Sketches at Euljiro, Seoul

old fashioned Bangsan Market, traditional wholesale market, pen and watercolor 

(35x51cm)

an old Japanese style house, pen and watercolor (29.5x42cm)

a scene of Sampoong Arcade and surroundings, pen and watercolor (29.5x42cm)

famous buildings around Sogong-dong viewed from Euljiro 1-ga, pen and watercolor (35x51cm)

Months have passed without off-line sketch meetings. But passionate sketchers keep posting on-line without off-line regular meetup sketching. Last Saturday, usk Seoul held a regular sketch meeting at Euljiro in downtown Seoul. Euljiro has long been a hub of Seoul's industry and business, and residential and commercial facilities coexist, and transportation is very convenient with subway line 2. Especially, it is interesting to see the old and new things, the harmony of preservation and development, history and future changes in Seoul.

I first started sketching crawl from the old Bangsan Market around Euljiro 4-ga. Soon after, an old shabby Japanese style house in the alley of the market caught my eyes. Then I sketched quickly it before the truck leaves,. After lunch, I walked down the main street and went up to the second-floor deck of Daelim Arcade on Euljiro 3-ga. And I sketched a bridge connecting Sampoong Arcade and a building under construction nearby. 

At last, avoiding the shower, I sat on the stairs of the subway Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit.I sketched colorful buildings around Sogong-dong crowded with famous department stores.

What a nice day to sketch outdoors in the natural air!

Hope you all safe and hard situation to be ended soon.

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팬데믹으로 움추려 오던 몇개월이 길게 느껴집니다~

조심스레 그림도구를  펼치는 을지로가 반갑습니다.

길고도 평면적이고 하늘을 솟는 높이가 특징이지만

을지로의 틈새공간과 거대한 덩어리속의 세포분열은

역사 문화와 모듬살이 삶에서 변화하는 과정같습니다.

전통시장, 상가, 조명과 쇳덩어리, 영화세트 골목과 빌딩들..

이곳저곳 그리면서 인간미와 기계음이 섞여 돌아가는 

을지로는 쉴틈없이 살아 움직이는 스케치 테마 공장입니다

Sketches around Jangchungdan Park, Seoul

a street scene viewed from the entrance of Jangchungdan Park, pen and watercolor, 

(54 x 72cm)

a sketch at the beautiful courtyard of Caffe Bene, pencil and watercolor, (36 x51cm)

.sketching on the flower bed at the entrance of the park

Last Saturday, in the scorching heat of early summer, we usk Seoul members gathered at Jangchungdan Park for a regular sketch meeting. Located at the foot of Namsan Mountain, which gives a feeling of warmth to Seoul citizens, Jangchungdan Park is a convenient place for transportation and is close to the city center. Like any other park in Seoul, it is a cozy and fresh resting place with pine trees, various broadleaf trees, lawns, outdoor stages, and sports facilities for citizens. In more than 120 years of history,
statues of ancestors, various cultural assets, modern architecture and symbols around the park are precious family parks that live in the hearts of Seoulites.
The places wherever I have sketched many times have the pleasure of finding a new feeling on the spot. At first, the bustling streets and the surrounding buildings seen from the entrance of the pleasant park caught my eye. After lunch, I was attracted to the beautiful courtyard of Caffe Bene as a comfortable place for sketching.
It was a useful day drawing the large-sized watercolor sketch to capture the new feeling of the scene around Jangchungdan Park.
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장충단공원 주변의 푸르른 신록은 뜨거운 여름을 식혀주는 도시의 청량제와 같습니다.
교통이 편리한 가족공원, 성곽길 따라서 남산의 정취와 서울의 경관을 만끽하며.....
관광호텔과 캠퍼스, 체육관, 각종 맛집들, 전통문화와 볼꺼리들이 어우러지는 주변 속에서
여름 땡볕을 막아주는 네거리의 교통섬 그늘막이 장충동의 포커스처럼 눈길을 끌었습니다.

Sketches on June 20 at Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

colored papers, white chalk, conte(sanguine), A 4

I have been dreaming of sketching the street scenes in the middle of the road. It became possible because the center lanes for the buses began to be set since 1993 in Seoul. Though I drew some scene from time to time while waiting for my bus the atmosphere in air was not good by exhausted gas from bus. These days many buses run using electronic power instead of oil. I believe air condition must be better than before. 

