This is a little underwater pump that has been keeping our cat fountain running – pumping continuously for more than a year. Unfortunately it packed up so I had to urgently order a replacement – our fussy cats don’t like to drink still water in a bowl!
Fri-10-Apr-2026
I sketched this as I chatted to my mum on the phone. This was a piece of artwork that we bought in the Alitaptap artists community (see sketches No.116-3411-12). Eric (Angelo Aquino) guided us around and to thank him we bought this – it’s a decorated spray can – with a fish. I think Eric used to be a fisherman in Iloilo.
Thu-9-Apr-2026
This was my gardening effort the day I sketched this. I have been trying to rescue/propagate spider plants…which should be easy? In this sketch I was also trying out a bigger wash on this new paper – and as I thought it buckles and lifts off too easily so layers of watercolour don’t come so naturally.
Thu-9-Apr-2026
This is the ink I got from my daughters for my birthday. It’s Sailor Seiboku, a lovely turquoise blue, water resistant and, so far, has shown no sign of blocking my preppy pen. The paper is from a 160gsm Mixed Media pad from Artists Loft – which I bought in Canada last year. So far it is pretty good – smooth to draw on, doesn’t pill too much and it can take quite a lot working. It does buckle a bit (understandable) and struggles with watercolour layers, but otherwise is good.
Tue-7-Apr-2026
My brother-in-law gave us some water when were visiting memorial park in the heat of the day on Saturday 4 April. That was very generous of course…but it does concern me that there is too much plastic waste around and so prefer to use a refillable bottle.
Mon-6-Apr-2026
Here are some seed pods I picked up on a brief walk in the shared garden the other day. The long thin one is from a Raintree and the other is a mahogany seed pod. I am a great admirer of people who do botanical illustration or field sketching (such as hashiworks.com).
Fri-3-Apr-2026
The day before this, I missed a sketch as I was busy making my next sketchbook. I was also feeling a little lethargic – so a sketch of fruit seemed like a good easy subject. Tangerines are almost too simple to sketch but I enjoyed the colour contrast and reflections on the white plate. I was channeling my inner @paschpaint when I sketched this one (check out that account and the work of Rachel Grossman if you really want to see fabulous bright paintings of citrus fruits).
Thu-2-Apr-2026
We bought an extra tank of LPG last week (and found a space to keep it in our tiny apartment), just in case (because of this foolish and dreadful war) cooking gas becomes too scarce and expensive. God know when the current crisis will end and the world comes to its senses.
Tue-31-Mar-2026
