Asia-link Sketchwalk in Bangkok in 2016 ni Randy Valiente

Isang malaking sketching event ang ginanap sa Thailand nitong nakaraang November 24-27. Ang programa ay tinawag na Asialink Sketchwalk Bangkok 2016 kung saan 12 bansa sa ASEAN at Asya ang lumusob sa Bangkok upang magsagawa ng on-the-spot sketching sa loob ng apat na araw. Binuo ng 350 participants ang pagtitipon mula sa Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pilipinas, Japan, China, at ilang bisita galing sa US at Europa.

Ang programa ay inorganisa ng mga grupong Bangkok Sketchers at Urban Sketchers-Bangkok kung saan ito na ang pangatlong pinakamalaking sketching event hindi lamang sa Asean region kundi na rin sa buong Asya. Ang nauna ay ang Penang Sketchwalk na ginawa sa Malaysia at Singapore Sketchwalk na ginawa nang nakaraang taon.

Limang participants galing sa Pilipinas ang nakasama na mga aktibong members ng Urban Sketchers-Manila, sila ay sina Nice Rodriguez, Meg Roxas, Dindin Cruz, Solo Galura, Karol Ann Antonio, at ang inyong lingkod. Dahil napakarami ng kasali galing sa iba-ibang bansa ay hinati sa 12 na grupo ang mga kasama, pianghiwa-hiwalay ang mga magkakalahi para maging daan na rin upang magkapalagayan ng loob ang bawat isa.

Sa loob ng apat na araw ay nilibot ng grupo ang mga main tourist spots ng Bangkok at dinrowing ito isa-isa. At siyempre, sa unang araw pa lang ay una na nilang pinuntahan ang Grand Palace kung saan nagbigay sila ng respeto sa hari ng Thailand na si King Bhumibol Adulyadej na namayapa kamakailan lamang.

Bakit sketching? Ito ang reaksyon ng mga artist at hobbyist sa mabilis na takbo ng buhay lalo na sa kasalukuyan na lahat ay kontrolado na ng computer. Tayo ay nabubuhay sa digital age kung saan isang pindot mo lamang sa camera ay makukuha mo na ang lugar na iyong napuntahan, ang iyong kinakain, ang larawan ng mga nakikilala mong tao. Sa pamamagitan ng sketching, napapabagal mo ang takbo ng oras at mas lalo mong naa-appreciate ang bawat sandali dahil habang dinu-drawing mo ang isang lugar, o bagay, ay mas natititigan mo ito ng husto. Nadidiskubre mo ang ilang detalye na hindi mo napapansin kung kukunan mo lamang ito ng camera.

Sa katunayan, ilang members ng Urban Sketchers-Philippines ang nagsabi na mula nang sumama sila sa grupo at nagsimula silang mag-sketch ng lugar na kanilang tinitirhan, dinadaanan at pinupuntahan, ay marami silang nakikita na hindi nila gaanong napapansin noon.

Nito lamang mga nakaraang taon nang mabalitang gigibain na ang gusali ng El Hogar sa Manila ay nagkasundo ang mga sketchers na pumunta sa harap ng lumang gusali at i-drawing at ipinta ito bago pa man ito ipagiba ng gobyerno. Ngunit dahil kumalat ang mga drawings at sketches sa social media at sinamahan pa ng mga captions na dapat i-preserve ang mga historical structures, gaya ng El Hogar, ay narito at nakatayo pa rin ito.

Dangan nga lang ay mukhang hindi pa gaanong aware ang lipunang Pilipino sa mga ganitong pagdu-drawing outdoors, na tinatawag na sketchwalk, dahil nang minsang magsagawa naman ng sketching session ang Urban Sketchers-Manila sa Farmers Market sa Cubao ay pinahinto sila at pinapakunan pa ng permit. Siguro, isyu ito ng seguridad para sa pamunuan ng Farmers, ngunit para sa mga artist, matagal na itong gawain ng mga alagad ng sining simula pa nang panahon nina Michealangelo at Da Vinci kung saan talagang lumalabas ang mga artist para magpinta. Sa mga bansa sa Europa, natural na tanawin ito kung saan makakakita ka ng mga artist at pintor na nakakalat lang kung saan-saan para i-capture ang kagandahan ng paligid. Isa rin ito sa adbokasiya ng grupo kung saan dapat matutong mag-appreciate ang Pilipino sa ganda, hindi lamang ng sining, kundi ng paligid na kanilang ginagalawan.

