Here is my last sketch done with with #UskManila at the Metropolitan Theatre, for the vaudeville “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” dress rehearsal. I did this one rather quickly standing at the back when the performers were in full costume, were finishing off their rehearsal and the when the director was giving everyone a pep talk…hence the title.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
After sketching in the dark for a while (with #UskManila at the Metropolitan Theatre, for the vaudeville “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” dress rehearsal), I decided to do a little sketch in the lobby. I’ve sketched at the theatre before (see sketch No. 76-2434 of July 2023 for example) – and in fact sketched this bronze sculpture which is of Adam (Eve is at the other end of the lobby), by Italian artist Francesco Ricardo Monti. I had to correct some mistakes on his head a little (using my white posca pen like whiteout)… my focus was more on the Christmas tree…and this is an opportunity to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone who follows, comments and enjoys my sketches.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
Here is the second sketch I did with #UskManila on a #SketchWalk at the Metropolitan Theatre, for the vaudeville “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” dress rehearsal. For this one I sat further back (where there was a bit more light) and the performers were not yet in their costumes. I could have added more detail but in the end left them as blobs.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
A few weeks ago I joined #UskManila for a #SketchWalk at the Metropolitan Theatre, which was celebrating its 93rd anniversary with an event called “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” – which translates roughly (according to Google) as “Various Stars: The Bodabil of Hope”. Bodabil (a transliteration of vaudeville I think) was a type of mass entertainment (song, dance, stage magic etc.) popular during the American occupation of the Philippines. We were invited to sketch during the dress rehearsals on the day before the event. This is the first sketch I did – which I also left with our mini exhibition in the lobby.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
This sketch was done during our sketch-walk with #UskManila in the Paco district of Manila. This is the Bellevue Theatre on Pedro Gil Street (I am counting this as my sketch for Day 27 of #Inktober2024 following the subject of “road”). The theatre was built in 1933 in an art deco style and was originally a cinema. Sadly these days it is used as a supermarket and looks a bit forlorn. The scan of my sketch is a bit grainy as I just took a photo and submitted the original to the “SketchPod 2024: Concrete Pulse” exhibition at the Arte Pintura Gallery, who are celebrating 9 years. The exhibition is on until 30 November.
Sat-16-Nov-2024
Update…unsold sketch collected from Arte Pintura and scanned properly!
After sketching the Masonic Temple we joined the rest of the #UskManila sketchers in Paco Park and I sat on one of the walls to very quickly sketch this view. Some of the huge trees there are as old as the park – several hundred years. Paco Park was Manila’s municipal cemetery built by the Dominicans during the Spanish colonial period. We were given a little history background and were told it was the first cemetery built (in the Philippines) outside of the grounds of a church. It was built to cope with a cholera epidemic and was initially for the affluent Spanish families living in Intramuros. I am counting this as my sketch following the #Inktober2024 prompt of “jumbo” for Day 28.
Sat-16-Nov-2024
On Saturday 16th November we joined #UskManila for a sketch walk in the Paco district of Manila. We started by sketching at the Plaridel Masonic Temple. According to Wikipedia the building was originally built as a clubhouse for German migrants in 1914 and then sold to the masons in 1919 – but I am not sure if they are referencing the building we sketched or the one on the main road. I am counting this as my sketch for Day 31 of #Inktober2024 following the prompt of “landmark”…this huge building is certainly one.
Sat-16-Nov-2024
Finally, here is the last sketch I did in Angeles City with #UskManila. After visiting the local church we went to the Museo ning Angeles, which is Kapampangan (the predominant language in Pampanga) for “Museum of Angeles”. I sketched this upstairs (culinarium comes from latin for relating to kitchens and cookery), while a demonstration was given by Lucio Sison about the Kapampangan script. He kindly later wrote my name in the script, which looks really cool.
Sat-24-Feb-2024
I had a very productive sketching day with #UskManila in Angeles City a week ago. Here is one that demonstrates why I prefer to sketch on location and from life. After lunch we went back to Pamintuan Mansion and started another sketch, but I only got a few lines on the paper before we were called for the ‘latag’ (when the group spreads out their sketches). So I took a picture and tried to finish the sketch at home. However, as I often find, a photo hides the detail that you can see in real life, plus colours and perspectives are changed. For me, sketching from a photo, is not a satisfying process.
Sat-24-Feb-2024