Somehow new thoughts have been stirring in my mind the past few days. For one, I'd like to revamp this website into something more brand-oriented. This blog was born out of passion and partly out of a struggle to escape my art block, thus I started posting some of my drawings for fun. Though in the learning process, I think I'd like to "step it up" a lot more and put some effort into redoing some stuff (such as my website banner for one), and posting some more of my latest art.
I've been silent for a few months though I have been productive. I probably focused more on updating my social media feeds rather than take up the effort of blogging, but this once-in-a-while blog entry comes at a most opportune time. So what have I been up to? (1) Watercolor Here's where I literally step back into traditional painting and focused on improving my painting skills. Like I've mentioned in previous blog entries, I took up Chinese painting (missing a cycle of classes now, but I'll eventually come back to it) and it got me into exploring on how to step up my watercolor game. Technique-wise, I'm less hesitant in Western style watercolor painting than Chinese style, though I find that learning the difference between them is still continuing to enlighten me to this day. Truth be told I love watercolor in a way I've never learned to love it during my college days, when we were forced to use it as our main medium. The difference is, today, I've learned to love it and embrace it. I used to think watercolor was a hard medium to control, given that artists who turn to watercolor have to create their own sensibility in brush and water control. Though today, it's become an exercise to me in knowing the best time to create a "wash effect" and when and where to create more detail. It's been a fluid balance that's brought me to a better knowledge of this particular craft. I've added a gallery section for my watercolor works which can be found here. (2) My USA adventure Practically the remainder of March and half of April I was in the US to attend my cousin's wedding and to get some R&R. I did see some amazing places and places in my far-off wildest dreams during my trip, and boy, it's been two weeks since the trip and I feel like I've left a piece of my heart there. I think my adventure is best told through art, and to recount my best memories there, I'll be doing an art series to commemorate this trip that's close to my heart. It's going to be called "Are we there yet?" and it will feature some of my favorite sights and memorable moments in the US. :) I'm still on hangover mode frankly and there's a part of me that misses both being in the US and being home, so there's a part of me that's pretty torn somewhere. Though I think this trip may have given me the travel bug that they've all been talking about. (3) Art series and more Besides my US trip art series, I'm brainstorming on ideas to jumpstart my art and challenge myself more. I've been doing the occasional drawing every weekend, though it's starting to come to a standstill for me, and I'm starting to feel the need for me to branch out and grow beyond my comfort zones. More on this. Stay tuned!
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Another year has come and flown by (really fast) and here I am, writing my traditional year-end reflective blog post.
If I were to come up with a few words for 2018, it would have been a journey of re-learning and an opportunity for new experiences. I say this because this year has taught me so much, and in the process, I've often found myself in those short moments of self-doubt, only to be followed by a really nice moment of clarity and purpose. Have you ever experienced in life those moments, whether big or small, wherein you find yourself re-examining your beliefs and self-learnings, only to find that there is so much more you can discover when you try to re-learn something? I think that's how my 2018 has been--a chance to see both my self-accomplishments and mistakes in a new light and to do some re-learning. This was true in my effort to focus and balance the different aspects of my daily life--work, social/relationships, spiritual, recreational, etc. There were times I've stumbled along this road to balance everything and manage to finish everything that's on my plate. There were those idle moments, those moments I was exhausted from keeping up to speed--though in doing so, I've learned that there's no single way to balance your life. It's really all about the choices you make, and one of those choices is to be able to let go of everything that went bad and good for the previous day, and finding the courage to get through a new day. There are times I find myself thinking that Nike motto "Just do it" when my willpower refuses to cooperate. That healthy balance only comes when you get the chance to tell yourself to just keep going, and to make time for the things that matter most to you. In this case, I've re-learned the value of shifting priorities, and it was a constant reminder to focus when focus is really needed. I realize day by day how time always becomes the most valued resource, and in my case, I've been teaching myself to plan ahead (the reality here is, I'm no futuristic person--ask me what I want to do in 5 to 10 years from now and I would probably sit deep in thought in response) planning ahead in baby steps has been a practice this year. Honestly, I'm really happy for this personal achievement as I'm getting better at it, and sooner than later I hope to be able to dream bigger. Another concrete way that my 2018 was a chance to allow myself to break things down and re-learn them was Chinese painting class. I enrolled in the class believing that I had a bit of know-how as an aspiring painter, only to find that Chinese painting is a completely different discipline from what I've already learned in art classes before. As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, my laoshi (teacher) and classmates in Chinese painting have helped me realize that there are so many things I've yet to learn about art. It's such a humbling experience to observe and to learn to be patient with myself during the times I stumble and fail to produce a decent painting. It's a journey built by patience and a lot of hard work, and it's tough, though I find myself looking forward to the