Diving into Art and Adventure: Sketching the Spectacular Beauty of Palau with Soultrips

Solitude One, the vessel that graciously hosted me from Dec 07 to Dec 12.

It feels like an eternity since I last embarked on a journey with my sketchbook in hand. Amidst the global pandemic, I bid farewell to my teaching job in Hong Kong and returned to the comforting embrace of Singapore. The extended periods of lockdown and social distancing transformed me into someone who found solace in the confines of my cozy apartment. My ventures barely extended beyond the distance between my home and workplace. This period of isolation, however, cultivated a newfound passion for cooking, with a heightened focus on the nutritional value of my meals. Rather than immersing myself in the vibrant hues of watercolor pigments, I now find myself captivated by the vibrancy of the produce I use.

The Culinary Journey at home

Recently, Soultrips expanded its travel destinations, prompting a revival of the Sketch trips idea. Coincidentally, Alii Palau Airlines introduced direct flights from Changi International Airport to Koror, Palau. A brief conversation about Palau had me hastily packing my bags with sketchbooks and watercolors, eager to embark on a diving refresher course. For this journey, I equipped myself with Etchr’s latest Square-formatted 100% cotton sketchbook. The one accompanying me is a prototype I crafted for them a few years ago, soon to hit production. This versatile sketchbook comes in two sizes, ideal for those inclined towards square-format designs for their Instagram posts or expanded into full landscape spreads to capture the entirety of any scenic view. The irresistible draw of Palau's immaculate marine life, particularly at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, fueled my excitement. My return to diving after 18 years was destined to unfold at the renowned Blue Corner.

Sketch Bhutan

The Pristine Islands of Palau

The Stuff I brought with me. Never forget The Perfect Sketchbook :)

Refresher class before my flight to Palau

Flight into Palau Via Alii Palau

My first dip into Palau

Despite the exhaustion from a red-eye flight, Andrew, the owner of Solitude One, welcomed me warmly and introduced me to fellow guests on board. An invitation to join the next dive was extended, and I seized the opportunity. Accustomed to solo travel, the idea of being introduced to strangers as an artist initially made me uneasy. Usually, I paint and sketch in solitude, away from prying eyes. Yet, the guests and crew turned out to be exceptionally friendly, and I managed to capture a few sketches of them amid their dives, observing the camaraderie.

Lounge sketches capturing guests in moments of repose, playfully termed "fossilized" by Stella.

The dive deck on Solitude One, featuring stations for professional photography gear cleaning, drying wetsuits, and post-dive showers.

On Solitude One, a spacious dive deck dedicated to large groups doubled as a convenient spot for hanging and drying our wet suits. The equipment, meticulously organized and tagged with our names, awaited our next underwater adventure. Post-dive, the attentive crew provided us with freshly prepared towels, adding a luxurious touch to the overall experience.

Sketch of Domeng tending to the ship and I fitted a small plein air of the rock island outide. The Pristine clear turquoise water was incredible.

I diligently captured the daily activities of the crew through sketches, portraying everything from scrubbing the floors to crafting exquisite meals. The crew's friendliness and hard work contributed significantly to the exceptional atmosphere on board. The warm sunlight dancing on Solitude One's white exterior allowed me to document the captivating color transitions throughout the day in my sketches. Sunrises, sunsets, evolving cloud formations, and the shifting light over Palau's iconic rock islands became focal points of my artistic exploration.

My sketchbook became a canvas for plein air studies employing various techniques, including pure watercolor and ink washes, showcasing the captivating beauty of the surroundings. I am particularly pleased that the cotton paper in these sketchbooks met high standards, effortlessly handling heavy washes and lifts, enhancing the artistic process.

Warm hues embracing the boat, creating a stunning contrast against the pristine waters.

Color studies of the island and its captivating cloud formations.

Sunset in Palau

In the engine room, I witnessed the roaring engine sounds of the 44-year-old vessel, while in the tiny kitchen, Chef Daniel and his assistant Jener choreographed their cooking to music. Conversations with Andrew, Sol, and Justin revealed inspiring stories behind the creation of Solitude One and the adventurous spirit that led them to embark on this journey.

A clandestine visit to the kitchen witnessing Daniel and Jener creating culinary magic in the compact yet well-equipped space.

The heart of the ship—a powerhouse engine room propelling us across the seas.

Throughout the trip, I cherished conversations with fellow guests during dive breaks, ranging from underwater sightings to tales of marine life encounters. The day of the Bumphead parrotfish spawning was a highlight, with the dive site teeming with scuba divers witnessing this remarkable event.

Bumphead Spawning session

William and Andrew, taking a break from diving, with Andrew's impressive juggling act managing various dive resorts.

My seven days of sketching and diving in Palau reignited my passion, prompting me to announce the next Travel Sketch trip to Vietnam in April. If you've ever yearned to hone your sketching skills for travel but hesitated to venture out alone, this workshop is perfect for you.

Two sessions are available in April 2024:

• from the 24th to the 27th

• and from the 27th to the 30th.

• The Soultrips package includes a sketchbook, my comprehensive sketching workshop covering materials, subjects, and techniques, a tour guide, and accommodation. Participants are encouraged to arrive a day before the event and depart on the fourth day. To register, visit [link]. For further inquiries about the sketch trip, contact Soultrips via email at hello@soultrips.co or hotline at +65 8042 2618.

To see all my sketches made onboard, click here

Happy New Year 2019

Wishing you a joyous New Year!

As we bid farewell to 2018, I find myself contemplating the accomplishments and experiences that have shaped this year. Gratitude fills my heart for the opportunities generously provided by many of you.

2018:

• Orchestrated the curated group show INTERLACE with Bynd Artisan, featuring esteemed international artists and notable patrons. Special guest of honor: Miss Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State at the Ministries of Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry. 

• Led Sketch Bhutan 2018 in June.

• Successfully completed the Botanical Watercolour Workshop at Bynd Artisan.

Guess who graced my Botanical Watercolor Workshop at Bynd Artisan? None other than Stefanie Sun!

• Earned a remarkable 4.9-star rating for Sketch Singapore on Airbnb Experience with Francis Theo.

• Delivered lectures at Nanyang Technological University on the module "Concepts for Digital Imaging" and at Ngee Ann as the module leader for "Drawing & Perspective,""Visual Communication," and "3D Form and Space."

• Executed commissioned works for both the National University of Singapore and the Bank of Singapore.

National University of Singapore Calendar 2019

Highlighted by one of many paintings commissioned by Bynd Artisan and the Bank of Singapore for their corporate calendar 2019.

• Collaborated on postcard souvenirs in Bhutan with Kencho.

• Relocated to Hong Kong and joined SISHKl, securing a Cat 1 IB teaching certificate. Successfully implemented new foundation classes for S3 students.

My instructor Ms Ayoka teaching us about IB Arts at UWC college in Singapore.

Study of my classmate during class.

• Sold the rights of The Perfect Sketchbook to Etchr Lab, paving the way for global distribution and exciting releases in 2019. Stay tuned by signing up for the mailing list!

https://etchrlab.com/pages/the-perfect-sketchbook?utm_source=website&utm_campaign=erwin_site

 While the year brought numerous achievements, there were some goals I fell short on:

• Publishing a tutorial book on painting.
• Establishing online lessons.
• Conducting drawing/painting workshops in Hong Kong.
• Presenting a solo show in Hong Kong.

Here are some sketches created during my time in Hong Kong. Admittedly, my productivity in painting hasn't been as high as before. Nonetheless, I look forward to the possibilities that the coming year holds.

Demonstration sketch of drawing the hallway. I captured one of my student, working in the hallway.

The only time I get to draw is during my daily 45 minutes commute to the school

Studying the faces I met on the MTR

faces on the MTR

Attended the 24 hours race and was on duty. Sketch our students at rest.

The morning MTR. A time catch up with more sleep.

MTR lines and my lines

Digital sketch of the urban sketchers HK at work

My colleagues during meeting

Personal development day at the school. Principle giving us a lesson on discipline.

