Tag: watercolor

Urban Sketchers International Symposium 2026: A Volunteer’s Experience

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Recently held in Toulouse, the Urban Sketchers International Symposium came to into conclusion a few weeks ago. These have been the four (five, if I count the day I volunteered to pack the goodie bag items) busiest days of this year for me. I have never been so physically tired in a long time but I have never been so happy either. Being a volunteer at the symposium is easily one of the best experiences I could possibly have as an artist!

It all started when I wanted to join last year’s symposium in Poznan, Poland, but realized it was already too late for me to register, and that I had other holiday plans as well during that time. You can just imagine how ecstatic I was to find out this year’s symposium was going to be held right where I live!!! And that they would need volunteers. Volunteering for something that I’m passionate about has always been in my blood even when I was still living in the Philippines. I’ve volunteered for ecotourism, education for children, and even for kiddie cancer patients (which was heart-breaking). And now, I’m volunteering for art in one of the most artistic and beautiful places in the planet.

I applied to be a volunteer for the symposium during the last quarter of 2025, if I remember correctly, and then I heard from them in January saying that I was short-listed, and finally accepted to be one of the sixty lucky volunteers! I was so, so, so happy. We had a couple of meetings after that, and I was also accepted to volunteer for the goodie bags packing, which was so much fun.

We packed the goodie bags on Bastille Day, which is a national holiday here in France. All twenty of us were so excited to unpack the boxes, arrange them properly on the table, form an assembly line, and fill in the yellow bags with all the goodies, all 900++ of them!

We were supposed to finish late in the afternoon, but we finished hours in advance because we were so fast and efficient. Thanks to the help of volunteer coordinator, Amelie Demange and all the admin and staff working with us during that day.

As a volunteer, you get to see the behind-the-scenes of (almost) everything, and also get to know the wonderful people behind the organization, and of course, the faculty. We also get to have our free lunch, and our own lounge / resting area. And of course, all the goodies in the goodie bag from all the sponsors, and more:

As a volunteer, I got to assist in one of the demos and one of the workshops. I also got to attend on one of the workshops. They were all very interesting but I was really too distracted and too tired to follow the workshops and the demos, and I even forgot to bring the proper art materials with me because I always had to rush in the morning, not used to waking up very early and I would be so exhausted coming back home from volunteer work that I would just eat and sleep when I got back home. But still, I was able to sneak in this quick sketch and a watercolor doodle of Saint-Sernin Basilica while assisting a demo from one of the faculties from all over the world, even without my usual plein air painting kit. I made do with the sketchpad that was included in the goodie bag from leuchtturm1917, which they actually engraved with my website URL for free!

I also had a chance to watch Stephanie Bower on her talk about perspective. She also did some book signing one day, and so I brought all my books for her to sign.

There were a lot of other well-known artists there doing the workshops and demos, etc., but I mostly enjoyed assisting Barbara Luel in her demo at Place Wilson. She was the nicest, warmest, most charming faculty member. And I am just so glad to have been assigned to assist her.

I actually did not know that there would be a lot of walking involved, even though I avoided volunteering for the sketchwalks. It was Urban Sketching after all, so I should have expected to walk outside with the faculty and do the sketching / painting plein air!

One of the highlights for me was when we all went up onstage to accept a warm round of applause from everyone during the closing ceremony.

I have never done anything quite like this before. I don’t think I would have the stamina to become a volunteer again, but I think I just might go to the next symposium in Toronto, summer next year. And if I ever do, hope to see you there! 🙂

Thanks for dropping by! Cheers, and have a good week ahead!

Birthday Trip in Sevilla

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So, I went back to Andalucía end of last month to see the city of Sevilla. Last time I was in that region, I stayed only in the mountains in Alajar for my Botanical Skincare and Art Retreat. Well, this time, I went to see the famous city for some sight-seeing and some artistic workshops – Mosaic Tile Making and the Flamenco Dance tutorial in the video below. 😀

This was the first time I went on a birthday trip without really much planning. I just wanted to take it easy this time. And also, no going to too many fancy restaurants that explain too much about the food and all that. Just simple, fresh and good quality food with some nice ambience. 🙂

We stayed at an AirBNB in a quiet location right next to the Market along Calle Feria. We had a lovely two-storey apartment at the top floor, with a big terasse overlooking the neighborhood and the gorgeous bell tower of the Parroquia Omnium Sanctorum, a nice small church right next to our place. Having a good view, is always a requirement for me when picking a place to stay. This is probably one of the nicest views I have ever had in an AirBNB (except for those overlooking the sea). I enjoyed taking my breakfast, snacks and apéro in this private terasse, just outside our bedroom. It was the first thing I see upon waking in the morning. And so, it was almost impossible for me to not paint this view. And I had to use my new Fabriano watercolor pencils, I chanced upon at the Fabriano shop at the airport in Munich from our last summer trip. These pencils are fantastic! I love them!

