The day I lost my tools

This sketch took me 30 seconds but my loss on that day is forever!

I did this sketch at School of the Arts (SOTA)to illustrate to my students how to select the location, see the space and start sketching. I took out a foundtain pen - Hero M86 with the black Noodler's ink from my Muji pencil case. I must have left the pencil case on the floor or somewhere instead of putting it back to my bag immediately. I could not find my pencil case the next day! So sad!

My son who is a SOTA student helped me to locate the lost pencil case in the following days. I also searched my car from front to back, from top to bottom. Alas! It is gone forever! I have 2 Hero M578 with "spirit of bamboo" Noodler's ink and 1 more Hero M86 with the black ink plus a travel set Escoda brush. ALL GONE!

However, I lost more important personal stuff in the office last Novmember due to someone's negligence and incompetence. I could have sued the management. However, I learnt to protect myself for not allowing the pain of loss to set in, I also learnt to move on and seek happiness and not to look back at my loss. Instead, I focus on the good time we spent together. Bye, my M86, M578 and the brush. You have served me well. I miss you all.

High Inflation for a bowl of Mee Pok?

Seriously, I was not sure whether I should continue to eat at my favourite place in Simpang Bedok anymore. The price for a medium size bowl of Mee Pok has gone up from S$4.80 to S$5.00 since 1 May. So, now the prices are S$4, S$5 and S$6 for small, medium and large bowls. It used to be S$2.50 when they were at Jalan Tua Kong near my house.

sketchwalk photos

Block 75 at Commonwealth Drive

I went around to take pictures of the sketchers on the day of Queenstown sketchwalk and I had to leave early for family lunch, so I did not do any sketches on that Saturday. The following day, I did one sketch of block 75 and 77 cluster at Commonwealth Drive after the Queenstown Symposium held at the Queenstown Community Centre from 2 to 5.30pm. It was sketched from 2nd level of the carpark near the new block 54. These type of HDB blocks with the open staircases at both ends of the block were widely featured in stamps, coins and notes. I quite like the design, proportion and layout of these early HDB blocks.

My fifth aunt and her family used to live at block 77 which is the block on the right facing block 75. I remember very clearly there was a bread factory on the ground floor and I was fascinated by the bread making process by a few old uncles who spoke Hainanese.

Brunch with potter friends

It was raining so we went to Coastal Settlement near Changi Village straight after meeting at the ferry point. I did a sketch while my potter friends looked on. The food and the company were great for a lazy Friday morning which was a public holiday in Singapore.

May Sketchwalk at Queenstown

This month, we're going to Queenstown! Yay! 

This sketchwalk is also for Epigram Books to source for sketches for the next instalment in the "Our Neighbourhood" series, "We Love Queenstown".

So, here are the details about Saturday's event. You can find it on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/612954008717629/

Meeting Point: 

BLOCK 181 – Void Deck

(just beside Queenstown MRT Station; turn right after exiting the ticket gate)

9:30 am

Show-and-tell session:

QUEENSTOWN STADIUM

(on the bleacher seats; buy drinks and snacks in)

12:30 pm

We will be briefed by Aditi from Epigram Books on key locations to note, then sketch for three hours, and finally regroup inside Queenstown Stadium.

My Queenstown representative Kwek Li Yong may also join the briefing and show & tell, so bring sketches previously done of the estate, such as during the 2011 Queenstown Sketchwalk or the 2012 Stirling Road Sketchwalk.

As soon as you get to, please email your sketches of Queenstown to aditi@epigrambooks.sg as the book is slated for release by mid-July.

There is also a book giveaway contest, which is pretty much a lucky draw. Put your name in the raffle at http://urbansketchers-singapore.blogspot.sg/2013/05/giveaway-contest-for-may-2013.html.

See you!

P.s.: Check in again for the map and list of notable landmarks tonight! For now, a preview of the locations can be seen here - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.612191055459347&type=1

sketches at Spinelli

Did 2 sketches at Spinelli after having a very enjoyable practice session with my Chinese Orchestra group on a Sunday morning. The first sketch - the lady was so modern with her hip hair style and outfit while the guy appeared to be a studious, ordinary looking man. The next family who sat at the same table had a very cute boy who was happily doodling away while the parents looked on with such care, love and joy! Oh well, I could have sat there to sketch the same table with all kinds of people but I had to leave and move on!

dim sum breakfast

Typical breakfast place in Hong Kong. This one is just opposite our hotel - Traders Hotel. The Son and mother were sitting there seemingly waiting for another person since there was another table setting on their table. The son was reading the newspaper while talking to the old lady and he appeared to be very annoyed and raised his voice at the old lady at times. I watched him walked away with his papers and left the old lady behind. She took her time to walk away from the table towards the exit. They did not have their dim sum breakfast. Oh dear!

view from 58th floor

Sketched this from my son's 58th floor apartment at Hong Kong west. There are three peaks and the far end is the Victoria Peak. On the right is the Hong Kong University which is very modern with roof gardens and wind turbines on the rooftops.

Chicken Rice at East Coast Road

My favourite place for a late dinner or supper, if I can find a near-by parking lot.