34th World Wide Sketchcrawl: Burning Offerings to Gods 二帝廟前祈福

It was a nice experience to sketchcrawl around Yuen Long Old Town, a place that we could still see a number of traditional brick-bulit houses and temples. In the sketch, a man was preparing offerings to be burned at the burner. Written on the burner was three traditional Chinese characters, representing the three gods, god of good fortune, god of prosperity and god of longevity.

元朗舊墟內保留了一定數量青磚建的老屋和廟宇。此二帝廟前的大火爐上寫上福祿壽三字, 好讓村民前來祈福。

Quick Sketch in Stanley 赤柱速畫

I went to Stanley with a group of school kids today. During a fifteen-minute break, I did a very quick sketch of this Tin Hau Temple. (Temple of the Goddess of the Sea)

今日同一班學生跑到赤柱。小休時拿出畫簿速畫天后廟。

The Dolce & Gabanna Protest in Hong Kong D&G 門口萬人影相活動

D&G 門口萬人影相活動
用當日影的相組合而畫成！

I went to this protest against Dolce & Gabanna Hong Kong on 8 January. This sketch is based on the photos I took on site. Thousands of furious Hongkongnese participated. Below is a note written by a local critic in order to explain what is actually happening in Hong Kong.

Outrageous racism of D&G shop and the Tsimshatsui mall in Kong Kong, reported by the popular and daring Apple Daily of Hong Kong. The D&G (Dolce & Gabbana) shop in Hong Kong didn't allow Hongkongers to take photos in the public area in the street outside the shop. Camera was covered by the security guard. The guard in the mall told the reporter that local Hong Kong residents are not welcome to visit as they only expect luxury goods buyers from the communist governed mainland China to come. Tourists from communist China are obviously allowed to take photos in the public street area outside the shop. Lawyers told the press that this is infringement of public access and human rights. The reporter came to test the shop and the mall in Tsimshatsui, as a follow-up action of readers' complaints.

If you are not luxury goods buyers from Communist China, or if you are not prepared to buy as rampantly as the communist buyers do, please think twice before you come to visit Hong Kong, which is now a place contaminated with communist racism, greed and bad manners of luxury outlets. We Hongkongers regret to tell you this, but as our SAR Hong Kong government is dwarfed by the communist Chinese government in Peking (Beijing), who claim to be the most powerful nation next to the USA, we can only treat you well when Hong Kong regains its autonomy. Thank you for your time in reading this, and we feel sorry for it. (drafted by Chan Wan, cultural critic of Hong Kong)

Huge Banyan Tree Swallowing an Abandoned School 錦田樹屋

Kam Tin Tree House is a huge Banyan tree (Ficus microcarpa) that has been growing for more than a hundred years at the site of an abandoned village school in the Yuen Long District. The arial roots of the tree grew along the beams, pillars and walls of the abandoned school. Through time the whole school is "swallowed" completely by the tree as the arial roots slowly thickened into hundreds of supporting trunks. The entwining trunks are really a sight to behold! Truly a living sculpture!

據說錦田樹屋原是書齋, 書齋荒廢後，旁邊的榕樹慢慢長大，氣根沿書齋的牆壁和橫樑擴張，終於變成今天的樣子。

Abandoned Terrace in the Urban Jungle 船街秘密花園

I went sketching with friends along Ship Street. The street is a long ascending flight of steps. At the end of the street, a photographer happened to pass by and showed us a concealed narrow stairway that leads up to an abandoned terrace which once housed a small school building decades ago. Following him, we climbed the stairs and found that the abandoned terrace is now overgrown with huge banyan trees with their tangling roots wrapping many parts of the terrace's balustrade. Huge tree roots are crawling on the terrace floor! The view was stunning as the skyscrapers down hill were right behind the towering trees.

昨日同畫友們到灣仔船街寫生。走到船街樓梯盡頭，路經的一名龍友帶我們走入一個隱閉於榕樹林的荒廢平台。據龍友說平台原為一所學校，但校舍已拆多年。現在大榕樹群從新塑造此地，另此地成為城市中的秘密花園。

Quiet Village Houses at Luk Keng 依山傍水楊屋村

I was invited to a Christmas barbecue party at this remote village in the very northern part of Hong Kong. The name of the village "Yeung Uk" literally means the Yeung's Houses". The village is small but charming. A small hill full of mature trees is right behind the houses while a small tidal pond filled with red marshes is sitting right in front of the village.
今日到鹿頸楊屋村參與一個BBQ party。此村遠離人煙、依山傍水、絕對是寫生的好地方！

Charming Old Tenement Building in Western District 西區舊唐樓

An old tenement building adds much charm to the junction of Centre Street and Des Voeux Road in the Western District of Hong Kong.