We wanted to go to Real Alcazar on our first day but the tickets were already sold out when we got there. We tried again the next day, earlier this time, but still sold out! We decided to just go to Plaza de España instead. I am not about to start queuing at 6AM and wait for three hours to enter! I was not really sure if Real Alcazar was worth it anyway since the garden was closed due to the flooding the day before we arrived. Also, it must be very crowded inside. And I don’t do well with overcrowded places. Meanwhile, Plaza de España did not disappoint. I also later found out that this was used as a filming location in “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.” It was so grand and so gorgeous in every corner! I was surprised to find out it was only built in the previous century!

The next day, my daughter and I tried our hand at Mosaic tile making at Triana Market. It was a bit tedious but quite a nice bonding experience. I found out that this market used to be a prison, and it was also right next to the dreaded Spanish Inquisition. I remember that from history classes. Not a very good core memory. We also checked out the tile shops right next to the market, where they sell just too many tiles. I got myself a nice small and cute souvenir in the form of hand-painted ceramic earrings.

We did a lot strolling around the area of our AirBNB, the market there was very nice, along with the shops and the restaurants. Also, the crowds were more local. The food, more authentic and cheaper. But still so very near to a lot of places of interest. One of the more quiet places that I liked so much was Palacio de las Dueñas, just a 10-minute walk from where we were staying. Lovely architecture, lovely garden, and lots of quiet corners.

I had the loveliest time in Seville, I highly recommend passing by it if you get a chance to visit Spain. Oh, and those orange trees everywhere !!! I just love them!

Watercolor Art Retreat, Lanzarote, Canary Islands

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As a loving treat to my wonderful self this year, I booked this relaxing Yoga and Watercolor Art Retreat in Lanzarote, Canary Islands in Spain. It was organized by Lucia of The Sun Collective. We had four days of very informative art classes by watercolor artist and Sennelier Ambassador, Catalina Rodriguez Villazon. I did not care so much about the yoga, though. It was too early for me to join, and I was always sleeping so late, or in the wee hours of the morning, for some reason. Probably because I was not used to the complete quiet, except for the howl of sea breeze at night.

The place was gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! And I had the most beautiful room of all, with the beautiful view of the sea, and the surrounding volcanoes. It was a few steps to the dining / recreation area, with the huge orchard down below.

The food was wonderful, the service was exceptional, the place was magical! I had the most wonderful time with wonderful people, and it was one of the best experiences I will cherish most. 💖✨

Art Travel Diary – New York

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Last summer, my family and I headed to NYC, third time for me, first time for my daughter. We had so much fun showing her the Statue of Liberty, walking on the High Line, watching a basketball game at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn between The NY Liberties and Connecticut Wise (NY lost but Susan Sarandon was there!), watching Wicked on Broadway, and enjoyed a full day at Coney Island.

As for me, I totally enjoyed the food, the shopping, and the artistic and painting opportunities. Speaking of which, I signed up for a sketching session with a small group at the Grand Central Terminal. It was quite fun, but also tiring having to stand up for hours.

On the way there, we flew Air France, as usual and had a blast on the Business Class cabin watching Dune and enjoying the meal, the wine, the champagne, the reclining seat and the huge leg room. The service was always very good.

We stayed at SIXTY LES, our favorite hotel in NYC and we got the nicest view of the Manhattan Skyline on the corner suite of the 17th floor. It was so nice to see this view first thing in the morning and last thing at night, especially when the Empire State Building twinkles every hour after dusk, like the Eiffel Tower. I don’t remember seeing this before in my previous visits.

Anyway, I had some nice painting opportunities from the view in our bedroom, and also did some shopping at Blick Art Materials in Soho. I was so happy to find a big discount on Daniel Smith and Holbein watercolor pigments, and that the watercolor paper I bought in SFO and very much liked was available there! Oh, and we also went to the MET. 🙂

More of the fun on my Youtube video:

Next time, I’ll be writing about my Yoga and Watercolor Art Retreat in Lanzarote, Canary Islands!

Thanks for dropping by! Keep shining! 🙂

Eat Paint Travel – Lago di Como and Piemonte, Italia

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I can’t believe I have totally forgotten to post about my Italian road trip with the family in the summer of 2023.

We started off in the French Riviera — Nice and stayed overnight in Menton. The next day, we headed off to Genova, and stayed at a tiny fishing village called Boccadasse, because we were avoiding the crowds in Cinque Terre. After a couple of days there, we headed towards Lake Como (Lago di Como) and visiting the famous villages around it — Bellano, Bellagio, etc. And finally we ended up in the beauteous and picturesque wine region of Piemonte (Piedmont), famous for its Nebbiolo vineyards for making Barolo wine.

It was a lot of driving, eating good Mediterranean food, vineyard visits, wine tasting, and my very first time to swim in a lake, coz I usually find them creepy. I still do, but Lake Como was gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous in every corner. We also visited Villa del Balbianelo, the famous site of Star Wars Episode 2 wedding scene of Padme and Anakin Skywalker. Oh, and did I mention, I did a lot of watercolor painting too?! 🙂

So here is a quick youtube video to show you how gloriously beautiful Italy is, which is why we keep coming back there with my family.

