Sketches 1

Saturday in HK. didn't sleep so well last night, was just thinking all night about a variety of subjects including relationships, heartbreak, painting, photography, Japan, and my friend Seiichi as a cartoon monkey in a banana tree!

Here are a few scraps from yesterdays sketch book:

Kowloon Park

Avenue Of Stars

Louis Vuitton = LV

Today I left my room around 11, and had a long long walk down Nathan Rd and a few streets off it, looking for a sketch book and a pen. Found a little stationary shop down an alley,,,,seems all the best places are down alleys. So I went to Kowloon park, and set myself up on a bench, and sat trying to get inspiration, not much came but I did a few observational drawings, trying to capture the pedestrians as they strolled past. The park is quite big, but all the green areas are trees, bushes, and flower beds, so nowhere really to have a little nap in the grass. They also have a huge swimming pool complex at one end. Its probably really cheap as well, maybe i will try one day.

After the park I headed to the water front, along the Avenue Of Stars; where HongKongs' superstars have their hand prints on a star in the pavement, I couldn't be bothered to look at any as I had seen them all before. so I just sat had an ice cream and drew some more. Then I saw some posters for an exhibition 'Louis Vuitton A Passion For Creation' held at the Hong Kong museum or art, so i ventured forth.

Paid $15 student ticket and had a good look around, was quite cool and inspiring. As I sketched a few ideas and notes, there was an announcement made of an open art studio with free materials to use in the basement level, I took the elevator down and was escorted to the studio by security. I expected a huge room with people painting on huge sheets of paper, but was more like a nursery art room with a few pastels. 2 middle aged women were sitting at stools copying a painting of a vase and flowers. I sat in between them and had a look in the warped mirror in front of me. I did a little something, signed my name and left it in the box. I wonder if anyone will see that?

At about 4pm I headed back to my room as I would be meeting up with my friend for dinner at 7pm, so I thought I could rest up and get ready to hit the town. But fool am I, when I noticed I had lost my door key! and the pen I had just bought! I guess that can happen when you choose to wear torn and hole ridden denim shorts. Hopefully I wont have to pay too much for a new key. Well I was let in with a spare key by one of the women playing Mahjong. yes again, looks like another all nighter for those ladies of leisure.

Mongkok Me

I had my first good nights sleep in the hotel last night, waking up so relaxed I didn't want to leave the bed. But time had run out, and today I would have to find a new place to unload. I have been looking at hostelworld.com for a few days trying to decide where would be the most convenient for me, its a tough job as most the cheapies are really awful, usually located in the Chungking mansions a 16 storey building that looks as though it will collapse at any given time; it houses countless guesthouses, brothels, and drug dens. I had stayed here a few times before on previous trips, , most places have bare minimals of a damp thin mattress an fan and a hose, people only go here because there is not much choice for budget digs in Hongkong. But my standards seem to have gone up, now that I'm become a professional 'm.o.d' (model off duty) I need a place I can feel comfortable to hang out in.

I Finlay decided on 2 possibilities, both located around Mongkok station. A lively area and one of the most densely populated districts in the world apparently. So I packed up my bag, checked out of the hotel and took the 15 min train ride. I found the place pretty easily but the heat was so suffocating and humid so I walked as fast as possible passing the entrances of clothes shops to get a blast of their air con. At the first place, I met the girl and older guy that run the place, I was offered a seat at the kitchen table and given a tea cup of warm water.The place looked so cosy and also really clean unlike a typical hk hostel. 2 girls were moving out when I arrived, so I waited as they made up my room. I didn't really need to see any other place as I felt it was quite charming here, the room is small but with a small double bed and a sturdy desk it was all I needed.
Also a bonus is that there is only 1 other room here, and it empty, so for now i have the place to myself, there is a nice living room with TV, DVD, PC etc. and a cute bathroom and shower. The large kitchen area seems to be where the owners hang out. All day they have been out there with a handful of old dears around the table playing Mahjong, seriously all day! but I don't mind at all that I can hear their yelling and laughing, I feel more at home here than in a typical hotel room.

Well its the first night, so will see how it goes. The only annoying thing so far is that I cant seem to connect to the Internet in my room, which means using the living room pc, tad annoying.
Well other than moving in and catching up on more sleep, I did venture out in the evening for a bit of window shopping and some food.
I had a look around Langham Place; a huge building full of department stores, food courts and the newish H&M store. I had been here before a few years ago and bought some nice clothes, still there seems to be a good selection of interesting men's clothes that are not so pricey at all, just I was wondering with all the choice of fashion available to local guys, why do you rarely see any ultra on trend chaps strutting it on the streets? completely unlike Tokyo. So who buys them? unless they are bought for dressing up at home? anyone know?
Well I have seen some pieces that I want, and it is tempting to part with my cash, but I do have to be more careful and if I did actually wear them would I get stared at?

after an hour of flirting with the clothes rail, I went to a cute little cafe down a backstreet called 'Paris Zone 8' this place was totally me and was quite happy to find somewhere that i could see myself trying every drink on the menu or as they call it 'Tea Art' They also have a variety of board and card games to entertain yourself with. I will have to get some pics from inside but was

quite sweet with comfy chairs and bench's, low flickering lighting and wabi sabi' esk walls. I want to find more places like this as i don't think i can spend a month in Starbucks.

