Tiong Bahru community sketchwalk, 17 July 2010, Singapore

We had a lovely afternoon sketching together with the community. Thank you all for coming and supporting this event and our exhibition. You can see more of the Sketches of Tiong Bahru held at WhiteCanvas Gallery here.

carpark at flat

Carpark downstairs at my flat.

interesting people at Earshot

Last Tuesday, I brought my class to Boat Quay for a drawing trip again. Some of us also visited the Asian Civilization Museum as the entry fee was now FREE for staff and students from Schools, Junior Colleges and the Polytechnics. I later went to the nearby cafe called Earshot at Art House for coffee. The cafe was preparing for a writers' night with two technicians setting up of microphones and projector next to my table. A lady came to tell the technicians to lower the volume as she was conducting an interview. It caught my attention that I put down my book and looked at the lady. She was Irene Ng, our lady MP! I was curious who was she interviewing so I moved to another seat and realized she was interviewing our ex-Permanent Secretary - Mr Ngiam Tong Dow. Don't ask me about their conversation because I did not pay attention to that since I was more concerned about finishing the sketch and leaving as soon as possible so as not to incur more parking charges for my car which was parked about 1km away at Golden Shoe; a public car park. The parking fee was $17 this time. The last time I brought the students out, the parking fee was $28. 'Ouch!'

Black Coffee & Dessert Bar @ Triple One (PUB building)

Lazy Sunday afternoon chilling out over iced mocha. Old antiques like televisions and radios are everywhere and you really feel you are sitting in an antique shop.

Walking and Sketching Again

Dried food produce found within Eunos market.

It's back to walking and sketching again as the thrill of the Tiong Bahru exhibition simmer down. It is great to simply walk down a street in search for interesting sketch-worthy subjects. As I entered the market, I found dried produce a very common sight. There are almost 5 other stalls selling the same things; dried shrimps, dried fishes, salted preserved fishes, dried chilli, ikan bilis and so forth. I love the smell of these combined together as I stood nearby to sketch. I chose this particular stall because of the variety of dried produce it has, and how the stall keeper has arranged them in a very attractive way. The stream of customers is relentless. I was wondering why would anyone want to purchase something like this. I am always eating out, and in addition I don't see my parents using so many such dried produce before.

cold crab for father's day lunch

My son who works in Hong Kong returned to Singapore and spent a few days with the family during the father's day weekend. We went to Lee Do Restaurant for lunch before he flew off in the evening. One of their specialities is the Fuzhou Cold Crab. We ordered one to try before the main course and it was really good with its firm texture best enjoyed in chilled condition. It was so delicious that we had to order another bigger cold crab to satisfy our quest. We were all having a 3-quarter full stomach when the main dishes arrived, we had to ask for the last dish to be packed and taken away.

The cost for the two cold crabs took up half of the entire bill but it was an memorable gastronomic experience.

Celebrating a Milestone

This is taken from a post from TIA's Facebook post. Thanks Tia for scanning and cropping the most important part of the article. It is indeed a celebration of a milestone, the fruit of exposing ourselves under the sun and the elements, sweating alongside with each other, enduring bites from bugs, and having food communion together. I am most happy that Tia has started the Singapore chapter with her initiatives, and out of her love and passion to sketch. Besides, I am even happier to find so many like minded artists participating in Sketchwalks and immersing themselves in what they love to do, even as a group. From now on, growing as an "artist" or "sketchers" need not be a lonely process anymore. :P

Thanks again to Tia, Paul and Miel, for your patience, counsel and advise!! I love you guys!

Two views of the sculpture called "Agriculture" on the facade of the KTM

Artists' Talk @ WhiteCanvas Gallery - 3rd July

Don giving his concluding talk about his growing up years, education, career and urbansketcher experience. Really a gem waiting to be discovered!

This is TIA being filmed and interviewed at the gallery after the talk. Very pro and animated in front of the camera! You will probably see her appearing on some Channel News Asia documentary about Tiong Bahru very soon! Stay tuned.......

Thank You

Thank you all for coming down to the exhibition "Outside-In: Sketches of Tiong Bahru" on Wednesday, 30 Jun. You can find more pictures on our individual blogs.