My work for the Prime Minister

Now that it is ok to announce - my art work was the official gift presented to Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore when he graced the opening of Glocal Connect Village at Temasek Polytechnic last Friday on 23 Nov 2012. Took a picture with the framed work before it is to be sent to Istana this morning.

my childhood place

Stirling Rd is not just a road where I worked 20 years ago when Temasek Poly first started at the current MDIS site. The type of 2-storey house block from 44 to 47 is also the same type that I stayed at Margaret Drive during the 1964 riot in Singapore. It was also quite close to Hock Lee Bus Depot where the riot started in 1955. Two separate riots but I only remember going through one. Now you know my growing up story. Happening!

I sketched the hospital where I was born here.

I sketched the flat where I first stayed although it was very short period of time, then we moved to Margaret Drive in the 2-storey house like this at Stirling road in this sketch. The first flat I stayed was here, which I believe is was around Dawson Road.

This model is my son

I put up the Hong Kong long sketches yesterday on Facebook, USK blog and flickr. Today I was shock to see the flickr traffic shoot up to around 1500 viwers in a single day. I also received enquiry about this guy who appeared a few times in my sketches. He is my 17-year-old tall and skinny son who traveled with me to Hong Kong from 10 to 14 Nov 2012. This is Lee Lip Jiang in the boarding lounge at Changi Airport doing what most teenagers do, looking, playing, typing, listening to his iPhone all the time.

Hong Kong long sketches

I used the Moleskine Japanese sketchbook for my recent Hong Kong trip from 10 to 14 Nov 2012. It was perfect for the short trip as I managed to complete the sketchbook while capturing mainly indoor scenes when having my meals. I had no time for outdoor sketches except one in Macau in the middle of the crowded street and that one was done in less than 10 minutes.

I also brought my newly acquired Sakura brush pens but sadly left them on the plane together with my favourite pencil soft case which was with me for almost 30 years. I used only brush pens in various colours on day one drawing scenes from the airport, at the boarding lounge and inside the plane. Then the rest of the pages were filled with tip pens I bought in Hong Kong except for two which I used my reliable Hero fountain pens.

As they are not readily available in any stationery or art supply stores, the moment I got back home from Hong Kong, I rushed to the same shop and bought exactly the same set of brush pens. For now, my only regret is loosing my favourite pencil soft case.

You can see the details of the long sketchbook on my flickr.

We are going to Stirling Road!

This saturday's sketchwalk will be around Stirling Road. We will meet at Blk 49 Stirling Rd at a small Nasi Padang coffeeshop at 930am. (Food there is not bad. But their breakfast mee goreng is so-so only. So order other things if you want to eat there.) This is the picture of where we will meet.



From there we will spread out in any direction we like, free and easy. There is a lot of variation here. That's why we picked this place. Old HDB flats and one story houses/flat(?) lay side by side around this area. Lots of high and low structures. There is the Queenstown swimming complex just a little up the road. Further up the road is Mei Ling hawker centre. And if you like to revisit the demolished and revamped Queenstown area just cross Commonwealth Ave and you will see a giant field where Blk 38 is still standing. Oh and the Queenstown library is still there along Margaret Drive. Probably the oldest library in singapore now. It's a simple but interesting area to draw. Talk a walk, relax and sketch. Then meet again at 1230pm on the left side of block 49 Stirling Rd (shown above). There is an open area beside the block for show and tell.

CAUTION: Stirling Rd is small but it is a TWO way road. So please look both ways when you cross!



Here is the link for the map on google maps. Click HERE.

The closest MRT is Queenstown MRT. Or else, just find a bus that goes along Commonwealth Ave.
Call me, Andrew 91070735 if you can't find your way.
See you there!

Gregory's new book

Danny Gregory is one of the best known Urban Sketchers in the world. He has written many books on the subject. Butch Belair and Tommy Kane helped Danny make this video for his newest book. The video will explain what the book is about. I am sure this book is the result of how Danny came out of his misery after loosing his wife a few years' ago. It should be another amazing book.

another great turnout!

I missed the sketchwalk last Saturday at Kampong Glam with Kiah Khean and Asnee from Penang and Bangkok. It was a great turn out and everyone had a great time. You can see all the photos by Parka here

Scarlet

A few of us met up with Asnee from Bangkok and Kiah Kiean from Penang for lunch before going to Ann Siang Hill and Club Street area to sketch. It was raining so I stayed at the covered area opposite this building in my sketch. The cafe called "Korner" is located on the ground floor of the Scarlet Hotel at 33 Erskine Road in the Club Street vacinity. I used to work at URA opposite Scarlet in 1980s and it was then a dilapidated old building occupied by families with young children. The children often played at the corridor and the women would stick their heads out of the windows on the upper floor looking for their children. Today, this area is a trendy place especially when the night falls.

Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay on a very hot and humid Saturday morning sketchwalk with the group. I was too ambitious to do a big format as the shophouses and the canopies for the outdoor eating establishments were too fragmented and complicated. I was too 'tight' at the beginning but quite enjoyable and went 'loose' at the last 5 to 10 minutes when I had to rush so I let my pen skit across the paper with lines and shapes here and there.