So many of my “evening” or “I can’t get out of the house during day (due to the heat and work)” sketches, have been objects. So I thought this with one I would go back to an interior sketch. Plus I went back to using my Lamy. My Sailor pen is great for many (almost all) my sketching subjects, but is best for urban sketches and figure drawing.
Thu-28-May-2026
I did this sketch the day before I had some new (white) bookbinding glue delivered. After my last fuzzy sketch I decided to do this one with my TWSBI pen (which seems to be a little blocked with noodler’s black ink).
Tue-26-May-2026
I was just keeping my eye in with this sketch but was not really concentrating. I also realised that I have sketched almost exactly the same thing before (see sketch No.78-2471) …when I think I did a better job! Somehow this sketch has come out rather fuzzy.
Mon-25-May-2026
When I am out sketching I always look for contrast – in colour and/or subject. After sketching inside the pagoda we found a spot outside (barely in the shade) and this view caught my interest. The pagoda is in a very crowded part of the city and is surrounded by residential areas (and concrete) – though there used to be a garden around it. I think this view captures more what it is really like, rather than a more romanticised perspective.
Sat-23-May-2026
Here are my first two sketches done at the Ocampo Pagoda Mansion in Quiapo, Manila with Urban Sketchers Manila. The Pagoda was build between 1936 and 1941 and was used a bomb shelter during World War II. Apparently it is not generally open to the public so we were lucky to be allowed in to sketch. My first sketch was done in the cafeteria in front, as we arrived early enough to have breakfast before we got a tour.
The second sketch is of a decorative (concrete) finial topping a balustrade. We sat on a balcony at the front, after a tour round the pagoda – and even though this spot was supposed to be the coolest/breeziest, it was still roasting hot. My weather app told me it was “feels like” 38 degrees (Celsius) that day.
Sat-23-May-2026
On this day, wondering what to draw, I just took something out of the fridge. This is chard or snow cabbage – which we often use as a replacement for spinach. In the Philippines it is called “pechay”. I sketched the same thing in 2020 (see sketch No.1547).
Fri-22-May-2026
These are seed pods from the Albizia Lebbeck tree or “woman’s tongue tree”, that I picked up when we were at Manila Memorial Park. The seed pods rattle loudly in the wind and the continuous rustling sound is where the reference to a woman’s tongue comes from. This is what early botanists thought anyway – but personally I find this a bit sexist and derogatory.
Wed-20-May-2026
I have sketched these juggling balls before (see Sketch No.2144 which I did in 2022). They are looking a bit tired these days, so my wife washed them…oops! Afterwards the homemade ones with actual beans in them all swelled up and got a bit smelly!
Tue-19-May-2026
We used to have a Bhutanese signing bowl, which we bought when we lived there, but it broke. My wife got this one recently for Christmas. These bowls are traditionally used in meditation and produce a lovely sound when struck or rubbed (around the rim) with the small wooden mallet.
Mon-18-May-2026