A souvenir from “home”

February 16, 2025

Despite having left Liverpool in December after living there for a year, I was lucky to have a compilation of sketches sent to me by Paul Hunt, one of the many talented artists at Downtown Sketchers. They’re a group of artists based in Liverpool who get together every Monday to draw, paint, and chat over coffee or tea.

Photo of me sketching by Tracie, downtown sketchers — Me sketching with the sketchers at Liverpool One. Photo by Tracey Dunn.

I joined the group thanks to artist and advocate Tracey Dunn, who is also part of another wonderful community in the Toxteth district of Liverpool aka Liverpool 8. Thanks to her, I learned not only about the sketchers but also about the vibrant yet tumultuous history of Toxteth. I was happy to have bumped into her a few times at the Granby Winter Gardens for drawing sessions too. The Garden is a community space carved out from abandoned homes that stand as a testament to the neighborhood’s resilience against unemployment and racism throughout the 70s and onward.

Bicycle and Granby Winter Market sign, Liverpool — The Granby Winter Gardens was once two derelict houses in Liverpool 8, transformed by the local community through fundraising and hard work. It is now a communal indoor garden, meeting space, and offers accommodation for artist residencies.

I was only able to attend 3 sessions with the Downtown Sketchers, and probably just as much with Tracey’s Granby initiatives, but I still look back fondly at both the art I made with them and of the people I met, albeit very briefly.

It’s still quite surreal for me to have called Liverpool home. I often thank my wife, who brought me along for the ride. It was she who got a scholarship and eventual permission for us to live in Liverpool for more than a year. There was a small but loud yelp from extremist right-wing groups in Liverpool during the Southport riots. But the human beings of the city, regardless of political affiliation and economic standing, came out in droves, reminding us we were welcome there.

At the Liverpool waterfront — Rocel and I at the Liverpool waterfront, a site of turbulent history in the slave trade, World War II bombing, abandonment and revival… one of the many great places to sketch.

What’s great is that this book by Paul and the sketchers shows scenes of places I find so familiar, yet so very far. Places I walked or biked by often. Now here I was, 6,600 miles (10,700 kilometers) away from Liverpool flipping through sketches in the book, being hit with a tinge of nostalgia and oddly, homesickness.

Liverpool Town Hall, sketch by Mark Grant — Liverpool Town Hall fronted by Castle St. Not too far from the photo was once Liverpool Castle. Sketch by Mark Grant.

Liverpool Museum dry dock, sketch by Susan Massey — Liverpool Museum dry dock. Not too far from here is Tate Liverpool, which at the time of this photo and writing is under renovation. Sketch by Susan Massey.

St Lukes Bombed Out Church, sketch by Paul Hunt — St. Luke’s Church, also known as the “Bombed Out Church”. On May 6th, 1941 German bombers attacked Liverpool. St. Luke’s was hit with an incendiary bomb leaving behind the church’s exterior. It too is now home to a series of community arts and cultural events. Sketch by Paul Hunt.

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, sketch by Paul Hunt — Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is one of the world’s largest cathedrals, designed by the same architect behind the famous red telephone booth associated with British streets, particular that of London. Sketch by Paul Hunt.

Queen Ave Liverpool, sketch by Sue Breen — Queen Avenue, a quiet street of shops and restaurants not far from Liverpool Town Hall. Sketch by Sue Breen.

Liverpool Lime Street Station, sketch by Elisabeth Halls — Liverpool Lime Street Station, a welcoming sight when visiting (or coming home to) Liverpool. It is the oldest grand terminus mainline station still operating today. Sketch by Elisabeth Halls.

Rome Colosseum, sketch by Chris Doran — Honourable mention: the Colosseum in Rome. I saw this sketch in the book, and realised I had taken a photo of it 20 years ago. Sketch by Chris Doran.

Paul told me that one of my sketches was chosen for the back cover, which blew my mind. When I finally saw it along with my name nearby, I almost teared up.

Back of Liverpool downtown sketchers 2024 compilation book

I learned from the group that sketching involves putting down on paper whatever you see. An artist friend of mine also based in the Philippines says something similar – “Put that first stroke on paper and let it flow… make a mess.”

It’s harder than it sounds at first, but this has steadily become one of my mantras when being hit with “artist’s block” – that feeling you get when faced with a blank white page or canvas. What do you draw? How should it look? One simple answer is draw what you see, no qualms, no expectations… just come as you are and draw what you see.

Sketch of pair of stools at Lorettas, Liverpool — Sketch of a pair of stools at a cafe in Liverpool One.

Sketch of chairs in Liverpool downtown sketchers 2024 compilation book — The sketch of chairs in the Liverpool Downtown Sketchers 2024 compilation book.

Coming as you are is crucial for any gathering of people coming together, whether it’s for drawing or for something that contributes to an even bigger picture. The Liverpool Downtown Sketchers offers a place for everyone – I even met people who didn’t sketch at all and have had good conversations with them nonetheless.

Sketch throw down at Alberts Schloss with the artists — Sketch “throw down” at Albert’s Schloss on Bold St. with the artists.

A year probably isn’t long enough to call a place home. But I had lived in Bohol for just as long, and I would always tell my mom before visiting her there, “Uli na ko ma,” I’m coming home.

I’m slowly realizing now that home really is where your heart is. It’s a privilege to have called a few places on the globe my home without having to be a millionaire (or even a thousandaire). They also say the grass is greener on the other side, but I have found that we will also long for the grass we leave behind.

Though we’ve left Liverpool, the people and the places there have long left their mark on me.