UrbanSketchersManila

101-3050 – Binondo-Intramuros bridge

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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

100-3027 – Ayala bridge

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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

97-2922 – A beautiful moment

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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

97-2921 – Christmas at the met

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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

97-2920 – Bodabil

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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

97-2919 – Balancing act

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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

96-2899 – Not super

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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!

96-2898 – Paco Park

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After sketching the Masonic Temple we joined the rest of the #UskManila sketchers in Paco Park and I sat on one of the walls to very quickly sketch this view. Some of the huge trees there are as old as the park – several hundred years. Paco Park was Manila’s municipal cemetery built by the Dominicans during the Spanish colonial period. We were given a little history background and were told it was the first cemetery built (in the Philippines) outside of the grounds of a church. It was built to cope with a cholera epidemic and was initially for the affluent Spanish families living in Intramuros. I am counting this as my sketch following the #Inktober2024 prompt of “jumbo” for Day 28.

Sat-16-Nov-2024

96-2897 – Plaridel Masonic Temple

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On Saturday 16th November we joined #UskManila for a sketch walk in the Paco district of Manila. We started by sketching at the Plaridel Masonic Temple. According to Wikipedia the building was originally built as a clubhouse for German migrants in 1914 and then sold to the masons in 1919 – but I am not sure if they are referencing the building we sketched or the one on the main road. I am counting this as my sketch for Day 31 of #Inktober2024 following the prompt of “landmark”…this huge building is certainly one.

Sat-16-Nov-2024