Sketching FRIENDS after PANDEMIC

 

Sketching FRIENDS after PANDEMIC
Team HAPPY of FRU (Filipino Runners United, Dubai)
Zabeel Park, Dubai
02 December 2021-UAE 50th National Day

Yesterday I received a message from Victoria if we can drop by at Zabeel Park as the Team Happy will be having a get-together. I just reply who is the team happy now?

I and Annie arrived at the park around 11:30am and were greeted by close friends "Luisa, There, Victoria, Jenel & Gia, Rodel, Bang  & her husband and afterwards Ronelo. We had a great time sharing stories and eating favorite foods - Dinuguan & Pansit.

After our lunch, I started to do a quick sketch while they are busy chatting, sleeping & eating.

I am hoping that we will be having more get-togethers soon.

Real Talk:
I really missed them. Thank you guys for inviting us.
Love you all.

YOUth Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai

YOUth Pavilion

Expo2020 Dubai

27 November 2021

I am in a rush to go to Haiti Pavilion where I will do today's sketch, I took a route on a shaded alley of the mobility district and found out this YOUth Pavilion. I suddenly stopped and read outside information "It's time to fuel your dot & turn your dot desire into reality",

I was a bit curious and when I look inside the pavilion, no display showcases, only 4 big vertical screens where you can see a lifesize Emirati Youth giving information about today's youth...not only Emirati youth but about youth all around the world ( that was the translation told me by pavilion staff on duty).

And he also told me that I can participate in their scheduled workshops and talks which are highlighted on a curved big screen. And when I looked at him...he smiled and told me that we need a senior like you to share your skills & experiences, I smiled and says..." yes, of course".

After that chat, I went outside and started to sketch the YOUth inside big vertical screens. 

Below is the information from the YOUth Pavilion web page.
https://pavilion.youth.gov.ae/

YOUth Pavilion on Youtube
YOUth Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai

 

I sketched Cambodian Minister

I sketched Cambodian Minister.
November 2021

ASEAN Pavilion contacted me to be their pavilion artist that day which I agree for 1 hour only (during lunch), without knowing that the Cambodian Minister will be visiting EXPO2020 Dubai and the ASEAN Pavilion.

During the Minister visit with his whole entourage, he just passed by my table while taking off his mask for a quick photo, I managed to do a quick scan of his face and quickly ink sketch on Asean Red Expo Passport and rendered in watercolor and that's it...sketch is done.

When I looked on my back I saw (I assumed) the personal assistant of the minister watching me the whole time during sketching & he agreed to hand over to minister the sketched souvenir passport.

Before the visit finished, ASEAN gave him a souvenir & one of those is my sketch on Asean Red Expo Passport and when Minister Cham received his passport he smile & say..." wow! this is me! that is so quick, where is the artist? come here you need to be here for our photo".

003_Dubai Metro Life

 24 June 2021
Thursday

At DMCC Metro Station when I got my seat as the train still jampacked with commuters.

"Wait for me at the next station"

Quickly, I grab my sketch notebook and started sketching the people in front of me, then suddenly the guy beside me stood up and run to the door...then a loud sound of..."blaaaaaggg" and "ding-ding". Yes, the door was already closed and somebody missed again the station and the poor guy waving to his wife taking his mobile into his pocket and shouted " yes, just wait for me at the next station.

002_Dubai Metro Life

23 June 2021
Wednesday

After my 9.5 hrs of work under the heat of middle east summer, now I am heading home, riding the Dubai train.

Since my workplace is at the last & first metro station. I can select a comfortable seat with a nice viewing window.
But not all seats can be sitted...there is an alternate seating arrangement, of course, a 2 mts. social distancing and the mask are mandatory.

But wait, the man in front of me was sitting in a non-seating area even there is a big sign of  "Please Don't Sit" but seems that he doesn't care at all.

"So What, I'm tired!" he silently utter, when someone staring at him.

For Informations:

Below are the Dubai Metro Train Covid Rules:

Penalties at Dubai Public Transport:
RTA Fines

You can watch Dubai Metro Train Covid Rules here:

Dubai Metro Train Covid Rules

 

001_Dubai Metro Life

 

23 June 2021
Wednesday

My daughter's car was sent for service and it will be finished by today afternoon, so I don't have any choice but to take Dubai Metro going to my workplace which is in Dubai Expo 2020.

From my place, the train will be passing 10 metro stations before reaching expo 2020.
Instead of sleeping or eating (which is prohibited in the Dubai train), I will do my quick sketching to capture the life inside the metro train.

I am using my small sketch notebook, a brush black pen, small watercolor, quick & discreet eyes, and laser-like hearing to capture all the drama inside the train.

The above sketch was titled "Pucha! lumagpas ako" in English " F**k! I missed my station".

The man in front of me was sleeping and he suddenly looks over the window and grabs his mobile phone and I heard his conversation with his colleague..." I will be late, f**k  I missed Jebel Ali metro station".