“People often tell you to follow your dreams, but it is also important to be realistic. You need to be able to sustain yourself and put food on the table before you have the energy to follow your dreams.”

Vanessa Leung

Architect / Urban Sketcher

Our Urban Explorer

Could you please introduce yourself to our guests?

My name is Vanessa, also known as @Vansketcher on Instagram, and I am an architect based here in Hong Kong. In fact, it was my passion for drawing that led me to explore architecture. I can still recall that when I was in middle school and had to choose a specific area of study, I had no clue what I wanted to do so I asked my head mistress for guidance. She asked me what I wanted do and I told her I loved to draw and was fascinated by anything related to design, and that’s when she proposed Architecture. The humorous thing is that even after I got my degree in this field, I still yearned to follow my passion so I took a job in designing cartoon characters for a client. I was living my dream but I knew that my parents wanted me to practise what I studied so shortly after, I found my way back to architecture. I am in a happy place now because I have a job that I love whilst still being able to practise my craft.

At what age did you develop an interest in sketching?

I loved to draw for as long as I could remember. As a child, I dreaded reading. It would honestly take me an eternity to read a sentence and I didn’t enjoy it as much as my other classmates would. So to make it easier for me to visualise, I would actually draw out little sketches whilst reading my history books. I would say that is how my passion for sketching started to develop into something more than just chicken scratches on a notebook!

How do you think you fit into the term ”Urban Explorer”?

To me, an “Urban Explorer” is someone who is very in tune with what is hip and happening in the environment around them and constantly in search of unfamiliar, new areas to discover. As an urban explorer myself, I seek out buildings and architectural designs in the city that the typical passerby may not even notice on their way to work. When I am sketching, I explore every surface and detail of that building, from its design to its colour to find the building’s uniqueness and its changes overtime.  

What does a day in the life of Vanessa Leung look like?

I have been quite occupied with work as of late but on a good day, I get up at 6AM and then head out for breakfast by 7AM to a Hong Kong style café. I normally select a café around my office that will allow me to sketch for an hour or so before heading into work. This routine developed at a time when I wanted to sketch every day. It is difficult to roam around the city before work so I thought I would sketch my breakfast items because you have to eat breakfast anyway so it really helped me get into my routine. At one point, I visited all the Hong Kong style cafés in the area so I knew I needed to move on to a new area for breakfast as I didn’t want to sketch the same dishes.

Habitual Mornings: Vanessa finds simple pleasures in her morning sketching routine. She enjoys exploring the eclectic Hong Kong style cafés around her office, sketching each meal before she devours it in all her might

What do you like most about your job?

What I like the most about my job is that I get to do what I enjoy – design and sketching. If I had the opportunity to choose my career path for a second time, I would still choose Architecture. You get this sense of fulfilment when you design a building on paper and have it brought to life that is long-standing. Of course, there are its frustrations of wishing you had done something different or designed it better, but when it’s fully constructed, there really isn’t much you can do about it so you just need to learn from these lessons. Overall, I do have to say that my job satisfaction comes from the satisfaction of my clients; if they are happy, I am happy.

Passion for Urban Sketching

How did you get into Urban Sketching?

I remember this very clearly actually! I started urban sketching in December 2014 at the Chater Road classic car show which Urban Sketchers Hong Kong organized a sketch walk. I can still recall hiding in a little corner away from everyone as I was a bit shy first time joining the group. At the end of the sketch walk, we did a “show and tell” in which everyone had to lay out their artwork, and having glimpsed at my other counterparts’ masterpieces, I actually thought I did reasonably well and mustered up the confidence to continue my sketching journey.

Playing devil’s advocate here, architecture largely focuses on the construction and design of new buildings, whereas the revolving theme around your urban sketches is of older, more historical buildings. Do you find there is some irony in this?

I completely understand from your point of view, and in certain respects, there are conflicts. However, I am also an architectural conservation practitioner at the Hong Kong Institute of Architectural Conservationists (HKICON). In fact, some of my projects I’m handling at the moment involve architectural conservation, but I believe that there always needs to be a balance between developing new buildings and preserving old ones. On one hand, design should be innovative and forward-thinking; on the other hand, there are cultural landmarks in Hong Kong that are worth preserving. It would be ideal if we could build something new from something old because that way, we could incorporate modern elements into an old building whilst maintaining its culture and heritage.

