Here is the second sketch I did on Independence Day in the Philippines, with #UskManila at our sketch-walk at the #RizalPark Kilometre Zero area. I stood in the sun to do this, so only did the ink work on the spot and added the colour at home. I positioned myself so that I could include some key symbols of the Philippines – a carabao – the national animal of the Philippines (the bronze sculpture is by Jose M Mendoza according to Wikipedia), the flag and the Rizal Monument.
Wed-12-June-2024
For Independence Day in the Philippines, I joined #UskManila at a sketch-walk at the #RizalParkLuneta, Kilometre Zero area. I didn’t know but a Kilometre Zero marker denotes “a particular location (usually in the nation’s capital city) from which distances are traditionally measured”. A plaque on the side that faced me says “the First Philippine Republic …, was an achievement we owe, largely, to Masonry and the Masons”…another thing I didn’t know! My sketch shows the people who were watching the flag raising ceremony that was going on over the road at the Rizal Monument.
Wed-12-June-2024
At our campsite on the way up to Mt. Daraitan the person we had arranged it with, let us use a little wooden house for two of us to sleep in and as a place to cook and have our meals. I sketched this one looking out of the house at the surrounding greenery.
Sat-8-Jun-2024
I finished my #Potentate concertina sketchbook pretty quickly so now I am going back to using Clairefontaine Aquapad 300gsm cold pressed paper in a new home-made one. On the weekend we went for a hike up Mt. Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal Province. The first leg of the hike (just a few hours) took us up to a campsite below the peak and we pitched our tent with this lovely view. We have been using our #Hilleberg tent since we lived in Bhutan. The poles have become a bit bent but it still does the job.
Sat-8-Jun-2024
The other day I thought of paining a colour wheel or chart, to make a visual note of all tubes of paints I have (which are all a bit muddled up). Then I decided to paint the actual tubes as well. The ones on the right are where I have only got little blocks/pans of paint and some mystery pans from an ancient set I had. I’ve noted the colour for each and the brand – a mix of Daniel Smith (DS), Winsor & Newton (W+N), Cotman, Holbein Watercolours (HWC), Mission, Cass Art, and Shinhan This is painted in a concertina #Potentate sketchbook given to me by my friend @the_uban_sketcher.
Wed-5-Fri-7Jun-2024
Here are the sketches I did with my friends and fellow sketchers @revcruz, @the_uban_sketcher and @maydomingoprice at #VeniceGrandCanalMall in Taguig. This mall is inspired (I think in a slightly kitsch way) by the Grand Canal in Venice, with an Italian theme and a canal (though it looks more like a shallow swimming pool) running through it where guests can ride on gondolas. For these sketches I used a concertina #Potentate sketchbook given to me by my friend, so I tried to join these two sketches together – although they were done in different spots along the canal. The sketch on the left is meant to be the Rialto Bridge, the half on the right is a mime, of which there are many all wearing different costumes, around the mall.
Sun-2-Jun-2024
Here are the #LifeDrawing sketches I did with Eric David and the #SilawArtistCollective, in Eastwood, with the model (Pebbles – I hope I got her name right) posing in Eric’s wearable art. Each pose was about 20-25 minutes and I used watercolour pencils, ink and watercolour.
Thu-30-May-2024
These three little glasses/cups come from three different countries that I have had the privilege of working in. The one at the back is a tea glass from Turkey (not actually bought when I was there last year), the glass on the left is a tea glass from Cambodia (nothing posh but the most basic type made from recycled glass) and the cup on the right comes from a set of espresso coffee cups from Syria.
Wed-29-May-2024
I realised the other day, that I haven’t sketched these sandals…even though I tend to sketch all the new shoes we get these days. Somehow I didn’t get the proportions of these right…the one on the right looks like a high heel sandal! Oh well, never mind.
Tue-28-May-2024