Assembly during award ceremony

My colleagues schooling a bunch of kids with great enthusiasm and energy..

Stem quiz in school. Intelligence all over the place.

Quick demonstration for the school’s CCA with the Ipad on the view outside our campus.

Lots of assembly in our school

How students are like during assembly time.

Discovering Discovery Bay

My first month in Hong Kong:

Adjusting to life here has proven to be quite an interesting experience so far. Restarting in a new place is always challenging, and I'm allowing myself the time needed to build the necessary momentum and rhythm.

Without proper gears and equipment, I'm making the most of what I have. Yesterday, I explored Discovery Bay with an old college classmate, a place that doesn't quite feel like Hong Kong and offers some unique quirks.

I had a curious incident at the Marina Club, where I attempted to sneak in for a painting session but was promptly kicked out upon discovery. Undeterred, I didn't complete my painting and had to search for another spot. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions—no easel, no chair, plenty of mosquitoes, and a scorching sun—I decided to give it a go on a slope.

Ta-dar! The result may not be my best work, but I stayed committed till the end.

In Discovery Bay, personal cars are not allowed, and people have to invest in overpriced golf buggies, costing a few million dollars if they want a vehicle. Despite the expense, the area is less crowded, offering a unique escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. 

Way less crowded in Discovery Bay and it felt like I been transported out of Hong Kong. 

During my exploration, I couldn't find a good shaded spot for painting or sketching, so I settled for sitting down and drawing the people around me.

couples and their poses

Thankful to have great friends from College in Hong Kong. Hung out with Queenie and her family 

Sophie posed for me and I did a fast sketch of her. 

So far, my life in Hong Kong has been good. Contrary to warnings about judgmental cultures, the locals have been friendlier than I anticipated. While I can't control others' perceptions, I choose to focus on bringing my jovial best to my time here.

A new chapter in Hong Kong

Embracing a departure from my past successes and familiar surroundings, I recently made a bold choice to relocate to Hong Kong. This new chapter has proven to be quite intriguing. However, due to space constraints, I couldn't bring many art supplies or sketchbooks, prompting me to rely on my iPad for most of my recent sketches.

On a positive note, I've successfully revamped my sleep pattern and now engage in daily gym sessions at 5:30 am.

30 Kg was all I can bring. Heavy enough to make me feel the weight of baggages . 

I moved into a tiny but nice place with a community of friendly people from all around the world. 

Jack and Kenny. Two of the many friendly staffs who manage the apartment that I am staying at

The passengers I recorded during my commute one day. Many interesting faces in this uber dense city.

I decided to teach art in a secondary school here in Hong Kong.

Our principle giving us, the new staffs an opening speech during our induction program

Induction program continues with more information. HR, Finance, IT, Teaching for Learning .....the whole nine yards...

During the induction program, there was a school gathering at a hotel featuring team bonding activities and tasks. Lacking my iPad, I utilized the hotel's pen and paper for the events. One memorable occasion involved a painting competition where the task was to draw a sun. Using some pigments and canvas, I submitted my creation. To my surprise, I won the competition with a humorous touch – a reminder that sometimes improvisation leads to unexpected victories.

Induction program continues

More induction program with more information. 

Watching and sketching the World Cup fever

It's World Cup season again, and I recently spent the weekend enjoying the games with friends while sketching them on my iPad Pro. Maintaining focus can be quite a challenge amidst the excitement of the matche

Hung out with the Buckeyes at CHIJMES for the game between Argentina and France

Below are some portrait drawing of my friends

Maria

Dino

Junus

Lydia

Robin

Meiling

Sketch Bhutan June 2018

Last week marked the successful collaboration with Drukasia for Sketch Bhutan 2018, a unique sketching tour. Similar to the previous year, participants from Australia and Singapore joined the all-inclusive tour, engaging in the art of sketching and painting while exploring the captivating landscapes of Bhutan over a 7-day period.

Flight to Bhutan via Drukair

Tiger nest sketch 

Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu

Chimi Lhakhang , Punakha

Thimphu from Namgay Heritage

Live drawing of Sangay

Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha (36.5 cm x 24 cm)

Punakha Dzong, 37.5cm x 21 cm)

Shop houses opposite the post office. (26 cm x 18 cm)

Tashichho Dzong 27 cm x 12.5 cm

The backstory to and Foundation of Sketch Bhutan:
Around three years ago, the journey began with a month-long volunteer experience in Bhutan, where I served as an art coach in primary schools and organizations.

Taught drawing to Shaba Primary and donated some art supplies to their art club.

During this period, I initiated the Thimphu chapter of Urban Sketchers, an effort to foster local artistic communities. However, the internal conflict arose when faced with the question of encouraging art as a hobby or a potential livelihood for Bhutanese children. This dilemma inspired the inception of Sketch Bhutan, aiming to bring tourists to Bhutan not just for sketching and touring but for meaningful interactions with local artists.

The founding members of Urban Sketchers, Thimphu 

At Shaba Primary, I brought them art supplies and sketchbooks sponsored by Bynd Artisan and a few friends.

Unique Focus of Sketch Bhutan
In contrast to conventional sketching experiences, Sketch Bhutan distinguishes itself by not solely emphasizing technical competencies. The primary goal is to offer participants the perfect travel sketching experience, allowing them to immerse themselves comfortably in the environment. This is facilitated by the presence of a professional tour guide and driver, providing a harmonious on-location group sketching experience.

Sketch Bhutan 2017

Highlights of Sketch Bhutan 2018:
The tour showcased various highlights, including discovering a new sketching and painting spot at Tashichho Dzong. VAST Bhutan graciously hosted the group, with local students acting as models. Noteworthy moments included a spontaneous encounter with local children offering candies during sketching in Thimphu and the exploration of color theory and watercolor techniques in Punakha. The tour concluded with a visit to the iconic Tiger Nest at Paro.

Painting Tashichho Dzong 

Another successful run of portrait drawing at VAST Bhutan

Sangay and her friend Tshsten were our beautiful models

The friendly children in Thimphu.

Punakha Dzong. The most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan

Next Sketch Bhutan and Leadership Transition:
The future of Sketch Bhutan hinges on the interest of at least four participants who can register through the Drukasia tour agency. Bhutan's esteemed artist, Rajesh, a co-founder of VAST Bhutan, will take the lead in guiding future sketching sessions. Interested participants are encouraged to contact Drukasia for more information.

Phyllis sketching up at Tiger's Nest

Rajesh, one of the finest artists in Bhutan will be leading Sketch Bhutan tours. Contact Drukasia to book your next sketching tour. 

Learnings and Reflections: The narrative outlines the evolution of Sketch Bhutan over multiple trips, emphasizing personal growth and learning:

1st time:

• The enchantment with Bhutan's landscape and the realization of a wish to paint the place.

• An interesting exchange - my sketches featured on Drukasia's corporate calendar in return for a two-week trip to Bhutan.

Paintings featured in Drukasia's calendar

2nd time:
Solo painting trip.

• A solo painting trip led to unique encounters and opportunities, including a commissioned painting for Drukair and participation in a group show in Singapore.. 

Group show with Asha Karma and other VAST artists.

3rd time:

• A more extended stay in Bhutan involved teaching and volunteering at various schools.

• Immersive experiences in local life and the founding of the Urban Sketchers, Thimphu chapter..

Teaching basic of drawing at VAST Bhutan

• Assisted in founding the Urban Sketchers, Thimphu chapter. The subsequent year saw the founding members of Urban Sketchers, Thimphu, receiving invitations to participate in the Urban Sketchers Symposium held in Singapore.

Look for the Bhutanese in the group !

4th time:

• The initiation of Sketch Bhutan in collaboration with Drukasia, involving eight special participants.

• Confronting challenges in running a successful traveling workshop, touching upon aspects such as cost, preparation, marketing, logistics, and teaching materials.

Sketch Bhutan 2017

5th time:
Second Sketch Bhutan.

• Successful handover of Sketch Bhutan to Bhutanese artist Rajesh.

