Visiting and sketching in Wellcome Collection
Among museums in London, Wellcome Collection provides unique insights for visitors. It’s science. It’s public health. It’s understanding about us. It’s society. It’s history. It’s human centred. It’s also art. Uniqueness comes from these integration.
My recent long long flu, and my relationship with technology — Garmin and Strava
The illness did let me learn a lot, but before talking about the takeaway points, I am here to show my relationship with technology when I was ill. Those data allows me to understand how my health condition was going.
Southbank Portrait Session — a great event to enjoy portrait sketches in London
In London, there are many sketching events, from urban sketching to still life to portrait sketching. Usually a portrait sketching event lasts for a certain period of time (like 2 hours) even with a fee (especially when a model is needed during life drawing), but there is one that you can feel free to sketch a lot of portraits as you like for free.
On creativity — what’s it and is it only for art?
The following articles were written in 2019 in my language. Now I translate to English and add some points about creativity.
Urban Sketchers London, Jan 2025 — The National Archives
Urban Sketchers London is one of the sketching groups in London. Every month an event is being held in different parts of the city, so that people who take part in can sketch places on location. This month (Jan 2025) we were in The National Archives, which is close to Kew Garden station.
Apps and me in 2025
Apps are more and more important to everyone's life including creators and artists. While we will need some tools, we may not either need the best, powerful those but it doesn't imply the most minimalistic settings are necessary.
My birthday staycation in Eastbourne: Sketching The View Hotel
I always thought of having a birthday trip this year. However, when I got very serious flu from Christmas last year and couldn’t recover for weeks, I thought I might have to stay at home instead. After seeing my GP and having some medicines for a few days, I started feeling better. Thus I wanted to have good memories in my birthday while being cautious, and staycation was on my mind.
On loser
According to social expectations, I am literally a loser.
Why? I have no properties. I have no girlfriend and even marriage. I have no money. I have ever quit my job recently.
But I'm not. Because I just can't meet that social expectations and thus keep the economy running.
40
It's 2025 now and my age just reached 40. 40 may be an entirely new era for most people just because of the figure 40+ vs 30+. Just like products with something like £9.9 vs £10. But thing is: changes are always incremental…
On productivity and misery
And I wonder why we must always be productive, and why we must always be fast. Why can’t we slow down or even stop for a while? Why getting things done? Why do we have to feel miserable when things are falling behind?
My original watercolour artworks in my solo art exhibition this year (2024) are on sale online now!
Now I have more than 30 pieces of original artwork showcasing different places and aspects of Lewisham, which is one of the boroughs in London. They are in A3 or A4 sizes and they need to go before November because I will need to move and can't keep them. If you are interested in buying my works, feel free to choose DM me on Instagram, or email me himalbum@gmail.com.
Airplane mode is not only to save but gain
On the phone there is a function called ‘airplane mode’ with an plane icon that will turn off all the internet and telephone signals. Usually people tell you to turn airplane mode on as one of the battery saving tips, and during the flight to prevent signals from interrupting the plane you are taking. This icon seems to be reducing and even preventing risks that can affect us (no battery, flight accident), but I realize that it does gain more than save.
Pixelated Chronicles: Tales of Hong Kong Outlying Islands
During this summer I was glad to collaborate with That Boat Is at Dock to provide illustrative materials for the zine workshop, as a part of Pixelated Chronicles: Tales of Hong Kong Outlying Islands exhibition. My postcard is being sold there too!
The last month of summer? August 2024
August this year was a very important month for me. I have been doing many things but I did not intend or plan to do so many. It could be a part of my summer holiday while I was productive.
Travelogue - sketch and travel in Folkestone
What and how did I sketch during trips to Folkestone, a beautiful coastal town?
In August I visited Folkestone twice (one day-trip and one staying for a night), and it has become one of my favourite coastal towns in England.
Why are we reluctant to sketch (sometimes)? How can we cope with it?
In this article I am going to show why sometimes we are hesitant to sketch. Is hesitation or procrastination a bad thing? How can we deal with the situation?
On my recent identity crisis as an artist
I once questioned myself all about art and its career…
What did I do and learn in July 2024?
Summer is a good season to do anything, and everything you do, including play and rest, will eventually be good for your creativity.
My road to sketching
I am not an art graduate. Besides the compulsory art lessons during my primary and secondary studies, I did not attend any other kinds of professional art trainings. I started in since my 30s and have become a self taught, so this article will explain how I started and developed it, as well as my perception of art.
A trip to Dorset
Since moving to the UK, I have had a few solo trips in the country. The recent one was Dorset, the coastal area in Southwest England. Even though it was just a trip, I did have some takeaways for my life.