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.

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.

Cycling from Seoul to Busan ( 4 rivers cycling pathway)

Blog RSS

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 :) 

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. 

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/