Ang samahang Urban Sketchers ay international organization at halos lahat ng bansa sa mundo ay mayroong counterpart nito. Sa Pilipinas, bukod sa Manila group, ay mayroon na ring sketchers sa Ilocos, Baguio, Cebu, at Capiz.

Sa huling araw ng malaking sketchwalk na ginanap sa Bangkok ay nagbigay ng kani-kanilang presentation ang bawat bansa. Isa sa magandang nagsalita ay ang representative mula sa China kung saan sinabi niya na dahil limitado ang social media sa China na nakakasagap ng impormasyon mula sa ibang bansa, naging malaking daan ang Urban Sketchers upang maging bukas ang ilang tao sa kanila sa mga kaganapang gaya nito. Ang grupo naman ng mga Pilipino ay nagpakita ng kultura ng papalapit na Pasko sa Pilipinas kung saan maaga itong nagsisimula, puno ng ilaw ang paligid hindi lamang hanggang sa Pasko kundi umaabot pa ng Enero. Ang presentation naman ng Thailand ay ang buhay ng kanilang hari kung saan halos lahat ng tao na nasa bulwagan ay tumulo ng luha. Nagkaroon din ng exhibitions ang lahat ng kasama at idinespley sa bulwagan ng C Asean building.

Sa 2017 ay naka-schedule na ang dalawang malaking event ng sketching sa Asya at ito ay gagawin sa Beijing, China at Bandung, Indonesia. Isa ring malaking pagtitipon ng Urban Sketchers World ang gagawin sa Chicago USA sa kalagitnaan ng taon.

Sa kabuuan, ang event na ito ay napakalaking tagumpay ang inani, hindi lamang sa mga artists na naging magkakaibigan, kundi sa magandang samahan ng mga Asean at Asian countries. Ayon nga sa organizer sa huli niyang pananalita, ‘At the end of the day, it’s not about drawing, it’s about people.’

Sketchwalk 1: Pom Mahakan community na iginuhit ni Randy Valiente mula sa day 2 ng event.

Sketchwalk 2: Ikaapat na araw na ginanap sa C Asean building sa Bangkok kung saan nagtipun-tipon ang 12 grupo para sa presentation ng bawat bansa. Kuhang larawan ni Tungtong Singapore.

Sketchwalk 3: Ang mga Pilipino representatives habang umaawit ng karoling sa harap ng audience.

Sketchwalk 4: Mga members ng Urban Sketchers galing sa iba’t ibang bansa habang nagpapakuha ng larawan sa gitna ng Wat Saket sa Bangkok.

Sketchwalk 5: Ang mga Pilipino participants sa harap ng Giant Swing sa Bangkok.

Sketchwalk 6: Ilang representatives na mula sa Asean.

Sketchwalk 7: Si Randy Valiente habang hawak ang kanyang sketch sa harap ng Wat Ratchanada, Bangkok

Sketchwalk 8: Day 2 ng sketchwalk

Sketchwalk 9: Inilalatag ng bawat grupo ang kanilang mga obra upang makunan ng larawan

Sketchwalk 10: Parang isang malaking artist invasion ang nangyari
kung saan nakakalat sa lahat ng sulok ang mga sketchers.

March 2017 Sketch Walk - Paco Fire Station and the Mortuary Park

March is Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines. So, we thought visiting the Paco fire station would fit the bill for this sketch walk. It's one of the 4 original modern fire stations in the early 1900s, and it's still standing. Unfortunately, it's still in need of rehabilitation. The rusted front roof gutter dangles, and some windows have broken glass.

The Paco fire station today

The station has not changed much, except the widening of the left and right entrances for the fire trucks - they have gotten bigger after decades. The fake brick texturing have been placed in the decade I have last visited the inside of this station.

While we can see the service personnel of the station are busy with their daily duties, we were observing the surroundings via sketching. There were 18 of us for this session, 5 of which were first time sketchers with us namely, Cheenee Buenaventura, Jose, Ruben, Mikaela and Romina.

Tree shades are great places for sitting down for the sketch session

Daughter and mother sketch act - Mika and Romina

Manue, Cheddie, and Cheenee

Nadja and Manuel 

Meg, Nice, Cheddie, Cheenee

Comicbook illustrator extraordinaire, Randy 

The morning's sketch results

Happy with the morning's sketch walk 

We then had a lunch break after ending the morning session with pictures of our works and our usual group shot. The afternoon session was then focused on the Paco Park, which is opposite of the fire station across the street.