一幢充滿魅力的西式舊唐樓成為正街同德輔道交界的地標！

Sketching After Eating at a Huge Canteen 深水埗北河街街市熟食中心

A few days ago, I went to a cooked food centre located in a multi-storey government building in the Sham Shui Po district. The district is one of the older and poorer districts in Hong Kong and the cheaper food here is very popular among the communities. The centre is a huge square dinning hall with many food stores lining the three sides of the hall. We ordered our food and started sketching.   
幾天前同朋友一同遊走深水埗。餓時走上深水埗熟食中心。吃完奶油多同飲完奶茶就開始畫畫

Initial line drawing done on site.

現場畫的線稿。

Time to Sing For You! 係時候唱吓歌！

The Next Ten Minutes
Vocal: Gary and Charlotte
27-11-2011
Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong

It's time for some music!!
Last month, I sang with many friends at a musical event held at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre. I really have to thank my coach for coaching me on singing and acting. The show showcased a series of songs from a number of musicals. Here are two of the songs I sang in our show! Enjoy!

上月參與了一個好好玩的音樂劇音樂會演出, 最開心可以同一大班愛唱歌的朋友一齊唱歌！ 在此特別要多謝歌唱老師指點！


Oh the Thinks You Can Think
Vocal: Gary and Lorraine with Hong Kong Metropolitan Chorus
27-11-2011

Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong

Oh the Thinks You Can Think! Think the Thinks for Hong Kong!

More songs on my video channel below: 更多音樂！
http://www.youtube.com/user/saikunggary?feature=watch

And more info about Hong Kong Metropolitan Chorus: 有關香港大都會合唱團：
http://www.thehkmc.org/

Flower Market under the Banyan Tree 榕樹下的花墟道

The weather was just right for sketching today, pleasantly cool!

Flower Market Road is a street market with lots of flower shops and street hawkers showing colourful displays, the sweet scents and the exotic blossoms of many houseplants.

天氣不冷不熱，是出外作畫好時候!

香港油尖旺區的一條著名道路，以沿道路的多間鮮花盆栽店鋪組成的旺角花墟而聞名。

Old Tenement Building in Mong Kok 旺角唐樓

A small interesting tenement building in the Mong Kok district. 旺角老唐樓

Fishing at Dusk 黃昏的鯉漁門碼頭

Lei Yue Mun Pier, a great place for fishing, looking at the harbour or just chilling out in the sunset! 黃昏的鯉漁門碼頭是釣魚人仕的好去處！

Temple by the Sea 鯉魚門天后宮

Hong Kong has always been a maritime city and temples built for the goddess of the sea are scattered around the city.  However, many of these temples originally built at the waterfront are now far away from the shorelines due to reclamation works that have been carried for a century.  This temple is a rare one as it still stands at the waterfront, guarding the passing ships at the eastern entrance to the Victoria Harbour.


經歷百年填海，香港大多數天后廟現都遠離海邊。鯉魚門天后宮可貴在她仍處海邊，默默守望進出維港的船隻。

Light House at the Entrance to Victoria Harbour 鯉魚門三家村燈塔

I spent a great afternoon today with a few sketcher friends sketching along Saam Ga Village in Lei Yue Mun. Lei Yue Mun is the east entrance to Victoria Harbour and it is a great place to watch the boats and the waves. This sketch was done on a rocky beach in the shade of a big tree.

今天與幾位畫友再次到鯉魚門三家村一帶寫生。安坐灘邊大朴樹下，畫了鯉魚門入口的燈塔。

Colour Brown Cafe @ Sai Kung Old Town 西貢市場街 Colour Brown Cafe

Made a little sketch after lunch at a cafe opposite Colour Brown Cafe along See Cheung Street, Sai Kung. Colour Brown is one of the few cafes that brighten up this old street in Sai Kung Old Town. The little chinese wooden doors and the simple green umbrella together give much character to this little cafe.

西貢市場街近年開了多間小咖啡室。其中Colour Brown應該是最悠久的一間。中式小木門加上店前一把太陽傘，既簡單又具性格!

Fishing On Top of a Big Rock 石上釣魚

Lei Yue Mun is the eastern entrance to Victoria Harbour. It is a popular spot for those who enjoy fishing. It was a very sunny day. Thanks to the shade provided by the large rock next to me, I could sketched comfortably, hiding from the scorching summer sun.
今天難得假期，跑到鯉魚門三家村四處拍照同畫畫。見多人在海邊的一堆大石上釣魚，便找附近一陰涼處，坐下便畫。

Photo taken after the sketch was done. As you can see, two of the three guys had left and one had sat down with only his hat visible.
畫完畫，畫中的兩位釣魚客已走到別處垂釣。

Ready for Practice 練習

An athlete standing at the end of a dragon boat.