Thanks for dropping by, and have a good weekend!

Watercolor Christmas Cards with Philippine / Tropical Theme

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Can’t believe it’s that time of the year again! I’ve been so, so busy with work lately as I take on more responsibilities, and as our delivery deadline also approaches. But since I’m an expert on managing time and priorities, I still managed to squeeze in a teeny, tiny bit of time for my artistic creation. And so, I’ve recently added this new original watercolor print on Christmas cards and Christmas gift items, available on my zazzle shop.

This new addition to my collection features Santa Claus riding a colorful Philippine Vinta. If you do not know what a Vinta is, it’s a traditional boat that you find in the Southern islands of the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao.

I’ve always been fascinated with these colorful sailboats, and I thought, why not create a tropical themed Christmas card featuring this traditional boat where I come from? It’s such a marvelous idea. And very original.

And if you also like this idea, why not head over to my shop and send some of my lovely original artworks on Christmas cards and gift items to your loved ones.

Thanks for dropping by and have a good weekend!

Botanical Watercolor Art Retreat in Teyssode, France

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So, I just got back from a wondrous, week-long watercolor art retreat with Harriet de Winton here in the South of France.

I spent a full week interacting with a small group of lovely people from different parts of the world — mostly from North America, and the UK. And I got to meet and chat and learn first-hand, up-close and personal some watercolor tricks from Harriet herself, who stayed with us in the same location.

First of all, the venue, Domaine d’En Naudet was lovely. The hosts, Nicolas and Sophie, are a lovely couple who own the estate. My spacious room was kept clean every day (very unusual in these parts, except in hotels), has huge windows and is conveniently located directly in front of the hall where we hold our daily (almost) watercolor sessions with Harriet.

Each meal (lunch and dinner) was specially prepared by a British chef (forgot to get his name) but he said he works only with uptrek (the event organizer), and that he has a food truck somewhere in Teyssode or Albi. I should look him up. He was really good. As for the wine, and the wine trip and dégustation, I was not so crazy about it, and really quite disappointed. Although, I appreciate that they are trying to promote local wines.

All in all, I had the most enriching experience and wonderful time painting and relaxing and walking around the neighboring village of Albi, which I had not seen in ten years! It was worth revisiting.

Thanks for dropping by and have a lovely weekend!

Ode to My Beautiful Garden

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As the light temperature becomes warmer and more incandescent with the onset of Spring, and before the flowers start bidding, “Adieu”, I would like to share this Ode to my lovely flower garden.

But before anything else, I would like to share this watercolor demo of a quick doodle of my Agapanthus flowers:

This year, we have taken on the works of renovating our terasse floorboards surrounding our tiny swimming pool. And while we were at it, we took the opportunity to remove the old shrubbery and replace them with flowering herbs and shrubs with a tropical and Mediterranean theme.

And now it all feels like I’m on holiday all summer long whenever I step out into the terasse. We have more beautiful butterflies, all kinds of bees, and I even saw some dragonflies once while having breakfast. I absolutely adore it!

Here you see my newly installed terasse floorboards, while the surrounding plants are not yet planted.

That’s it! Have a lovely flower-powered weekend! 🙂

Sampaguita Original Watercolor Prints

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New item on the zazzle shop — original watercolor stickers and prints of Sampaguita, the Philippine National flower.

This artwork, together with a few others (see picture gallery below) were on exhibit during the Philippine Independence Day celebration of the Filipino-French community here in Toulouse last June.

Apo Whang-od, Philippine tatoo artist, on A4 watercolor paper
Catriona Gray, Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Universe 2018, on A4 watercolor paper

I have been super busy with work, and life in general during the past months. I barely had time to update. But in the coming weeks, I shall be posting about our mini-garden / terasse renovation, recent road trip to Italy, and the upcoming watercolor retreat I shall be joining.

Thanks for dropping by, and have a good week ahead!

Happy Holidays 2022

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Hey there! I know I’ve been slacking on posts lately. My new job has taken over most of my time lately. But since, it’s the holiday season, things are getting a bit more slow-paced at work starting this weekend. So I’ve taken the opportunity to post a watercolor painting demo, finally!

In this video, I was inspired by the Christmas lanterns that I found in Ikea here in France. They remind me so much of the Christmas lanterns that we have back in the Philippines (Parol), I just had to make a watercolor version of them in a Christmas greeting card.

Since I’m always missing the tropics, especially, the beach, I’ve created this tropical themed greeting card. If you guys are interested, I sell some greeting cards, and other gift items with my original watercolor prints on them on zazzle.com. Mostly, Filipino themed. This year, I am so happy to have sold quite a lot! I’m finally going to be able to cash out my earnings! 🙂 What a treat. Thanks to those who patronized my humble artworks.

Hope you have a great holiday. Cheers!