As an urban sketcher and illustrator, could you walk us through the entire creative process of brainstorming the theme/subject and selecting the right color palettes through to completing your masterpiece?

If I am sketching food, I generally already have an idea of the restaurant or café I want to sketch at. Before sketching, I always think about the layout of the room, its moving bodies and the angle and composition I want to show on paper. I will then look through the menu and try to select more colourful items that fit into my vibrant aesthetics. I observe my surroundings and generally have few focus areas that I want to feature in my sketch; for example, a bartender creating a colourful umbrella drink in the background. I will do some planning ahead but during the process of sketching, I may sometimes make certain amendments to the piece spontaneously because of subtle events that may happen while I’m observing the scene. For instance, one time while I was standing in front of a convenience store sketching, the owner actually came out to greet me and asked if I wanted some snacks while he shared stories with me of his mom and pop shop. While sketching, I decided I wanted to incorporate details of his stories and the snacks he shared with me as a way of preserving that special moment between us. Each sketch is essentially a journal entry to me, a unique moment in time that I want to capture and keep with me forever. Together, these sketches become a recollection of my life and very real experiences I share with these people.

An artist’s vision is rarely brought to life without any planning. Be it a simple line drawing or a complex painting or sculpture, there is a definite trajectory to the creative process. Vanessa always thinks about the layout of the room, its moving bodies and the angle and composition she wants to convey in her pieces

Though the overarching theme of your sketches revolves around Hong Kong and its urban landscapes, you also feature much of Hong Kong’s renowned food items. Is there anything you want to convey to your audience about our city through your sketches?

As a local myself, born and raised in Hong Kong, I’ve always had an appreciation for local foods (such as egg tart, Hong Kong style milk tea) and old buildings, but urban sketching has made me take notice of these unique elements of Hong Kong even more so I want to incorporate these details into my work. As part of the Urban Sketchers community, we have sketchers from all over the world and so I wanted to express my own point of view and share what there is to do, see and eat in our city in my own sketching style.

You are heavily involved in the Urban Sketchers community in Hong Kong. Can you tell us a bit about it and what does a sketch walk/sketch crawl usually consist of?

The Urban Sketchers community is quite large in Hong Kong, and it is actually a global initiative that started in Seattle and now has over 220 cities participating around the world. I have been a part of this community for over 4 years and have been heavily involved in arranging our monthly sketch walks. These walks generally consist of 40 to 50 people at a time in which we will congregate together in one district, say Sai Ying Pun for instance, and split into smaller groups and explore different parts of that district. Once we have our heart set on one building or area to sketch, we sit together for a good few hours before meeting up with the wider group to present our work. It is such a supportive community to be in as everyone provides compliments and constructive feedback on your piece to help you reach your potential.

How do you think that practicing architecture has influenced your urban sketching?

Architecture is not only about creating buildings but providing a spatial experience for guests. Perhaps you want them to feel welcomed, so rather than just focusing on the exterior and the technical process of assembling a building, you also put a lot of thought into the ambiance of the building and the mood you want to portray. Urban sketching is similar in the sense that you want to transfer the feeling and ambiance of being in that space down onto paper so that when your audience sees your sketch, they can live vicariously through your eyes.

You mentioned before that your artwork is a personal journal and an ode to the old-world and cosmopolitan charm of Hong Kong. What do you think is so charming about our city?

Hong Kong is a very distinct and unique place consisting of a melting pot of cultures, architecture, and people. Whatever you want, you can get in Hong Kong. It is a cosmopolitan of old and new, East meets West, with British colonial influences embedded into Hong Kong society. Even simply by marveling our city streets, you can find everything from really old ancient temples to cool, eclectic boutiques, and that is what makes Hong Kong so amazing!

Travel Inspiration

As an architect and urban sketcher, how often would you say you travel?

I have actually travelled to many countries and met so many new friends through my participation in numerous Urban Sketcher activities and symposiums around the world. For instance, when I went to Penang a few years ago, I connected with some of the urban sketchers there and joined in on one of their sketch walks which were very fun and rewarding because I got to hear stories shared by the true locals of the city. I have also travelled to Manchester, Porto, and this year we will be headed to Amsterdam for the Urban Sketcher Symposium. Through these diverse urban sketching activities, I have been seeing the world much more!

