My wife bought loads of fruit at the market then a few days later headed to Davao leaving me to have to quickly eat a massive pile of fruit before it went off. This sketch includes the remains of a dragon fruit…and some tomato juice which I regularly drink with a dash of Worcestershire sauce in it!
Wed-3-Jun-2026
Here is a quick sketch done while my wife had her hair cut at the market when we were out doing our weekly veggies shop. I did most of this on the spot but added a bit more detail and more colour at home. I have sketched here before (see No.110-3279 …exactly the same title!). I had to be quick again, but at least this time I didn’t hesitate to start.
Sun-31-May-2026
After our Escolta sketch-walk latag (throw down), I visited the Sketchbook Project PH at the First United Building, put on by @1372designs. The concept was that artists would fill in a sketchbooks with doodles, journaling and painting (over a period of 6 months I think?), culminating in an exhibition where visitors could flip through dozens of sketchbooks – it was fascinating and really interesting to see the wide variety of styles and approaches. Afterwards I arranged for a taxi home and while I waited I had just enough time, standing on the street corner, to sketch Santa Cruz Church.
Sat-30-May-2026
After roasting in the sun for the last sketch Reuel and I (on the advice of a fellow sketcher) went to this cafe to cool down. It’s pretty fancy but we had a nice coffee and a massive chunk of cheesecake. The building was built in 1922, designed by G. H. Hayward and use to house the Hong Kong and Shanghai bank (and even the British Embassy). From what I could find online the recent restoration focussed on retaining the facade, iron work and windows etc. but put in a modern interior.
Sat-30-May-2026
After sketching at the end of Escolta Street we went for breakfast (I was surprised to be able to have a egg sandwich as usually my only choice is pancakes). These guys could see I was sketching them – or at least the security guard (yes, there is a security guard in McDonalds – at least he wasn’t armed) told them I was. I showed them afterwards and they smiled but were not interested. Fair enough – I do think the colours are a bit washed out.
Afterwards I sketched the rather nondescript MacArthur (named after General Douglas MacArthur) bridge from nearby the Escolta River Ferry terminal. The FEATI (Far Eastern Air Transport Incorporated) university is in the background.
Sat-30-May-2026
This is the first of my sketches done when my friend (@the_uban_sketcher) and I met up in Escolta (in Binondo, old Manila). We were half-joining the Supernova sketch tour with UAP (@uapgmanila) and Usk Manila (@usk_manila) – but only for the latag (throw-down) because we didn’t sign up for the tour. This is the Regina Building – which according to Wikipedia used to be known as the Roxas building and was built in 1915. It was originally design by Andres Luna de San Pedro (son of the famous painter Juan Luna).
Sat-30-May-2026
On this day I reached “peak pizza”, which I never thought I would do. We bought two-for-one family sized pizzas from Domino’s but these two slices were left after several days of eating them. So I discovered that you can have too much pizza – and these particular ones weren’t actually that great (and were even delivered a bit late). The veggie one was not very cheesy and was kind of soggy!
Fri-29-May-2026
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