This was my sketch at the PLM (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, also known as the University of the City of Manila) CASBE (College of Architecture and Sustainable Built Environment) event I participated in on 21 January with UskMnl (Urban Sketchers Manila)…lots of acronyms there! I made a little presentation about the rules I try to remind myself of when sketching – but promptly broke several doing this. I tried to draw too much (I could have just focussed on the bus, given that we only had about 45 minutes to sketch); I sat in an area that was only briefly shady (with noon approaching the shade disappeared and it was not comfortable); and lastly I added a little colour from a photo later (which I try to avoid doing). Never mind though – I had fun meeting with the architecture students…even while I waited afterwards for the lunch they kindly provided (they didn’t know I am a vegetarian but still ordered me a solo pizza, which took a while to arrive). After all, for me, having fun is a key part of sketching. I also got completely lost on the way there and arrived late but they hadn’t yet started…so that was to my advantage!
Wed-21-Jan-2026
this is s lovely sketch! i’m trying to figure out why i find it so engaging – i may not know why but it sure feels that way to me. maybe something to do with the three dimensions cast by viewing the back of the bus that leads my eye to the group of trees? i will think about it – but it is really nice work, it catches my eye.
Thanks Dave! I’m glad you like it. I always look for bright and contrasting colour in a scene. That’s why I had to include the bus!
I like all your green variations. What pigments do you use for mixing greens?
Thanks! At the moment I have sap green (Cotman…and not great), undersea green (Daniel smith – excellent for darks), viridian (Holbein watercolour) and leaf green (Holbein), in my palette. But I often add the standards like yellow ochre, cobalt blue, ultramarine, cad yellow and lemon yellow….so loads really!
I love this one, the composition feels so dynamic! It reminds me of a park near here that has a busy bus route past the entrance.
Thanks! As always I looked for the bright colours. My fellow sketchers were sketching the historic buildings!