lessons because of what my experience has been teaching me. It's been a wonderful ride so far, and I see 2019 as an opportunity to learn more. Another great milestone for me this year is that I've been able to sustain the habit of intermittent fasting and weekly exercise. I'm grateful to have the time to develop my body strength and create some good habits along the way, which I hope to keep up even more this coming year. I'm happy as this turned out to be a week-by-week and day-by-day effort, which I look forward to developing consistently this coming year. 2018 would also not have been complete without re-learning the value of relationships, and realizing just how many people I look up to and cherish and respect in different ways. And in this way, I'm so grateful because God's given me the chance to see the good in people and believe in their capacity for love, growth, and potential, whether up close or at a distance. I'm one of those people who draws inspiration from the people around me, whether or not I see them all the time or a few times a year. I feel grateful for every chance I'm given to learn from someone or impart to them what I've learned as well. And that's an everyday miracle I don't always get to mention, but here I am now reflecting. It would be so cliche to reference Catriona Gray's Q&A during Miss Universe this year, but she's right--find the silver lining and be grateful. To be honest, I've paused and backtracked a lot while writing this post since 2018 has been really memorable to me in ways I can't even begin to summarize or mention. All in all, it's been one heck of a year. Looking forward to 2019, I see this coming year as a chance to start re-focusing on a deeper consciousness of life's purpose and continuing the best practices I've established this year 2018. Year 2019 will have its own set of challenges and lessons to learn, all in good time. I look forward to another year of memories, greatness, everyday inspiration and new experiences! Yay! I'm glad to be back with another entry after my hiatus. And I'm about to start a new challenge--I've started taking Chinese Painting Saturday sessions. The professor, Ceasar Cheng, is my mom's older brother's friend and he's one of the pioneers of Chinese painting here in the PH. He's been going around, teaching classes and holding seminars and workshops for Chinese painting in places like Fully Booked and Art Bar.
He's also had an exhibit which I attended before, showcasing some of his best works to date, and he's been able to sell the works. The first time I've ever heard of Chinese painting was during his exhibit at Chef Jessie's in Rockwell. Click here to see some of his works online. I'm probably on my 4th or 5th session since I started taking the classes, and here are some of the important things I've realized: [1] Technique. I can't emphasize how important this is, and how important it is to master the proper skill and technique here in Chinese painting. And given my background as an aspiring artist studying digital art and doing some traditional painting on the side, I thought that I would at least have an edge over this since I do love art. This wasn't the case though. In order to learn the technique, I've had a lot of opportunities to observe firsthand the style of painting. And truly, Laoshi (term for teacher in Chinese) Ceasar is a master with the brush and the paint. He just has this natural instinct and years of perfecting the technique that no matter what artwork you put in his hands, it comes out amazing. Also, the style of Chinese painting is fairly consistent. I love how you can trace its roots to the brushstrokes being done in Chinese calligraphy or mao bi. [2] Practice. This age-old adage that we adhere to, well, it does apply to Chinese painting. Every week, Laoshi teaches me and other beginners a new subject coupled with a live demonstration. The past few weeks, I've been learning how to paint certain subjects like the plum, peony, orchid, and lately, chrysanthemum. And every week I bring home some plates that I can study and practice painting the subject. And honestly, it's been a challenging task so far, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I feel like I'm re-learning traditional painting and watercolor as well. [3] Medium and the Strokes you make--understanding them can make (or in beginner's perspective, break) your painting. This is one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn. At first I found it such a waste to keep using valuable cuts of rice paper just to create a painting that I didn't really like (this is always the hard part of painting, realizing that you have to keep yourself open and patient to the fact that part and parcel of the process is failing). Though by my 4th and 5th session, I've realized that it's so important to do so anyway. The reason behind this is that the style of Chinese painting really comes out best on rice paper. The challenge is to be able to control the watercolor and brush towards the consistency you want while being able to use the quick absorbency of the rice paper to your advantage. Don't get me wrong though--during my first session, I had a hard time with the rice paper since I was so used to watercolor paper, which is a lot thicker and more absorbent, thus you needed to apply a lot more water if you intend to create a wash effect. While using rice paper as a medium, you get to understand that most of it is also about familiarizing with dry brush technique, and knowing how to get your strokes right. Another challenge of Chinese Painting is the fact that, like Chinese calligraphy, there are some strokes you can't just go back and change. In fact, it has to have that "effortless" look. And the approach is rather effortless as well, when you're used to the process. Some paintings in this style are actually quick studies, and can be done in about 20 minutes to a half hour if you're able to master the stroke well. In my case, I was so used to the approach that painting is all about layering--being able to put on tons and tons of layers of paint just to achieve a certain effect. Well, here in Chinese Painting, it's all about being able to paint at the bare minimum--showing off the beauty of your stroke. And it comes back in full cycle to the importance of technique. Overall, my experience has been nothing