Urban Sketching in Spain

It was in 1998 when I first visited Spain. Since then, no other travel destination has compared to my two favorite Spanish cities, Barcelona and Sevilla.  It made sense that 17 years later, I would want to spend my 40th birthday returning to beautiful España this past February! And she didn’t disappoint…

More so than my first visit, I really connected with my Spanish-influenced heritage. Maybe that’s why I love it so much -- it reminded me of growing up in a Filipino home.  The cuisine – empanadas, arroz caldo, chicharron, pastillas de leche – looked and tasted very familiar. The Spanish colonial buildings are reminiscent of some of the homes I remember in old-town Manila. There is so much to be inspired by in Spain, from Picasso's paintings, to Gaudi's awe-inspiring designs, to the islamic architectural influence in Andalucia. I could literally stand on any street corner and find something interesting to draw. Here are a few of my favorite sketches from the trip!

La Sagrada Familia - Nativity Facade

La Sagrada Familia - Passion Facade

Barcelona Pavilion designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Basilica at the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey

Patio de las Doncellas (Courtyard of the Maidens) - Royal Alcazar of Seville

Patio de las Muñecas (Courtyard of the Dolls) - Royal Alcazar of Seville

3-min sketch on the left and 10-min sketches on the right

Here's a timelapse of the 3-min sketch (above) - Alley in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona:

UK & Ireland Travel Sketches

Back in Seattle after a few weeks traveling through the UK and Ireland. I had a blast sketching. So much to be inspired by - I could do this all day everyday!

 Blarney Castle, Blarney, Cork, Ireland

 

Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey, Connemara County, Ireland

 

Alley in City Center, Cork, Ireland

 

Temple Bar Pub, Dublin, Ireland

 

  

London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben on the River Thames, London, England

Seattle International District | New Century Tea Gallery

Wet weather and cool temperatures made it challenging to find a comfortable spot with good vantage points in Seattle's International District.  I was sitting under the gazebo at Hing Hay Park when a smiling Buddha behind the storefront window caught my attention.  Near the corner of Maynard and King, I stumbled upon a tea shop called the New Century Tea Gallery.

Inside the shop, massive jars filled with assorted teas line the walls all the way up to ceiling.  I asked the storeowner (Dafe) if I could draw inside and he invited me to sit down at this beautifully carved wooden table. As I sketched, he treated me to a traditional Chinese tea ceremony - sampling various types from green, to jasmine, to oolong, and aged pu-erh.

Two quick watercolor sketches, an education on Chinese tea tradition, and two 1/4-lb bag tea purchases...
Not bad for a rainy Sunday afternoon.