This is the first sketch I did on a little trip out of town for lunch at ZenZen Japanese Food Hall and Cafe in Alfonso, Cavite. We arrived early so had a coffee first and I sketched this view of little bridges, lots of greenery and coy ponds. I don’t usually give up on a sketch, but my first attempt at this scene was abandoned as I got the placement of the tables and curve of the bridge railings all wrong.
Sun-12-Nov-2023
This sketch (that has been waiting in my sketchbook for a while, for me to finish it) was done when we made a pit-stop at the Wheatberry Cafe before going home, after paying our respects at the wake of a friend. Making such a stop is a Filipino superstition called “Pagpag” – the idea being it would confuse any spirits who are trying to make their way home with you. It was also an opportunity for a treat (a mocha frost with lots of cream) and a cheese roll, also loaded with sugar. You can’t eat healthily all the time. In moderation a sugar overload is fine?
Mon-13-Oct-2023
This is the second sketch I did on a trip we made with friends to ZenZen café in Alfonso, Cavite. I did this one in the main food hall (which is in a glass house), while we waited for our lunch. I started this off with some #Derwent watercolour pencils. The food hall is full of these trees which are decorated with sill (or maybe plastic) cherry blossoms (all part of the Japanese styling). I thought this sketch could also count to the prompt of ‘Glass’ for Day 27 of #Sketchtober2023.
Sun-12-Nov-2023
This sketch follows the #Sketchtober2023 prompt of light fixture for Day 20. I think we bought this glass lampshade in Istanbul years ago. Certainly since then it has either in storage or hanging on the side of a cupboard.
Wed-8-Nov-2023
It’s time for another cat sketch – following the #Inktober2023 prompt of ‘Angel’ for Day 16. I sketched this while bingeing a new TV series called ‘Gen V’, while General Tapioca (our youngest cat) slept next to me. He had been snoozing on the couch next to me all afternoon. What a cuddly little angel he is. By the way Gen V is not for the faint-hearted!
Sun-29-Oct-2023
This sketch (done at the local mall, Market Market!), was following the prompt for Day 13 from #Inktober2023. There were a lot of people moving quickly up and down these escalators, but in the end I just a few in as vague outlines. I drew this last week, while having a felafel sandwich for lunch at ‘Beruiti Bites’ – then I added the colour at home.
Wed-25-Oct-2023
This sketch follows the #Sketchtober2023 prompt of ‘watch/clock’ for Day 14. I don’t recall who gave us this clock. It stayed in storage for quite a while, then our previous one (which of course I’ve sketched before) kind of fell apart (it’s above the hob so it got all grungy), so this one went up after we redecorated.
Fri-27-Oct-2023
This sketch has been hanging around in my sketchbook waiting for me to finish it for ages! I did the ink work when we went into Makati in September to get our printer repaired (it is now busted again). This sculpture is one of several on the traffic island outside Glorietta 3 (they call it a park), near the UCC Park Cafe. There are several other sculptures (I assume by the same artist) in the area. With a Google search I could only find out that Abueva was known as the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture”, nothing about this actual piece of work.
Fri-8-Sep-2023
I usually post one sketch at a time, but I have such a backlog of stuff to post, here are all the sketches I did on Sunday when I joined #UskQuezonCity. Quezon City launched the Katipunan Freedom Trail as a bike run on Sunday (according to one website 500 cyclists joined – but we didn’t see any) and we just tagged along in a jeepney sketching at each of the 5 historical sites, where important events took place during the revolution to overthrow Spanish rule in the 1890’s.
The first site was the Andres Bonifacio National Monument. He founded the Katipunan society in 1892. Nothing says Metro Manila more than an important historical site, overwhelmed by a giant ugly mall.
The second site was the Apolonio Samson Marker – he was a farmer and a lieutenant who led a group of Katipuneros (revolutionaries) in Novaliches. The marker is in front of the Barangay hall and in my sketch is a bit dwarfed by the amazing birds nest of cables.
The third site was the Cry of Pugad Lawin. This place marks the moment when Bonifacio gave a speech and convinced the people joining a clandestine meeting to destroy their ‘cedulas’ (community tax certificates) as a symbol of their defiance towards the Spanish, raising the cry of ‘revolt!’. I am not sure who made the sculpture that occupies the site.
Our last visit was to the Shrine of Tandang Sora. I learnt that her real name was Melchora Aquino – and that she became known as Sora (from Chora) and that Tandang means elder. She was a key figure in the Filipino revolution who offered shelter and medical aid to the Katipunan revolutionaries.
Sun-22-Oct-2023