short of interesting and a breakthrough towards openness, especially the fact that I'm combating that fear of failure. There were times I've held a brush, wondering how on earth I would be able to get through with the painting without messing it up, only to tell my inner self to conquer the battle and just paint. It's been such a challenge though, and at the same time it's been a real de-stressor for me. I look forward to my weekend sessions since it takes my mind off of everything else but me and the opportunity to paint at a fixed time every Saturday. It's something I've always wanted--to discipline myself enough to keep towards a fixed schedule for painting. It's doing wonders for me, as I slowly overcome my fear of making mistakes and messing up a painting. And this past session, my confidence level with Chinese Painting is starting to improve. Somehow, my technique is greatly improving and I'm slowly making my way to getting the hang of it, and the process just wows me all the time. I'm really enjoying the part wherein Chinese Painting is so refreshing and a break from what I've been taught in art classes before. Through observation, I'm also able to get a good grasp on how certain techniques are done. I swear, Chinese Painting is such an underrated art and I'm mostly blogging about it because it amazes me how much I still don't know about painting. Yep, it's that "You know nothing, Jon Snow" scenario in Game of Thrones. Here's a gallery showing my paintings so far. I look forward to updating my blog with more! I've been on an almost one year hiatus from my blog, but I'm quite looking forward to continue art-blogging and sharing my journey this 2018!
If 2016 was a year of self-discovery, self-healing and self-love, 2017 in retrospect is a year of changes and the beginning of my journey and growth. In a lot of aspects I'm learning to push myself out of my comfort zones (though of course I've also made some choices that are VERY comfort-zone) and a lot of venturing into the unknown. And along the way, I am so grateful for the abundance and light I've been blessed with. I'm ending the year looking at mistakes as learning experiences, basking in the light of love for people I treasure, seeing the light and the good in people I've known and just met, and learning to trust and believe in myself. This year, one of the wins has been obtaining a new job that I stand to learn so much from, and I'm grateful that it's a job that I enjoy doing. It's been a challenge, to merge what I already know with what I'm learning at the present time--learning and un-learning at the same time, bringing in more ways of strategizing, managing, handling, and most of all : designing. It's been opening new avenues of thought and processing for me, and for once, I realize that I'm getting the hang of multi-project management in a way I've never been able to comprehend before. My time management skills have gone a long way from Point A, and I do feel there's been great improvement. It's like learning to see interior design in a different perspective. Of course, there's room for more improvement, though these small personal victories are just a few of what I'm so thankful for. I'm also grateful to be learning from such a professional and productive set of mentors and team members whom I really look up to. I feel that I am where I really need to be, and I embrace challenges I've been through and challenges I am about to face. It's been a big leap of faith and somehow, I realize more and more that there's just little to no more room for fear in the face of creativity and passion. 2017 has also been a leap in the physical department--I'm living by the idea of always taking care of one's body. To be honest, I haven't made a conscious effort to really take care of myself until my 2016 breakthrough. I've spent the latter quarter of 2017 doing my best to eat healthy and developing the habit of attending gym despite the busy schedule--a habit that I'm planning to pursue this new year, along with developing the habit of intermittent fasting. As a result, I'm happy to say I can do push-ups now! And I feel that I'm a lot stronger and that I've increased my endurance. This 2018, I'm looking forward to increasing my strength, endurance and becoming more physically balanced. I also recall 2017 as a year of saying yes to new ventures, like the first time mountain climbing -- Mt. Gulugud Baboy in Batangas and Masungi Georeserve. I've got to say, I don't particularly love mountain-climbing, but the experiences in themselves were really beautiful and I'm blessed to be able to walk in and be inspired by nature. Notable as well are other ventures like Manila-hopping, bible studies, fun reunions and hangouts, spontaneous movie and food trips, etc. What's more, my first ever BTS concert and another year of K-pop fangirling! I'm happy to be able to meet and go Noraebang with fellow K-pop friends and just really widen my scope and knowledge of all things Hallyu. I'm also developing a good taste for kimchi and Korean food. Maybe a trip to Korea in the near future? Who knows! Of course, this year would not have been complete without the presence of challenges along the way and a few (real) scrapes--though I'm equally as happy to learn from my mistakes as it always teaches me to keep an open mind and to accept things I can't control. I am so grateful that this year was all about opening my heart and mind towards things I wouldn't have imagined myself doing a year back. I'm happy to say that I'm slowly conquering past fears and understanding more and more about the life I want to lead. I'm happy to be able to take all of these parts of life step-by-step and being grateful for these opportunities at the end of the day. There's so much to do, so much to be, and each and everyday I remind myself to create time for things, friends and family (and beloved pets) and myself--time to live, time to cherish, and time to use productively / wisely. I'm looking forward to creating another amazing year in 2018! Welcome Year 2018!!! Today was a pretty cool and spontaneous day to put it quite frankly. For one thing, when my family and I went to Shangrila for our usual Sunday hangout, I had no idea that there was an art workshop scheduled for the day and it just so happened that I was at the right place at the right time.
