Sketching the skyline at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens 動植物公園內的中環天際與異葉南洋杉

I went to Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens late afternoon and sketched the skyline on top of a balcony near the central fountain.  It was nice to sketch some of the most important buildings from this angle.  From left to right was IFC2, the twin towers of the Landmark, 9 Queen's Road Central, Standard Chartered, HSBC, AIA and Cheung Kong Centre on the far right.   In garden, an Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island Pine) stands out as it is one of the tallest trees in the garden and it is slanting to one side.  

今日下午在動植物公園內畫園境同另一角度的中環天際。園外由左至右分別是國金二期、置地廣場、皇后大道中九號、渣打銀行、匯豐、AIA 同長江中心。園內則有一株高人一等的異葉南洋杉，與背後的高樓大廈相映成趣。

Sketching Plants at Lions Nature Education Centre 獅子會畫植物

Sketching plants at Lions Nature Education Centre, Sai Kung
Three edible plants.

I started with a leaf of a papaya tree. I really liked the structure of it. I went on to look for other plants and I was pleased to see the red Rosselle!

今日到獅子會畫木瓜、彿手瓜同洛神花！

Old YMCA Headquarters, Hong Kong 必列者士街青年會

A merry group of sketchers assembled in front of the old YMCA building in Bridges Street this afternoon and sketched whatever they found pleasing.   I chose to sketch this handsome building which was built in 1918, the oldest of any YMCA premises in Hong Kong.  

天寒地凍，一班畫友齊集必列者士街青年會一帶作畫。我選了青年會大樓寫生。青年會大樓建於1918年，為全港最舊的青年會建築物。

Old Ladder Street 樓梯街往昔

Oil on Canvas

Ladder Street (Chinese: 樓梯街) is a street in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, consisting entirely of stone steps.  The painting is based on an old black and white photo.

此油畫是跟據一張舊黑白相畫的。

資料來自维基百科

樓梯街（Ladder Street）位於香港上環，顧名思義，是一條以樓梯為主的街道，除了荷李活道以南，文武廟旁邊一小段可供車輛駛進四方街外，其餘各段皆為石級。早於香港開埠初期的1841年至1850年間興建，歷史悠久，現已被古物古蹟辦事處列為一級歷史建築。

Ho Chung Cher Kung Temple 蠔涌車公廟

It was an overcast day.  However, the sun came out briefly and I quickly outlined the shadows cast on the temple before it hid behind the clouds again.

Info from Wikipedia

Situated on the banks of the Ho Chung River,and half a mile from Ho Chung Village of Sai Kung District, the temple is one of the oldest in Hong Kong and worship General Che, his son and his grandson. Initially built in the mid-16th century, the temple predates its popular counterpart near Tai Wai in Sha Tin who is said to worship the grandson of General Che. The present temple structure probably dates largely from 1878, while the temple furniture probably dates from the Xianfeng era (1850-1861).

今日多雲。太陽暫現，我快手在畫紙上打影。

資料來自维基百科

蠔涌車公廟主要供奉車公，它是宋朝的大將軍，曾經平定華南某場戰爭叛亂，道教人士奉之為神靈。此車公廟有470多年歷史，與沙田車公廟的設立時間相距約200年，兩者更有著爺孫的關係。目前此廟已被列為香港一級歷史建築。

我第二本港人畫港記事本正式出版！ My second HANDSCRIPT notebook is out now!

The theme of this blank sketchbook is Tai O. This one together with the previous one, "Old Aberdeen" are now available at the following outlets:
Design Gallery, Wan Chai Convention Centre
Dymocks Bonham Road 
Dymocks MTR Hong Kong Station
Dymocks Hopewell Centre
Commercial Press  
Popular Book Store 

港人畫港記事本之大澳現已於下列地點有售:
設計廊 香港灣仔港灣道一號香港會議展覽中心地下 
Dymocks 般咸道
Dymocks 港鐵香港站
Dymocks 合和中心
商務印書館 
大眾書局

About the notebook:
Blank sketchbook
192 pages
120 x 170 mm
Expandable inner pocket

Sai Kung Tin Hau Temple (Goddess of the Sea) 西貢天后廟

The Tin Hau Temple in Sai Kung Town is not just a place for worship, locals still meet here for meetings, celebrations and ceremonies.

