Author: Art-Chap-Enjoin

120-3506 – Regina building

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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

120-3505 – Too much of a (not so good) thing

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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

120-3504 – Corner of the room

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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

120-3503 – Waiting for glue

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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

120-3502 – Fuzzy scissors

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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

120-3501 – Basketball and Pagoda

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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

120-3499-500 – Breakfast first at Ocampo Pagoda

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin
Breakfast first

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.

Ocampo Pagoda

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

120-3498 – Chard

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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

120-3497 – Seed pods

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

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