Weekend Getaway Malacca

Family Weekend Getaway 

I have enjoyed quality time with my family during our weekend getaway in Malacca.

Somehow I managed to squeeze time for some sketching with my limited tools.

My tools - Pilot Custom 823 B nib , Franklin Christoph Model66 1.1 nib , De Atramentis Archive Ink  and Holbein Waterbrush.

A quick sketch during breakfast at a local coffee shop.

Watching the local folks chatting about inflation , cost of living etc etc etc ......

Tourists , tourists and more tourists .

I was sketching at The Dutch Square and was surrounded by Mainland Chinese Tourists , 

just wonder where am I in China or Malaysia ? 

We walked into Ibis Hotel not knowing that the hotel is having a trial soft opening for their staff.

Watching the "guests " checking in .

A Malay Kampung in the heart of the city.

I was waiting for the bus and have an hour to go.

Last minute sketch before the bus come.

June Sketchwalk at Changi Village

Kick off the long weekend of Hari Raya Aidilfitri with us at the urban kampung of Changi Village. This idyllic enclave, with the pier full of bumboats and old watercraft, red brick midrise buildings and plenty of sea breezes will undoubtedly charm you to capture something in your sketches.

MEETING POINTS
Start & End
9:30 am & 12:30 pm
Changi Village Hawker Centre
*near the POSB ATMs
https://goo.gl/maps/xMABHrSR4Rw

See you there!

Black & White Fountain Pens Ink Sketches

These sketches are done with Pilot Custom 823 B nib , Franklin Christoph  model66 1.1 nib , Water brush and De Atramentis Archive Ink. 

Preparing Iftar (break fast ) at the evening market.

Muslim stalls preparing Iftar at a local coffee shop

Bicycle shop at Pulau Ubin

Offering at the local temple at Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin Main Street 

Kampong House

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown.

May Sketchwalk at Esplanade Park

The revamped park now has a playground, interactive musical sculptures and more open connections to the Singapore River and The Padang, with lovely stepped seating by the river bank and benches facing National Gallery Singapore. You can also visit restored memorials and markers such as the Tan Kim Seng Fountain, The Cenotaph, Singapore, Indian National Army Marker and the Lim Bo Seng Memorial, amongst others.

MEETING POINTS

Start
9:30 AM
Lim Bo Seng Memorial
https://goo.gl/maps/nkboVhXs6ZL2
If you'd like to meet with the sketch leaders, they'll be here to give you a quick overview of what usually happens. If you're late, just look for random sketchers or start drawing on your own.

End
12:30PM
Tan Kim Seng Fountain
https://goo.gl/maps/xPNWyfouEMS2
We will conclude the session by placing our works around the fountain to be enjoyed by everyone, and then snap a group photo.

See you all there!

Where is the Windmill at Holland Village?

I will be in Hong Kong and will miss this Saturday's sketchwalk at Holland Village which is one of my favourite places to sketch. I found my post on sketches of Holland Village done at the time when the fake windmill was still there. It has since been demolished and Holland Village is still a place for hipsters. Don't forget to visit Chip Bee Garden across the road too. Happy Sketching!

April Sketchwalk at Holland Village

We'll be sketching at the vibrant Holland Village this weekend. This bustling area is home to cafes before the hipster-cafe craze took over the country. Lots to see, eat and drink here which all make for great subjects in your sketches.

MEETING POINTS
Start
9:30 AM
Holland Village MRT station
Exit B – Lorong Liput
The sketch leads will be just in front of OCBC Bank, if you need an introduction to what a sketchwalk is about. Otherwise, go explore and sketch!
https://goo.gl/maps/EMWE1TkRM8z
Singapore 278980

End
12:30 PM
Lawn area in front of Park HV
This is where we will do a gallery walk by displaying everyone's pieces together for all attendees to enjoy.
https://goo.gl/maps/CxpfkkXfs112
Singapore 278621

See you there!

Finally find time to scan those long sketches in my Seawhite Concertina Sketchbook only available in UK. This sketch was done on my way back from Nagoya to Singapore. It's a 380, very spacious cabin but I was stuck at window seat sitting next to two Japanese ladies for 6 hours. Did a sketch to kill boredom.

Sketching Hong Kong 24 - 30 March 2017

My first sketching trip in Hong Kong. I worked there from 1989 to 1991 but to busy working and have no time for sketching. This is a fruitful and productive trip, met old friends and made new friends.

Somewhere in Western Hong Kong Island

Belcher's Street , Kennedy Town

Traditional Chinese Herbal Tea Shop

Former Marine Police Headquarters

Tai Po Road , Sham Shui Po

Wan Chai

Shek Kip Mei , Sham Shui Po

The Pawn

Wan Chai Old Post Office

Wan Chai Gap Road

Pak Tai Temple , Wan Chai

Waiting for ferry to Macau

Street Food , Macau

Old Building New Shop

Street Vandor , Macau

Full of Main Land Tourists

The Best Traditional Handmade Chinese Almond Biscuit in Macau

View from the hotel 

TST East

Hardware Shops in Central Hong Kong

Aberdeen

Street vendor at Ap Lei Chau

Alley

Hong Shing Street , Ap Lei Chau

Hong Kong Central

Kennedy Town, Western Hong Kong

Breakfast at Stanley Street Central

My Travelling Companion 

Sketching at a food court

It was only a couple of years ago, the idea of a food court changed when big companies decided to brand the idea of selling street food in a shopping mall, where patrons would be able to enjoy relatively cheap and their favourite street food in the comfort of air-conditioning. Well the prices went up quite a bit but many of us seemed to welcome the idea of eating in comfort.

Procreate | Ipad | Photoshop

For some, the price hike is not worth it so they stay with the open air food courts, some with ceiling fans, and wouldn't mind basking in the aroma of steam and oil. You could save quite a fair sum if you are eating out everyday.

Procreate | Ipad | Photoshop

So now if I say I am sketching in a food court, most people would understand that I am sketching in the comfort of cool air, and comfy chairs. A food center whilst is alfresco, open air concept, and warm if the ceiling fans are broken, or the climate got too hot and humid. A kopitiam is a smaller version of a food center, usually privately owned, open air and is most of the time found in HDB estates. Every venues have different demographics but equally noisy.

Now here's the class divide. Most, but not all, Singaporeans belong to the middle and upper class, so they wouldn't mind paying more for the same type of food you can get almost halved the price in a food center. Blame it on the weather too. We welcomed the idea of having everything housed under one roof. We want to shop after we eat, why not eat in the mall, thereby we would not be exposed to the elements, protected and kept safe every steps of the way. Food courts are now for the elite.

Oil spill