Sketching Indoor

Really enjoy sketching the interior in this hazy weather. If you have not heard, Singapore and her neighbouring countries are suffering from the worst haze problem in recent years due to forest fires from South Sumatra and West Kalimantan.

In fact, to put it bluntly, the fires are caused by farmers in Indonesia practicing shifting agriculture, which is a traditional farming method that involves clearing tracts of forested land for cultivation using the slash-and burn method. This practice has intensified in recent decades as large-scale burning is carried out to prepare land for the planting of commercial crops such as oil palm. Coupled with El Niño-related droughts, the haze problem intensifies.

Here I am enjoying a haze-free sketching session but seriously, the haze situation must change. Some of us are boycotting all paper products produced by the companies that involving in irresponsible farming methods. We are also cutting all food products using palm oils.

We are playing our part, no matter how small.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

This is the 2nd sketchwalk session under SG Heart Map at Singapore Botanic Gardens on 22 Aug 2015. It was relatively a quiet corner in this big garden compound until a group of Chinese tourists came and requested to take picture with me with my unfinished work at that moment.

It is made up of three separate pieces. Total dimension is 630mm x 145mm.

September Sketchwalk at Changi Airport

The September sketchwalk session will be held in Changi Airport, Terminal 3 on Saturday, 26 Sep 2015 from 9:00am to 12:00noon. 

Named countless times as the world’s best airport, this hub of aviation in the far eastern end of the island is a part of many memories. Whether you’re flying or not, the three terminals present lots of different spaces for hanging out, and was even a favourite haunt of students mugging for their examinations. The soaring interior spaces, views out to the open landscape and planes in slow motion, as well as plenty of eateries and cafes.

We will be meeting at Changi Airport, Terminal 3, Level 1. We will be near the escalators up from the MRT station, so just look out for the big SG Heart Map inflatable. From the meeting point at Terminal 3 at Level 1, sketchers can explore the entire airport by foot and Sky Train, in cool comfort out of the haze, and then meet back again to share what they’ve captured of the world’s favourite airport.

A very long sketch of Singapore River

I have not posted for a long time simply because I was too busy organising the Urban Sketchers Symposium from beginning till end. I still sketched using my favourite Hero fountain pen and Moleskine Japanese large album but I never got down to scan my long sketches until today. Monday on 10 Aug after our National Day which fell on Sunday this year; was a public holiday. That day I was able to sketch with Melanie and Orling before they flew home later that week. Orling had a headache so she headed back to the hotel without taking the group photo. I will like to take this opportunity to apologise to Symposium participants if I had not said 'hello' or 'goodbye' to you personally. However, I know you were well taken care of by our local sketchers from the photos we enjoyed seeing online.

I went back to complete this long sketch on 15 Aug when we had our SG Heart Map sketchwalk at the Civic District which was the first session of the series.

This sketch is 210mm x 1300mm long.

Clementi Neighbourhood

Clementi is the location of our official August sketchwalk and it is also third sketchwalk in a series of five sketchwalks with SG Heart Map. Clementi is a mature HDB estate that has undergone major upgrading, so there is a good mix of old and new hangout places.

Our presence did cause a stir in the town centre especially when uncles and aunties approached us for freebies! When we told them it was a 3-hour sketchwalk, many uncles smiled and walked away but the aunties were more anxious and a few were quite aggressive. One even told me she had a certificate in art and she would show me her sketch at the end of the session. At the end, she did not appear. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant outing with new and old friends with the same interest.