong to my parents (my sister kept them when she cleared out their house). Apparently my mum and dad bought them on one of our first holidays to L’Estartit on the Costa Brava coast of Spain.
Thu-17-Sep-2026
On this day I walked to Brent Eleigh again to visit my mum – barely escaping the rain (and the cars on the narrow road with no footpaths).
Wed-16-Sep-2026