Here is a sketch done on my way to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq – at the airport in Manila. As always I am a little trepidatious about visiting a new country with only limited understanding of the culture and situation – so sketching is a good way to take my mind off it and relax. When choosing a subject to sketch my eye is always attracted to bright colours…this little noodle shop being no exception!
Sat-16-Aug-2025
It was my duty/pleasure/turn to drive into town with my wife on the day I sketched this…plus I knew I would be travelling (and be away for a while) soon. We drove to the Taguig Comelec Office (a branch of the Commission on Elections in the Philippines, which deals with voter registration and certification), which is peculiarly housed (temporarily I assume – or at least it looks temporary), in a parking structure near Vista Mall. In fact the whole structure looks like it is not used by the mall but by the local government. Anyway the whole process was over very quickly so I finished this sketch at home. I think speed helped and this is one of my better sketches of the backs of peoples heads (a common subject for me)!
Fri-15-Aug-2025
General Tapioca often looks pissed off with me (probably for disturbing and petting him) – or if not that – startled or terrified. He does have rare moment of friendliness, where he goes a bit mad purring and rubbing around your legs. You might notice a second sketch overlapping with this …because of course he didn’t stay still when I drew him!
Thu-14-Aug-2025
As I drew this it was the end of my working day. It was dusk – very briefly. There was a bird singing it’s heart out and I could still hear it above the roar of the traffic. The cats were getting antsy because it was their dinner time. But I was enjoying the riot of plants on our balcony. The one with love heart shaped leaves is going mad. Below our balcony I could hear the neighbours taking out their trash (and accidentally smashing a glass bottle). My tea was waiting for me.
Wed-13-Aug-2025
Here is another sketch done in a crowd – this time waiting in a corridor for my wife’s medical records to be released. I sketched the heads on the left first, followed by a bundle of legs below them – I’m not sure if they meet up properly!
Wed-6-Aug-2025
At the HistoEx even with #UskManila, I wanted to sketch the historical #Renacimiento re-enactors as I had before in Luneta Art Fair (see sketches No. 99-2981-4), but only managed these doodles while I was jostled by the crowd. for my second sketch, fed up with being elbowed in the crowd, I stood outside of the exhibition area, looking in, to sketch. This crowd were watching a talk…I’m not sure what it was about, as I was busy drawing!
Sun-3-Aug-2025
After sketching at the presidential car museum a group of us went on to the HistoEx (History to Experience) 2025 event at Gateway Mall. We started by finding somewhere to eat and picked this place where they at least had (vegetarian) pizza I could eat. Naturally we spent a lot of time chatting plus drew some sketches of each other on the paper table cloth! The one of me, included in this post, is by @allan.retarmar.
Sun-3-Aug-2025
After going to Bahay Modernismo with #UskQuezonCityI spend a nice long while sketching at the Presidential Car Museum. I have sketched there many times before (see sketches No. 1030 and No. 2587 to start with), but it’s always a bit of a struggle because the lighting is low – so you are never sure what colours or what values you are using until you step outside! This car is a 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V used by Imelda Marcos (mother of the current president of the Philippines and wife of Ferdinand the 10th president, who’s dictatorship was marked by cronyism, corruption, and human rights abuses – while his family amassed great personal wealth at the expense of the country).
Sun-3-Aug-2025
Here is the first sketch that I did with #UskQuezonCity at Bahay Modernismo. This is a recently opened heritage museum at Quezon Memorial Circle which “aims to safeguard mid-century Filipino architecture and culture”, with the rooms filled with vintage furniture and classic products. We had 45 minutes inside but 30 minutes of what was the tour. This was sketched in the living room space.
Sun-3-Aug-2025