Holy Week Sketching

     Finally, lots of free days to sketch, and not much traffic! These are series of sketches done in two separate days with my friend. 

Quiapo Church on  9" x 12"  Saunders CP

Escolta Sketcwalk

     It has been a long time since I've posted. Lately I have been using Instagram to share my works since it is faster and convenient at the moment. For those interested, kindly see the sidebar for the Instagram link.
     I've been meaning to post updates with more tutorials and discoveries, some are on the way, so please stay tuned!
     Last Saturday was a free day for me, I was able to join some of my friends sketching along Escolta and Sta.Cruz, Manila. It was kind of challenging for the were a lot of street kids playing around, bumping into me while painting.Some even got too curious they even dip their hands on the paint. I've gotten over my uneasiness towards onlookers and they are quite welcome, but kids touching the stuff while working is a new level of challenge I have to conquer. Then again, this is just minor inconvenience, and will not take away the joy of sketching outdoors.

A view of Sta.Cruz Church from Tetuan cor. Dasmariñas Sts.

Hybrid Brushes from Mont Marte

    There is another type of watercolor brushes from Mont Marte in Fully Booked. I suspect it uses the same hair as the ones found on the Mont Marte Quills. First impressions suggest that this brush is a hybrid, though the handle says its round. It's a flat but has a belly a bit thicker than most flats of the same width, and the hairs are a bit longer. The edge form a rounded shape similar to a cats tongue/filbert.

Mont Marte brushes

Mont Marte Quill Brush

     If you have never tried Squirrel quill brushes before, I encourage you to get one and try. I mostly work on wet on wet washes so ever since I've experienced these brushes, they have been my tool of choice. A true squirrel quill is a bit pricey and hard to get hold of, unless, you have a friend going abroad, a relative or traveling yourself.
     Then there is Mont Marte and they are available here at Fully Booked.

These are currently available in sizes 0, 2, 4

Sketching at Laloma Cemetery

     The La loma Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Manila which opened in 1884 according to Wikipedia.  Until last Friday,  I've never been there and was always curious since I only see the dome of the St Pancratius Chapel from the north cemetery. I might be wrong but I have an impression the the tombs and mausoleums are more organized similar to the Chinese Cemetery than the familiar North Cemetery.
      A good thing about google is we were able to find out where to alight from LRT1. Since La loma are is so big, too much walking will just our drain energy reserved for sketching. Another good coincidence is we were able to meet up with Ian and Kuki, who has their own ride and saves us from walking. Thank you Ian and Kuki! 
    

St Pancratius Chapel

Binondo Sketchwalk

     Last Saturday's sketch walk was planned to be about El Hogar Filipino Building which most of us haven't sketched yet. I've been scouting the place for a while, and there is a good vantage point across Pasig river. 

El Hogar Filipino Building along Muelle de la Industria cor. Juan Luna

Sketching at Malate, Manila

     Today's sketching session is one of those days where you experience the challenge of outdoor sketching. It was a very humid when when Aurelio, my fellow sketcher and I arrived. It was a good thing that the meeting place is in Family Mart beside Malate Church, so we had time to cool down before heading out to sketch.
     Halfway through my penciling stage, thunderclouds suddenly hover above us with matching mini tornadoes that carries dust and dead leaves in the area. We were forced to pack up our stuffs and decided to just wait it out in the nearest convenience store. As if just teasing us, the rain did not even fell, and the dark clouds disappeared as fast as it came. Oh well, so we just resumed sketching.