#53rd World Wide SketchCrawl at Myeong-dong

Royal Hotel (로얄호텔) and the surroundings, pen and watercolor

Young Plaza(영플라자), Lotte Department Avenuel and the surroundings, 

pen and watercolor

Korean National Commission for UNESCO (유네스코 회관) building, 

pen and watercolor

Baerongnamu Cafe (배롱나무 카페), pen and watercolor

outside of the Baerongnamu Cafe connected to the rooftop garden, 

pen and watercolor 

back garden of the Myeong-dong Cathedral (명동성당), 

pen and pastel

altar of the cathedral viewed from the back garden, pencil

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( 21 x 29.6 cm sketchbook )

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Last Saturday, for the 53rd World Wide SketchCrawl, we Seoul sketchers gathered around Myeong-dong which is one of the most famous tourist attractions. We met and sketched at the Baerongnamu Cafe on the 12th floor, rooftop garden of UNESCO House building. After lunch, we moved and sketched freely here and there near Myeong-dong Cathedral.

I sketched some colorful sceneries around the cafe and the fascinating Myeong-dong street. It was such a nice autumn day!

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청명한 가을하늘 아래... 밝은 마을 명동이 활짝 열리면

크고 작은 다채로운 빌딩과 휘황찬란한 색상이 뒤섞여

낮에는 햇살따라 밤에는 조명따라 변해가는 모습과

실핏줄같이 얽힌 골목에서 쏟아지고 흩어지는 인파의 물결

낭만과 유행, 소음과 경건함이 얽힌 도심의 오케스트라~ 

명동은 언제 보아도 살아있는 스케치 천국입니다.

50th World Wide SketchCrawl at Myeong-dong, Seoul

street scene of  Young Plaza(영플라자) and Lotte(롯데), Avenuel(에비뉴엘) Department, 

 pen and watercolor

buildings on Myeong-dong street viewed from the bridge on the 6th floor of

  Avenuel Department, pen and watercolor

3. another view of the buildings on Myeong-dong street, pen and watercolor

Westin Chosun Hotel (웨스틴 조선호텔) viewed from the bridge on the 6th floor of  Avenuel Department, pen

mannequins on display inside the department, pencil and watercolor

Myeong-dong Cathedral(명동성당), pen and watercolor

Seoul YWCA(서울 YWCA) and the surrounding buildings, pen

The Virgin of the Rocks(성모 동굴) in Myeong-dong Cathedral, pen and watercolor

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( 21 x 29.6 cm sketchbook )

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Last Saturday, It was very cold weather to sketch outdoors. For the 50th World Wide SketchCrawl, Seoul sketchers met at Myeong-dong, which is one of the busiest places in Seoul. Myeong-dong is a Mecca of commerce and finance, shopping and culture, arts and fashion of Korea and a very popular tourist destination of Jung-gu in downtown Seoul.
In the morning, I sketched some streetscapes and mannequins in and outside of Lotte Department building. After lunch, I moved to Myeong-dong Cathedral, and sketched colorful sceneries around the quiet cathedral and the bustling streets.
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서울 최고의 번화가~~ 명동은 번쩍거리며 춤추는 관광명소입니다.
패션과 금융, 예술과 낭만, 젊음과 상인들의 행렬은 그칠 새 없고
외국인과 뒤섞이는 인파와 온갖 빌딩속으로 덮인 열정의 거리는 추위도 잊은 채
휘황한 간판들은 장엄한 성당의 종소리와 어우러져 환상의 스케치에 빠져듭니다.

sketches at E Mart, Eunpyeong branch

inside scene of the restaurant "Shabu Rian", pen, watercolor, A 4

pen, watercolor, A 4

Kids' cafe located on 8th floor of the shopping mall for kids and parents,

conte, watercolor, A 4

inside scene of the mall, conte, watercolor, A 4

On these winter days I like to sketch indoor scenes sitting on benches set here and there for customers. It was a pleasing experience to draw kids playing with kinds of toys with parents. Though they move in flashes usually they concentrate on the toys for minutes sometimes. Warm colors and kids harmonized well. 

추운 겨울 날씨에는 실내 풍경을 그리기 좋습니다. 자주 가는 은평 이마트에서 여러 장을 그려보았어요. 늘 지나다니기만 하다가 키즈 까페 유리창 앞에 의자가 있길래 재미나게 그릴 수 있었습니다. 따뜻한 색갈과 천진난만한 어린이들이 잘 어울리는 풍경이었습니다.

sketches around the large parking lot at Apgujeong-dong, Seoul

The large parking lot of Hyundai  Department Store in Apgujeong, pencil and watercolor

nearby Hyundai  Apartment complex, pen and watercolor

Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong,  pen and watercolor

members of Outdoor Watercolor Artist's Group waiting for the bus, pen and watercolor

Gangnam City Tour bus, pen and watercolor

the overpass crossing Apgujeongno,  pen and watercolor

FarEast Sports Center across the road, pen

Hyundai Department Store viewed from the parking lot, pen

parking lot gate, pen and watercolor

Neighborhood Facilities across the road, pen and watercolor

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( 21 x 29.6cm sketchbook )

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In spring every Sunday morning, members of Korea Outdoor Watercolor Artist's Group used to gather at the large parking lot of Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong for outdoor painting to the countryside by chartered bus. I've participated in the group frequently for 20 years. Recently every Sunday morning, I arrived on the spot a little earlier, and sketched here and there while waiting for the bus to departure.

20여년 간 틈나는 대로 일요일 야외 수채화를 그리러 나간 압구정 주차장이 나에게는 그림의 산실과 같습니다. 강남 개발의 개척지인 이 곳도 이미 오래 되고 낯익은 도시처럼 아기자기하고 매력적인 풍경과 인간적인 소재가 넘쳐납니다. 현장 그림에 매료되어 그려 왔던 수많은 전원마을 사생 작업의 나날들이 오늘의 어반 스케치의 밑거름이 되었다고도 생각합니다~~ 

개발의 역사와 더불어 황무지에서 태어난 압구정은 그림의 고향처럼 느껴집니다.