西貢市天后廟不只是供奉神靈之地，亦是本地人商議地區事務同舉行慶典之地。

Items of Fireboat Alexander Grantham 葛量洪號滅火輪的配件

Second sketch done at the Fireboat Alexander Grantham Gallery.
第二張於葛量洪號滅火輪展覽館畫的速寫。

Old Village House: East-Meets-West Style 中西合壁慎德居

This is a close-up sketch of the entrance of a large village house in Yuen Long.  The interesting bit is how the Roman columns are incorporated into this old traditional house and they mix really well together.  

元朗慎德居大門，中西合壁。
還有好對聯，慎言是則，德行為先。

University Hall, the University of Hong Kong 香港大學大學堂

It was very cold sketching today in the shade of University Hall this afternoon. I was shaking by the time I finished. 

Info from Wikipedia

University Hall is one of the oldest student residence of the University of Hong Kong.  The building was built in 1861 by a wealthy Scottish trader, Douglas Lapraik and was named Douglas Castle. It was later bought by the French Mission (the Societe Des Missions Etrangere De Paris）.  The castle was renamed Nazareth and was enlarged to include a printing house.  The first South-East Asia Chinese Bible was printed here.  During the Japanese occupation in the Second World War, the castle was once used as a torture and execution venue.  It was bought by the University of Hong Kong in 1954 and converted into a male student residence.  

冬天來了！畫完時身都震！

資料來自维基百科

香港大學大學堂由蘇格蘭商人杜格拉斯·林柏（Douglas Lapraik）於1861年建成並命名為杜格拉斯堡（Douglas Castle）。1894年，巴黎外方傳教會（the Societe Des Missions Etrangere De Paris）購入該建築物，並易名為拿撒勒樓（The Nazareth House）。拿撒勒樓遭到大規模修葺及重建，更加建了一所印刷工場，印刷工場在其後期間內印刷了六萬多本由二十八種文字編成的天主教書目流傳亞洲各地，全東南亞第一本中文聖經亦出於此。香港日佔時期，拿撒勒樓及伯達尼療養院分別成為香港仔船塢工人宿舍及日本憲兵總部。教士被逐，而底層休息室以及對出庭園更是當日拷打、行刑及停屍的地方。1953年，巴黎外方傳教會撤離拿撒勒樓。香港大學於翌年將之購入，並於1956年正式用作男生宿舍及命名為大學堂。

Sketching Huts in Sai Kung 西貢木棉山木屋

Walking into Muk Min Shan in Sai Kung for the first time, I discovered these huts along the way and settled down for a quick sketch.  The irregular shapes, the not-so-vertical walls and slanting roofs all made the huts a great sketching topic.  They also brought back old memories when I, as a kid, once resided in a hut like this.  Shabby yes, but it was all surrounded by trees and wild residents such as mantis and grasshoppers. And our outgoing cat which liked jumping and fighting with neighboring cats from one rooftop to the other in the middle of the night!

西貢木棉山一帶木屋的歪牆斜頂不只是速寫的好題材，還令我憶起兒時居於木屋的一些片段。屋雖然殘舊，但屋前種滿樹，樹上還住了螳螂和草蜢，當然不小得愛出夜街的家貓，晚上總愛在鐵皮屋頂上大叫同跟鄰家的貓大打出手。

Fireboat Alexander Grantham 葛量洪號滅火輪

In a fine breezy afternoon, I went with a group of sketchers to sketch the now retired fireboat, Alexander Grantham.

Info of this fireboat from Wikipedia:

The Alexander Grantham (Chinese: 葛量洪號) was a fireboat of Hong Kong's Fire Services Department. The fireboat was named after former Governor Sir Alexander Grantham. The boat has since retired from service and been replaced by other vessels.