The Paco mortuary chapel, usually for weddings nowadays

Randy finishing a painting of the chapel

Manuel drawing with stick and paint

The afternoon's sketch results

Ruben, moi, Manuel, Lerron, Burt, Randy and Nadja

We ended at 4 pm with eating at a fastfood joint.

Next month's sketch walk will be drawing the skyline of our city - Details to follow soon.

MEET THE CORRESPONDENT: Jonathan Price

I have been drawing and sketching from an early age, beginning with life drawing classes at school. I switched to carrying a sketch book with me everywhere I went and sketching even in the briefest of free moments, when I ventured out to work overseas, firstly in Cambodia, then Bhutan, Jordan, Syria and now I am based in the Philippines (though I still travel around for work).

I only discovered Urban Sketchers this year, but have been following a similar artistic approach for a long, long time. I like to draw to capture a moment, a memory and the atmosphere, that a quick snap with a camera cannot. I believe that by drawing on the spot you drink in a place and see and understand so much more.

Sketching ‘En Plein Air’ has always been a positive experience for me - I’ll never forget being surrounded by a huge group of children in Phnom Penh, who were fascinated to see a scene come to life on the paper. I like to use water-soluble ink and watercolour, but sometimes mix it up a bit with pencils, chalk and oil pastels and charcoal.

Workers accommodation near my apartment in the Philippines

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Angkor Wat in Cambodia

The frequency of my drawing and painting has declined over the years, but linking up with Urban Sketchers Manila and other sketching communities on-line has been a great source of inspiration and has encouraged me to keep drawing at least once every day.

Blog: https://artchapenjoin.wordpress.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artchapenjoin/

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July 2016 Sketch Call: Bantayog ng mga Bayani

For July, Urban Sketchers Manila is heading to Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City. Bantayog is a landscaped memorial center that serves as a monument to those who lived and died in defiance of the repressive regime that ruled over the country from 1972-1986. Read more about Bantayog here.

Date: July 16, Saturday
Time: 9 am (we encourage sketchers to come earlier - Bantayog is great in the morning!) Show & tell/socials, group photo will be at 11:45.

Anyone can join this activity -- first-time sketchers are welcome! Joining is free, just bring your own drawing materials. You can also borrow from other sketchers -- we would gladly share our "tools" with you. See you on July 16!

*Although the Bantayog offices are closed on weekends, we are free to use the grounds. Many thanks to Executive Director Ma. Cristina V. Rodriguez for welcoming us!

Urban Sketchers Philippines is now Urban Sketchers Manila

Hello everyone!

In keeping with the regional guidelines set for the various chapters of Urban Sketchers around the world, we have changed our name to Urban Sketchers Manila. We have, however, retained the URL address of this blog.

The group was formed in Manila, and many members in this group come from the Philippines' capital and its surrounding cities. A majority of our sketchwalks and other activities are held in Manila.

Changing our name will also encourage other sketchers in other parts of the country to join our growing network of artists around the world by starting their own regional chapter. This will mean a greater/wider representation of the Philippines to the global urban sketching community.

Sketchers who are not from Manila are of course still welcome to join and participate. :) It's the same group after all, with just a more "exact" name.

Those interested to join may send us an email at urbansketchersmanila[at]gmail[dot]com. Just say hello and tell us a little about yourself. If you have applied for membership on Facebook, please send us an email so we can check and approve right away.

There are currently two official USk chapters in the Philippines: Urban Sketchers Manila, which was formed in May 2011, and Urban Sketchers Ilocos, which became official in January 2016.

Urban Sketchers Manila currently has more than 60 active members (and growing!) who join the sketchwalks and share their works online, mostly through Facebook.

Urban Sketchers Philippines 5th Anniversary Sketchwalk - You're Invited!

This year marks Urban Sketchers Philippines' fifth year as a regional chapter of Urban Sketchers. Join us as we celebrate with a sketchwalk in the country's most famous park dedicated to our national hero Jose P. Rizal.

Just bring your own sketching materials (and water, hand towel, umbrella) - joining is FREE. Everybody is welcome to join.

Date: May 21, 2016, Saturday
Venue: Luneta/Rizal Park
Time: 9am-12nn

You can start sketching earlier, of course. :) We will have our Show & Tell / Group Photo at 11:30, so please make sure you are at our meetup place by that time.

