Sometimes called the Lion City, this dazzling, multi-cultural hub of business and pleasure is such a unique location, one cannot fail but be fascinated by it. But it is the people who make the place, their diverse culture, their faith, their clothes and traditions and cuisine. And their kindness. I have made so many lovely friends in just two short visits.
As you can imagine, Singapore is very inspiring to anyone even slightly artistic. Although where should one begin? There is so much to take in!
A beautiful parting gift from Tanglin Trust School librarian Celeste – a book of sketches – had me consolidate my attempts to capture something about the city. I had decided to take gouache instead of water colour on this trip. On balance, I’m not sure that was such a good idea, but it did have me working a bit differently, less a line drawing coloured in, more of a painterly approach. So here’s a little glimpse inside my sketchbook. Never satisfied, I look at these and wonder why in most of my sketches I am always trying to be an “artist” rather than an “observer”. I always try to make a picture, rather than capture a moment. That default waned but slowly, until gradually things that were a bit different emerged…
Here’s Baghdad Street, sketched with a Chinese fountain pen bought in Singapore. It has a curious “bent” nib which helps to create a more interesting sketching line. This was very fast, just a minute or two:
Singapore is best known to most people for it’s futuristic architecture, but my word it is hard to paint! This was done in Gouache.
What I preferred were the ethic areas, like Kampong Glam the Arab Quarter. Here’s the Sultan Mosque:
And some of the old Shop Fronts:
Other temples entranced me too. Like this elephant god in a Hindu temple
But Kampong Glam was the most enchanting, in an Arabian Nights sort of way. Here it is at dusk:
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