People at Cafe

The man has 3 phones. The lady toggles between her smart phone and laptop. She has a Prada bag. Both never look away from their digital devices.

Stamping Ground Coffee House

Stamping Ground Coffee House is just outside my house.

Sketching with SUTD students at SCAPE

TV Interview

That evening I was sketching the studio of another interview before my segment at Channel8, our national TV about how I started Urban Sketchers Singapore.

At Tampines Park

A beautiful family

A sketch at breakfast last Wednesday with my husband. A beautiful Eurasian family at the next table.

Reading

I spent a few hours in the library reading. I was so fascinated about Silk Road.

Demonstration Piece

I did this as a demonstration piece to students during a class. Some teaching notes to go with it on the left.

Travellution Singapore

They invited us to a local Bah Kut Teh coffee shop at Tiong Bahru for lunch on a Saturday after the release of the first episode on local TV. You can see all the photos here.

There is also an article by blogger Tony Boey aka Johor Kaki at this link:Johor Kaki

November Sketchwalk at Kampong Glam

Credits: Banner photo by Mdm Tia

This month's sketchwalk will be in the old Malay/Arab quarter of Kampong Glam, in collaboration with URA.

Some 30 of us will be given special access to the top of Sultan Mosque. First come first served basis. (Important Note: Dress code applies – no sleeveless and shorts for both genders.)

URA will also be providing guided tours around the area.

There's lots to see, sketch, and eat in the area. Visit the Malay Heritage Centre next door to sketch in air-con comfort if you like, or visit Singapore's narrowest street, Haji Lane, which is lined with boutique and quaint and quirky shops.

START
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Bussorah Mall in front of Sultan Mosque
(https://goo.gl/maps/Wmy7W4tKxr12)

END
Time: 12:15 PM
Location: Inside the compounds of Malay Heritage Village

Nearest MRT: Bugis

Locations to sketch:
- Kampong Glam
- Sultan Mosque
- Malay Heritage Centre
- Murals
- Haji Lane, Arab Street, etc.
- Golden Landmark Hotel

Places to eat and shop:
- Countless options in Kampong Glam

Sketchwalk leaders: William Sim & Benedict Tay

Notes: If you wish to enter the mosque, remember not to wear revealing clothes, sleeveless shirts, shorts or short skirts. Observe the dress code. Hats and sunblock for hot weather.



Giveaway contest
Here are the prizes Parka will be giving away:

• Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal
• Arrtx Watercolor Brush Markers
• Brush Pen Illustration: More Than 200 Ideas for Drawing with Brush Pens
• The Artist's Color Guide: WaterColor Understanding Palette, Pigments and Properties

Criteria for winning the prizes
Prizes are given out at the end of the sketchwalk to winners.
Post a comment on the prize you want.
Only comments here count.
Leave your real name if you're using nickname.
You'll need to introduce yourself and your sketch that day.

Good luck!

Cafe Sketching on Local TV

We are on local TV

Geylang Bahru Industrial Estate

Last Friday, we brought SUTD students to Geylang Bahru.
Geylang Bahru Industrial Estate comprises 18 blocks of single-storey terrace workshops for clean and light general industrial trades and canteen. The leases for these units are less than ten years. This factory types play a very important part in the development of Singapore as they are the first generation in our industrial building. Walking around the area is like walking down the memory lane for my generation. I saw a rattan factory, advertising, manufacturing, hardwares and even funeral services. This corner unit of block 91 is sand supplier with many packed jumbo sand bags stacked in front of the shop.

St. Georges Church

St. George’s Church at 44, Minden Road was built in 1911. It’s built for the British army and in Romanesque Basilica style.
The following is an except from the book to commemorate 100th anniversary of the construction of the church building.
"St. George's Church is part of the Anglican Diorces of Singapore. Tucked away in the lush Tanglin green lung just minutes from the city's bustling shopping belt, the church is today spiritual home to a diverse congregation of various nationalities, apart from Singaporeans. The picturesque brick Basilica barn-styled building was erected originally for the pastoral care of British soldiers at Tanglin Barracks at the turn of the 20th century. After WWII, in November 1946, the church was reconsecrated in an Armistice Sunday thanksgiving service. Withe the withdrawal of the British military troops from Singapore in 1971, St. George's ceased to be a garrison church and became a member parish of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore. In November 1978, the church was designated as a national monument of Singapore, to be protected and preserved because of its historical and architectural significance."

Airport

We were very early at the airport so I had time to do a sketch at Hong Kong International Airport 香港國際機場. My husband could spend time walking around the huge airport to enjoy the exhibition and shopping or sampling of food and drink while I was sketching peacefully at the spacious lounge before arriving at the gate to take off to Singapore.