This was such a cool session. To top it all off, the workshop was surprisingly free of charge. And the workshop was definitely worth attending. You could tell by the numbers of people gathered randomly from the upper floors looking down or from the people passing by Rustan's (functions and events are usually held at the ground floor level beside Rustan's Department store) to check out the workshop that the subject of the workshop was definitely attracting good energy and attention from everyone. For one, I was glad to be among people who love and appreciate art. And I was especially grateful to have learned a lot from the experience of simply being there at the moment. Though if I were to highlight on there being one important thing I've learned today, it would have to be the value behind spontaneous art. I realized that the whole experience of watching Mr Fidel Sarmiento conduct live demonstrations of his methodology in oil pastel does not only illustrate his mastery of the techniques involved, but also portrays the fluidity and fluency of his "visual library" (which, in this sense, I would refer to the expanse of his ability to translate and communicate visually by drawing and painting what he knows and imagines). As an aspiring artist, I've heard from several other artists I see as mentors who often describe their process of learning as "learning how to draw what they see" before "learning how to draw what they know/imagine". While this key process is the very epitome of the saying "Seek to learn the rules before you break them", I did find the spontaneity of his art process a refreshing change. I found that experiencing someone with so much passion and talent is such an awe-inspiring breakthrough. And witnessing for myself how fluid and spontaneous one can be when he/she has reached a height of expertise has also given me a better perspective on art. In a sense, I have observed that one needs to be both courageous and vulnerable in order to break the barrier between being able to fully express him/herself through art, and being afraid to try. It's kind of like being at the edge of a cliff and wondering whether or not to make that leap of faith--constantly pushing against your comfort zone and reaching out towards activities or ideas beyond what you are familiar with leads one towards a better understanding and awareness of oneself. Mr Fidel Sarmiento, the mentor during the workshop, was introduced by the organizers as the president of a prestigious art organization here. I found his method of passing on his knowledge through live demonstration a very effective audience attention grabber. Not only was the live demo an audience pleaser, it was a very substantial way of practical teaching. Some argue that art is an inherent talent. Some may say it's a skill. I think it's a mishmash of both, after witnessing Mr Sarmiento sketch and apply pastels so effortlessly. In line with this, skill is so much associated with one's capacity to learn and apply new techniques not only in art, but in everyday life. Just as Mr Sarmiento has been teaching a variety of new ways to approach pastel control and strokes. As for the talent--well, I do believe that in any hobby or activity we choose to do, there will always be people who are amazingly and effortlessly good without even trying. And there are some who have the creative spin but work hard and practice to earn their talent. I strongly subscribe to a good mixture of both in the making of a good visual artist. I learned a lot about how the language of lines, colors and strokes can be communicated through the pastel medium. For one thing, using pastels and felt and/or sandpaper as the main media feels so different from painting with brushes. You can make different strokes with brushes, but it's rather more fluid when you use pastels to mold a certain shape or make a particular line. Also, I realized that using sandpaper, given its rough surface, makes the pastels feel effortlessly soft. You could just let your fingers glide and shape your work using a variety of strokes. I did enjoy this fun experiment with the strokes. The experience in itself is messy, but as fun as you'd feel if you were a kid and had crayons in your hand. On the other hand, felt paper does feel like your standard velvet texture. Pastels do adhere to them pretty well and I just love the smoothness of both media. The feeling is like you're constantly gliding your fingers across the paper. Overall, it was so interesting to experience oil pastel as an art medium for painting. It is definitely something I'd put into practice. Inspiring stuff! It's been nearly two and a half months since I first started painting for the NeonMob card series, and finally I finished the last leg of paintings just last night! :) I'm happy to share that I have submitted the series for NeonMob administrators' final checking and approval. Since it is on approval queue, I do hope that the administrators get to review it before the first month of 2017 ends :) (Wow, I never realized how quick January of 2017 was. Like it just flew out the window!)