Looking out to the Sea on a Small Island 坪州望海

Went to a friend's house on Ping Chau, a small quiet island located west of the Hong Kong Island. While sketching, I could feel the heat coming in, with the shade I was in gradually replaced by the low but very hot afternoon sun.

早前到友人於坪州的家畫畫。可是天氣實在太熱，非快快畫完不可！

After finishing the first layer, the sun was already on my feet.
打好稿時太陽已曬到腳邊。

Fruit Stall in Tai Wai 大圍生果檔

Hong Kong has already got too many chain stores. When you want to buy fruit next time, look for a fruit hawker in a nearby wet market if possible.

支持小店，如果可以的話，下次買生果時請幫襯生果檔！

Construction Workers Resting in Shade 下午小休

A group of construction workers resting in the shade at Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, escaping from the hot summer sun.

一班建築工人坐在路邊陰涼處小休片刻。

A Stray Calf Looked After by a Security Guard 一頭迷途小牛

A stray calf has been resting near my home for a few days. A security guard stationing nearby gave the calf buckets of water to drink each day. The initially shy calf is now not very much afraid of the residents and would lick your hands if you are nice to him.


我家附近跑來了一頭迷途小牛。好心的護衛每天都準備一桶又一桶水比小牛喝！原本怕人的小牛變得友善，還會舔你的手!

Waiting and Chatting Away 一路等一路傾

A sketch based on a photo taken today in the very busy and crowded Mong Kok district.  Two pairs of youngsters waiting and chatting away in the middle of the road.


繁忙的路中心一樣可以是傾偈的好地方!

Four of the Eight Gods above a Columbarium 八仙共融的啟示

I went to Yuen Yuen Institute last Saturday in the Tsuen Wan area. It is the only temple in Hong Kong dedicated to all three major Chinese religions: Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.   I sat down under a tree and sketched the columbarium on my right.  The picture above the columbarium was a large sculptural mural depicting the eight gods in Chinese mythology, however I only managed to sketch four of them.   All eight gods were once mortals on earth and came from all walks of life. They represent the rich, the poor, the young and the old, bonding together in harmony, they made many great adventures.  Their fellowship is a big lesson for us to learn in the urban modern world!


「圓玄學院」供奉儒家、佛教及道教的思想，認為三教同源！安坐樹下，速畫了骨灰龕場上八仙中的其中四位。中國神話裡的八仙，分別代表男女老幼、貧賤富貴。他們雖來自不同背景，各有個性和才能，卻不分尊卑，相處融洽，到處遊歷。

Old Street Scene in Tai Wai 大圍一角

It is a studio drawing of a scene in Tai Wai based on some photos I took earlier, a comparatively old district in the Sha Tin area, where buildings are mostly low-rises and have been there for decades.  While many old parts of Hong Kong are being torn down and turned into super high-rises accompanied by super malls, these old charming streets with real local shops and restaurants are becoming increasingly rare.


大圍的舊樓、小店舖、餐廳加上街上的一架手推車、一張摺檯，營做出一種平民街道的人情味，是新落成大型住宅商場無法取代的！

中環街市- 「捉跡六億年」壁畫創作展 Central Oasis - Memories of Nature

Thanks for those who came to the opening! The murals will stay on for at least a few months to a year probably until the renovation work begins.

六億年前地球上最早的生命是從海中開始！六位本地插畫師​Sindy Lau, Rita Ip, Steve Yuen, Joe Lee, Gary Yeung, Jamaika Wong, 分別以史前的海洋生物、恐龍、化石、冰河、非洲森林、亞​瑪遜雨林和未來生活為主題，在活化工程展開前的中環街市​二樓行人走廊以壁畫建構一條時光隧道，捕捉地球生命演化​的痕跡，也讓公眾停下腳步，反思人與自然...。

Life began in the deep of the ocean 600 million years ago! Six local artists: Sindy Lau, Rita Ip, Steve Yuen, Joe Lee, Gary Yeung, Jamaika Wong conjured up a time tunnel along the Escalator Link at Central Market, showcasing life from different times: ancient ocean, dinosaur land, life fossilized in rocks, life in ice age, African safari, tropical forest and land of the future. Capturing dramatic moments of evolution, inviting everyone to feel the wonders our mother earth has been creating, a space for the public, a time to reflect on our roles in nature!