I bought some new #Noodlers ink the other day from #Scribe and it was delivered very quickly. The last batch I got was in 2021 (a birthday present, when of course I also sketched it …see No.1680), so although it’s expensive this 4.5 oz bottle lasted almost 3 years! I am using #LexingtonGrey bullet proof ink and like last time I even got a free fountain pen with it!
Tue-20-Feb-2024
This is the last sketch I did with #UskManila in Binondo for the Lunar New Year celebrations. After hanging out at Escolta Street we walked down Ongpin Street in a massive crush of people and ended up at Binondo Plaza where (again in a crush of people) we all did a quick sketch. According to Wikipedia this church (also know as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz) was founded by Dominican priests in 1596. The original building was destroyed in 1762 and the only part remaining of the church that was later completed in 1852 is the octagonal belfry, which I drew. I’d like to sketch this church again, when it’s less crowded!
Sat-10-Feb-2024
I was doing a bit of tidying up last Saturday, I fished out a bunch of forgotten art supplies, and decided to make more use of them. In this sketch I used Derwent Watercolour pencils and a Derwent water soluble graphite pencil. So, no ink!
Sat-17-Feb-2024
Saturday was a day to do some cleaning around our house…and of course a bit of sketching. I am using this stuff in the fight back against ants in our house… I think I am losing.
Sat-17-Feb-2024
This is the second sketch I did with #UskManila in Binondo last Saturday. As I was sketching this the Lunar New Year parade came by with people on floats throwing little envelops of cash and sweets (candy) into the crowd. Naturally this was accompanied by a few dancing dragons and a lot of deafening drumming! The building in the middle of this sketch (partly hidden by the Filipino-Chinese friendship Arch with the tiled roof and the New Chinatown Arch at the top) was completed in 1914 and was first the headquarters of a hardware company, Uy-Chaco and Sons. It was designed by an American architect, Samuel E. Rowell.
Sat-10-Feb-2024
After sketching at the Gomburza monument last Saturday with #UskManila we went into Binondo to watch the Lunar New Year celebrations. There was supposed to be some kind of photo-walk starting at the junction of Escolta Street and Jones bridge, so we hung out there for a while and I did this sketch standing in the crowd. The Jones Bridge was most recently restored in 2019 (the first version was built in 1919) and four statues collectively called La Madre Filipina (the Philippine Motherland) guard it, representing different aspects of nationhood (gratitude, democracy, progress and justice). According to Google maps the one I sketched is “progress”.
Sat-10-Feb-2024
Last Saturday I had a lovely day out with #UskManila starting with an ad-hoc sketch-walk at the Gomburza monument, which honours three priests (Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora – Gomburza derives from their names), who were executed by the Spanish authorities on charges of subversion arising from the Cavite mutiny, in 1872. To get the best view of the monument I had to huddle next to my sketching friend Edgardo Granada, sketching quickly, before getting scorched. I had more time to sketch the view from the back. It took me two sketches (and reading the blurb on a sign) to realise that there are three figures in the sculpture (which is by Solomon Saprid).
Sat-3-Feb-2024
With this sketch I am back to drawing things around the house. This bottle of Prosecco was given to us by a friend …then partially consumed by some other friends. Unfortunately they didn’t drink it all in one go and shaved the cork down (too much) to get it back in the top…so the Prosecco went flat. We still drank it though!
Mon-5-Feb-2024
After joining #UskManila at Pasinaya 2024 last weekend, I stayed in the area and sketched this. This giant yellow mythical figure (or monster?) which seemed to be made from bamboo or rattan, was sitting under a tree near where our activities were taking place. It also seemed to be smoking a giant cigar. I have no idea what this figure represents or was left over from…maybe someone will be able to tell me.
Sat-3-Feb-2024