• Operations continue with increased frequency and the passing on of responsibilities.

• Reflections on the impact of interactions with romance and the realization of a 'role-reversal' effect, gaining insight into personal predicaments and solutions.

Botanical workshop at Bynd Artisan.

Thank you, everyone, for your incredible support.

As we approach the conclusion of our watercolor botanical workshop at Bynd Artisan, I reflect on the journey that began two years ago. Over this period, I've gained profound insights into the realms of art, commerce, and life. Surprisingly, the genesis of this workshop can be traced back to an error made during our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign—a mistake that ultimately led to a chapter worth sharing, despite the typical reluctance to acknowledge missteps in business.

Last few sessions and we worked on Color temperature, color mixing and color theory. 

n the face of unexpected challenges, the best solutions and opportunities often emerge. Accidental mistakes and chance encounters can unveil unique competitive advantages, as exemplified by iconic products like 3M's sticky pad and the Sony PlayStation.

Background story:
Our Indiegogo campaign saw a procurement mishap; we inadvertently ordered hot press instead of cold press paper. Unwilling to disclose this error to our backers, we swiftly imported a new batch of paper from Italy. Despite a minor delay, we fulfilled all orders. Faced with surplus hot press paper, the idea for a botanical workshop took root. I embraced the challenge of creating teaching materials and launching the class, initially uncertain of its longevity.

This was the entire stash of hot press paper from Fabriano.

However, thanks to growing awareness, particularly propelled by celebrity blogger Yina Goh, Evonne Ng, and their blogger friends, the workshop flourished. A feature in Time Out magazine further elevated its profile, introducing me to numerous distinguished guests.

Celebrity Bloggers and their friends: Yina, Evonne, Tricia, Min, Reenie, Jess, Ying and Jeneen 

Special thanks to Yina, Evonne and their friends for their support.

Key Learnings from the Workshops:

1 ) Proactive Sales Efforts:
A good workshop doesn't sell itself; witnessing Bynd Artisan's sales team tirelessly engage potential customers highlighted the importance of proactive outreach and education.

I don't know how he does it.  But he is always breaking the ice and striking conversation with customers even when some can be so unfriendly. Sales team matter a lot and the hustle is real.

2) Experience Trumps Skills:
The value of accomplishing something new within a few hours often surpasses the significance of acquiring specific skills. Adjusting the workshop content accordingly became crucial.

3) Network Building:
Recognizing the importance of networking, I aim to integrate more opportunities for participants to connect with one another in future workshops.

4) Unforeseen Opportunities:
The workshops not only showcased my botanical painting skills but also attracted commission work opportunities, highlighting the unexpected paths creativity can lead us down.

A commission work painted for a local Bank.

5) Appreciation for Fresh Flowers:
Despite initial skepticism about the value of buying flowers, painting real flowers revealed their unique qualities and emphasized the importance of appreciating life's fragility and beauty.

A lot more work to prepare real flowers but I think its worth it. 

Mr Chong, master craftman at Bynd Artisan attended our workshop as well :) 

Speaking of which, I absolutely love this article written by Alisha Gorder on NYTimes Modern Love:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/fashion/one-bouquet-of-fleeting-beauty-please.html

“Why do we send flowers? To make up for what is intangible? Those feelings we can’t hold in our hands and present as a gift to our loved ones? And why is it that the placeholders we choose — the dozen red roses, the fragrant white lilies, the long-stemmed French tulips — are so fleeting? Hold on to them for too long and you end up with a mess of petals, pollen, and foul-smelling water.” – Alisha Gorder

Some earlier batches where the practise was a little tougher. 

As we bid farewell to this chapter, I extend heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at Bynd Artisan—Winnie, James, Kenny, Donavan, Grace, Mr. Chong, Corinne, Brandon, and more—for your years of trust, support, and collaboration.

While this workshop concludes, I look forward to establishing a new sketching experience in another city.

Farewell, for now.

Cycling and sketching in Taipei

I embarked on a brief journey to Taipei, spanning from April 26 to April 29, where I seized the opportunity to indulge in sketching and cycling. Gratitude is owed to Paul Chui and Hughes Lu for generously lending me their Brompton bicycle for the duration of my stay. Although not my inaugural cycling experience in Taiwan, I was once again taken aback by the splendid cycling routes that Taipei City has to offer. The scenery is breathtaking, and navigating the city on a bicycle proved to be both enjoyable and convenient.

Took Flyscoot 889 red eye flight to TPE. Painted this in Changi Airport. I was to arrive in TPE at 5 30 am !!!!

My first stop happened to be the lockers at Taipei Main Station. Had a heavy bag and Hotel check-in time is at 3 pm

Nothing is opened at 7 so I decided to go to Visit Long Shan Temple and be among the earliest to make a wish.  Wish didn't come true..... YET

Then I headed up to Tamsui to meet Hughes. He's super duper nice and loaned me his black Brompton bike that is crazy decked out. Also guided me around and off I went from Tamsui down to Shilin area.

Crazy beautiful weather . I was super lucky.  The cycling route in Taipei is super nice.

Entire cycling path runs along the river. 

After Beitou , I found a spot to paint in the shelter. It was super nice.

Half way there.

Somewhere near Beitou

Then I sneaked out from Yuan Shan area and ride towards Shilin area.

Somewhere near Dadao Cheng Pier. Another great spot to paint

Like Seoul, Plenty of bridges and beautiful scenes. 

It is so so so beautiful at some spots,  I can't believe I was in Taipei.

I spent some time cycling around Dihua Street and thought I may bump into a dear friend there. 

The power towers were interesting enough to earn a page in my sketchbook.

Baopiliao Old Street was quite a nice spot to paint as well. Interesting old buildings well preserved.

I sketched the Brompton in the hotel and gave this sketch to Hughes. Thankful to be able to ride his Brompton in Taipei. It would have been a lot more troublesome to bring mine.

I enjoyed the new Taipei MRT to the airport. Its really comfortable and easy

Flyscoot my way back to Singapore. Taipei will always have a special spot in my heart. 

Finally got up the Mao Kong after numerous failed attempts.  Its quite a sight and I am glad I finally scaled up. 

Thank you, Paul Chui and Hughes Lu from Bike Gang for sharing their Brompton with me.  Super grateful for all your hospitality and I look forward to your visit to Singapore :) 

An old sketch I did of Taipei from a hike up Elephant mountain.

INTERLACE, A Group Show Featuring The Sketchbooks of 20 Artists

INTERLACE will be concluding this weekend, on March 31, 2018. As I reflect on the past few weeks, during which I conducted several guided tours, I want to share some thoughts behind the creation of this sketchbook exhibition.

Guided tour at Bynd Artisan

A heartfelt thank you to all the participating artists who have played a crucial role in bringing INTERLACE to life. This exhibition, featuring the works of 20 distinguished artists, is a testament to their support for The Perfect Sketchbook.

How did this start?
The concept originated from the recognition that a sketchbook encapsulates an artist's most intimate ideas and processes. With the belief that a high-quality sketchbook enhances artistic expression, I envisioned showcasing the works of our finest and most influential backers from The Perfect Sketchbook campaign. Recognizing the challenge of transforming this project into a sustainable business, I set aside books after each release and explored collaboration opportunities with galleries and museums. Despite facing rejections from galleries in America, I persisted. The breakthrough came when Winnie, the owner of Bynd Artisan, suggested hosting the show in their retail store. Although space was limited, the prime location promised substantial foot traffic. To offset shipping costs for the artists, we decided to sell the last 50 reserved copies of The Perfect Sketchbook B5 during the launch of our group show, INTERLACE.

To accommodate the unique format of the exhibition, which features 20 sketchbooks, we crafted custom frames. These frames not only securely held the sketchbooks but also allowed for easy page changes. For instance, if a sketchbook displayed 5 painted spreads, it had to be easily removable from the frame for flipping to the next page and seamless reinstallation.

