Sketching at MoMa PS 1

Last Saturday, the NYC Urban Sketchers went sketching at MoMa PS 1 museum in Astoria, Queens.  It was my second time to visit there in two years.  The boiler room I wanted to sketch this time was closed off to the public due to weather related issues.  There were other exhibits but it didn't capture my interest.  I like the first sketch I did in the coffee shop when I first got there.

Jenny making a sketch of Len.  I sketched them both,

The Bridge way in Grand Central Terminal

I’m always on the lookout for something new to sketch inside this very iconic building that is the Grand Central Terminal. This was one of those instances.  It was an accidental sighting once I looked up over my left shoulder.  Originally, I wanted to do a sketch of the Oyster Bar as seen from the walkway window on the lower level concourse. It’s the big window to the right in this picture.  I saw three silhouettes on the bridge that was just right to include in the sketch.

The Essex Market Sketch meet

The NYC Urban Sketchers event last weekend was held in Essex Market but I still remember last year's event hosted by Tina and Josh.  I came in late to the event last Saturday so I just focused on getting something done before the throw down.  I was trying to figure out the composition from where I was seated and decided the pizza place would be it.  Finished adding the colors at home.

Subway commuter sketches

I started the sketch on the left side with a figure of a man waiting for the 7 train to Queens but you hardly see it anymore because I overlaid it with the sketch of a lady.   The man on the right was most likely a musician.  I'm guessing it was a guitar hard case propped up between his legs.  I had a good look at him given the more defined features.  Soon, he stepped off the train.  Now, I was looking at the bigger sketch size of him than the man I sketched earlier.  To "fix" this sketch, I drew the lady's outline over the old sketch but her placement came out a bit off compared to him.  It's okay.  It's just a sketch practice anyway. 

Weekend Sketch meet at Tanger Mall

The NYC urban sketchers showed up at the Tanger Mall in Flushing, Queens last Saturday and had fun sketching the many interesting and diverse subjects inside the mall.  I didn't mind the long hour and forty minutes commute to this location using the public transportation. I found the neighborhood to be quite interesting and lively.  Although it was a very cold day, that didn't deter a good number of sketchers to be there.  The two sketchers, Zeya and Jay were directly in front of me so they became my quick sketch study.

A sketch of Zeya and Jay using the Brass Kaweco FP.

Ten Years of Urban Sketching

I rediscovered the joy of drawing in 2015 out of a necessity when I was captivated by the beauty of the altar piece in the Basilica at El Escorial in Spain.  Later that year, I found the NYC Urban Sketchers and joined their first outing in 2016 at the Hispanic Society of America.  On January 3, 2016, I attended my very first workshop with Hugo Costa in Jersey City and after we did the hands-on demo application part of the workshop, I asked Hugo to sign my sketchbook.  Yes, that's his note on the upper right corner of this sketch.

Fast forward to January 10, 2026 where I joined another NYC USk sketch meet at Industry City in Brooklyn.  It turned cold and rainy that day but urban sketchers will always find something to sketch no matter the weather condition.  Together with my other friends - Joanne, Suzala, and Melanie, we all sketched in one little corner of a dining space at the Japanese Village.   Guess who I also saw there?  Hugo Costa! Hugo later joined our table before we proceeded to the show and tell part of the day.

The ramen dining area and what I saw that morning.

After the Pilgrimage Walk

Sunday, May 4, 2025:

Hannah & Brian, David, and I took the 6:00pm tour of cathedral rooftop that same day we arrived in Santiago.  They had an extra ticket from a friend who couldn't use it so they offered it to me.  There were twelve of us in the group and the guide spoke fluently in both English & Spanish languages.  It was also the last tour of the day.  Past the steep upstairs climb, we were rewarded with incredible views of the city from the rooftop.  I did some small sketches (small motif) that I can finish in a very short time.  Good for  training for the hand-eye coordination.

After the tour, I suggested to have dinner at this Asian Restaurant I've tried the year before when I did my first Camino walk.  Glad that they enjoyed the food selections.  I very much enjoyed my ramen soup especially on that cool evening.  Afterward, we explored parts of the city in a post-dinner walk only to emerge in a busy street with various little shops including an ice cream store.  We each had some ice cream to satisfy our hunger for a "postre" that night 

Our casual walk back in the direction toward the main square was later interrupted by the merry sound of music.  Apparently, there was a free concert being held in one of the covered portico near the square and the crowds loved it.  We joined in the gathering and even danced and sang with them.  Of course, I had to do a sketch of the "Tuna de Derecho Santiago de Compostela" group which I later showed to the band members, Jose Luis and Suso.   It was so much fun but it was also getting late in the night plus we were also tired.  We needed our rest so we all said our last goodbye.

Monday, May 5, 2025:

Cinco de Mayo.  After Anne and I finished the Camino Frances from Sarria the year before, we discovered the Cafeteria Paradiso where they have interesting period style motif and collections in the shop.   I went back in there and had my breakfast.  I recognized the family running the business.  Pablo, the son, works the tables while the mother makes the good coffee and chocolate drink.  Agustin, the father, also worked in the kitchen and the counter.  I stayed there for a little to sketch which I later showed to Agustin.  He was just as happy to offer me their "sello" stamp and he even signed my sketch with his name!

Not too far from this cafeteria was the place where I would later meet with Marta at 11:00am.  She and I became FB friends during the early part of the pandemic when the NYC USk group was doing the virtual sketch meet.  Through another friend of ours on FB, we reconnected and decided to meet for the day.  She also brought along two of her friends from USKoruna - Lupe and Bea.  They took me to the nice but less known spots in the city that only a local would know.  It was fun filled day them and we also made sure to do our little throw-down.

Tuesday, May 6, 2025:

I got up early before sunrise to sketch in the "Mercado de Abastos" food market before it got too busy.  The shop owners were just starting to setup but I managed to do a few sketches of the greens market managed by Emma and Carmen, and at the fresh fish market.  I sketched some "merlusa", octopus, and salmon fillet.

The train trip back to Madrid was early Wednesday morning so I made sure to know exactly where the AVE train station was.  Surprisingly, the route to get there from the hotel was easy.  For the rest of the day, I sketched a baroque church and attended the mass inside the cathedral.  Fortunately, they swung the "butafumeiro" during the mass so I was able to experience it again one more time.  

It was nice to have those two extra days spent in Santiago.  I would have liked it to visit Mom in Asturias but not possible this time due to conflict in schedule.  Perhaps another time.