Singapore Central Business District skyline at dusk

Urban Sketching & Watercolor Notes from Singapore

An archive of sketching references, watercolor material guides, and location notes focused on Singapore's built environment, heritage districts, and public spaces.

Featured Articles

Material guides, architectural references, and location notes for urban sketchers in Singapore.

Abstract watercolor painting on paper
Materials

Watercolor Essentials for Urban Sketching

An overview of paint sets, portable brush types, and paper weights suited for outdoor sketching sessions in Singapore's tropical climate.

April 15, 2026
Shophouses in Chinatown, Singapore
Architecture

Sketching Singapore's Heritage Architecture

Reference notes on capturing shophouse facades, Peranakan tile patterns, and five-foot way proportions across conservation districts.

April 8, 2026
Bandstand at Singapore Botanic Gardens
Locations

Best Sketch Walk Locations in Singapore

A compiled list of sketching spots across the island, from Chinatown's heritage shophouse rows to the Botanic Gardens bandstand.

April 1, 2026
Preserved Peranakan house at Katong Joo Chiat, Singapore

About Quincemere

Quincemere is a local information archive oriented toward urban sketching enthusiasts based in or visiting Singapore. The site compiles material guides covering watercolor paints, brushes, and paper; architectural references for heritage buildings and conservation districts; and location-specific notes for sketch walks across the island.

Content is organized around three areas: practical material selection for outdoor watercolor work, structural and decorative details of Singapore's built environment, and site-specific information for commonly visited sketching locations.

Latest Notes

April 2026

Monthly sketch walk recap: Chinatown heritage district

The April sketch walk covered a route through Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, and Smith Street in the Chinatown conservation area. Participants recorded shophouse facades dating from the 1840s through early 1900s, with particular attention to second-storey window treatments and cornice ornamentation.

March 2026

Watercolor paper comparison: Arches vs Winsor & Newton Professional

A side-by-side review of two cold-pressed watercolor papers commonly stocked in Singapore. Comparisons cover weight, texture, wet-lifting capability, and colour vibrancy after drying. Both 300gsm sheets were tested with identical pigment mixes under similar humidity conditions.

February 2026

Peranakan shophouse facades along Koon Seng Road

Documentation of the pastel-coloured Peranakan terrace houses on Koon Seng Road in the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. Notes include tile pattern variations, stucco relief motifs, and the typical colour palette of teal, pink, and ochre found on restored facades in this section of the East Coast heritage zone.