For more in-depth insights into the exhibition, you can find a detailed interview on James Gurney’s blog at
http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.sg/2018/03/sketchbook-exhibition-in-singapore.html

Who are these 20 artists?
They are all backers of The Perfect Sketchbook and their complete profiles can be found in this PDF file

James Gurney (http://jamesgurney.com)

The Perfect Type Writer by James Gurney

One of the most prolific plein-air painter in this world. New York Times best-selling author of The Dinotopia Series and author of the book Colors and Lights. I was really fortunate to receive
his support when I first launched The Perfect Sketchbook on Kickstarter. James was generous enough to share my project with his audiences and play a crucial role with success of The Perfect Sketchbook

Nathan Fowkes (http://www.nathanfowkesart.com/)

Jerusalem by Nathan Fowkes

A veteran in the entertainment industry with credits in more than 11 feature films. His work is amazing and I am a fan. Super fortunate to receive his support and was completely over the moon when he agreed to participate in our group show.

Catherine Hamilton (http://mydogoscar.com/birdspot/)

Purple Gallinules by Catherine Hamilton

Catherine's exquisite paintings and studies of birds caught my attention. She’s an ambassador for Zeiss and travels around the world studying birds.

Marvin Chew (https://www.marvinchew.com/)

Shop houses along Kreta Ayer Road by Marvin Chew

Former vice-president of The Singapore Watercolor Society. Marvin’s work is well known in Singapore and he has been supportive of The Perfect Sketchbook since the first edition.  During our Indiegogo campaign, Marvin shared professional tips on using watercolor.

Don Low (http://www.donlow-illustration.com/)

Chinatown by Don Low

One of the most underrated artist in Singapore who is well versed in just about any medium.

Isabella King (http://isabellakung.com/)

Crystalized by Isabella Kung

An award-winning children book illustrator based in San Francisco.  Talented and helped share The Perfect Sketchbook campaign to people in North Cal.

Jerome Moo (http://jeromemoo.com/)

Inverlocy Art School by Jerome Moo

I got to know Jerome because he backed the most B5 Sketchbooks and caught my attention. I later learn that he worked at Lucasfilm and is a great Plein-air painter. He now works as a senior matte painter at Weta Digital in New Zealand

Justin Pastores (http://www.justinpastores.com/)

Collector no.7 by Justin Pastores

One of my earliest instagram follower whom I noticed to have great work and paints diligently. He’s been a great supporters for all our sketchbook.

Audrey (https://www.instagram.com/audrey_ish/)

The Subjective Vertical by Audrey

Audrey and I partnered on a few business ventures in the past and most of the inspirations for The Perfect Sketchbook were extracts from her. A pivotal supporter and an amazing artist with a passion in animation and dance.

Tracy Lewis (http://www.tracylewisart.com/

Risk to Blossom by Tracy Lewis

An amazing watercolorist who is known for her transparent watercolor with a candy coat of Easter-like color.  Beautiful work that also caught my attention when I noticed how she painted.

Fawn Veerasunthorn (https://www.instagram.com/fawnv/)

Year of the Dog by Fawn Veerasunthorn

Known for her amazing storyboard work in numerous Disney Featured Films. I was lucky to have gone to school with her and managed to garner her support during The Perfect Sketchbook Campaign.

Ryan Green (https://www.instagram.com/ryangreenart/)

Bah by Ryan Green

Husband of Fawn. Ryan also worked at Disney featured film and saved Hei Hei from getting killed in the movie, Moana. Super fortunate to have gotten his support early on during our Kickstarter Campaign. He paid attention to my campaign and advised me to disengage with adversary early on during our campaign.

Hiroshi Hayakawa (http://www.hiroshi-hayakawa.com/

Vanitas by Hiroshi Hayakawa

My talented Photography Professor from Columbus College of Art. He supported heavily when our kickstarter was literally stuck and not making it. Hiroshi is also well versed in traditional medium and is the author of a series of Kirigami books.

Nathaniel Underwood (https://www.instagram.com/nathaniel_underwoodart/

Composition 3 by Nathaniel Underwood

Painting buddy from Columbus College of Art who supported my Kickstarter and is an amazing painter currently represented by Sharon Weiss Gallery in Columbus

Iuri Lioi (http://www.iurilioi.com/

Desert Symmetries by Iuri

Visual Development Artist at Dreamworks. I know Iuri from Graduate School at The Ohio State University but knew he was such a good painter until I saw his work in The Perfect Sketchbook.

Anthony Francisco (https://www.instagram.com/anthony_francisco_art/

Baby Groot dances by Anthony Francisco

Known for his involvement with Marvel Comic Universe. Anthony is a Visual Development Concept Artists at Marvel.  Was fortunate to receive his support during our first kickstarter.

Namchai Saensupha (https://www.instagram.com/namchai_sketches/)

Nov 27 by Namchai

An Architect from Thailand who caught my attention with his amazing watercolor landscapes.
One of my favorite artists when it comes to style and attitude.

Steve Mitchell (http://stevemitchelldesign.com/)

Transparent watercolor by Steve Mitchell

A prominent Youtube Artist with the channel, Mind of Watercolor. I approached Steve during my Indiegogo campaign was very fortunate to receive his support. He was generous enough to share my campaign with his audiences.

Jackson Dryden (https://www.instagram.com/drydenart/)

Transformation of a Diety by Jackson Dryden

An amazing artist with a passion for sketchbooks. Jackon caught my attention when it comes to stylization and skills.

The question of "WHY?" looms large. I embarked on this journey to prove to myself that greatness is not confined to wealth or fame. Traveling the world, creating our own products, and hosting a group show with limited capital—these accomplishments are a testament to what can be achieved with determination and support. The show, the sketchbooks, and the travels have provided profound insights into my delusional thoughts about art, business, and life. I am sincerely grateful for the unwavering support I have received from everyone along the way.

4 days of sketching and cycling Taiwan

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Participated in Taiwan's Brompton World Championship racing event last weekend at Chang Hua and decided to extend my stay for a few days, indulging in some sketching and cycling adventures.

Tools of the Trade:
1) My Brompton
2) A pocket sized Accordion Moleskine.
3) Clutch Pencil, Kneaded eraser and a sharpener

Day 1:
Commenced my journey from the hotel near Taipei Main Station to Dihua Street with the intention of sketching the beautiful buildings. However, I found myself cycling aimlessly until I stumbled upon a stunningly lit building.

The lights falling off this building and trees caught my attention.

Sketch of a Street Scene near Dihua Street.

Rode up north and cycled along the river near Shilin. 

Saw a dead bird when I cycle back to Taipei Main Station.

Made a pit stop at Yuan Shan to participate in a figure drawing session. The model seamlessly transitioned between poses every 5 minutes, revealing a distinctive Taiwanese feature that intrigued me.

Visited CCH Studio for another figure drawing session, enjoying a lively atmosphere and friendly fellow artists, including a retiree. The studio was packed, and the instructor's warm welcome made the experience memorable

Day 2 : Early morning cycling along Tamshui and exploring the market.

My Sketching Companion & Tools 

Stopped by Jian Tan and noticed the evolution of shops, including new bicycle stores and the addition of a Louisa Coffee Cafe.

Day 3:
With a slight drizzle in Taipei, I decided to escape to Taichung via HSR. After reassembling my bicycle, I enjoyed some local Milk Tea at an 85c Cafe. Sketched scooters before embarking on a cycling journey to Taichung Confucius Temple, capturing the scene in just 30 minutes.

Taiwan's national commute = The Scooters. Their daily dosage of hugs and snuggles.

Got to rest early before I take part in the cycling race tomorrow at Chang Hua 

Gotta look sharp when riding a bicycle in Taiwan. 

Day 4: Brompton World Championship day at Chang Hua

Didn't bring a cover and was hoping to not get caught in the Train.. hehe lucked out 

Woke up early to take the local train to Taichung HSR but mistakenly hopped on an express train, traveling beyond my intended destination to Zuoying. Embracing the unexpected, I jumped on the next train north, reaching the race on time. Surprisingly, no extra charges were incurred—an unintentional round-island adventure on the HSR.

I made it to the race on time, after all !

