Last outing for 2009

It was a pleasant morning in Bangkok on the last day of 2009. Most people went outside town for a long week-end and it was the better time to walk around in less congested city of Angels.

So our small group of artist-at-heart went out to paint the town in watercolor!

Our destination was vague but be started at a chinese temple next to Taksin BTS (Mass transit line) by the Chao Phraya River. We learn that nothing can go wrong BY the river! Below is our sum-up of the morning warm-up: a chinese temple (วัดเจียว เอง เบี้ยว) under the care of the Hainanese Association.

We then proceeded across the rail station, not far away stood Wat Yan Navava, a Thai temple on a large piece of land by the river. And here, we took a group picture:

Look further south from Wat Yan Nava, I was drawn to the sky line of the mushrooming high rise residential buildings.

We took a short boat ride upstream to a Portuguese church, the Holy Rosary, the prominent landmark along the river.

and we did a sketch painting or two of the beautiful building here

and my line work version of the church:

(I do have a more colorful version here!)

You may notice that it is very common (very Thai, I’d say) to see a close mix of religion buildings in Thailand, especially Bangkok. It is common to see a Muslim mosque next to a chinese temple next to a catholic church just in front of an old Thai temple and so on..

We really had a good time by the river, looking up toward the city, the layering of buildings by the water was just irresistible, I did one quick sketch and vowed to come back for more!

My man will be waiting to take me places…

Happy New Year from Bangkok, all dear sketchers..