Alexander Grantham, the largest in the fleet of fireboats, was built by the Hong Kong Whampoa Dock Company Limited in 1953 and decommissioned in May 2002, after 49 years of service.

Measuring 38.9 metres long, 8.8 metres wide, 15 metres tall and with a loaded displacement of 511 tonnes, it has taken part in numerous fire-fighting and rescue operations, including the Seawise University fire in 1972, the Eastern Gate fire in the 1980s and the New Orient Princess fire in 1993.

Alexander Grantham is also a great example of the Hong Kong shipbuilding industry's achievements in the early 1950s. It showcases Hong Kong's sea salvage history of the past century and provides a glimpse of the territory's social development.

前兩天與畫友到太古海傍畫葛量洪號滅火輪。

维基百科資料:

葛量洪號曾是消防處的主力滅火輪，1953年6月30日在黃埔船塢出廠，耗資400萬港元製造，以當時的香港總督葛量洪爵士命名。2002年退役前一直為亞洲最大的滅火輪。

葛量洪號船身長38.9米，闊8.8米，高15米，排水量503噸，船速可達每小時12.5海里。船上設有多條用於救火的中攻喉筆、消防泵、水炮和打撈設備，能應付大型遠洋輪船的高層結構火警，並可作為大型海上事故的指揮船。

鑑於葛量洪號具歷史意義，香港歷史博物館把它列為藏品，並且建設葛量洪號滅火輪展覽館，妥善裝置此滅火輪，開放予公眾參觀。此外，展覽館還展出獨特的消防文物，並且輔以多媒體介紹，增進公眾對香港海上救援工作的認識。

主要貢獻

• 1960年代香港制水期間負責運送淡水供市民取用
• 撲救1971年10月30日發生的珍寶海鮮舫大火
• 撲救1972年1月9日發生的伊利莎白皇后號（海上學府）大火
• 撲救1980年代初的東閘號油輪大火
• 撲救1986年的香港仔避風塘大火
• 救援1988年8月31日中國民航301號班機墮海空難
• 撲救1993年8月25日發生的賭船新東方公主號大火

Sketching After Lunch at C.C. Cafe 午餐後速寫

I carried with me my sketchbook, watercolors and pens and finally settled down in this cozy local restaurant in Sai Kung Old Town.  After a delicious all-day breakfast, I decided to make a little sketch of the people in the restaurant first before I ventured out to search for sketch topics.  

隨身一本畫簿、一盒水彩同幾支畫筆，安坐西貢舊墟一餐廳，食完全日早餐後便畫起來。

At the Pier of Sai Kung Fish Wholesale Market 西貢漁市場碼頭

The Sai Kung Fish Wholesale Market was open today for the public to enter.  Display boards were placed on the pier, explaining the operation of the government-run fish market piers all around Hong Kong.  And there I went, sitting close to the docking boats, sketching quickly before the sky darkened further into the night. 

西貢漁類統營處碼頭開放日, 黃昏時入內參觀的只有我同兩位釣魚客。難得入內，天又快黑，便速畫碼頭漁船。

Sketching in the Evening at a Cargo Pier 西環貨運碼頭寫生

The autumn breeze is all around us at this cargo pier in Sai Wan near Kennedy Town.  The absence of railings make the whole place so inviting and thus, people in the neighbourhood love coming here to jog and chill out.

秋風送爽，西環貨運碼頭是寫生影相的好地方。難得此處全無欄杆，坐下碼頭邊便是海。陸連海，海連天，自然是附近居民、龍友同畫友的好去處。

A 15-Minute Sketch in Sai Wan 西灣村15分鐘速寫

I was on a field trip yesterday morning and we stopped by at the famous sweet "bean curd" dessert shop in Sai Wan Village.  I quickly pulled out my sketchbook and sketched the scene within fifteen minutes before we moved on again.

星期日早上到西灣一帶認山草藥，途中大家停下品嘗弛名山水豆腐花，我就趁機速寫。

World Wide Sketchcrawl 41 Hong Kong 國際寫生日 41

A merry group of Hong Kong sketchers assembled at the University of Hong Kong today and sketched for an afternoon.  I chose the oldest building of the university, the main building and settled in the corridor next to one of the courtyards in the building to sketch.