Race of 12 Km and the fastest guy finished in about 19 minutes. 

My entire trip in a piece :) 

In summary, a fantastic trip filled with gratitude to all my Taiwanese friends who joined me and made the experience memorable

Cycling from Seoul to Busan ( 4 rivers cycling pathway)

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Sept 5.  2017
I packed my tiny bicycle and flew to Korea. 

Needed to discard more stuff for the trip.  Excess baggage is bad.

This was a rather spontaneous trip and a much needed one for me to clear some matters off my head.  Besides, I enjoy being out and about, getting lost and figuring my ways around. It’s something I always wished I could do in college but was never financially capable. Given my present good health, a bit of saving and plenty of down-time from work, I thought it was high-time I complete these to-dos.

Brompton all packed and ready 

Flight to Seoul. Quite a pleasant flight.

Not really a sketching trip:
Since I wanted to pack as little as possible, I only managed to bring a tiny sketchbook and broke a few decent brushes to fit them into a small hard-case.  To shrink everything down, I brought 2 tiny plastic cups and used them as water containers. With two set of cycling attires, some washing detergent, I am off to Korea’s 4 rivers cycle path way.  My goal is to reach Busan from Incheon via her dedicated 600+km cycling path. I had about 7 days to do so and did not plan much. Fortunately, I found someone’s itinerary on google map and it was super nifty. Thanks John Graham
 

Map I found online that got me through the entire trip.

Day 1:
I woke up around 8/9 am and took the airport train to Cheongna In’t City Station. Inflated my tires and proceeded to the starting point at Ara West Sea Lock. I also bought a mini passport to collect all the stamps along the way.

Journey of a 1000 miles began with one step. Starting point at Ara Lock 

Today, I rode more than 60km to Seoul and stayed overnight in a motel near Gil-Dong. It rained a little but thankfully not too heavy and I managed to arrive safely.  Daily routine of washing clothes began...

Rained a little but I got to Gil Dong.

Day 2:
Rode about 100 Km today towards Yeoju and passed by the city of Hanam to arrive at Sun Valley Hotel in Yeoju. It’s a water theme-park hotel and costed a little more but I thought there would be a nice view for me to do some sketching. Passed by numerous tunnels built specially for cycling today; It was spectacular.

Check into Sun Valley hotel with a super nice view of the river and did a sketch 

Day 3:
Woke up super early today at 6 to start my ride at 7.  It was a little foggy and I met Gaith from Canada and Mangi from Korea during today’s ride. We rode about 100km to Suan Bo. At first, I was feeling ambitious and wanted to try for 150 km.  Mangi laughed and didn't think I can make the distance. I forgotten that I will be facing some serious elevation pass Suan Bo until Gaith busted out his maps and discussed about the journey ahead. We reached Suanbo and I checked into a hot spring hotel.  Suan Bo was a quiet town with a bunch of restaurants and hot spring motels.

Met Gaith and Mangi along the way. Mangi was super nice and paced down to accompany me all the way to Suan Bo. I felt bad slowing him down.

Checked into Suan Bo

Day 4:
Woke up at 6 and started my ride a bit before 7. It was super foggy and the climb started right after away. There were a few teaser climbs before the eventual climb…500 metres over a stretch of 5km. The down ride was superrrrrr fun.

Climbing is always a struggle and more so if you are fixated with the thought of pain.

I reached the peak eventually :) It was gorgeous. 

I eventually made it to the top.  It was a really pleasant feeling and I wanted to hang out there for a little more but have some serious distance to go .

It took me a while and I struggled a little with my tiny bike. Since I don’t know where I am going and how far it will take, I throttle ahead.Eventually I reached the peak.

This stretch from Suan-Bo toward Mueng Yong is the most beautiful . It also happen to be the most strenuous. I don't know if they planned it that way. 

100 km later, I reached Nakdong-Ro at about 5pm and check into a small love motel. Those funky lights they had in these love motels were awful. Accidentally, I flipped them on a few times and thought I entered a haunted house. It was funny.

Day 5:
Mega foggy day. Though I intended to ride down to Hyeongpung-Myeon, I realized from the weather forecast that I may be cycling into a thunderstorm. The forecast indicated 95% rain. Decided to jettison today’s destination and cycled into Daegu. Checked into a nice hotel and will take the KTX (bullet train) to Busan tomorrow. That way, I can spend an entire day in Busan. One free day in Seoul too.

Checked into a hotel in Daegu and got upgraded to a suite.  Super good sleep

Best sleep through the journey. No funky lights in this hotel :P 

Day 6:
It poured in Daegue and the forecast was right. It rained all through Busan. Managed to jump onto the subway, then KTX and kept myself mostly dried.

Haedong Yonggunsa is so sublime. I paid my respect to the Buddha here and thank everything for the safe journey. I got lucky and saw the storm from the distance. 

When the rain stopped in Busan, I hopped onto the subway and cycled to Haedong Yonggunsa, a 14th century seaside Buddhist temple. It was magnificent and I speed sketch a little of the coast.  Fukuoka (Japan), from what I remembered is just about a boat ride from Busan.

A quick sketch in The Perfect Sketchbook pocket

Spend the night feasting sashimi at Jagalchi Market. Kind of crazy to be chewing down moving octopus.

Checked out Gamcheon Cultural Village before I set off to Seoul . I envy artists from abroad having spaces to work their craft. I read that there are lot of artists who lived out here. 

Day 7:
Took the KTX back to Seoul. Cycle a little through the city to stayed near Hongdae. Lots of hills in Seoul but it was quite fun to cycle through the back alleys and narrow streets. Eventually, I reached my hotel room and explored the nearby universities and fashion streets.

Finally got to sketch Seoul a little. 

Day 8:
Time to ride back to Incheon from Seoul. Today I got more time to sketch along the way and did a few tiny sketches before eventually resting in a hotel at Incheon. My cycling trip is finally over.

Finally some time along the cycling path. 

Farewell Seoul :) 

How I tripped in a Vipassana retreat and realized that its a cult

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On December 20th, I embarked on a Vipassana 10-day silence meditation retreat, a decision rooted in personal growth. This unconventional experience required surrendering valuables, maintaining silence, and adhering to a strict schedule—complete with early wake-ups, 10 hours of meditation, and limited meals. No contact with the outside world, even eye contact, was allowed, adding a unique layer of challenge. As someone who has explored various places, this marked the first time I was without my sketchbook, making it a particularly demanding undertaking.

Photo by fcscafeine/iStock / Getty Images

Founded by S.N. Goenka, the Vipassana group operates globally, relying on donations and volunteers. Although claiming to be secular, it predominantly aligns with Buddhism, as interpreted by Goenka through recorded sessions. The retreat segregates genders, employing DVDs and recordings for meditation guidance, with minimal verbal interaction permitted. My introduction to Vipassana came through a friend, Karla, and my interest in mindfulness led me to embrace this seemingly cultish experience.

Photo by selimaksan/iStock / Getty Images

Here's a chronological account of my journey:

Photo by CREATISTA/iStock / Getty Images

Day 0-

Took an ATR from Singapore for the first time

I boarded a Firefly ATR prop plane from Singapore, bound for Malaysia's Dharma Centre. Having enrolled in the program, I arrived in Kuantan, where the center is graciously situated on land donated by a prosperous family managing a plantation and adjacent hotel. At the Kuantan airport, I encountered two volunteer servers who joined me in a cab to the center. Both Paul and the other lady had participated in Vipassana more than six times. In our conversation, they candidly forewarned me about the challenging nature of the retreat.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with the commencement of noble silence, marked by the signing of an agreement form. Emphasizing adherence to the rules, we surrendered our 'contrabands'—phones, passports, money, wallets, and the like—before being assigned to our modest rooms. The accommodations featured a small, basic space with a thin mattress, a pillow, and a bathroom equipped with a cold running shower. For hot water, a communal pail was available outside. Additionally, a meditation seat was provided in each room. Daily program outlines were posted outside the cafeteria, indicating whether students could remain in their rooms for self-meditation or gather in the hall for instructions.

