DrawWhatYouSee

120-3499-500 – Breakfast first at Ocampo Pagoda

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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

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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

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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

120-3495 – Singing bowl

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We used to have a Bhutanese signing bowl, which we bought when we lived there, but it broke. My wife got this one recently for Christmas. These bowls are traditionally used in meditation and produce a lovely sound when struck or rubbed (around the rim) with the small wooden mallet.

Mon-18-May-2026

120-3494 – Flowers at memorial

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This was sketched at Manila Memorial Park when we visited the graves of my parents-in-law. You can’t really tell from my sketch but most of the greenery there is parched and dry…I am looking forward to the coming rainy season.

Sun-17-May-2026

120-3493 – Sketching each other

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After having been banned from sketching my wife for quite some time (due to some quite uncomplimentary efforts) – and after a little cajoling and practice sketching my mum – I was finally allowed to try again. We sat down to sketch each other across the table…and my sketch was approved!

Sat-16-May-2026

120-3491 – Dinner tomorrow

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When I am a bit stuck for something to draw (especially when I am so busy with work that I can’t sketch during the day), I often open the fridge and take out some veggies. Soon after I sketched this okra we cooked it with yoghurt to go with dal and rice.

Thu-14-May-2026