Sketches at Sungkyunkwan University & Myeongryundang , Seoul

Sungkyunkwan convention & wedding hall in front of entrance of the campus, 

pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

street scene across the entrance of Sungkyunkwan University, 

pen and watercolor, (29.6x 42cm)

Myeongryundang building, pencil, (36 x 51cm)

surrounding buildings under reconstruction near Myeongryundang, 

pen, (36 x 51cm)

Business School, Sungkyunkwan University, pen and watercolor, (36 x 51cm)

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After the heat wave season is over, it's nice weather for sketching outdoors. Last Saturday, we Seoul urban sketchers met at the entrance of the Sungkyunkwan University. On arriving at the meeting place, I started sketching the lively street scene around the entrance of the university. Several times I visited the familiar campus in downtown near my home from my childhood.  What I'm impressed with is the big gingko trees of nearly 500 years old in front of Myeongryundang(명륜당) inside the Munmyo(문묘). Especially, some cultural properties like the above Korean traditional buildings and newly built modern campus buildings seemed to be harmonized with the history of Seoul. I sketched various scenes on the spot here and there around the beautiful campus remembering past history of Seoul. The old villages located closed the historic campus is one of the most favorite subjects for urban sketchers.
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조선시대 성균관의 역사를 머금은 은행나무의 연륜...
창경궁과 대학로, 명륜동 주택가의 스카이라인은
세월따라 변해가는 서울의 모습을 반영해 갑니다.
역사적인 문화재와 캠퍼스를 포용하는 명륜동은
바쁜 삶에 얽힌 풍물과 선비의 정신, 포근한 자연을 담는
어제와 오늘이 공존하는 생생한 스케치 장소입니다~~

Sketches at the Munmyo & Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul

We gathered at the entrance of the Sungkyunkwan Univ. After 10:30 am we went to Munmyo first. Inside there were guys with white traditional clothes with black hat for the ceremony. They were busy for the preparation for the ceremony on the 15th day (lunar calendar) of each month at the Confucian Shrine at Munmyo. They wore ritual clothes. The third man with red costume was said as official from the government at that time of Joseon dynasty. I heard that such ceremony was held twice a month every first day and the 15th to memorize Confucian. Anyhow it was a fortune to see such ceremony unexpectedly. 

After having lunch I moved to the university located at near the Munmyo. It was cool with breeze in spite of hot sunlight. I captured part of a building of the univ. under the shadow of trees. 

Myeongryundang

women enjoying cool weather and talks at the ground of Myeongryundang inside the Munmyo

charcoal, conte, pastels, brush pen, pencil, 32 x 46 cm

After the typoon the weather was really fantastic. We could enjoy the sunlight and wonderful sketching place. I visited there several times. But I love to see the long Korean traditional style building with big ginko trees of 400 years old. Additionally nearby university gives modern feelings with young students and newly built campus buildings different from the Munmyo, Confucian Shrine. 

오늘 좋은 날씨에 멀지 않은 스케치 장소에서 여러분들과 좋은 시간 보냈습니다. 새로 오신 분들 반가왔습니다. 자주 뵙기 바랍니다.  서울 어반 스케쳐 여러분들의 조용히 그림 그리시는 모습을 공자님께서 보시며 미소 지으셨을 것같습니다. 

감사합니다.

Sketches of billiard game with architects in Seoul

an impressive billiard player (개성파 고수), pen and pastel

many architects are playing billiards (손풀기), pen and watercolor

 a scene of lively billiard hall (승부의 열기), pen and pastel

the counter near the entrance (소맥과 요리 주문), pen and pastel

enjoying delicious Chinese dishes during the break (막간의 탕수육), 

pencil and watercolor

smoking room in the corner of the billiard hall (흡연자는 괴로워), pencil and watercolor

a scene of the awards ceremony after the game (상받으면 쏘기), pencil and watercolor

a variety of dynamic poses (집중은 생명), pencil and watercolor 

another sketch of dynamic poses (연습은 실전처럼..), pencil 

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( 21 x 29.6cm sketchbook )

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Korea Institute of Registered Architects (KIRA: 대한건축사협회) runs lots of hobby clubs such as climbing, music, photography, golf, billiard, and so on. I've participated in billiard club since last year. Last week on Jun. 27, there was a friendly match of billiard club members. Though I'm not good at playing game, I usually like to watch international billiards games very much. On that day I was knocked out of the tournament in the 1st round because most of participants' scores were higher than mine. But I could have enough time to sketch every scene I want to draw. Additionally, many members surrounded me and were pleased seeing the sketches on the spot. They cheered me and asked to upload them on the website. Everybody had exciting moments in games and delicious Chinese dishes during the break time. I had a wonderful time enjoying sketches and billiards with many familiar architects.

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지난 주, 6월 27일 "대한건축사협회" 당구동호회 모임이 있었습니다.

학창시절 후 수십년 끊고 있다가 최근에 초심으로 다시 시작하지만~

1라운드에서 탈락한 덕분에 스케치를 맘껏 하니 전화위복입니다.

한 장소, 많은 시간, 많은 소재들과 호흡하며 스케치하는 "해피 데이"였습니다~~ 

Sketches of Youngsanjae Ritual at Bongwonsa Temple, Seoul

the colorful scene of Youngsanjae Ritual ceremony, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

400 years old zelkova tree in front of the 3000 Buddhas Hall (삼천불전) near the entrance to the temple, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

the beginning of the ceremony, pen and watercolor, (21 x  29.6cm)

a monk is playing the drum in ritual ceremony, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

 a scene in the process of Meal Offering ceremony, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

performance of the traditional Buddhist music, pencil and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

colorful Buddhist dance with monks and Youngsanjae preserver group, 

pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

the area for dead to rest in peace on the 2nd floor of the 3000 Buddhas Hall, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

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On last Sunday(June 3rd) and Wednesday(June 6th), I visited Bongwonsa Temple (봉원사) sketching the cultural performance and the 30th Youngsanjae Ritual (영산재). 

