ASIA-LINK SKETCHWALK 2018 TAICHUNG

The 3rd Asia-link Sketch Walk was held in Taichung, Taiwan this year! It was another great reason to visit Bubble Tea Land... and of course meet up with my favourite sketchers from the region. A total of  400 participants representing 21 countries took part, all the way from Russia, Netherlands and the U.S.A.!

I spent a few nights with friends in Taipei (north) before heading to the central region of Taiwan. The bus ride was very comfortable and I'd recommend that over taking the regional trains.

As usual, I will be posting highlights of the event via my Youtube links below. Within the links, you get to meet artists, hear their thoughts, see their works and explore Taichung through my eyes. So get your fingers ready to click away! :D

Asia-Link Sketch Walk Videos:

1. ALSW2018 TAICHUNG Opening (Day 1)
https://youtu.be/N6nHhGkWVP8

2. ALSW2018 TAICHUNG Day 2
https://youtu.be/-7U9dH1sTRA

3. ALSW2018 TAICHUNG Day 3
https://youtu.be/N6nHhGkWVP8

4. ALSW2018 TAICHUNG Day 4 (Houli excursion)
https://youtu.be/uyNP-myN_Uo

5. ALSW2018 TAICHUNG with Tae from Bangkok Sketchers
https://youtu.be/kzDgiTV6Qno

My friends from Taipei fed me well! :D 

Noodles from the first bubble tea shop (Chun Shui Tang) ever in Taichung

Oldest artist I met this trip. He's 96! Saved an entire village by painting it. 

I love collecting stamps in Taiwan. They are everywhere! 

Vanont from Bangkok and his souvenirs. 

Tae from Bangkok right before her sharing session on her book.

A book swap just happened. 

One of the 5 paintout sessions 

Sketching at Taichung Park. 

万春宫 (Wan Chun Gong)

Watercolour piece I did during Vanont's workshop

 Eleanor Doughty (@herbcoil) from Seattle

Panoramic sketch from Ah Tong (Kuching), Jason (Kuala Lumpur), me and Benedict (Singapore)

It was another fantastic and event not to be taken for granted and being able to sketch alongside like-minded sketchers in Taichung. I made a ton of new friends this year since I missed the event last year in Kuching. There were too many people to get to know and say "hi" to in four days. (400 participants is a pretty sizeable amount.) But I did manage to catch up with friends that I had already known or artists I have been following.

I've always thought of us sketchers being ambassadors of our countries, fostering friendship and passion for art whenever we go for such trips. Not only do we represent the Urban Sketchers Chapters from our region, but also as citizens from countries. And it is really great to see that neither boarders nor language separate us, and art that binds us all - that common language.

Looking forward to Banda Indonesia coming up shortly.


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Explore the planet with globe trotting artist Alvin Mark Tan in his Travel Sketch series. Check out the daily local scene of a village, town or city and experience the culture and food that intrinsically binds us all together. Also get insights into oil painting and ink sketching while on the fly.