National Library Board

I sketched from the lift lobby of 8th storey of National Library Board at around 9:45am as Lee Kong Chian Refrence Libaray only opened at 10am. The female security came to tell me politely not to sit on my stool but I could stand and sketch though. Such a nice view with morning sun and I had a video in there to show how I started the sketch with pen.

The sketch was done in conjunction with an event organised by Urban Sketchers Singapore called "Dare to Sketch" featuring Felix Scheinberger from Germany and sponsored by Art Friend, Hahnemuhle and National Library Board.

Moleskine Japanese Album Large
Size: 650 x 210mm

Joo Chiat

Last Saturday, together with Urban Sketchers Singapore, we went to Koon Seng Park in the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. This area is famous for its rows of colourful shophouses often featured in tour books for tourists. Instead of sketching Koon Seng Road shophouses, I chose to sketch from Mrs Morgan's popular Roti Prata stall which I waited 45 mins for my breakfast. By the time I finished my breakfast and Kopi-O, I only had around an hour to sketch the corner of Joo Chiat Road and Koon Seng Road. I finished 7 pages of pen and ink work in a new Moleskine.

So today, I Went back to do the colouring on location with a good meehoon breakfast and kopi-o dilo. (coffee without adding water). I didn't know Mrs Morgan's Roti Prata was closed on every Wednesday.

I did a sketch of the same view in 2010 here. The corner was a coffee shop, then a retail store selling storage boxes, then it was converted into a hostel, a co-working space and now, Grafunkt, an upmarket lifestyle shop.

Moleskine Japanese Album Large.
Size: 910 x 210mm

Pen Ink Drawing (Intermediate) at Brahm

With just basic skills, you can still join this intermediate class.

This is the link (click on the image) to one of my new classes (Intermediate level) which is going fast if you are interested to sign up. Two new classes were only added yesterday and the one at Brahm Newton is already SOLD OUT within a few hours.

There are still many vacancies at Brahm Tampines and last day of registration is 25 March 2025.

Another video of the project

This is the video posted on FB and Instagram.

Video of the Process

This is the video sent to the client.

Commission Project

With Consultant's permission, I can now publish this recent project completed for a global corporate office at the newly completed IOI Building in Shenton Way.

Four Artworks for a Corporate Office

Here are the final four pieces I completed for a global corporate office at IOI Tower in downtown Singapore. The client only wanted black and white artwork of Singapore scenes. Remember last August I had a post that said "I need to focus"?

Teaching and Learning from the Seniors

Yesterday, I gave the last lesson at Brahm Tampines to a group of seniors who never failed to surprise me with their diligence, curiosity, earnesty and inquisitiveness in the class.

Result of February Sketchwalk

I sketched Mohamed Sultan Road outside Robertson Walk. I was bitten by mosquitoes and found out there was not enough water in my waterbrushes. Only enough to colour the sky and some shades and shadows. The rest of the colours added at home.

Moleskine Japanese Album Large
Size: 780 x 210 mm

February Sketchwalk at Robertson Walk

Hi Sketchers!
This month, we're heading to Robertson Walk! Before it closes for redevelopment in May 2025, let's capture its charm in our sketchbooks. Plus, with nearby landmarks like Alkaff Bridge and Robertson Bridge, there’s plenty more to sketch and explore!

https://mothership.sg/.../robertson-walk-frasers-place.../

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𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
Date: 22 Feb 2025
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Nearest MRT station: Fort Canning
Meeting point: Open space near the clock tower at Robertson Walk
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pJ3aJouURSG8WiKw9
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𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆:
9.30am: Briefing at meeting point.
9.40am: Free and easy sketch
12pm: Start packing your things and make your way for Show & Tell
12.15pm: Show and Tell at meeting point.
12.30pm: End

*Please note that location of Briefing and Show and Tell may subject to change, depending weather. Admin will edit location on this post if any changes. Check with host - Patrick on the day.

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𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲:
By participating this Event, you agree with the followings:
1. My participation in this Event is entirely voluntary.
2. I am aware of and agree to assume any and all risks which might be associated with the Event and I will not hold Urban Sketchers Singapore (USkSG) and any admin/organiser responsible or liable in any way for and will not commence any action arising from the Event, or claim for any loss and/or damage (including, without limitation, personal injury and/or property damage) caused by or sustained as a result of my participation in the Event.
3. I will indemnify USkSG and keep USkSG indemnified against all losses, claims, demands, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and any other liability arising in any way from my participation in the above Event.
4. For participant under 18 years old, his/her parent/guardian are aware and agree to the above clauses.
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𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆:
1. Make your way to the location, be aware of surroundings, and maintain necessary distancing.
2. Challenge yourself to explore hidden corners that hasn't been seen/drawn yet; this will also help prevent too many of us crowding the same perching points.
3. Post your sketches, snapshots and videos online — 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬 #𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐬𝐠 — so everyone can easily find the day's artistic output.
4. Some sketch leaders will go around to catch you in action for posts on Facebook and Instagram, so look out for them!
5. Happy sketching!! 
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𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀:
Event banner by Favian Ee

A view from my hotel room

Gorgeous sunlight, added washes in the early morning to the sketch I started the day before when I first arrived at Z Hotel at Johor Bahru. It was the view from my hotel room on the 18th storey. I could see Restoran Kin Hua from my room and we had breakfasts at this traditional coffee shop every morning in Johor Bahru.

On the right is the Sultan Ibrahim Building, the former state secretariat building of Johor State. The offices of the state secretariat have now moved to Kota Iskandar. There are plans to convert the building into a museum. You can read more about the building at this link

The tall building is the UNITAR International University right at the end of Jalan Tan Hiok Nee which is named after a Chinese immigrant who played a pivotal role in developing Johor Bahru in the late 19th century. There are now many cozy cafes and restaurants but we don't see any crowd in the day. At night, huge crowd is spotted at the night market frequented by mainly local Malays along a few adjacent streets.

I love this view because I can see Singapore across the waters on the left.

First sketch in Johor Bahru

This was the first sketch I did with three other sketcher-friends from Singapore inside Senso Art Gallery on the second storey of the shophouse at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee overlooking the corner red house. This area was the traditional culture and heritage enclave but we didn't see the crowd or activites except for a few tourists here and there strolling or taking pictures just like us. I could see this very bright neighbourhood from my hotel room on 18 storey at night and again, no crowd only very bright street lights.

However, Senso Art Gallery was a tiny but very vibrant art space offering art and craft lessons and we saw students coming in at different slots to have their lessons while we were sketching. There were also tourists admiring the artwork currently displayed on the walls.