This sketch was done during our Yangtze river cruise, when the cruise ship stopped to let people off for a day excursion. We didn’t go on the trip and just relaxed on the ship. This was the lovely view we had from the little balcony we had outside our cabin…who could ask for more? The buildings were sheltering a pathway which took hundreds of tourists up to a local village.
Mon-7-Aug-2017
After Shanghai we took a day long train journey to Yichang to start our cruise of the Yangtze River. Here is one of the passengers…of course using her phone to stave off the boredom.
Sun-6-Aug-2017
When it finally stopped raining on our second day we went for a walk along the ‘Bund‘ – a waterfront with historical buildings on one side and modern skyscrapers on the other. This is obviously not the historical view! I attracted quite a few people when sketching this – a bit disconcerting at times, but I’ve grown used to it. My strathmore sketchbook doesn’t do too well on double page spreads – the only disadvantage with it.
Sat-5-Aug-2017
Here is another sketch done on second day in Shanghai on our sightseeing bus tour. On the upper deck of the bus the windows were open and the rain poured in…even when we went downstairs the rain got in somehow!
Sat-5-Aug-2017
On our second day in Shanghai we got on a hop on-hop off city tour bus. It rained most of the day and we were pretty soaked. Towards the end we visted the Oriental Pearl Tower area and took shelter in a Starbucks for a much needed coffee. I took the chance to draw the surrounding towering buildings.
Sat-5-Aug-2017
On our first day in Shanghai we foolishly decided to walk (in the heat of the day) to the Yu Gardens (a historic garden first built in the Ming Dynasty). We were hot and tired by the time we got there and had our first experience of the incredible crowds you get at major tourist spots in China. Even so we enjoyed the visit and I had a chance to do this sketch.
Fri-4-Aug-2017
So…this is the beginning of my sketches in China – I’ll post them one by one, so sorry for the deluge of posts over the next few days. The internet in China is strictly controlled and we usually had dismal access anyway, so I couldn’t post anything much.
This one was done during the few hours of layover in Guangzhou on the way to our first stop, Shanghai.
Thu-3-Aug-2017
Here is the view I had while waiting at the gate at Shanghai aiport for my flight back to Manila. It was cold, dark and wet outside and a group of Filipino ladies were all bunched together with their bags in a non-descript hall painted in sludge colours. I began this with just watercolour and added ink and watercolour pencil later.
Thu-5-Jan-2017
This is part of the ceiling of Shanghai airport – sketched in watercolour and ink, on my way to the UK from the Philippines. I decided that the whole thing was way too complicated to sketch – but maybe I’ll give it a try on the way back.
Thu-22-Dec-2016