Sketches at Yakhyeon Catholic Church, Jungnim-dong, Seoul

the distant view of the Yakhyeon Catholic Church from the main street, Chungpa-ro, 

pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

another main gate of the church viewed from the access road, Jungnim-ro, 

pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

 a statue of the Mother Maria and Baby Jesus, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

 the whole view of Yakhyeon Catholic Church seen from the courtyard, (24 x 32cm)

the filming crew of the SBS drama "Passionate priest"(열혈 사제) was busy shooting the acting scenes outside the church, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

Namdaemun Gate and surrounding buildings viewed from  Yakhyeon Observatory (약현전망대) located at prayer garden, pen and watercolor, (36 x 51cm) 

.

Yakhyeon Catholic Church(약현성당) is Korea's first Gothic style church located at Jungnim-dong (중림동) in downtown Seoul. The cathedral, with a history of more than 120 years and a representative shrine dedicated to martyrs, is situated at the top of a small hill surrounded by bustling streets and high-rise buildings.
This week, last Monday, we Seoul urban sketchers gathered to sketch in this church. The weather was a bit cold and dust, but suitable for sketching outdoors. I've sketched this place many times before, but the more I draw, the fresher I feel in the same place. The cathedral which contains historical meaning and architectural style, provides endless sketching materials in harmony with its surroundings. I enjoyed sketching various scenes that I didn't draw before from place to place around the beautiful cathedral.
-----------------------------------------------
120여년의 역사와 건축사적 가치를 지닌 순교성지 약현성당..
서울 도심의 빌딩숲 사이로 빛나는 언덕위의 아담한 안식처
최초의 고딕 양식.. 붉은벽돌과 인상적인 첨탑의 단아한 모습
순교정신과 세월의 흔적이 담겨있는 낯익은 장소와 건축이지만
그릴 때마다 새롭게 주변환경과 조화를 이루어가는 스케치의 명소입니다.

Sketches at Yakhyeon Catholic Church

pencil, pen, watercolor, A 4

Much thanks for joining us!

It was a cloudy and cold Monday. We expected that the church would be quiet after regular mass of Sunday. But others might have thought like that. The shooting team was there for the drama "Passionate priest". The big truck loaded with kinds of photographing implements occupied the foreground. Staffs asked us not to pass here and there. Naturally the nice views were shielded by big truck and bus used for the scene. But it was a special experience to be with actors and actresses in a beautiful place drawing those real pictures. The shooting was ended at the same time as we finished our sketching. Though we couldn't enjoy the calm atmosphere of the church we had a chance to capture various scenes different from common subject. 

보통 월요일에는 교회가 쉬는 날입니다. 매우 조용하리라고 기대하고 들어선 마당에 이미 드라마 "열혈 사제: 촬영 팀이 짐을 풀고 있었어요. 때마침 주연 배우도 볼수 있었구요. 사제 복장을 하신 배우와 인사도 했습니다. 오전에 마친다고 하여 점심도 일찍 먹고 왔건만 도무지 마치지 않는 것이 끝내는 저희가 스케치를 마칠 무렵에 철수하더군요. 드라마 한편 보기는 쉬운데 그렇게 많은 인원과 보도 못한 도구들로 만들어지는구나 했습니다.

새로 참여하신 분들의 열정을 기대하며 함께 하신 분들 수고 많으셨습니다. 감사합니다.