The ceremony has been held on the Memorial Day of Korea, June 6th. Lots of people gathered to see the ritual ceremony. Big hanging painting was hung on left side of the big temple. Monks from foreign countries and inland visited too. Korean traditional music with big drums, pipes, gongs and Buddhist dances were played by monks and members of Youngsanjae preserver group. The ritual ran all day from 10 am to 7pm. Because the personnel for the event didn't allow ordinary people to enter the ritual area it was not easy to capture scenes in detail. The temple had been built on 889AD.  And the ritual has been kept performing for 30 years for the peace of the dead and the live. I prayed for the peace of world all the while sketching. 

Please visit the pages of Bongwonsa history and Youngsanjae Ritual for more. 

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서대문 안산 기슭의 태고종 천년사찰 "봉원사"

현충일에 열리는 산이와 죽은 영령을 위한 30회 "영산재"

수많은 불자들과 승려, 하늘을 덮은 천막과 찬란한 휘장들,

대형 괘불 제단의 장엄한 예불의식, 전통 춤과 불교음악...

우리 나라와 세계 평화를 기원하는 뜻깊은 스케치의 날이었습니다.

Sketches about Youngsanjae Ritual at Bongwonsa(temple)

A monk enters with a big red parasol for the ritual. I guessed it would symbolize that such parasol might have been used for the Buddha preaching at Youngchisan(mountain in India)

Several musicians followed playing traditional musical instruments(conical oboe).

There gathered lots of photographers. 

Monks from foreign countries participated. I could see they put cold towels on their heads.

Blue, yellow, red, white, and green long stripes were hung over.

I drew in front of main temple building. 

Traditional music with drums, bamboo pipes, taepyoungso(conical oboe) added exciting energy during the ritual with flying placards.

Monks undergoing performance for the ritual which has been kept for 30 years.

Sound from big drum could shake the hearts of every participants in and out ot the temple.

Dancers with big yellow hats waited for their turn to play.

Around the ending time monks from other temples departed hoping to meet again.

pen, pencil, brush pen, sepia conte, pastels, watercolor, A 4

It was my first experience to see the Youngsanjae Ritual held at Bongwonsa. The temple was crowded with visitors. It was hard to take cool seat for sketching. But it was fun to meet some people with whom could share talks about life and sketching. I heard that the ritual kept performing on June 6th, National Memorial Day every year. I like to go there next year again.

지난 현충일에 봉원사에서 영산재를 보았습니다. 많은 방문객들로 마땅한 자기 찾기가 어려웠지만 서서도 그리고, 양산쓰신 분 그늘에 의지하면서 나름 그리기를 계속했구요. 대웅전앞 돌계단에 앉아 옆의 여자분과 잠시지만 진솔한 대화를 나눈 것이 기억에 남습니다. 옷깃만 스쳐도 몇겁의 인연이 있다는데 순간의 만남과 대화는 참으로 귀중했습니다. 아름다운 장면들, 공간, 소리를 한껏 즐긴 하루였습니다. 아울러 세계평화와 호국 영령들의 안식도 빌었습니다.

Sketches at sweet Marronnier Park

Daehangno street in Marronnier Park, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

Korea National Open University near Marronnier Park, pen and watercolor, 

(29.6 x 42cm) 

a sketch of Marronier park square, pen and watercolor, (36 x 51cm)

attractive brick wall of Arko Arts Theater, pen, (36 x 51cm) 

an exciting dance performance in the open-air theater, pencil, (36 x 51cm)

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It was a little windy, but a very fine day to sketch. We Seoul urban sketchers met at Marronnier Park located on the former site of Seoul National University, Daehangno, Seoul. I sketched around this attractive park several times before and was always fascinated with the exciting sensation of the lively city. The park was crowded with young people and children including foreign tourists. The landmark buildings, Arko Arts Theater and Gallery located in the park, where lots of performances are held all the year round. In the open-air performance hall or street stage the various musicians play music freely with the crowd. Especially, the red brick wall of the beautiful buildings in the sunlight is harmonized with the green leaves of the horse chestnut in Marronnier Park.

I had a good sketch time drawing and painting here and there in historic Marronnier Park, bringing back my childhood memories.

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낙산과 대학천을 따라 흘러 온 지성과 낭만의 근대사~

붉은 벽돌과 마로니에 나뭇잎 사이로 빛과 색의 율동이 어우러지고

문화유산과 젊음이 공존하는 살아있는 역사의 마로니에 광장은

클래식과 현대를 넘나드는 조형, 연극, 뮤지컬, 길거리 퍼포먼스~~

문화적 상징과 감성적 소재가 넘치는 매력적인 스케치 장소입니다.

Sketches at Marronnier Park, Daehangno street, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Former National Industrial Institute(구 공업전습소) which is now being used as an annex to the Korea National Open University, pencil, watercolor, 25 x 25 cm

outdoor stage at the park, pen, watercolor, 26 x 36 cm

It was a very fine day for sketching. The park was busy with visitors. Especially young students gathered to see performance of dance, music, and classic music. Sketching hearing nice music was good too. Talking with new comers I just drew two. But the moments will be memorable for us. Thank you for joining on a beautiful May day!

오늘 참 좋은 날씨에 도심 속의 공원에서 젊은이들과 음악도 듣고 신나는 춤도 보고 즐거운 시간을 보냈습니다. 항상 붐비는 마로니에 공원은 삶에 활력소를 주는 귀중한 공간인듯 합니다. 오늘 새로 오신 분들 반가왔습니다. 감사합니다.