Yesterday we had a regular meetup at Jangchung-dong where located Dongguk University, Jangchungdan Park, and walking trail too. And I found big parasols for pedistrians to escape from the pouring sun light at the junction of Jangchungdan-ro. I took a seat on the traffic island. Without the cool shadow and the traffic island I couldn't carry my job to capture the crossing scenes. Fortunately the breeze from the park behind made me keep drawing for two hours in the morning.

colored papers, white chalk, conte(sanguine), A 4

After having delicious lunch(swell fish soup) with friends we moved to nearby Coffee Bean to sketch the beautiful scenery of the place. I remember the place was very great in autumn with colored leaves in the ground. We enjoyed both talking and drawing. Being with my old friend, Bae Jeong Sook was very pleasing too. Hope her to join us often. Thank you all to spend a fine day together in such a great place!

어제 날은 좀 더웠으나 장소가 워낙 시원해서 그동안 해보고 싶었던 교통섬에서의 스케치를 원없이 해보았습니다. 중앙차선제가 생겨나서 스케쳐에게는 참으로 소중한 여건이라 여겨집니다. 전에 광화문 은행나무들이 한복판에 줄지어 있을 때에 거기서 그림을 그려보면 어떤 기분일까 생각만 했는데 막상 현실로 이루어 졌음에도 이런 저런 핑계가 더 많아집니다. 그래도 어제 땡볕을 막아주는 커다란 파라솔 덕분에 소원을 풀었습니다. 시내 공기가 더 좋아지면 종로통에서 서서라도 그려보고 싶은 마음입니다. 

어제 오랜만에 만난 배정숙 화우님 너무 반가왔어요. 앞으로도 자주 뵙기 바랍니다. 더운 날 모두 수고 많으셨습니다. 감사합니다!

Watercolor sketches at Buam-dong village, Seoul

a panorama of Buam-dong village, pencil and watercolor, (54 x 72cm)

a street scene of Baekseokdong-gil viewed from the cafe, pen and watercolor, 

(36 x 51cm)

a street scene of Changuimun-ro viewed from the cafe, pen and watercolor pencil, 

(36 x 51cm)

photo by Daniel Thomas Faller

.

The weather was very clear last Saturday, especially it was the first sketch meeting in four months after Corona19, so the atmosphere of the meeting place was full of vitality. Buam-dong, a beautiful village, is a small tourist attraction that I often visit and sketch because it is close to my home and has various painting elements. The village, which has the rural atmosphere of Bukaksan Mountain and Inwangsan Mountain hills, is filled with many sketching elements, including famous food restaurants, cafes, modern galleries, and registered cultural assets. 

In the morning, I sat on the stone steps looking at Bukhansan Mountain in the distance, and began to paint a panoramic view of the village where high and low houses were harmonized. I drew a watercolor on a large piece of paper. When drawing on a larger piece of paper than on a small piece of paper previously drawn, it was certainly beneficial in many ways because it allowed more observation and concentration on the subject. 

After lunch, I leaned over the table on the second floor of the cafe(Club Espresso) and sketched the various street views over the window in a comfortable atmosphere. I usually use pens and watercolors, but I think it's good to enjoy different flavors of atmosphere, sometimes using a variety of colored pencils, pastels, and markers, and so forth. Buam-dong is a small and cute village, but it is also a good place to sketch for new challenges to various objects and materials.

------------------------- 

코로나19로 인해 어반스케치의 제약을 받아 온 날들은

더더욱 현장그림의 소중함을 크게 깨닫게 해주는 계기 같습니다.

부암동은 명산과 둘레길, 볼거리와 먹거리 카페의 핫 플레이스~

빈티지와 현대미, 예술과 전통 문화가 자연스레 어우러지고

명징한 하늘아래 구비구비 골목길.. 다양한 색들의 변주곡을 들으면서

북악의 호연지기를 마시며 5월의 부암동 스케치에 취해봅니다.

Doing art at Ttukseom, Seoul

Lee Yong Hwan, scenery captured at Ttukseom resort plaza, pen, watercolor, 54 x 72 cm

Lee Yong Hwan

Yoo Byung Hwa, conte(sepia, sanguine), pastels, 29.5 x 42 cm

YH Lee and I visited the Ttukseom resort again for sketching. But the very spot we planned to sketch near the entrance of the caterpillar tunnel was closed firmly since Feb. 25 by the Corona19 policy. We should have called the information center. We had to go down to the plaza. It was not a fine day but cloudy, blowing and even drizzling for a while. To take shelter from rain we took seats on a stone bench under the overbridge for subway line no. 7. Though rain stopped soon it began to blow strongly. I felt very cold for I did wear somewhat lightly expecting hot weather of previous days. Despite of bad weather people came there with their friends, families, kids. They were enjoying talks, riding bicycles, walking along the Han River after months' restraining themselves from outdoor activities. But most of them wore facial masks though. Just all of us hope this situation to be ended as soon as possible.

