USKPh went Duo!

late post [26.11.2011]

BER months are indeed, crazy months -- everyone's so busy!

due to short notice announcement, our group, Urban Sketchers Philippines [http://urbansketchers-philippines.blogspot.com/] wasn't able to manage a FULL sketchcrawl session. still fortunate, Buz [http://buzwalker.blogspot.com/] and I were able to make it last November 26. it was a privilege for me to tour Buz around the city center and check out some significant landmarks there such as the Pasig Museum [a 1937 Neo-Classical Old mansion formerly owned by Don Fortunato Concepcion, a native Pasiguenio], Pasig City Hall and the Bahay na Tisa [170-year old house, the oldest in Pasig still owned by the 6th generation Tech Family]. Buz was also able to visit the 400-year old church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral [or known as Pasig Cathedral] and one of my favorite buildings, the Mutya ng Pasig Revolving Tower [an Avant-Garde building built in the 1960's]

FIRST OF FIRSTS. it was first time that USKPh had it's smallest turnout [Buz+Me]; first time that a sketching session turned into mini-educational tour [yes, i'm the tour-guide haha]; first time for Buz to eat Inasal Chicken [Bacolod-origin recipe that is grilled chicken soaked in a well seasoned marinade]; first time for Buz to ride in a Jeepney; and have a glimpse at our Palengke [Public Market]. it was also his first time to pass through the elevated walkway and my first time to bring a co-sketcher to our office and at the roof garden of our office building. moreover, meeting the sixth generation owners of the Bahay na Tisa was also a first time for my colleague. 

Caricatures versus Real Pictures

it's been ages since i last sketched a caricature; if i remember well, that was when i was in grade school, where i was a cartoonist in for our newsletter -- i've been joining inter-school competitions then for the editorial cartooning category [don't mind asking if won or not ahaha]

through the years, i saw different sketches of different styles which used different techniques [they're many to mention and i know most of you are familiar with those]

here's the most recent caricature i did for my friends who had their wedding last 27 December 2011. they asked me to do not-so-serious portrait which took me several days to finish due to several reasons [time constraints, mood, and the like]. 

it's always a nice feeling when people appreciate your work. i received good feedbacks with the sketch i did for the newly-weds. i find it more personalized than the usual pre-nuptial pictures which we often see :) 

Walled City Revisited

a fine Saturday morning it was and thank God for a good weather for another monthly sketchcrawl session with my Urban Sketchers group. Intramuros, then was our venue. we REvisited some spots within the "walled city" and we're able to sketch at least three statues present: Statue of King Carlos IV of Spain in Plaza de Roma, Statue of Queen Isabela II at the entrance of Puerta Isabela II and Statue of Philip II of Spain

it was also a surprise that day to be reunited with my mentor, Architect Pinoy, as he joined us in our activity. i hope to see him again in our next sessions.

 

who says, you can't sketch at the office?

coffee break. lunch break. meeting. dead hours. when the urge to sketch strikes, no one can stop me from doing so! now here's some few tries :)

Revisiting the Old Congress House

it was a fine Saturday morning, when our group get to see each other again as we conduct our monthly sketchcrawl session. this time, we'll be at the the museum. indoor sketching was our theme then. 

it's a great time that i had the chance to REvisit one of the declared national historical landmarks in Manila [i was in high school since i last visited the place]

the museum was formerly intended to be the home of the National Library of the Philippines [according the famous urban planner, Daniel Burnham], it is currently home of the National Art Gallery of the National Museum of the Philippines [1997]. Designed by Architects Juan Arellano and Antonio Toledo in 1918, the Neo-Classical structure was damaged during the Word War II but was reconstructed in 1949 to be the home of the National Assembly/Congress of the Philippines [bicameral, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives].

at present, the building is undergoing renovations. we also had the opportunity to see some of the phases of construction, of how renovation is done. i just hope that the Team who's in-charge of the project would make a thorough study so it won't compromise the design and preserve its architectural value.

more of these at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2401719240143.2138668.1165948020&type=1

moments with Coffee

i'm not really a fan of any coffee shops like Starbucks, Figaro, Seattle's Best and the like. but i do love coffee, a huge fan, i must say. i can consume two to three tumblers of coffee in a day. i even drink on a hot afternoon siesta :)

more and more people [nowadays, i think] are getting hooked up staying at coffee shops. tried doing so, and i find out why: free wi-fi access and the warm-serene ambiance they have. for most, they do have this some sort of feeling whenever they stay at coffee shops [i remember BOB ONG's article about that -- I only go to Starbucks [or any coffee shops] when I have lots of cash to burn and whenever I feel like I wanna be sosyal for a day. It brings out the social climber in me.] well, there are some coffee houses where a lot of people stay, noise and the annoying cigarette smoke best describes the area so i guess it's not appropriate to say [at all times] that coffee shops are quiet places where you can stay and relax.

here's some of my sketches during my goofing off moments in one of the coffee shops i visit:

 

Let's Talk PORTRAITS

as i write this post, i still can't track when was the first time i attempted doing portraits of people. looking at their profiles, different characteristics [external], i was hooked by the idea of how they'll be executed in a drawing using certain medium/s [pen+ink, oil/acrylic, chalk pastel, charcoal pencil, etc.]

one of the best Filipino visual artists [and one of my faves, too], Fernando Amorsolo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Amorsolo) is a great example of an artist who can do great portraits. he mastered the play of light+shadow and the intricate details in fabric of his subjects. i've seen a lot of his works and i wish to try oil/acrylic paint in doing portraits :) [i tried imitating Amorsolo way back my fifth and sixth grade until my early years in high school, chalk pastels were my medium then. it was also during those times that i joined art competitions].

like all [or should i say most] of the artists do, mood [a state or quality of feeling at a particular time] plays an important role and affects the output of their work. and here are some of my portraits. i used pen and ink [Staedtler pencils and some UniPin fine line markers]. i was told by a co-artist to focus first on a certain medium before trying other ones and other styles as well -- and that's what i'm doing now :)