Meetup Place:
“Ang Pagpapakabayani ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal (The Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal),” Rizal's execution site. It's a few meters away beside the Rizal Monument and the Gomburza marker, and it's beside the Chinese Garden. It's a large shaded area where there are big statues depicting the final moments of our national hero's life. There is a minimal entrance fee of P20 for adults and P10 for students.

Once we're all complete we will head out to the Rizal Monument for another (quick) group photo. :)

There's something for every sketcher in the park, whether you like people-sketching or lean more toward architecture and land/cityscapes! Here are some areas of interest in Rizal Park (please note that some of these charge a minimal entrance fee for upkeep/maintenance):

• Ang Pagpapakabayani ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal / Rizal Execution Grounds (meetup place)
• Rizal Monument
• Gomburza execution site marker
• Quirino Grandstand, Kilometer Zero marker
• Central Lagoon - dancing fountains
• Gallery of Heroes
• Binhi ng Kalayaan statue, Garden
• Open-air auditorium - groups practicing dances, etc.
• La Madre Filipina sculpture
• Picnic area
• Chinese Garden
• Japanese Garden
• Chess Plaza
• Topographic map of the Philippines
• Children's playground
• Lapu-Lapu statue

*Urban sketching tip: sketch with a buddy, or with a group :)
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After the sketchwalk (and lunch!), you may want to visit the National Museum - entrance is free for May (National Heritage Month). :)

Please click here to visit our Facebook event page for more details. See you in Luneta!

Urban Workshop and Sketchwalks Last April 16 & 17

Design Week Philippines happens twice a year, and for the first edition this year on April 16 and 17, Urban Sketchers Philippines was invited to the first designated Design District: the Spanish-era Walled City of Intramuros, Manila. This coincided with Intramuros Pasyal Weekend, usually organized monthly by Viva Manila, where part of Gen. Luna Street in Intramuros becomes a pedestrian zone for the two afternoons.

Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Design Week Philippines is an assembly of some of local artist groups and cultural activities.

Eileen Bondoc Escueta provides some tips to workshop participants on the first day.

Participants of two workshops reached more than 40 people total, mostly students and those who were joining us for the sketchwalks for the first time.

The UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site of San Agustin Church is one of the best examples of Spanish-era structures.

The sketchwalks after the workshops yielded some impressive sketch results. However, it was reminder that the activity of sketching need not be to impress. Sketching or drawing - in a world where a camera or a smartphone can instantly take a picture of the scene - is an activity of discovery, expression, and a tool for observing places, people or things.

Sketching is an effective way to observe and appreciate our built heritage.

A booth for Urban Sketchers Philippines was provided along Gen. Luna Street to let us join in the monthly weekend market. A brief public workshop on sketching basics, and a 2-hour sketchwalk of Intramuros were also held for the two afternoons.

The booth provided gave some information to the public about what Urban Sketchers is all about.

It is always interesting to see the sketch results with varied styles - we may draw the same subject, but we always draw differently.

Sketch results for the first day.

The 1-hour workshop gave the most essential principles of how eye-hand coordination works, and eventually also included the basics of different sketch media used. The workshop placed emphasis on how practicing as much as you can can yield better proficiency - like any other skill like driving or riding a bicycle.

Janeil Arlegui gives sketching advice for the second day workshop.

A brief exercise in sketching before going out to the sketchwalk.

Temperatures of the two days were pretty high - as maximum 38 degrees Celsius. Best to use shaded areas as vantage views for sketching for a few minutes.

Intramuros offers some picturesque scenes that are just asking for sketchers to sketch.

Resident children were encouraged to draw what they saw.

The 2nd day's sketch results.

The best part about the Urban Sketchers is that we are made up of people with different backgrounds, most surprisingly people who don't  use drawing as a source of their career. Ordinary people who are using sketching as a way to see, not just to look. It is an enjoyable way of heightening one's perceptual senses. The sketchbooks become visual diaries that can be shared and kept as reminders of the experiences.

Old and new Urban Sketchers Philippines participants show off their sketches.

In another event organized by CITEM, we also had some opportunity to see the exposition of FAME Manila held at the Metro Manila World Trade Center, April 21-24.

Post-Design Week: Manila FAME, Philippines export exposition (April 21-24) showcases the best Philippines furniture, crafts, and new innovations.

Traditional cloth weaving method was even showcased during the exposition.

We thank CITEM Philippines for inviting us as being a part of Design Week.