Visions of me

These different vignettes of me remind me of the various roles we (can) play in our daily lives, just by doing the things we do at work, at home and at rest. Sometimes the roles intertwine and the younger employees or interns become our borrowed children - fostered for a year or 6 months. And like our own children, they can infuriate us as much as they delight us with their 'unexpected' thoughtfulness. Nonetheless, they enrich our lives as how we try to enrich theirs.

In the past 6 months, I have become more certain of what I am able to do to enrich the lives of those under my care.

Time on my hands

 I drew these sketches of Fort Magherita for Friends of the Sarawak Museum (FOSM). They were going to use them for their launching of the new Brooke Gallery, I was very busy yet quietly flattered. * Incidentally - I also learnt that the fort was named after Charles Vyner Brooke's wife, Margaret.

So, I put to practice what I tell my interns and colleagues - meet the date line first by putting something in. Book the place, get the conversation started (or going) and then if you're able - improve on the original item. And keep the conversation going again after that. That method of meeting date lines helped me get through architecture school relatively stress-free.

Several days after sending in the above sketches, I found myself with some time on my hands. A rare occasion. Which I put to good use by applying ink and wash over the original sketches. It brings out the forms a bit better and I like how the wash blurs the hard lines of the ball point pen.

 

Sketch 8/30 - Billy Joel (Feb 2014)

Life happens in cycles, and one learns to take the good with the bad. I remind myself to enjoy the good stuff when it happens.

Recently, I had to travel out of town for long periods of time (arbitration) and this meant time away from my family and I missed the simple routine of my day; the early morning run to breakfast, designing and the USK sketching excursions.

At the end of another long day, I worked in the hotel lounge instead of returning to my room - trying to find comfort in the company of strangers. The piano player started playing;  familiar tune, I know this one, work was set aside as I tried to recall the tune, I know the words...

"she can kill with her smile,

she can wound with her eyes"

And as I listened and sketched, the evening passed very pleasantly. With a little help from Billy Joel.