Kiah Kiean, Siriluck Uncharoen and Angkor Wat

Sometimes drawings by other Urban Sketchers really get me going. I get inspired by their sketches and most of all by their process. When that happens I grab my sketchbook and start copying their process. It is not about copying their work, but to understand someone’s process I study their sketches carefully. If available I watch their online videos.

Perhaps you do the same sometimes and you will notice that your own process starts to ‘interfere’. I used to be disappointed when that happened. However, I have learned that it is not a bad thing at all when your own process blends in with the process that you are studying. By repeating these exercises my own process evolves, which I consider a good thing now.

I have been a big fan of Kiah Kiean from Malaysia, to many known as ‘KK’. I have been following his work for years already and I was lucky enough to attend his workshop at the Urban Sketchers Symposium in Porto. KK sketches a lot with dry twig and Chinese ink.
Recently I discovered the work of Siriluck Uncharoen from Thailand. I am impressed by the art she creates. Her process seems almost meditative to me. Siriluck uses fineliners for her linework.

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I have picked the Angkor Wat temples as my subject to practice my techniques inspired by the work of both artists. At the end of this post I will explain what I have learned from this exercise.

Basic shapes

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First I created the top outlines of the buildings with a brown Pentel Color Brush Pen. As this pen contains water-soluble ink I used clean water to play with it and let the ink flow.

Linework

Next, I did the linework with a Lamy Joy which I have customised with an ordinary fine nib. The ink I use is De Atramentis Archive Ink. I tried to use Siriluck’s technique by going with the flow and let my mind and eyes wander across the scene. I used the proportions of the basic shapes to guide me.

Dark values

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For the dark values I used Kiah Kiean’s technique with dry twig and Chinese ink. The dry twig is a perfect tool to apply the Chinese ink from dark to lighter values. The ink I use is Talens Indian Ink that I keep in an ink pot that I received from Kiah Kiean. The Saintograph ink he uses is not easily available, but the Talens ink works for me as well.

Watercolour

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For the sky I used White Nights Cobalt Azure. The brown ink of the Pentel Color Brush Pen flowed into the sky, which gives a surprising effect. By lifting the watercolours with a paper napkin I applied a lighter structure to the sky. For the water I mixed Roman Szmal aquarius green with Roman Szmal Cobalt Blue. The foliage in the middle of the sketch I did with Roman Szmal Aquarius Green.

What I have learned

Further reading:
Kiah Kiean's website
Siriluck Uncharoen's website
9th Urban Sketchers Symposium Porto

Thanks for passing by and happy sketching!