오늘 뚝섬 자벌레관에서 큰 종이에 다시 그리려고 방문했는데 자벌레관 출입문이 굳게 닫혀 있어서 하는 수 없이 광장으로 내려가니 비가 슬슬 오더군요. 그래도 전철 교각아래는 비피하기가 좋아 돌의자에 앉아 그림을 시작했습니다. 비가 더 오기 전에 매력적인 장면을 잡아 같이 그리게 되었어요. 사람들은 좀 많이 나온듯했어요. 워낙 요즘 썰렁한 분위기였는데 전과 비슷해보이기도 했습니다. 그래도 어린이 날이라고 생각하면 예전 분위기같지는 않았어요. 비는 곧 그쳤지만 바람이 심하게 불고 강가라 그런지 더 추웠습니다. 그래도 마스크를 쓰고라도 그림을 그릴 수 있어 좋았어요. 깔깔거리는 어린 학생들의 웃음소리가 어찌나 즐겁던지요. '참 좋은 시절이다...'하며 절로 미소가 지어지더군요. 공부다 뭐다해서 저희들은 또 괴롭다 하겠지만 모여서 숨넘어가게 웃을 수 있는 그 시간이 얼마나 귀중한지 아이들이 알았으면 했습니다. 코로나가 하루 빨리 종식되기를 바라며 오늘 그림을 마쳤습니다.

Sketches at the Geumsunsa (temple)

 

Bell building(범종루) seen from entrance of Geumsunsa, pen, (25 x 17 cm)

Scenery of Ansimdang (안심당) in the temple, pen, (25 x 17 cm)

Daniel from Switzerland, pencil, (25 x 17 cm)

BH Yoo, Daniel, YH Lee from left

These days most people are recommended to stay at home to end the contagion of Corona19. I went to the temple, Geumsunsa(금선사) located near my village with BH Yoo. Weather was very fine. The temple was very calm. I sketched two pieces in order to draw in bigger paper later. The temple runs temple stay program. When I saw a group of two foreigners and a Korean woman I thought they might be participating in that program. We talked with them greeting them and asked him to be a model. He replied "No problem!". He, Daniel, was from Basel, Switzerland. And he with his wife was staying in Seoul for five years and they kept travelling our country and sharing the photos with stories in the website : SCHAUPLATZ to let people know about Korea and Switzerland. And he told that he had been in Panmunjom(판문점) for several years too. Though we couldn't talk long the meeting was impressive and we hoped to meet there later.

지난 일요일에 금선사에 올랐습니다. 요즘 코로나19로 인해 전같으면 신자들뿐만 아니라 등산객들도 심심찮게 들리는 곳인데 너무나 한적해서 그야말로 "절간같다"라는 말이 그대로 어울리는 듯했습니다. 사찰이 아름다워서 나중에 20호를 그려볼 요량으로 스케치를 몇장 하는 중에 외국인 부부로 보이는 듯한 분과 한국인 여성을 만나게 되었습니다. 그들도 절에 오래 머무르는 것 같아서 혹시나 템플 스테이에 참여하시는가 하고 인사를 나누었는데 그런 것은 아니었고 그냥 방문하신 것이라는 이야기였습니다. 스위스에서 오셔서 5년을 살고 있다고 했습니다. 부인은 짧은 한국어는 하셨구요. 한국의 아름다움을 스위스 분들께 한국의 아름다움을 소개하는 홈페이지를 소개하고 이메일 주소를 교환하고 언젠가 거기서 다시 만나자고 덕담을 나누며 헤어졌습니다. 작지만 아름다운 사찰에서 스친 인연을 기념하며 다니엘을 그린 그림을 선물했습니다. 그윽한 분위기 속에 좋은 만남의 하루였습니다~

Message from urbansketchers.org

신종 코로나바이러스로 인한 세계적인 재난이 계속되고 있습니다.
우리들 모두가 어려운 시기를 지내고 있습니다.
위중한 시기에 USk Richard회장님께서 urbansketchers.org에 올리신 중요한 메시지를 보내드립니다.