So where does your inspiration for travel come from?

I have a family so I definitely have to take into account their travel preferences. But for me, no matter where I find myself traveling to, there is always something to sketch. It may be difficult at times when you stand before a stunning piece of architecture and inspiration strikes at that moment but your family wants to visit the next tourist hot spot. With that said, I always make it a point to finish my sketch on location. Even if I don’t have time to fill in the colours, I need to finish my initial sketch on location to capture the presence and magnitude of the building.

Are there any destinations on your bucket list that you want to tick off?

Great question! Ever since university, I’ve always wanted to visit Greece. The architecture is absolutely sublime, from its geographical layout to the way the light hits the buildings in photos I’ve seen. It is so vivid and there is so much contrast of colours to play with. It would honestly be a dream of mine to be there and sketch the city through my eyes.

Which area of Hong Kong best inspires your urban sketching? Why?

An area of Hong Kong that truly stands out to me is Sham Shui Po because the district is very distinct and unique in its own way. The Sham Shui Po area has an air of authenticity that is true to its local heritage, where I can always count on seeing grandpas convene together for a long winded banter over pretty much any topic of conversation. I can recall one time I was sketching in the area and sitting by myself when an old grandpa came up to me and told me that the composition didn’t look right. I smiled and thanked him for his constructive words, but then out of nowhere another old man around the same age came to my defense and told me that he really liked my work. Before I knew it, a whole group of grandpas huddled around me till I had to actually look over their shoulders to be able to see what I was sketching. I am very fond of this memory as it showed me a different side of Hong Kong that is much simpler, quaint and truly local.

Though Sham Shui Po is known by locals as a working class neighbourhood, it is still one of the most dynamic districts in the city, filled with quaint local shops selling everything from electronic gadgets to children’s toys. This treasure trove is most certainly worth discovering for any urban explorer

What must-have items do you carry with you when you go exploring in Hong Kong?

Regardless of where I go, be it traveling on vacation or heading out for a weekend brunch, I always carry with me my sketchbook and pencil case with my most prized possessions: my sketching pencils, ink pen and watercolour paint set. One time, I remember meeting some friends for lunch and having completely forgotten my wallet and keys, but only taking with me my sketchpad and pencil case. That’s a true story!

In 3 words, how would you describe Hong Kong?

Vibrant, Dynamic, Diverse

Being a proud Hong Kong local, we see that you are constantly sharing amazing food sketches of the city’s culinary delights. Name us 3 restaurants you think embody the authentic local essence of Hong Kong cuisine.

There are so many delicious restaurants in Hong Kong, but I am a huge fan of local Hong Kong food. From the top of my head, I would suggest guests to visit a popular open-air food street stall (also known as “dai pai dong”) called Lan Fong Yuen situated right on Gage Street in the Central district. I’ve sketched it numerous times because it is so iconic and I absolutely adore the egg and spam noodles. If you are still hungry, then you need to head on over to Central for some delicious local eats at a popular restaurant called Lin Heung Tea House. The restaurant is opened from breakfast to dinner, but they are particularly famous for their dim sum so be sure to stop by. For dinner, I would put Yik Sun restaurant at the top of my list as I am a huge fan of their signature Lemon Chicken dish. It is my absolute favourite and I can eat lots of it!

You shared your one day itinerary with us already, but are there any “must-see or do” recommendations for first-timers in Hong Kong?

I would recommend guests to roam around the Sai Ying Pun district in the western area of Hong Kong. What I love about it is that you can find all these long-standing local dry seafood shops that have been around for over several decades and frankly, institutions in Hong Kong where locals know they need to visit to purchase these dry seafood goods for cooking. There is also so much history in that area in terms of how they came to build and structure the streets (First Street, Second Street, Third Street and so forth). Simultaneously, there are so many new, hip western coffee shops and restaurants popping up in the area so there is such a blend of new and old worth discovering.

In just a mere decade, Sai Ying Pun has transformed itself from a tranquil neighbourhood lined with local dried seafood shops to a chill urban hangout spot that strikes the perfect balance between east and west

Any final tips for our explorers in Hong Kong?

Stay True To Yourself – I think that by being yourself and showing off your personality in your day to day interactions, others will appreciate your presence and authenticity.

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