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
Here is the last of the sketches I am selling at the #ArtInThePark art fair on Sunday 23rd March in Makati, with #UskManila. Having sketched two bridges built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I thought I would have a go at a more modern one. This bridge was a joint project between the Philippines and China and was finished in 2022. Apparently the construction was quite controversial because it is close to Intramuros and San Agustin church heritage site. There is a nice park under the Intramuros end of the bridge where I sat along a stone-paved riverside pathway.
Thu-20-Mar-2025
Here is one of the sketches I am selling at the #ArtInThePark art fair on Sunday 23rd March at Jaime Velasquez Park, in Makati, with #UskManila (booth number 17). I had an adventure sketching this…I looked on google maps for a spot to see the bridge from and spotted a platform along the Pasig River behind Suntrust Condominiums. However it turns out that you can’t actually access the river from there, from the bridge itself or anywhere along Lopez Street. Instead I had to walk down a small road opposite the Central Terminal station of the LRT, through an unplanned settlement and squeeze through someone’s laundry and gown rental business, to end up on this huge paved walkway…without another soul in sight (except for a guard dog and a guy called Marlon, who kindly let me sketch there).
Thu-13-Mar-2025
Here is my last sketch done with with #UskManila at the Metropolitan Theatre, for the vaudeville “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” dress rehearsal. I did this one rather quickly standing at the back when the performers were in full costume, were finishing off their rehearsal and the when the director was giving everyone a pep talk…hence the title.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
After sketching in the dark for a while (with #UskManila at the Metropolitan Theatre, for the vaudeville “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” dress rehearsal), I decided to do a little sketch in the lobby. I’ve sketched at the theatre before (see sketch No. 76-2434 of July 2023 for example) – and in fact sketched this bronze sculpture which is of Adam (Eve is at the other end of the lobby), by Italian artist Francesco Ricardo Monti. I had to correct some mistakes on his head a little (using my white posca pen like whiteout)… my focus was more on the Christmas tree…and this is an opportunity to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone who follows, comments and enjoys my sketches.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
Here is the second sketch I did with #UskManila on a #SketchWalk at the Metropolitan Theatre, for the vaudeville “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” dress rehearsal. For this one I sat further back (where there was a bit more light) and the performers were not yet in their costumes. I could have added more detail but in the end left them as blobs.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
A few weeks ago I joined #UskManila for a #SketchWalk at the Metropolitan Theatre, which was celebrating its 93rd anniversary with an event called “Samot-Saring Bida: Ang Bodabil ng Pag-asa” – which translates roughly (according to Google) as “Various Stars: The Bodabil of Hope”. Bodabil (a transliteration of vaudeville I think) was a type of mass entertainment (song, dance, stage magic etc.) popular during the American occupation of the Philippines. We were invited to sketch during the dress rehearsals on the day before the event. This is the first sketch I did – which I also left with our mini exhibition in the lobby.
Fri-6-Dec-2024
This sketch was done during our sketch-walk with #UskManila in the Paco district of Manila. This is the Bellevue Theatre on Pedro Gil Street (I am counting this as my sketch for Day 27 of #Inktober2024 following the subject of “road”). The theatre was built in 1933 in an art deco style and was originally a cinema. Sadly these days it is used as a supermarket and looks a bit forlorn. The scan of my sketch is a bit grainy as I just took a photo and submitted the original to the “SketchPod 2024: Concrete Pulse” exhibition at the Arte Pintura Gallery, who are celebrating 9 years. The exhibition is on until 30 November.
Sat-16-Nov-2024
Update…unsold sketch collected from Arte Pintura and scanned properly!