Well that's it for another day, hopefully now I'm settled i can get to work on some drawings.
seya xxx.

Im in HongKong!

I have arrived! yes I made it all the way from Swindon to my hotel room in Central Hong Kong! I'm quite amazed that everything ran quite smoothly considering the intitial worries of my luggage's being over weight and over sized, and the daunting task of having to get on a bus and find my hotel with all 34 kg attached to my limbs.

It was definitely a drag for sure, but not as bad as I had imagined. Just allot of stares from the locals probably thinking what the hell is he doing.

Once I had checked into the hotel I felt good that I can have a shower and a good nights sleep, cause I didn't get much done on the flight just dipping in and out of consciousness while listening to my Ipod but never fully asleep.

My hotel is pretty nice, the nicest city hotel that Ive stayed in and actually paid for with my own cash! of course it doesn't compare to the beach huts and infinity pools of Thailand but this is Hong Kong,, you should see some of the rabbit hutches i've stayed here before in.

Well that's about it for now, I will be busy tomorrow sorting out where to store my bike for this month. And a bit of exploring.

Bed Time

Right, I am sooo over with these projects. I have just put the instruction manual together, looking pretty lame but this time it fits the brief, amazing what crap you can get away with on a degree course.
Tomorrow will be a busy day, I have to take my touring bike to the shop for a check up, and to help me take off the pedals so it fits snug in the box. Also will pop into uni to print and hand in the project, but I will be on stealth mode as my year have been asked to help paint the 3rd yrs exhibition boards for their show. I have already been made to feel guilty on two occasions by staff, do they expect everyone always to have free time? I don't have free time, so will avoid at all costs... infact even if I did have a few hours spare I would rather be watching Americas Next Top Model repeats than being helpful to a stranger... god I sound evil. Well Its more the fact that I hate that uni, I am a nice boy really.
Time to take my greasy mop of hair to bed I think. Until next time.

Study Torture

I had thought that my study was over, until I was told that the most dullest project ever; an instructional diagram of 'how to give a cat a pill' was unmarkable!
I really didn't need to hear that, of course I was very polite and apologized calmly, but inside I could have spat in his face. Maybe my version did not follow the brief exactly, but does that make it unmarkable?
I did OK I thought, looked pretty nice, nothing like an instructional diagram...but who would want to get paid for doing such a mundane task? not me certainly.

It may sound like I have a huge attitude problem maybe I do, after a countless barrage of creativity draining projects set to me.
I just smile in the end, and then snarl as soon as their backs are turned.

Here I Go!

Hi all, I'm back blogging after a rather long break. But as my life seems to be going somewhere new, I thought it would be a good idea to keep a record of it all.

Right now I'm in the UK, on my last week at uni; my final year starts in September, which is a total bummer having to withstand the British winter and the general gloominess of my life here.
Well that's in 4 month, this Monday I will be jetting off to Hong kong with my capsule wardrobe, which is very thought out and contains, shorts, shorts, shorts and yes one more pair of shorts; lets hope it doesn't rain!

I have a month in HK, firstly to get lots of observational drawing done, and documenting of just about anything that pulls me in. Its all prep work for my final year at uni, wanna really be at the top as of next year.

After HK I will be dragging my way to Tokyo with my backpack and (forgot to mention) my boxed up bicycle which I bought along with a ton of gear in my hometown Swindon, for the sole purpose of, wait for it... cycling solo and self supported 2000km across Japan! that from Fukuoka - Tokyo.
I have never done anything like this before, but I have always had an urge to do something really adventurous all by myself. I feel like I need to push myself forward at this point, after quite a crazy and life changing 2008.

So I have most things organized, which I'm sure for most people is very little. Well I have the flights booked, just nowhere to stay and a very limited budget. I'm sure it will be OK in the end, I have my tent!
Once I arrive in Japan I will be looking for modeling work, back with my agency but as I have been hearing; there is a huge decrease in work out there. Which will probably mean for me, fewer jobs and less cash. I have accepted that for now, and my main focus is on the cycling trip which will take at least 1 month of my time so as long as I can eat, and get a good nights sleep, I 'should' be happy... but lets face it I'm no Bear Grylls; I'm still yet to eat a live snake, sleep inside a dead camel carcus or peed on my t-shirt and wrapped it around my head to keep me cool!

So that's a little update on me, your probably wondering what the illustrations have got to do with anything, actually nothing at all, just a few things I've been playing around with. Hope you like.

I will try and keep up to date posts on my adventures, so see you then.