今日一班 香港 sketchers 匯聚香港大學一齊畫 sketch。而我就選了港大最老的大學本部，坐在其中一庭園徊廊寫生。

Sketching at a Classic Car Show in Central 香港老爺車展2013

Another sketch done at the Hong Kong Classic Car Show 2013!  A visitor was very interested in the engine of one of the cars.

另一張在香港老爺車展2013畫的sketch. 一位訪客正研究其中一架老爺車的引擎。

Sketching at a Classic Car Show 中環畫老爺車

A great day out with a group of sketcher friends at the Hong Kong Classic Car Show.  At top right, a sketcher friend is working hard in the sun sketching an Austin Morris Mini.

今日同班sketch友去畫老爺車！其中一位sketch友在烈日下努力畫部 Austin Morris Mini。

Sketching at Maryknoll Convent School 瑪利諾修院學校寫生

Today I went to Maryknoll Convent School as the school campus was open to public as a participant of Heritage Fiesta, a programme that aims at celebrating the various historic architecture in Hong Kong as well as educating the public about the importance of preserving them.  It was a hot dry day and fortunately I was able to settle in the shade of a large tree and sketched the entrance to the school.  

今年發展局文物保育專員辦事處邀請了 瑪利諾修院學校 參與「古蹟周遊樂2013」並開放小學部校園給公眾參觀。今天天晴趕燥，好在大門有大樹遮陰，作畫時不至曬到滿頭大汗。

wiki資料：

香港日治時期，受二戰戰事影響，瑪利諾修院學校一度停課。雖然學校於1943年局部復課，但校舍大部份位置於1942年至1945年期間曾改作日軍醫院

St John's Cathedral 中環聖約翰座堂

An old sketch done last year.

St John's Cathedral is the first Anglican church built in Hong Kong.  The site of St. John's Cathedral is the only freehold land in Hong Kong which was given to the Anglican church permanently.

舊年的作品。

聖約翰座堂於1847年奠基，1849年落成及祝聖，為香港最古老的西式教會建築物，是本港唯一一片以永久業權形式持有的土地（Freehold）。

Sketching at a Wedding Banquet 婚宴寫生

I attended a wedding banquet this afternoon on an outdoor terrace located on the 16th floor of a high rise mall, high above the busy street in the city centre.  As the jolly banquet came to an end, I stayed behind and quickly sketched the cityscape behind the glass balustrade.

今日前往 the One 十六樓 Garden Terrace 赴會好友婚宴，婚宴後走到 Garden Terrace 北面玻璃圍欄向下望。景色不錯，便坐下速畫。

Sketching at Hong Kong Cemetery 香港墳場寫生

I spent a quiet afternoon sketching at the Hong Kong Cemetery!  It is a nice solemn place to visit on autumn days and a nice place to look at the history of Hong Kong.

The protestant cemetery is one of the earliest cemetery in Hong Kong which was founded in 1845, almost as old as Hong Kong.

今日下午去了香港墳場寫生。香港墳場建於1845年，是一個莊嚴又滿載香港歷史的地方。

City Scenes of To Kwa Wan 印象土瓜灣

I spent an afternoon walking around the old district of To Kwa Wan earlier, took a few photos and came up with this collage painting.

早前拍了一些土瓜灣的照片，今日用厘畫一張拼合畫。

Sketching a Bus Terminus in Kwun Tong 巨變將臨裕民坊

The old town centre of Kwun Tong is about to undergo a big change as the buildings surrounding this bus terminus are soon going to be pulled down for a mega development. Many old small shops are already closed for good and apartments are all vacant here except the bus terminus which is still in operation.  Will this area become yet another huge air-conditioned mall?

Personally, I would prefer keeping some old buildings, have them refurbished, adding some new ones, keeping and improving the street life, instead of turning everything into a huge single indoor air-conditioned mall!

觀塘裕民坊重建在即！老店舊舖通通關門！今日特別來畫低還未變成一座巨型冷氣商場的裕民坊。