Here is the first sketch at Dia Del Libro (World Book Day) with #UskMnl in Ayala Triangle Gardens. I couldn’t quite get the dappled light on the tent as I wanted to. It was really hot that day, so after sketching this we went to cool off in a nearby food hall and I had “mais and banana kon-yelo” (which means corn with ice in Spanish – a shaved ice desert made with corn kernels, sugar and milk – but in this case with added banana) at Bacolod Chicken Inasal – yummy!
Sat-26-Apr-2025
In the afternoon (of the 16th) we drove into the hills first to go Barangay Buenavista where we would start our hike (to arrange it), then onwards to this well known beach. I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t like crowds, videoke, garbage everywhere…and the sand was yellow not white (not that I care)! That mountain in the background is our hike for the next day.
Wed-16-Apr-2025
This day on our holiday we had another nice slow start, beginning with sitting under a talisay tree on the beach sketching and reading. After this sketch I realised I can get sun tanned (I don’t go brown but just lobster red) just from the light reflecting up from the beach!
Wed-16-Apr-2025
This day on our holiday started with a morning of doing nothing much except relaxing by the sea. This is a view of where we stayed (@BalaiLaHi) – just one room with a little kitchenette and shower/WC. There was a shared kitchen for cooking in a separate pergola…but we were the only one’s using it most of the time. Half way through sketching this I spotted a snake hanging in a nearby tree!
Tue-15-Apr-2025
While heading to the take-off point for island hopping we had a major flat tyre and had to change to the spare…this seems to be a regular occurrence on our island trips! We still made the island hopping round the “three kings” (Tres Reyes) islands though. The biblical three kings are Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, and later on our holiday we were told (by our trekking guide) that the islands were formed from the wrecks of the ships of three kings who were suiters for a princess. This sketch was done on the first island. We didn’t stop at the second island, but stopped at the third for snorkelling (seeing clown and angel fish)…and then had a noisy pump-boat trip back to the mainland, for an hour or so.
Mon-14-Apr-2025
We had a nice lazy start to our holy week holiday beginning with an early (for me) snorkel, breakfast, browsing, coffee and sketching. This is the glorious view from where we stayed – peaceful and quiet, very few neighbours and a lovely verdant garden. No issues with the new paper – so far so good!
Sun-13-Apr-2025
Here is the first sketch I did on arrival at our AirBnb rental in Marinduque (for an Easter/Holy Week holiday) after our 12 hour journey. We set off at 4am to get to the port (In Lucena) and then waited for 2 hours to get on a ferry (roll-on-roll-off or RORO, which included the fun of backing the car into a space so narrow that I struggled to get out the door afterwards). I slept on the 3 hour ferry crossing and we made it to @BalaiLaHi after lunch having had something to eat in Mogpog on the way. First impressions of the resort: beautiful spot right on the beach and very welcoming hosts. First impressions of the new paper in a new sketchbook (Umae and Lady Bug 300gsm hot press): slightly more absorbent than Baohong – which I like – I will see later how good it is at blending and lifting, but my feeling is that it is a good, more affordable choice.
Sat-12-Apr-2025
These three sketches were done when I went with my wife while she had various scans and checkups on the weekend. As always this involves a lot of waiting around in corridors (I particularly disliked the slippery metal chairs in Manila Med because I couldn’t slouch without sliding off the chair). The first was done when we went to get an ultrasound and the other two were done waiting in Manila Med.
After sketching people, I decided to look down and sketch feet, so that people wouldn’t wonder who this weirdo was who kept staring at them and scribbling in his book.
Sat-5-Apr-2025
Here are a couple of sketches I did while my wife was visiting Manila Med hospital for a check up. I did the first one in the waiting area and the second one in the little corner park opposite the hospital when I went downstairs for a cup of coffee. I am sometimes asked if people notice me when I sketch or what to do if they see me. Generally I try not to stare but to glance only – and if they do notice me I make a point of looking away and sketching another part of the drawing. I also never hide what I am doing as that makes it seem too surreptitious.
Sat-15-Mar-2025