Dim Sum Breakfast in Hong Kong

A dim sum place so affordable to benefit the neighbourhood. The very nice boss mingled around the crowd and collected the order slips. We met the boss, Ah Hua in his 50s - so flamboyant and loud. He worked in Singapore for 20 years and told us "I only go back to Singapore to collect rent" wow......

Video Clips on Channel 8

The entire episode on USKSG on "Tuesday Report" Channel 8 at 8:30pm on 13 Nov 2018


The interview on Chinese news on Channel 8 at 6:30pm

Tai Kwun

I posted this sketch using my iPhone on Facebook. Here is a scanned copy of Tai Kwun, Hong Kong.
This place used to be the main police station and house the prison. Now it is a heritage site. I really enjoyed the contemporary art exhibition there. This is the first page of a new sketchbook. Also the first sketch in Hong Kong after Taiwan.

Li Yu Tan

This is Liyutan, another lake at our homestay.
Almost forgotten about this piece coz it was in a separate sketchbook made of Saunders Waterford Watercolour Paper.
I feel the emotion of my piece does not do justice to the state of serenity, calm and peaceful of this lake from the photo below.
埔里鲤鱼潭，七里山塘民宿

Itashao Pier

Last page of the sketchbook.

Itashao Pier is one of the four piers at Sun Moon Lake. I visited all the four piers, they are:
Itashao Pier 伊达邵码头
Syuanfuang Pier 玄光码头
Chaowu Pier and 朝雾码头
Shuishe Pier (where we stayed)水社码头

At Syuanguang Pier

Buskers at Syuanguang Pier, one of the four piers at Sun Moon Lake. Only one of them (second from the left was from minority tribe, the rest were not but they were all members of a local band). I got them all to sign on the sketch. — at 玄光碼頭.

Taomi Eco Village

Paper Dome by Shigeru Ban at Taomi Eco Village.

During the Taiwan 921 earthquake, 70% of the small village was destroyed. The villagers turned the crisis into an opportunity to not only reconstruct, but also to re-brand the village. 10 years on, Taomi village prides itself as an eco-village, with Paper Dome as the centerpiece. The Paper Dome originated in Japan, and is the embodiment of the love and mutual assistance between Taiwan and Japan community reconstruction experience sharing in addition to being the heart of Taomi Village. — at 紙教堂 Paper Dome.

Chaowu Pier

Second sketch as we walked to Chaowu Pier to wait for the coach. It was more like a coach park than a proper pier so I sketched the woods instead of the waters.

A New Sketchbook for Sun Moon Lake

First sketch in Sun Moon Lake Sketchbook. We are now out of Taichung and visited all the four piers at the lake. This was at a look out point called "Nine Dragon Mouth" 九龍口 and not a pier. We later walked to the pier called Chaowu Pier to board the coach.

Good Bye Taichung, Hello Nantou

Last page on Taichung Sketchbook 2. We were out of Taichung. View from an artist's home hugging the steep slope overlooking the hills called 九九峰 at Nantou County, Caotun Township. — at Nantou County. Artist's Hu Shi Zhong's info:
sylvia577.pixnet.net/blog/post/236794964-%E5%B9%B3%E6%9E%...
www.businesstoday.com.tw/article/category/80732/post/2015...

Late dinner at Miyahara

We were so exhausted after the trip to Houli but we dragged ourselves to Miyahara. We were the last customer, missed the dinner time, had tea and snack instead. So a quick sketch no colours after food. — at MIYAHARA 醉月樓.

Train from Houli to Taichung

On our way back from Houli to Taichung taking the local train.

Last Sketch of Taiwan Trip

Last day before leaving Taiwan flying to Hong Kong.

Breakfast at Yue Lake Backpackers. It has private rooms overlooking the beautiful Sun Moon Lake. We were lucky to stay for a night before changing to another room without the lake view. The rooms were all fully booked. We were lucky to be given the rooms because the owner was the student of Chu, Puli instructor and an Urban Sketcher.

I have two sketches done on Laloran Sketchbook. Incidentally, my very first and last sketch on the recent Taiwan Trip before Hong Kong were drawn on this book.

First Sketch Inside the Cabin

First day flying off from Singapore to Taipei, a sketch inside the plane. This was done on an old sketchbook made by Laloran. I used this book when I last flew to Taiwan in 2012.

Houli World Flora Expo

Thanks to the local tourism authority and the organisers. We were allowed to sketch this majestic World Flora Expo at Houli which is going to open to the public from 3 Nov 2018 to to 24 Apr 2019. It was all worth it when we, about 300 to 400 sketchers and helpers, had to take the local public train from Taichung station to Houli Station and walked about 3 to 5 km to the expo site.