The hall we meditated in

Rooms we slept in

Day 1 –
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could sleep the night before, only to be abruptly awakened by a rather annoying siren at 4 am—an intense 'Gong' that resounded about 10 times with each activation. Its purpose was to signal the beginning of either a meditation or meal session, becoming increasingly hypnotic after repeated exposure throughout the day.

On the first day, our instruction centered on Anapana, a practice involving observing the sensation of breath in and out of our nostrils. The focus area for observing this sensation would gradually decrease over the next three days.

As I closed my eyes to meditate, my monkey mind kicked into high gear, leading me into a whirlwind of random thoughts, ideas, and fantasies. The sheer randomness made me question my sanity. By the end of day 1, I found myself mentally exhausted, plagued by a raging headache, and experiencing pain throughout my body.

Despite contemplating leaving, I decided to give the experience a bit more time. Each day, before the conclusion of our final meditation session, a discourse ensued, accompanied by a recorded video of S.N. Goenka teaching Dharma. Initially entertaining, these sessions evolved into subtle mockery of other religions and beliefs in the subsequent days. Goenka, a charming figure, seamlessly integrated humor into various Buddhist teachings, transforming the room of quiet attendees into a space filled with laughter. I couldn't help but wonder if laughter was considered a violation of noble silence.

Day 2 -
My sleep quality took a nosedive. I found myself back in the metaphorical boxing ring, and on this particular day, we honed in on our breathing sensations, focusing from the area around our nostrils to the upper lips. Strangely, my monkey mind decided to take a break. Instead, when I achieved moments of calmness and focus, my mind would seamlessly drift into a subconscious or light non-REM sleep state. Describing this transition proves challenging due to its smooth and elusive nature.

Frustrations mounted as I questioned why my willpower seemed incapable of aligning with my intentions. During one episode, I slipped into my subconscious, realizing I was in a dream state with vivid imagery of stirring a spoon in a cup. Upon waking, I discovered that my physical hand had mirrored the dream motion. The experience was undeniably trippy.

By day's end, a slight headache had set in, and I struggled to find rest at night. Even when it felt like I had drifted into sleep, my alertness persisted. It's akin to the sensation of experiencing super-long and slow breaths during sleep, with an added layer of vigilance to each inhalation. The roles of my conscious and subconscious mind seemed to have mysteriously flipped.

Day 3 -
I awoke with barely any sleep, feeling incredibly fatigued but oddly not sleepy. The day's meditation instruction directed us to focus on the sensation around our upper lips. However, my experience took an unexpected turn as I found myself repeatedly drifting into my subconscious, feeling like things had gone haywire. Seeking guidance, I approached the teacher, who advised taking breaks, washing up, and resisting these mental intrusions. Despite my willpower being on full throttle, exercising control proved elusive.

When I inquired about my sleep deprivation, the teacher nonchalantly mentioned that meditators don't need much sleep and urged me not to worry. Frustration mounted as I struggled to stay awake during meditation, often dozing off within minutes. In one instance, I found myself walking a dog in a dream, only to realize upon awakening that my subconscious was steering the ship. Behind me, another participant displayed equal frustration, resorting to repeatedly hitting his head when nodding off. I yearned to connect with him, but later discovered he had left the retreat, discreetly facilitated by the management to avoid influencing others to quit. This observation hinted at manipulative and psychological factors embedded in the design of the retreat.

Day 4 -

We concluded the Anapana phase, marking the official commencement of Vipassana meditation. According to Goenka, the initial three days served as preparation for our 'mental surgery.' The core concepts were straightforward:

We had lost touch with the subtle vibrations occurring within our changing form, referred to as Chi, chakra, or sensations in the context of Vipassana. Goenka asserted that Buddha traced suffering back to our attachments to pleasures and aversions, prescribing equanimity as the solution.

Through meditation, we sought to recondition ourselves to feel these sensations.

Avoiding labels for these sensations was crucial, as attaching labels equated to fully developed concepts, fostering attachment.

Once we could feel these sensations throughout our body, the directive was to observe them without labeling as good or bad—an analogy to accepting our ever-changing realities.

A pivotal moment unfolded in my meditation today. We were tasked with three sittings, maintaining a pose without movement for an hour. This ritual aimed to awaken our senses and cleanse past misdeeds. Skeptical of my ability to sit still, I continued to grapple with my subconscious. Before lunch, a revelation struck—I had been projecting my breathing onto an imaginary self. This realization, that our self-image is revealed laterally inverted through a mirror, prompted contemplation on how harshly I treated my subconscious. It dawned on me that it was time to be kind to myself.

Returning to the meditation seat in the afternoon, I finally succeeded in meditating without falling asleep. Despite persistent pain throughout my body, my subconscious began cooperating. Later, we were guided to shift our focus to the top of our head, and though initially challenging to catch the accent, I mistakenly thought we were instructed to focus on the top of our hip. To my surprise, this adjustment induced a cooling sensation sweeping down to my hip, intensifying the experience. The day concluded on a positive note, with a sense of accomplishment, and I enjoyed a better night's sleep.

t.

Day 5 -

Today's practice involved sweeping the focus from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet, observing without reacting to the rising and dissipating sensations. Remarkably, I successfully felt these sensations, maintaining equanimity and not moving an inch during the three lock-down sessions, each lasting an hour. It marked my inaugural experience of mind over matter. The excruciating pain in my legs and back transformed into mere sensations that rose and passed away.

During one session, a mosquito landed on my finger, extracting a bunch of blood, yet all I perceived with closed eyes was a robust sensation. Without categorizing these sensations as pain or pleasure, I remained oblivious to what was happening until the session concluded. However, that night, I developed a severe headache. As I lay down to sleep, an intense pressure on my face persisted. Surrendering to the stretching pain, I somehow managed to fall asleep for a few hours. Unfortunately, these discomforting sensations during sleep continued and intensified over the subsequent days.

Day 6 -
The meditation continued smoothly, yet a lingering sense of unease pervaded my experience, and I couldn't identify the source. Was I inadvertently projecting my imagination into my practice, causing issues? Despite this uncertainty, I persevered with the meditation, following the escalating instructions to channel focus on the body.

At night, the persistent stretching sensation on my face returned, disrupting my ability to sleep. I could only manage a few hours of rest by lying on my back. The increasing asymmetry of this sensation alarmed me, and concerns about it being a potential warning sign of a stroke started to intensify.

Day 7 -
I came to the realization that, while scanning my body parts, I was still projecting imagery in my mind. Doubts about whether this was imagination crept in, prompting me to seek clarification from my teacher. He advised me not to look for sensations but to sense them. Expressing my confusion, I asked how one could know the location of the arm without imagining it first. In response, my teacher emphasized that if the eyeballs were moving during the practice, it was not the correct approach and might be contributing to my headache and stretching pain.

As an artist, I explained that it was challenging for me to prevent my eyeballs from moving in my mind while scanning from head to toe. This realization led me to understand that, no matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to stop my eyeballs from searching for a placement. Surprisingly, I wasn't frustrated; instead, I welcomed this insight, though I wished for relief from my persistent headache. The stretching sensation on my face intensified during the night when I relaxed my facial muscles, and I struggled with difficulty breathing.

Day 8 –
I made the decision to leave the retreat that day. Despite the teacher's insistence that the sensations I experienced were positive signs of past bad deeds being eradicated through Vipassana meditation, I couldn't shake the feeling of being in a cult. Another theory suggested by the teacher was that heightened sensitivity during Vipassana practice might reveal underlying medical issues, potentially signaling a stroke. Concerned about my health, I questioned whether completing the retreat was worth the risk.

Expressing my understanding of equanimity, I stood firm in my decision to leave. The teacher continued to insist that I was giving up, solidifying my belief that this environment had cult-like qualities. They reluctantly allowed me to pack up discreetly, instructing me to wait in my room until the other students were in the meditation hall to avoid drawing attention to my departure. I left with a cab at 1 pm, with Hiroshi, a fellow participant, joining me in breaking the noble silence.

