Two buildings around old village, Seoul

Seoul Flea Market building (풍물시장)located at Sinseol-dong, Dongdaemun-ku, Seoul

pen and watercolor, 25 x 35.2 cm 

Donggwanwangmyo(동관왕묘), Soongin-dong, Jongno-ku, Seoul

pen and watercolor, A 4 (21 x 29.7cm)

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At the end of the year, I sketched two buildings around Sinseol-dong and Soongin-dong which are adjacent to each other. The top one is a market building with modern style and another a shrine building with traditional style. See the old year out and the new year in, all of you!

Farewell to Dream Cinema!

Seodaemun intersection looking over the window of the theater, pen and watercolor, 20.8 x29.8cm

the facade of the theater, pen and watercolor, 20.8 x29.8cm

across the street from the theater, pen and watercolor, 20.8 x29.8cm

while a movie was showing on, pen and pastel, 20.8 x29.8cm

overall view in the dark theater, pen and watercolor, 20.8 x29.8cm

another view in the dark theater, pen and watercolor, 20.8 x29.8cm

viewed from the second floor, pen and watercolor, 20.8 x29.8cm

at the lounge, pen and pastel, 20.8 x29.8cm

.barefooted youth (맨발의 청춘) -sketched looking at the movie poster, pen and watercolor, 20.8 x29.8cm

an actor -sketched looking at the portrait photography, pen and pastel, 20.8 x29.8cm

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Dream Cinema is a Korean movie theater located in Seodaemun, Seoul. Originally called Hwayang Theater(화양극장), it opened in 1964 and is today the city's last remaining single screen theater. In recent years the theater has been limited to screening free previews or films that are long past their opening dates for old aged audience. Unfortunately this theater building would be closed December 31, 2011 on account of redevelopment plan for a major hotel. But this spot will always remain a pleasant memory for us.

some sketches at Oksu-dong

a scenery near Oksu station, pen and watercolor, 25 x 35cm

Han River viewed from  KW Jung's house, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.8cm

another sketch viewed from the same spot, pastel, 21 x 29.8cm

looking down the riverside, 4B pencil, 21 x 29.8cm

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A few days ago I had a good chance to sketch around Oksu-dong, but it was awfully cold outdoors. At first I sketched a scenery near Oksu subway station looking out of the window at the platform by the railroadside. And then I made some sketches of Han River inside KW Jung's house to which I was invited lunch. Oksu-dong is one of the most suitable places for urban sketchers in Seoul.

Cultural properties around Insa-dong, Jongno-gu

Paradise Hall at Jogyesa Temple, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

a scenery around Jogyesa Temple, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

Seung Dong Church, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

 

Chondogyo Central Church, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

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It was very cold so much that ice skimmed the palette while painting watercolors. In spite of unfavorable conditions, I couldn't help sketching very hard in front of the wonderful subject. Insa-dong is the most suitable location for our sketchers in all respects.

some sketches at Seoul Station

viewed from open plaza, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.8cm

the main concourse, pen and watercolor, 23.9 x 32cm

entrance on the rear side of Seoul Station, pen, 21 x 29.8cm

buildings under construction, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.8cm

a distant view on the opposite side, 8B pencil, 25.6 x 35.5cm

two soldiers on vacation, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.8cm

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I've sketched around Seoul Station from time to time for several years. Every time I sketch, I used to light upon the new sceneries to my taste. It's very interesting to sketch the old and new building complexes with crowded people such as Seoul Station. I'll continue to sketch such subjects in my spare time.

sketches at Yongsan Electronics Shopping Mall

rear of Yongsan Station, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.7cm

another view of Yongsan Station, pencil and watercolor, 21 x 29.7cm

viewed from the concourse of the Terminal Mall, pencil and watercolor, 36 x 51cm

viewed from the connection bridge, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.7cm

electronics market buildings on the opposite side, pen, 21 x 29.7cm

escalator hall in the Terminal Mall, pen, 21 x 29.7cm

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Yesterday we sketchers met at Yongsan Electronics Shopping Mall that is the largest electronic shopping complex in Korea. The weather was cold and windy to sketch outdoors.
At the beginning I sketched on the concourse in front of the Terminal Mall and afterwards went into the indoor lounge of that building connected to Yongsan Station. Numbers of buildings with crowded people are very interesting subjects wherever we go.

some sketches at Noryangjin Fish Market, Seoul

'Su Hyup' refrigerator storage building, pencil and watercolor, 35.8 x 50.7cm 

an adjacent market, pen and watercolor, 35.8 x 50.7cm

fish market building viewed from 'Meeting Place', pen and watercolor, 25.5 x 35.2cm 

a side view of fish market building, pencil, 20.6 x 28.5cm

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Yesterday the weather was clear and so warm for November. We Seoul sketchers met at 'Meeting Place' at Noryangjin Fish Market which is Seoul's largest market for marine products. This 66,000 square meter facility houses over 700 shops selling fresh and dried fish and squid from 15 fishing ports around Korea. We drew various sceneries around fish market and had a delicious lunch time with animated conversation about 'Urban Sketchers' all together. I sketched some attractive old-fashioned buildings here and there with watercolors. It was very delightful Saturday indeed.

sketches around Sewoon Shopping Mall, Seoul

main entrance of Sewoon Shopping Mall from Jongno 3-ga, pen and watercolor, 24 x33.8cm

a scenery of neighboring buildings, pen and watercolor, 24.9 x 35cm

viewed from 2nd floor on Sewoon shopping center, pen and watercolor, 24 x33.8cm

the opposite side on Sewoon shopping center, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

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Sewoon Shopping Mall is a shopping area located between Jongno 3-ga and Toegyero 3-ga, which was the modernization icon of the city in the 1960s. The shopping area is well known for selling electronics. But recently, the Seoul metropolitan government began demolishing its buildings, starting with Hyundai Arcade, with the intention of building tree-covered plazas in their place.

The area around Sewoon shopping centre will be reconstructed to constitute central Seoul. Lots of old aged buildings in the neighborhood  harmonize with each other spontaneously. I will visit and sketch around the worn-out buildings frequently before demolition is accelerated

33rd Sketchcrawl at Deoksugung Palace, Seoul

Seokjeojeon undergoing restoration, pen and watercolor, 24.3 x 35cm

Junghwajeon, pen and watercolor, 24.3 x 35cm

Junmeongdang and Jeukjodang, pencil and watercolor, 24.3 x 35cm

Seoul City Hall under construction, beyond Deokhongjeon, pen and watercolor, 24.3 x 35cm

Seokjeojeon and Junmeongdang, oil pen, 24.3 x 35cm

Seogeodang, pen and soft pastel, 21 x 29.5cm

Junghwamun and the surrounding buildings, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.5cm

                     Seokjeojeon and the surrounding buildings, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.5cm

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It was rainy on and off all day in the 33rd World Wide SketchCrawl. We sketched at Deoksugung that is one the Five Grand Palace in Seoul. Traditional and modern style architecture exists together in harmony here and there in Deoksugung.