Bishan Park

I call this piece "A Dancing Bridge" in Bishan Park just outside McDonald Cafe. Same location where I also did a sketch in 2013. In that old sketch the water stream and buildings can be seen. Now in the new piece, there are bushy shrubs along water body and the buildings are covered by the tall trees.

Watercolours on Arches 300gsm

July Sketchwalk at Bishan Park. Yellow, blue and green are the colours of the day. #usksg #usk #urbansketchers

Posted by Tia Boon Sim on Saturday, 29 July 2023

Bishan Park

Paul and I conducted a workshop for the Geography teachers at Bishan Park and before the teachers arrived at the park by chartered bus, I did a sketch sitting comfortably at McDonald located inside the Park. The ponds and bridges, colourful shrubs and lush greenery, make this 62 hectare park one of the largest and most popular parks in Singapore.

Results of April Sketchwalk

From National Parks Board website:

"At 62 hectares, Bishan - Ang Mo Kio Park, with its ponds and bridges, colourful shrubs and lush greenery, is one of the largest and most popular parks in Singapore. Divided by Marymount Road into two plots, Pond Gardens (formerly Bishan Park 1) and River Plains (formerly Bishan Park 2), the park caters to park users of all ages. Some interesting features include three exciting playgrounds, a community garden, a vantage point on a hill that gives one a landmark view of the park, and a Riverside Gallery.

One of the highlights of the park is the stretch of Kallang River that used to run in a concrete canal but is now a naturalised, meandering river teeming with life. The result of a joint collaboration between NParks and PUB, under the latter's Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters Programme; this river brings park users closer to the water to enjoy its beauty and serenity, and to appreciate the flora and fauna that flourish in the park because of the waterway.

It may be of interest to visitors to note that the transformation of the canal into a river involved a series of bioengineering techniques and the use of a combination of natural materials such as vegetation and rocks. Civil engineering techniques were also used to stabilise the slope and control soil erosion.

The water quality in the ponds and river is maintained, without the use of chemicals, by a cleansing biotope located in Pond Gardens. It consists of carefully selected plants which filter out pollutants while absorbing nutrients from the water."

Quote and unquote.


Everyone loves the park although it was hot and humid at 12.30pm. By the time Andrew and I arrived at the park, I did a quick third piece with just a few strokes and simple washes. The format was long at 160mm X 300mm. The first piece on top left was done at Bishan Block 513 near Junction 8. You can see CPF Bishan Branch at the back. Andrew and I were sitting and chatting and we both did opposite view. He was sketching the Bus Interchange view. Second smaller piece was located at the junction of MRT Train Depot and Bishan Park when Andrew and I walked from Junction 8 to Bishan Park. There were three MRT tracks at this view on the left and they formed a very powerful visual lines in composition.

Size : 160mm x 160mm (1st and 2nd pieces)
Size : 160mm x 300mm (3rd piece)
Media : ink and wash

April Sketchwalk

Here is the plan for this saturday's sketchwalk:

At 9.30AM, We will meet outside the Toastbox at Junction 8 (just outside the Bishan MRT station).
We will draw around the Bishan central area. You can draw the Junction 8 shopping mall, the bus interchange there and the Bishan library with its cubby holes.

At 1030AM, let's start to fan out in the general direction of Bishan Park (See map below). Feel free to form your own small groups and form your own trails through the neighbourhood. You are encouraged to spread out and not cluster together so much. If not, everyone will be drawing the same thing. Explore freely.

From 1030 - 1230PM, take your time to explore and sketch Bishan Park which has been renovated. See the site here: Bishan Park.

At 1230AM sharp, let's meet outside the McDonald's at Bishan Park, circled in the map. We will find an open space there to view all our sketches there and end the sketchwalk.

This is just a recommended time plan. If you'd like to head to Bishan Park earlier because you are tired of drawing HDB flats, please go ahead.

If there happens to be a thunderstorm on that day, we will stick to drawing around junction 8 and the areas around.

If you are in Singapore, your are invited to join us. No joining fee or attendance. Just bring your drawing tools, paper and show up. Travel light.

If you get lost, please call 91070735. But please only call if you are seriously lost so that I won't need to keep answering my phone when I'm sketching. We will not be deviating from this mapped out route. So if you are late, please find us along this route. Thanks!:)