We shared our experiences, laughed, and discussed the surreal nature of the retreat. Hiroshi, a scientist from Singapore, revealed that he had been silently suffering from bug stings, which I had mistaken for an air freshener. After parting ways, the cab took me to Kuantan Sentra Terminal, where I found my way to Kuantan city, checked into a hotel, and took a warm shower. Despite checking in, sleep eluded me that night.

The next morning, I decided to return to Singapore earlier than planned, enduring an unpleasant bus trip that took over 8 hours. The peculiar stretching sensation on my face persisted, prompting me to see a doctor upon reaching home. After checking my blood pressure and heart rate, the doctor prescribed sleeping pills, providing some relief as I finally managed to fall asleep at 11 pm after a restless night.

My only sketch done in Kuantan

8 hours of bus ride back to Singapore !

Photo by cyano66/iStock / Getty Images

What did I learn from this experience?

• Danger of Unsupervised Mind Activities:
  Prolonged engagement in intense mental activities without proper guidance can be risky

• Complexity of the Mind:
  Our minds are delicate and intricate, influencing thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and sensations.

• Nuances of Breathing:
  Breathing is a nuanced process, involving movement, rhythm, speed, and factors like food, thoughts, and ideas, impacting our well-being.

• Power of Silence:
  Silence allows us to hear ourselves and reveals our judgments and assumptions about others, emphasizing the importance of positive self-dialogue.

• Addiction Awareness:
  The retreat highlighted the addictive nature of activities like checking news and social media, prompting reflection on time lost to such habits.

• Equanimity Beyond Beliefs:
  While not subscribing to religious or pseudoscientific claims, I appreciated the concept of equanimity in S.N. Goenka's teachings.

• Creativity in Religion:
  Religion is seen as the pinnacle of human creativity and art, being conceptual, intangible, and capable of uniting or dividing.

• Economic Perspective:
  In the absence of entertainment, clothing became my economy, emphasizing the importance of resource management and planning.

• Shower as Purification:
  The shower became a source of joy and relief in the restrictive environment, symbolizing the cleansing and non-judgmental nature of water.

• Kindness to Oneself:
  Treating oneself well, both mentally and physically, contributes to a more tolerable and positive perception of the world.

• Acceptance of Change:
  Embracing the inevitability of change in oneself and others can lead to a more positive and adaptable life.

• Perspective on Reality:
  Different perspectives on a spilled milk bottle reflect the subjectivity of life circumstances and choices.

• Vipassana Techniques Variation:
  S.N. Goenka's Vipassana technique differs from others, and caution is advised due to injected personal theories that may impact participants.

• Commitment vs. Attachment:
  Distinguishing between commitment and attachment is crucial; one can commit to an endeavor without being attached to specific outcomes.

  
  In summary, the experience emphasized the need for balance, self-kindness, and a nuanced understanding of the mind and its activities. It also highlighted the potential risks associated with intensive practices without proper guidance.

• The whole experience felt a little like watching Black Mirror on netflix without a super horrifying ending.

The song I unconsciously been whistling to when I was alone in my room. 

Maybe its time to try some hypnosis ?

How to make use of fresh pigment to paint on-site.

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Perhaps the most useful technique by watercolor plein-air artists.

This technique allow you to complete a painting on-site without getting bugged down by details or with too many glazes.  Theoretically, you can complete within 3 layers. However, apart from time constraint, there aren't any rules to why you should limit yourself to just 3 layers. Bear in mind that this method is most appropriate when you use fresh pigment from a tube.. 

Here's how you work the magic. By the way, I am demonstrating with just two colors. Why ? Because beginners too often have problem managing colors . If you can't even work with 2 ? Reduce it to one. There's no prize for the artists who uses most colors.  

At the most fundamental level, one just need to ensure that that the correct sense of color temperature is in place. Excessive colors rarely enhance an image when the temperature shift is nothing but a chaos. 

Important things to remember when painting: 

• Shapes + Composition (Simplification and design is key. It is literally impossible to paint everything)

• Value structure / Good drawing / Chiaroscuro (extremely important for watercolor since it rely extensively on light versus dark dramatic structure )

• Soft versus hard edges

• Color temperature (warm versus cool) . There is no need to score accurate color. A painter merely depict a color's relationship to its surrounding. e.g does the color have more warmth (Red or orange) or cool (Green or blue) in it ? 

Think about the density of tea, milk or cream to assess how thick or thin your paints are. Maximum coverage is made with the thinnest layer, mid tone and shadow mass are all connected with milk layer and details are left in for for thickest coat of paint. (error - Tea layer was yellow orche and not burnt sienna as written above:)

Putting it all together: (two colors)

The technique sounds all easy but can be quite a challenge when you are on-site and overwhelmed by the gamut of colors and details that mother nature throws at you.

The truth is, no one can paint everything on the spot. A good painting isn't a good photo and how you capture the essence creates the impression that mattered the most. (Paint language)
A few things to note:

• Things will change.

• You are painting an illusion and it doesn't have to include everything. 

• A quick thumbnail study is exceptionally useful for a complicated scene. I often make the mistake of painting without preparation, only to regret after I lay down the first wash. 

• Resolve your value structure before you paint. Changes in light cannot affect your vision if you have this road map. Its also a whole lot easier to focus on other aspects of painting if you have this. 

An illustration of how this works. Putting it together for a scene . Note that you want to cover as much as possible with the first lay-in wash.

The watercolor clock as illustrated here and taught by the famous water colorist Joseph Zbukvic. On this clock, he documented the way to assess pigment's consistency versus the result on the various degree of wetness on the paper. His book however is out-of-print but this remained a crucial technique for anyone trying to paint on-sight.

Can Drawing be Taught ?

Every time I tell people that I teach drawing.  I am faced with this assumption that it cannot be taught. 

Half in jest, I often joke about artist profiles that stated how young they were when they started or how long they have served as apprentice to famed artists. These profiles seem to incite a sense of head-start, discouraging others from joining if they have discovered Art later in life.  It is also worthy to note that romance occupied the arts. 

Many love this notion that an artist is born, never made. To me, that’s a little ludicrous. Imagine a baby born and the next thing you know, picked up a pencil and started drawing ! A true and natural talent, ya ? I would personally run if I witness such prodigy ! (traditional arts we talking about here BTW)

Many Asians have this tradition that 'predicts' the future of their kids base of items they would pick during their birthday . This baby shows an affinity towards money. (image from Japanupdate.com)

Dramatic, I know…but that also seems to be the romance fantasized by many.  Interestingly, this is also how many artists are commonly evaluated or marketed for his/her monetary worth. 

Dali, clearly understood the importance of being perceived as a born-Artist and introduced himself as the divine Dali and informed his audiences that he was born with the blood of Gala. No kidding.

Are Artists are born?
Well..... Though I can’t dispute that some are born with better hands and eyes coordination. The same can be said for driving, flying or even walking. Some of us just have peculiar motor-skills but we can all learn to be better drivers, swimmers, runners or pilots.

So,.....Yes ! drawing can be taught and everyone can draw.  As far as how well one can draw.. It all boils down to the level of interest, effort and determination.

Personally, I have taught drawing for close to a decade and here are what I have observed:

Sketch of my students during studio time. 

• Improvement and progress are always the most dramatic during the first few weeks of drawing classes.
• Students are thrilled when they learnt that there are actually proper instructions and technique to drawing/ they would pick up pace on hands and eyes coordination and their observational drawings would improve dramatically during the first 4 weeks. 
• Depending on the group’s size, progress usually tapers off around week 4 when students noticed the development of their peers. When students notice that others can obtain better results, many start to lose interest and reduce effort. (risk adverse strategy) This is often challenging since it’s hard to justify for the additional effort required.
   

Sometimes, students get so competitive over drawing that they openly criticize outstanding students for spoiling the 'market', guilt tripping them, in collective effort to stop the better artists from widening the gap. (This is a very common scenario in Singapore schools/society)

Some competition is good but excessive competition and insecurity is death to motivation. 

