I like doing pencil sketches when I was a kid.
I even ventured into drawing with charcoal pencils.
It would take me hours but I could be totally engrossed in it.
Even in my retirement, I no longer have the patience or mood of going back into pencil drawings.
As an alternative, I am now into photography, which gives me instant results of my work.
In lieu of pencil drawing, I am now into calligraphy. As some readers said, it is like doing Tai Qi on paper.
Here are two photos. The pencil sketch one is converted from the color one by using a software.
I guess it will take me a life time to draw it with all the small details!
retireediary 
I love the pencil sketch you did. I’ve recently gone into colour-pencil drawings as well – unfortunately these take a tremendous amount of time and patience!
Glad that you also practice sketches and like my photo!
Nice work on the sketch photo
Thanks for the kind words, Nora!
Both photos are nice – and impressive!
Glad that you like both!
Like your photo
Many thanks, Anyabelle!
Very true, Michael, it would take you forever to draw the minute details of that beautiful scenery. Where are you based at now? I too am soon to take my second retirement. Travelling soon, my friend. Got tips for Taiwan?
I am based in Hong Kong.
Try to stay in a B&B in rural Taiwan, visit the Imperial Palace, the Yeung Ming Shan, try some of the local food at their food market.
Where can I find a list of B&Bs in rural Taiwan? We also intend to do a farm stay, as my wife is very much into farming.
Try google for a list like the one below for Hualien:
https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/ShowUserReviews-g297907-d2246248-r331724076-Star_and_Mist_B_B-Hualien.html
Thanks, Michael! Will work on this.
🙂
A good transformation. Photoshop?
No, free download of Faststone.
Ok. I’ve used Photoshop for years. Have a monthly subscription at a reasonable price. very used to it.
I lost my photoshop when my PC was hacked and restated.
Oh, you were hacked? when was that? I hope nothing sensitive was hacked. Not financial stuff I hope?
About two years ago. They encrypted all documents demanding a ransom.
The biggest loss is my mom’s medical records – even pdf files are all encrypted.
Then there was also my photos – they turned them into a readable format only.
Of course, I didn’t pay a ransom.
I am dumbfounded. What a shame. You did good, though. So that’s when you lost your Egypt photos?
No. Before that, I lost films / negatives of photos taken in Egypt, Indonesia ( Mount Bromo, Borobodur etc ) and India ( Jaipur, Khasmir etc). It was a great loss.
It is. Borobudur and Jaipur in particular. Part of my ancestors lived in Rajahstan…
Have been to Rajahstan too. I particularly like Kashmir, but it is now too dangerous to go there.
So many places are nowadays… Tsss.
Better just get into the cyber world than travelling . . . . . . .
Well… Not sure. I’m thinking of switching Croatia for Portugal this summer.
Both are nice, sure you will enjoy it.
I think so. Lisbon has the advantage that I speak Portuguese. (Not Serbo-Croatian or whatever they call it) 😉
I also lost all negatives of my trip to Lisbon. My favorite photo is a yellow tram squeezing through the narrowest part of the residential area with buildings close on both sides ( I still have an A4 print ).
You have to go to Sintra – not far from Lisbon, my favorite place.
I wish I have the photos to show here.
Well, I will have to go, take pictures and share them with you. 😉
That will be nice, thank you!
You are an amazing artist Michael!
Thank you for praying for my mom – she is still with us today 🙂
O Michael! Such WONDERFUL news! I have been wondering how she and you are doing. This is a great answer to prayer! God is so very good!
Hi Jan,
With the blessings from God, she has survived the surgery about 2.5 years up till now. God has been treating her kindly. We know that she has no cure and has been receiving palliative chemo for almost two years. The Lord has been exceedingly kind to us.
Thanks again for your prayers and all those who have prayed for my mom.
For those who believe ( which we must do ), this is an answer from God.
Best wishes,
Michael
Thank you for the update on your mom Michael. We have a compassionate God who delights in our coming to Him with our burdens and longings. Every day is a gift and walking with Jesus, our Good Shepherd, makes each day sweeter!❤️👍. God bless you!
We are very grateful to God for what He has given us and take each day as it comes.
God bless you too!
This is great, I want to have patience to actually draw the pencil version! Maybe check out my drawings https://mywildday.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/portrait-5/
You have a nice blog!
This are great photos. I am visiting Hong Kong later this year and I can’t wait. Thanks for sharing!
Hope you will have a good time in HK soon!