uskmanila

95-2876-7 – Textiles

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Bagobo magani

After sketching the dioramas at the #AyalaMuseum, I went up to the exhibition called ‘Skeins of Knowledge, Threads of Wisdom‘, which displays traditional textiles from the Mercedes Zobel Collection. My first sketch is of a Bagobo warrior (Magani) with a dance spear and shield (the Bagobo are a tribe from Mindanao).

Loincloth, woven hat, gong

The second sketch is a mannequin dressed in Itneg textiles carrying a brass gong and wearing an Abag (loincloth) and Salakot/Kattukong (woven hat). The Itneg are an indigenous peoples from northwestern Luzon. I was sketching these in semi-darkness (I assume they keep it that way to preserve the colours of the fabrics)…so I didn’t know what the colours would turn out like!

Sat-19-Oct-2024

90-2763-66 – Ayala Museum

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Green jar 17th century

These are the sketches I did at the #AyalaMuseum when I visited the #WorldsWithinWorlds exhibition (in which some friends were participating). I only took a small bag and watercolour palette, planning to use only water brushes (the museum is strict on what you can take in). I did these sketches standing up while crowds of people concentrated on taking photos of themselves or the exhibits. The models of the ships were huge…I drew the Spanish galleon twice as my first attempt didn’t really capture it.

Badju Lapi (fitted shirt)
Spanish Galleon
Laden with treasures

Sun-30-Jun-2024

90-2748-56 – CBK hydropower

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Mc Do on the way

These are the sketches I did when I joined #UskManila on a trip to the CBK Power Company’s hydropower plants. We had been invited by them with the idea that they will use our sketches in their calendar. We started the trip by meeting up to get on a bus at McDonald’s Alabang at 5am…and then I got home at close to midnight…so it was a long but enjoyable day! CBK’s three facilities are spread around Laguna and we visited all of them including going into the power house and on a cable car down into the valley in the last one (Botocan). Each sketch is done in ink with watercolour on simple cartridge paper. I have tried to give a caption to each sketch.

Power house Caliraya hydroelectric power plant
Generator floor from control room
Caliraya plant
Kalaayan service building
Penstock
Caliraya old spillway
The oldest power station
Botocan plant

Sat-22-Jun-2024

89-2725 – Filipino – Korean soldier monument

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I couldn’t resist doing another sketch (in the shade of the trees in Rizal Park) when I headed home from the Independence Day celebrations. This sculpture caught my eye so I did a quick sketch and added the colour at home. According to the plaque about 7,500 Filipino combat troops fought in the Korean War. The sculpture (by Juan Sajid Imao) is supposed to show two Filipino soldiers helping a wounded Korean comrade.

Wed-12-June-2024

86-2683 – Nun with skull

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Here is the second sketch I did on 23 April in Intramuros, with #UrbanSketchersManila at the San Agustin Museum for the Unesco World Book and Copyright Day. On the left is a molave wood statue of Sta. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine (from Bacolor, Pampanga dating back to the 1700s). On the right is a statue of Saint Rita of Cascia. According one website she may have been holding a crucifix in her left hand – and she is known as the patroness of impossible causes including sterility, loneliness and marriage difficulties! I’m not sure why she is holding a skull though.

Tue-23-Apr-2024

86-2682 – Museo de San Agustin

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For the second part of our afternoon off on 23 April in Intramuros, we joined #UrbanSketchersManila at the San Agustin Museum for the Unesco World Book and Copyright Day, hosted by the UNESCO-Philippine National Commission. The museum has an amazing collection of religious artefacts, housed in a former monastery, with beautiful courtyards (I could sketch there for days). In my sketch the figures at the ends are St. Augustine and St. Paul (17th century Molave wood from Sexmoan, Pampanga …yes that is a real place), and in the middle is a 20th century Risen Christ. The museum notes didn’t say anything about the wooden altarpiece.

Tue-23-Apr-2024

84-2632 – Art in the Park

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I had a really busy weekend on the 16th and 17th March, because the day after the #UskQuezonCity Tagpuan Sa QC event, I joined #ArtInThePark2024. I submitted 7 paintings (with two together as a pair), using simple IKEA frames, but this time round sold just one (last year I sold 2). I learned a few lessons from this experience. I did this sketch outside the Shaka Cafe on Leviste St. in Makati, while we were having breakfast and waiting for the official opening of the art fair. Something is off about the perspective in this though!

Sun-17-Mar-2024

84-2617 – San Augustin Church

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Here is the last sketch I did with Instituto Cervantes de Manila on 10th March. This church was completed in 1607, during the Spanish colonial period, and is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sadly I couldn’t go in because a wedding was going on. The car parking attendants (who were hanging out where I sat and sketched) also told me that I would have to get special permission to sketch inside. This one is done in a newly made sketchbook which uses Claire Fontaine Goldline 300gsm paper, which I bought at #ArtCaravan. It’s taking me a while to get used to it, because it’s not hot press, like I usually use.

Sat-9-Mar-2024