*****************************************************
An Important Message for Urban Sketchers
Dear USk Community:

Coronavirus or COVID-19 threats to individuals and groups are real and should be taken seriously. We strongly advise that all sketchers, administrators, instructors and volunteers follow the guidelines and recommendations available to them from their local and national health organizations regarding what to do and how to stay safe. We all need to take on the responsibility of not putting ourselves or others at risk.

This may mean cancelling weekly sketching activities, 10x10 workshops, instructor workshops or other USk events. In those instances please notify other members about cancellations and postponements. On our end we will pause the promotion of USk group and instructor activities scheduled in the coming weeks to avoid questions and confusion.

So please, pay attention to the medical experts providing information on what to do during this time. On behalf of the executive board and all its members, stay safe, keep sketching even if you’re by yourself, and we know we will all be sketching together soon, with lots of stories to tell.

Take care, be well and stay safe,
Richard
*********************************************************
모든 분들이 건강에 유의하시고, 코로나바이러스 사태가 빨리 정상화되어 활기찬 스케치모임을 갖게 되기를 소망합니다.

Have a healthy and good time till we all meet again!

Sketches at Ttukseom Culture Complex J-Bug (뚝섬 자벌레관)

surrounding scene viewed from the terrace of the tunnel, pen and watercolor, 

(29.6 x 42cm)

indoor scene at the library, Seoul Saengag Maru, pen and watercolor, 

(21 x 29.6cm)

a happy family scene inside the Seoul Saengag Maru, pen and watercolor, 

(21 x 29.6cm)

an outdoor scene viewed from the tunnel near the exit 3 of subway no.7, 

pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

scenery of Han River viewed from the observatory deck of the Seoul Saengag Maru, pencil, (29.6 x 42cm)

.
Last Saturday, it was rather cold but clear weather to sketch. Seoul urban sketches gathered at Ttukseom Cultural Complex J-bug(뚝섬 전망문화컴플렉스) from the morning.  J-Bug, so-called Jabollae Observatory (자벌레전망대) is a well-known cultural complex located at Ttukseom Han River Park in Gwangjin-gu. It forms a floating tunnel that looks like a smooth curved catapillar, and offers a magnificient views of the Han River. It is directly connected to the subway station, making it more accessible to citizens and convenient to visit regardless of the weather. Inside the tunnel, the library (Seoul Saengag Maru, 서울생각마루), observatory deck, cafes and interior spaces with a fine atmosphere are all sketch materials. Exterior views from open spaces, various scenes around the Han River, surrounding scenes of apartments and overpasses are also good sketch subjects. As I happened to have another schedule that afternoon, I had to sketch quickly from place to place and leave the meeting place. The sketch meeting, which has a lot of drawing materials with new members, was impressive and I would like to visit more often to do many works. It was a nice day of free-wheeling sketches!
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뚝섬 한강공원의 작은 명물 자벌레 전망대~~
한강을 향한 몸통 속에 길게 이어지는 환상의 공간
어둠을 가르며 간간이 스쳐가는 햇살과 부드러운 조명속에
열린 데크를 통해서 한강 주변 파노라마들을 감싸안으며
도시속에서 숲과 물을 향유하며 독서와 이벤트를 같이 즐기는
자벌레관 속에서 보내는 스케치의 하루는 상쾌한 시간입니다.

Year-end sketches at Mullae Art Village, Seoul

main street scene of old fashioned iron mills at Mullae-dong, 

pen and watercolor, (36 x 51cm)

an alley scene at Mullae Art Village, pencil and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

an inside scene of cafe "308 Mohenic Stay", pencil, (29.6 x 42cm)

a bustling landscape of ironworks, pen, (21 x 29.6cm)

street scene viewed from the road adjacent to the Anglican Church of Korea, 

pen and watercolor, (36 x 51cm)

.

Last Saturday, we Seoul urban sketchers held this year’s final sketch meeting at Mullae Creative Village(문래 창작촌), Guro-gu, Seoul. Mullae Village has been famous for its ironworks complex for a long time, but it has recently been transformed into a space of young artists, one by one, where steel mills have left. With modern skyscrapers built around it, the creative village is being reborn as a small attraction in the city where old industry and new art coexist. 

The weather was a little cold and cloudy, and besides, it rained in the afternoon, forcing us to sketch outdoors under the iron factory eaves to avoid it. While sketching from place to place, I thought about the future of the village, looking at the ironworks that are disappearing one by one and the workshops and cafes of young artists that are changing their spaces in various ways. This village, where old and new coexist without destroying the existing facilities, is an interesting and picturesque place for urban sketchers.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all urban sketchers!

