Sketching in Okcheonam

   

                   We had the meeting of Sketch Crawl in Okcheonam.
                   It is a smart temple on the roadside .
                   I thought the temple would be crowded, because
                   the Buddha's day is approaching, but the temple
                   was quiet and comfortable as if l were in the
                   mountain.
                   The colorful lotus lamps were in harmony with
                   the spring flowers and trees.
                   The weather was best for drawing .
                    It's been a long time ,i had a hard time to sketch ,
                    but my mind was easy...


                   옥련암은 생각과는 달리 산이나 언덕위가 아닌
                   도심속 도로변에 위치한 조그마한 암자였다.
                   석가탄신일이 다가오고있어 많이 붐빌거라 생각했는데
                   마치 산속인양 고즈녁했다.
                   색색의 연등은 활짝핀 꽃과 더불어 봄의 정취를 더해주고
                   홍제천의 물소리,살랑거리는 바람,햇살에 어른거리는
                   연등의 그림자...
                   스케치하기엔 최적의 날씨였다~     
 

59th World Wide SketchCrawl at Okcheonam Temple

panoramic view of Okcheonam Temple, pencil and watercolor

looking up the temple complex inside the gate, pencil and watercolor

Rock-carved Seated Bodhisattva in Bodogak Hall, pen and watercolor

approaching the One Pillar Gate of Okcheonam Temple, pen and watercolor

a colorful scene of the neighboring village, pen and watercolor

distant view of the temple under the overpass, pen

. 

(29.6 x 42cm sketchbook)

.

It was a little windy but pleasantly sunny and warm last Saturday. For the 59th World Wide SketchCrawl, USK Seoul members met at Okcheonam Hermitage, a small and peacefull temple in Hongeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Okcheonam Temple located at the foot of Samgaksan Mountain, and beneath the precinct Hongjecheon stream that flows throughout the year. The Temple dates back to the 14th century during the Goryeo dynasty. Lots of colorful Lotus Lanterns are beautifully embroidered on the temple and the street around the surrounding residential village. It was to celebrate the Buddha's Birthday on May 22. The temple buildings are built on narrow and steep bedrock linearly, and the natural combination of different architectures seems very interesting and beautiful features harmonized with the natural landscape. Especially the Rock-carved Seated Bodhisattva of Okcheonam Hermitage (Designation: Treasure No.1820) is famous for a large Buddhist image over five meters tall. The granite carving is concave and painted in a lovely seashell white, and so called "The White Buddah". Though the site of the temple is long narrow and rather small but the the precincts was crowded with Buddhists and visitors for lanterns ceremony to celebrate Buddha's Birthday. 

On entering the temple, I was fascinated with the panoramic scenes of the temple and the neighboring village, including access bridge over the stream and curved overpass, apartment buildings, etc. I enjoyed sketching several colorful scenes around the small and peaceful temple at the foot of the mountain nearby downtown Seoul.

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석탄일을 앞두고 거리마다 연등으로 수놓은 신록의 새봄~

삼각산과 홍제천을 따라 도심속의 시골내음이 배어나오고

쉬지않고 달리는 고가도로 밑의 다정한 "하얀 부처님"

일상의 소재가 구석구석 담겨있는 명품 스케치의 장소입니다.

옥천암 스케치

          도시주변에  이런  고즈넉한  장소가  있다니~
          석가탄신일이   얼마남지않은 시기라  사람들로  붐빌거란  예상을  했는데
          소수의   예불드리는 사람들과  스님들의  목탁소리뿐 !
          어느때  보다  쾌적한 스케치장소였다.
         

Sketches around Okcheonam, temple : 59th World Wide SketchCrawl

pencil, pen, watercolor, 25 x 25 cm

Shi Zhi Fang(left) and Ying Meng(right)

The weather was really fantastic. The temple was decorated with colorful lotus lamps all around it. We enjoyed the beautiful scene hearing the Buddhist service while sketching. We had lunch served at the temple dining room. Two Chinese sketchers who were staying for study in Korea liked Korean temple food too. In the afternoon a family came for visiting the temple showed interest in art so much. I talked them about our activity and asked them to join next month. Different from the downtown temple like Jogyesa the temple was very quiet so we could spend a nice day drawing those great scenes. 

Thank you all the participants!

오늘 날씨가 너무 좋았습니다. 옥천암 분위기도 아름다왔구요. 그동안 저는 여러번 그렸지만 계절에 따라 다른 모습을 보여주는 곳입니다. 흐르는 홍제천의 맑은 물과 산책로도 좋고 내부순환로의 육중한 모습이 주변의 산과 도회적인 모습을 이루며 그림거리를 제공한다고 생각합니다. 그리며 만나는 여러 관객과의 대화도 즐겁고 스케쳐님들과 오랜만에 만나서 즐거운 시간 보냈습니다. 옥천암 보살님들의 맛있는 점심 공양도 너무 감사했습니다.

참가하신 분들: 이용환, 한정선, 백경원, 최정은, 정초혜, 변석현, 시지황(Shi Zhi Fang), 응몽(Ying Meng), 이미영, 유병화

감사합니다!