So do I think drawing can be taught?

Well... My conclusion is that it can be taught but only some can accept or afford the necessary effort required. I have also personally come to believe that it’s a lot healthier to learn drawing when you approach it like Yoga, instead of O-level Mathematics.

When you don’t have to reside livelihood on drawing, you won’t be pressured to compare your effort and with less anxiety, you can definitely achieve better results.

You must enjoy art to learn it. 

I am currently conducting a sketching tour (For beginners) to Bhutan in Jun 15-June 21. Join me and rekindle your love for the arts. Limited to 10 particpants. Visit www.drukasia.com for more information. 

James's Gurney Vol 1 , The Living Sketchbook

I was pleasantly surprised when James Gurney invited me to review his latest app, Vol 1 Boyhood Home.  James Gurney lives the life of a painter/illustrator and shares his work extensively on youtube. He is also the artist and author of the book ‘Color and Light’ and Dinotopia.  Yup! I am a huge fan of his work.

His latest app, Vol 1 Boyhood Home. 

When I found out about his app, I thought to myself: “Why didn’t I think of that?”  It embraces technology and allowed user an opportunity to get closer to an artist’s sketchbook.  The app functions as an ebook with the option of voice narration. Some pages also included videos to his painting process. Imagine a talking sketchbook with videos.
 

Finally, a sketchbook that talks to you :) 

The only 3 buttons in this app. 

Unlike a physical book, there were few words to read and users can zoom into every painting for its brushstrokes and details. Each painting is also accompanied by a voice narration and James carefully recorded the ambient sounds of each setting to give us a better sense of the actual environment. With sights and sounds, he takes us through his decision-making processes and introduced us to his painting tools, techniques and materials.

I mean, real details. Something analog books can't offer

The app was really intuitive and easy to navigate. To go to next page, you swipe the image.  To zoom in, you pinch outwards. Last but not least, there are buttons that brings out the voice narrations with occasional videos of how he has painted on-site. Though most of his fans may have seen his paintings videos on his youtube channel, this app presented a uniquely seamless and comprehensive experience to peek into James Gurney’s sketchbook.  

Video process of his work. One click away. 

I love how James is constantly improving his work and exploring new avenues to showcase them. This app is a great example of how traditional art can co-exist with technology and deliveries

 The first volume of the Living Sketchbook app will be available March 20 for $4.99 for both iOS and Android phones and tablets (go here for updates).

How to Commute Sketch like a ninja

SECRET UNVEILED !!!!!!!

The Secret Manuel to Ninja Sketching in the commute. 

Step 1 :
Find a good spot to draw
 If you can find a seat, perfect . Otherwise. look for somewhere you can lean against to secure that support. A hardbound sketchbook is crucial and  Its imperative to bring a small sketchbook.  Simple logic. Something huge = attention grabber. If you want attention and want to be invisible, this may not be  for you.  Really. 

Step 2:
Tempo
Since your hand and the train are often moving in opposing directions, it is wise to gauge the speed of the vehicle before you push ink around. When the vehicle stops, it is the most stable. When it accelerates, its not wise to lay in intricate lines . When its at optimum speed, its stable again. Finally, if it stops abruptly, be ready to stop. In short, gain a sense of the tempo and movement. 

Step 3
Be invisible:
Its really easy. Don't lock eyes with anyone no matter how cute he/she is, Don't smile or try to wink at them ,  avoiding wearing something loud and try to blend in as normal person, sitting still,  pretending to take note.  Always keep a 45 degree tilt and look at sketchbook, with occasional peek at your subjects.  If he/she is really cute, alone, and you did a fantastic job ? Consider parting that precious piece of drawing for his/ her number. Remember to assess risk versus reward. This is all well within the code of ethic in my ninja book. You go !

Step 4:
Overlap and fore shorting:
To draw fast, you need to be economic with your strokes, Its absolutely imperative to master foreshortening . Take mental note of overlapped shapes with that magical "T" . Allocate sufficient white spaces to secure foreground/backgrounds shapes.  You don't have to draw with pen, pencil works great as well. Pen is just another one of those ego boaster for people who can draw.  No kidding  !! STOP IT, Mouthbreathers who brag about your ink drawings. 

Step 5: 
Chose easier subjects if you can't deal with that kid who has ADHD. Life is stressful enough and a ninja don't get promoted for catching Flash on the subway . Consider the following subject if you are just picking up Ninjatsu :
1) Sleepers- duh
2) Phone drones -double duh
3) Reader s-Triple duh
4) Back View. ( i know what you're thinking but hey its a start)

Step 6:
Montage:
A montage is a great way to get into the flow of just drawing. Once you gather more confidence and speed, you can sketch an entire row of commuters without breaking a sweat.

Step 7
Ethics:
If someone notice ? You can either stop or ask for permission. Obviously, its riskier if you ask for permission. However, you will be surprised by how many nice people there are on the commute.  At any given rate, if they get real mad at you for drawing their cute husband or wife ? Be prepared to give them that piece of drawing, and bounce.  Really, its not worth fighting for Art. The last time I saw someone fighting over who use  some ABC pen first versus who drew triangle before there is even squares ? I almost cut myself.  

This is it. Its that simple/ Have fun sketching on your commute :) 

PS: if you are a transit company and wish that I can teach my Ninjastu to your customers ? Holler !  POOF*

Commute Sketchers

I founded the Commute Sketchers Facebook group some time ago to bring together individuals passionate about commuter sketching. Recently, I reached out to local transit companies, SMRT and SBS, with the idea of showcasing our work. Both companies expressed interest, with SBS Transit taking the lead in this trial run. We successfully displayed our sketches in Bedok, Bishan, Boon Lay, and Clementi Bus interchange. Currently, we're awaiting approval from LTA for the exhibition of our work in the MRT stations along their downtown line.

Commute Sketchers at Bishan Bus Interchange 

The media took this news well and we were featured on all the major newspapers in Singapore. 

We were in The Straits Time. Zao Bao, The New Paper and even Channel News Asia

Chee Chew's take on our sketches :P

Encountering various challenges in integrating commute sketches into the transit system, here are some hurdles I navigated:

1) Territory Issues:
Art in Singapore's MRT stations is commissioned and selected by a committee under the governance of LTA. The process involves selecting artists to create station art. This territorial nature posed a challenge in gaining access for our sketches.

Art in Transit -  An Art Commission by the LTA in our MRT Stations.

2) Bureaucratic Red Tape:
Navigating bureaucratic hurdles proved challenging, as some transit company staff voiced concerns about privacy and potential influences. They were apprehensive that showcasing our sketches might imply endorsement of a less secure environment. Additionally, there were worries that featuring our work could open the floodgates for similar requests, making it difficult for them to justify such visibility. It's important to note that these concerns were raised despite reaching out directly to the CEOs, who typically instructed their teams to explore such possibilities. To address privacy concerns, it was emphasized that the extensive security infrastructure, including CCTV cameras and commuters' smartphones, far outweighed any potential privacy issues associated with our sketches.

3) Artistic Freedom vs. Corporate Direction:
One company struggled to grasp the concept of showcasing genuine commute sketches and suggested depicting themes aligned with their company's culture and values. This raised a paradox, as our sketches authentically represented their offerings.

4) Financial Considerations:
Our group, comprising friends passionate about sharing their work, initially didn't expect monetary compensation unless commissioned for tailored projects. Making money from art proved challenging, reflecting the broader struggle in the art world.

5) Group Coordination:
Coordinating a group can be challenging, but our responsive and cooperative group members made the process smooth. Transparency was key, and the founding members—Alvin Mark, Francis Theo, Benedict Tay, James Tan, James Lim, Pocholo Issa Estremos, and Ken Lee—played crucial roles

I extend my congratulations to everyone involved and express gratitude to SBS Transit Limited for partnering with us. To join our community, visit our Facebook group at Commute Sketchers. Let's continue celebrating the art of commuting together!

To join us ? Visit our facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/commutesketchers/

The commute sketchers !

https://www.facebook.com/groups/commutesketchers/