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철공소단지가 젊은 예술촌으로 변모해가는 문래동...

철판 쇳소리를 용접 불꽃에 녹이던 삶의 현장~~

변해가는 물결에 하나둘 사라져가는 산업시대의 자취들...

속속 고층빌딩들 사이로 쇳가루 골목길엔 향수가 배어있고

둔탁함과 아기자기함이 어우러지며 꽃피는 이야기 속에 

새로운 핫 플레이스~문래동의 스케치꺼리가 넘쳐납니다.

새해 복들 많이 받으시고 스케치 현장에서 뵈어요!

Sketches at Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, Seocho-dong

front view of Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, pen and watercolor, (24 x 32cm)

buses waiting to depart from the Concourse, pen and watercolor, (24 x 32cm)

the ticket booth in the waiting hall, pen and pastel watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

a scene inside the building, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

surrounding buildings across the terminal, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

a portrait of newcomer Kwon, pencil, (21 x 29.6cm)

.

Last Saturday, in a late autumn weather, we Seoul urban sketchers gathered at Seoul 

Nambu Terminal. Seoul Nambu Terminal is an old intercity bus terminal located in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Since its relocation from Yongsan in 1990, it has been operating actively by covering all areas of the country with intercity bus terminals. The buildings are very old and narrow, so it is a little inconvenient, but the transport accessibility is very convenient, so Seoulites use the terminal very often in daily lives. The weather outside of that day was a little cold, and the waiting room was crowded with passengers, but the sketching mood was very comfortable. 

At first, I sketched the facade of the terminal building and the surrounding buildings outside the terminal, and the waiting room and the ticket booth inside the building. And I sketched a portrait of the new participant Kwon and present it as a gift. After lunch, I sketched buses waiting to depart from the Concourse. I think the terminal is a permanent sketching site, with countless people and buses moving around without staying.

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서울 남부버스터미널.... 

조명등 아래 혼잡과 소음이 얽혀 돌아가는 숨가쁜 

시간표 속에서~~~ 쉴새없이 들고나는 승객들과 

시외버스 무리들 바쁜 틈사이로 세상살이의 참모습

이 보이는 듯 합니다.

스케치를 물상보다는 현장의 분위기를 표현한다고 

생각할 때, 화려함보다는 오히려 꼭 필요한 본능적 

요소만 갖춘.... 낡은 모습의 남부터미널은 소박한 

정감을 느끼게하는 좋은 스케치의 장소라고 생각

합니다.

Travel sketches at Da Nang and Hoi An, Vietnam(베트남)

beautiful Da Nang Beach, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

a night view of Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

Linh Ung Temple(영흥사) in Da Nang, pencil and watercolor, (24 x 32cm)

a traditional village in Hoi An, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

Hoi quan Quang Dong(광조회관) in Hoi An, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

Japanese Bridge(일본교) in Hoi An, pencil and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

fountain square at Bana Hills, pencil and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

Linh Phong Thien Tu pagoda(영주영사당) at Bana Hills, pencil and watercolor, 

(21 x 29.6cm)

Saint Denis Church(성데니스 교회) at Bana Hills, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

a Dan Trung(대나무 실로폰) player,  pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

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A week ago, BH Yoo and I could join a group tour going to Da Nang(다낭) and Hoi An(호이안), Vietnam. Tourists were 24. We travelled two cities during three days. Because we visited many places I can't remember well them exactly if I didn't draw the spots even in rough sketches. It was my first visit so I was impressed by the street scenery or colorful cityscapes or various people whom I met.  Especially the Bana Hills(바나힐) on top of mountain and the Hoi An old town gave strong impression to me. We couldn't get rid of raining for the coming typhoon. If not I would have draw more than these. I want to go there again if possible in order to sketch all those memorable features staying for long. Just I hope the weather will be fine!
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설레인 마음으로 여행하는 베트남의 인상은 북적거리면서도 신비로웠습니다.
비와 태풍으로 명소 스케치 환경이 열악했지만 좋은 훈련이었습니다.
칼러풀한 호이안 올드타운과 바나힐의 환상적 세계는 동화 속으로 빠져듭니다.
다낭과 호이안은 다시 가서 오래 머물며 그리고 싶은 곳~~ 스케치의 보물상자 같습니다.