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.

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) 

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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.
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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.

#60th World Wide SketchCrawl at Seoul Central Mosque

 facade of the Seoul Central Mosque, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

left part of facade of the mosque, pen and pastel, (29.6 x 42cm)

Praying Hall for the Muslims, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

going up to the mosque, pencil and pastel, (21 x 29.6cm)

a village scene from inside the entrance of the mosque, pen, (29.6 x 42cm)

neighboring village scenery looking from the courtyard, pencil, (29.6 x 42cm)

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Last Saturday, it was midsummer with the sweltering heat and humidity. For the 60th World Wide SketchCrawl, we Seoul sketchers met at the Seoul Central Mosque (서울중앙성원) located in Hannam-dong (한남동), Yongsan-gu (용산구), Seoul. The Seoul Central Mosque built in 1976, was established to be a place to worship for Muslims in Korea as well as to educate the larger public about Islam and Islamic cultures. The Seoul Central Mosque is a place of religious, and Islamic rules and customs should be respected, so we cared about every move during the sketch time inside the precincts of the mosque.

The beautiful mosque is famous for its characteristically Islamic design in the middle spot between the Han River and Namsan, but will be scheduled to reconstruction in modern style sooner or later. 

Outside the mosque, there were many halal restaurants and shops where we can watch a lot of Muslims and the public convenience, Islamic bookstore, consists of a halal supermarket, travel agencies.

I sketched the symbolic mosque from various angles, exotic surrounding scenes in and outside the precincts. It was an exciting sketch time overcoming the terrible heat.

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서울중앙성원은 도심에 숨어있는 이국적 모뉴멘트~~

우리 문화와 이슬람 문화가 공존하는 이태원의 오아시스

호텔, 상가와 주택가를 잇는 이색적인 정경과 인간미 넘치는 곳....

이슬람의 세계를 스케치하며 무더위를 잊은 하루였습니다.

Watercolor paintings at Myeongnyundang

Myeongnyundang building, 54 x 74cm

viewed from left side of Myeongnyndang,  25 x 35cm

traditional wedding ceremony in the foreground of Myeongnyundang, 25 x 35cm  

ginkgo tree over 500 years old in the foreground,  25 x 35cm

streetscape across the entrance of Sungkyunkwan University, 25 x 35cm

600th Anniversary Hall of Sungkyunkwan University, beyond Bicheondang.  25 x 35cm

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Myeongnyundang is one of the main component building of Seoul Munmyo, a Confucian shrine complex which is more than 600 years and adjacent to Sungkyunkwan University up to the present.

Last Saturday, the weather was so good for our sketchers to be absorbed in drawing all day. I drew and painted various subjects this and that, enjoying colorful sceneries to the full around the intimate cultural properties.

sketches around Gwangwhamun

kind of rose moss at flower shop

national flags hung on Byucksan Kwangwhamun Seedae Officetel, Naejadong

frontal feature of Starbucks Coffee at Gwangwhamun

a girl at a bus on my way coming home

13 x 19 cm sketchbook

It was raining all day. I walked from Sajik Park to Gwangwhamun sketching the above ones. A pretty pot of flower imported rose moss caught my eye. While sketching the owner of the flower shop came out to see. Because I'd lived over 30 years in that village not far from the shop we talked about redevelopment, the old bakery, old doctor whom I had frequented for curing of my kids and I heard that he died after moving out the village. National flags hung on the building for celebrating the Independence Day of Korea were touching; the colors looked vivid due to the rain.

children

25 x 18.5 cm

Painted on envelope of book that is delivered in publishing company.
Is funny as label has acquired and paints on bumpy envelope than paint in sewer fireball.

30X21 cm pen and watercolor , oil pastel

Last Saturday, I go to S university hospital in Daehaak-ro and drew microscope.

pairs of shoes

Yesterday I went to Chongno District office for submitting an objection related with the parking violation. The District office building had been used originally for the Susong Elementary school in the center of Seoul, where I had attended for two years before I had moved to another place. Therefore I recollect the old days whenever I visit there. After I finished the business I stepped out of the elevator I saw this scene. At first a man near fifties was busy with shining the shoes. I hesitated to sketch him because I didn't know whether he'd like being sketched within a distance of 1-2 m. While I was thinking a minute he rose up from his stool to deliver 7-8 pairs of shoes holding with his 10 fingers to their owners before the closing time. I took that chance to sketch though the shoe shiner wasn't there.

views on the way of Jeju Olle trekking

Mt.Sungsan Illchooling-Bong and kosan harbor

at Olympic Park

The 23rd World-wide Sketch Crawl with Urban Sketchers Seoul

near the dormitory

founder's statue

Josh and Angela , a lovely couple