On Sunday for a change we had breakfast in Starbucks. This is the view from the window – the big building is a fairly new block of, what appears to be, offices. Being an architect I sometimes despair at seeing such ugly buildings – there are plenty of good architects here but I think developers just want the cheapest solution and pay architects peanuts if they employ them at all.
Sun-29-Nov-2020
We were in Makati earlier in the week to sort out some paperwork with the South African Embassy and stopped for a coffee along Ayala Avenue. I love sketching big shiny glass buildings so couldn’t resist taking a few moments to do this one. It’s always a challenge to fit a towering building onto one page.
Thu-6-June-2019
On Saturday while my daughter was in her gymnastics class, I found a shady spot near the mall to sketch. I’ve passed this building many times and couldn’t resist doing a drawing. Inside are rides for kids, party venues and so forth – while sketching I noticed some sort of train ride going around. The building (mostly made out of what, as a student architect, we used to call wiggly tin) really is painted in such bright colours – we could do with a few more cheerful buildings like this in grubby Metro Manila!
Sat-9-Feb-2018
On my last full day in Lavenham I decided to go out and sketch something iconic in the village. This is the guildhall – a 16th century building. While I was sketching several tourists strolled past and I overheard one mention this as the birthplace of Harry Potter! Obviously as he is fictional it is not – but I think several buildings in Lavenham do feature in the films and scenes of Godric’s Hollow.
Sat-29-Dec-2018
On Wednesday I made a quick visit to Bury St. Edmunds to my favourite shop (Denny Bros – an art supply shop of course) and had a few moments to sketch this. After doing this drawing I found out that the red building is a 19th century Grade 1 listed building designed by Ipswich architect John Sherwell Corder. At the lower level is a terracotta frieze with dragons, serpents and the three crowns of St. Edmund….something I never would have known if I hadn’t sketched this.
Wed-19-Dec-2018
Last Thursday I was in Global City after getting a health check up. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to sketch something so I got a cheap cup of coffee at Seattle’s Best, sat outside and drew this. I only noticed the deers head in the bush when I started drawing – no idea why it’s there….maybe part of some topiary?
Thu-27-Sep-2018
This morning we walked along the “Lavenham walk” and ended up back at the church to do some sketching. Someone has cut the churchyard bushes into perfect bun shapes.
Mon-20-Aug-2018
Here is the second drawing that I did with Urban Sketchers Manila on Saturday. On the right it Sta. Ana Church (also called Our Lady of the Abandoned) and to the left St. Francis High School. I had to rush to finish this before it started raining.
Sat-23-June-2018
Here is my second sketch done last Saturday at the American University of Beirut. Behind this unassuming old university building (and outside of the campus) are some rather ugly modern efforts.
Sat-2-June-2018
Last Saturday I was lucky enough to have a free afternoon before I caught my flight back home from Beirut, so naturally I took the opportunity to do some sketching. The American University of Beirut (AUB) was established in 1866 and the campus has some lovely gardens and old buildings. This sketch also serves as my first for the Doodlewash June challenge, the prompt being “sunshine”…though I still have a couple to post for the May challenge!
Sat-2-June-2018
