A Quick Sketch Beside the Ian Darcy Kiosk

 

Today, I took a short break from my work and pulled out my sketchbook to capture a familiar scene, our neighbors at the Ian Darcy kiosk. Since I’m working right beside them, I get a view of the everyday hustle happening on their little corner of the space.

Lately, their kiosk has been looking crowded. With deliveries coming in, you can tell the team is preparing for the peak season in the coming months. Boxes piled up, people moving around, fragrances being restocked and it’s an organized chaos that somehow adds charm to the place. There’s a kind of energy there that tells you business is good and excitement is ahead.

Sketching the moment on location allowed me to catch those small, lively details: the line of customers peeking at products, the staff weaving through tight spaces, the stack of items waiting to be arranged. Sometimes, the best scenes to draw are the real ones happening right beside you.

Ink on paper

A5 2025

@khervingallandez

Sketching Kiosks I

 

“Our drawings are a record of time and place.” 

One of my favorite line from our manifesto. 

It was 2016 when I became part of the USk org. A global community of artists that practice drawing on location on cities, towns and villages we live in or travel to. 

Since then, I carry my sketchbooks whenever I travel or work. In this world where you can just capture moments through your mobile phone, sketching in public creates opportunities for interaction, enhances observational skills, creativity and mindfulness. 

Kiosk

Lower Ground,

SM City Laoag

Ink on paper

A5 2025

@khervingallandez

Multitasking: Sketching at Work

After five years of being a full-time artist, I’m back in the retail industry. As a family man, setting aside my art to work on a full time job to provide and make ends meet, pay bills, and save money is the most practical option for me right now.

After five years of being a full-time artist, I’m back in the retail industry. As a family man, setting aside my art to work on a full time job to provide and make ends meet, pay bills, and save money is the most practical option for me right now.

The only challenge is that working on my art has become quite a struggle. So to ease the itch while enduring an 11-hour shift, I do on-location sketches of the things around me during off-peak hours perhaps to ease the loneliness and boredom.

I guess one of the perks of being an urban sketcher.

Kiosks Lower Ground

SM City Laoag City

Ink on paper

A5 2025

Inside Paoay Ruins

Inside Paoay Ruins

Watercolor 2016

Paoay will always be on the list of my most visited place for my sketches here in Ilocos Norte. been visiting the place for a couple of times but yesterday marks my first time to step inside the Paoay Ruins, which is a usual venue of their Tumba Festival during November.
#PaoayKumakaway

Few snaps after sketching inside the classic, now refurbished Paoay Ruins.

As per the tour guide, the places was an old convent during the Spanish time.

More info here:

https://withonespast.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/the-old-convent-ruins-of-paoay/

Before leaving, here's a special view outside the historical ruins which is located beside the San Agustin Church at Paoay. A must visit place when you go here in the North. 

Takip Silim (Twilight)

    "View Outside The Studio"

Pen and Ink, 2016

First of all, I would say I was too slack in updating our group blog for the past few months and it's been ages since I was able to post my previous sketches. Moving on, sharing a sketch I have made a year ago, here's a view outside my studio while I am at home here in Laoag. The setting is already in twilight, as it is already 6 PM. I'll be probably doing more sketches like these.

2015 Robinsons Mall Center Piece Display

2015 Robinsons Mall Ilocos Christmas lights and display installed on the atrium (main mall) during our mall sketchwalk.

Tuguegarao Sakbay Cagayan (An Unexpected Visit at Tuguegarao City)

it was about 8am when I sketched these series of commercial spaces along the highway near the terminal of PUVs going to Flora, Aparri & Ballesteros etc at Tanza, Tuguegarao City. despite the unexpected miscommunications, im still happy to be able to see and sketch a small portion of Tuguegarao on a twilight scene.