I wanted to share why the experience of really doing an artwork series is point-blank a really beautiful and memorable one. When my good friend introduced me to NeonMob, (shoutout, thanks Soph!!! You the best!), I was immediately fascinated by the idea. Trading cards? Collection? Artwork Submission? Sounded good to me. Having just recently gotten back into drawing and painting, I think part of me thirsted for the challenge. I read the Creator Handbook right after I joined the NeonMob community, and was really ecstatic to start sharing my re-discovery and passion for art. The creating process of this card series started out as my personal brainchild in the making. I've always loved cottages for one--the ambiance of serenity, the simple and naturalistic lifestyle--these are only some of the reasons on why cottages are so appealing to me. Plus, it's always been a dream of mine to someday retire in a Hobbit house like in Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit, so you can pretty much guess how the concept for the card series came about. The first few months into the creative process were pretty giddy. I enjoyed researching, sketching, and watching digital painting tutorials. I learned a lot simply watching other artists' processes, as digital painting basics are pretty much the span of my knowledge. Special mention to Matt Kohr, whose Photoshop Rendering Basics taught me a new way of seeing the whole process. I love how clearly Matt is able to explain and redirect your focus towards certain topics as he is discussing them. He has a special way of instructing that directs one towards the logic and science behind the process of digital art, which makes the process all the more relatable for most beginners. I started out with this habit of sketching my ideas and posting them on Instagram and Twitter for a start. The response and encouragement/support has been overwhelming. It's been a whirlwind. The process of learning and re-learning, applying concepts and principles to the art and composition were the biggest challenges I had to face while doing the artworks. Some didn't always turn out the way I wanted them to, but perseverance and patience does wonders. I learned that it is so important to be patient and gentle with yourself, especially when committing unintentional errors, or realizing that you could have done things a different way. I also realized and appreciated the valuable support and guidance of the people I am surrounded with. I am eternally, from the bottom of my heart, grateful for the encouragement and motivation that every single one of them has given me. It's unbelievably overwhelming and inspiring to realize that there are friends and family who can love and support you all the way through. Shout out to my ever-supportive and loving parents! As well as to all my great friends, and the friends whom I have met along the journey and gave me support in countless numbers of ways. I cannot even begin to tell you how much it's meant to me. :) You know who you are!! From my inspired heart to yours, a heartfelt thank you! You guys are the best :) After completing the paintings, I immediately felt a sense of absolute relief at finishing, a bit of a hangover (Wow! I completed a whole set!) and a sense of accomplishment. Though I realize there are always points for improvement, I'm pretty happy with the overall result, and am proud to say that I've really made an effort to unite the concept through the coherence of the paintings as well as the style of digital painting that I've developed as time went along. I can undoubtedly attest to how I'm improving art-wise, though more importantly, I am a big believer in the significance of the journey. The journey, aka the totality of the experiences and the system in which you apply your knowledge and skills, is one of the most beautiful experiences you can ever go through. The journey--it just changes you. You definitely cannot change overnight, but the journey gives you a multitude of chances to start developing habits and adapting to smaller changes. In all honesty, that's what this journey meant to me. It is simply an affirmation of a beautiful truth: that I am now allowing myself to become devoted to my soul's purpose and passion. 2016 was a memorable year for me—in the sense that the stagnant stage in the life I have known for the past few years has finally gotten the engine up and running. It’s been this unpredictable 366-day carriage ride through the rough/bumpy and the smooth roads, twists and turns, and unexpected bends in the road.
On the rough roads, there were those unavoidable potholes that got in the way. Learning to get over and past them at first is the most difficult part of all. Then again, making your way through the obstacle course lets you discover something you didn’t really know you had. There were also those smooth roads—the ones wherein you just had to stop to admire and enjoy the view. These are the straight paths that are classically happy and wonderful, and easy on the wheels. The whole ride made me realize that: When taken as a whole, journeying on both the smooth and rough roads is such a beautiful experience. And even more importantly—that your own perspective on the experience will allow you to make that important choice: either to move forward with courage, or to take the reverse course in fear. There can essentially be just one situation or circumstance that can happen, and literally thousands of ways to really see or perceive it. As a great friend of mine always tells me: We are creators of our own realities. What we create, we believe; and what we believe determines our attitudes and our actions. We are empowered by choice. 2016 was a year of both good and bad choices. It’s been filled with potholes like self-doubt, judgments and biases, fears, unhealthy beliefs, uneasy times, hardships, stressful moments—but on the other hand, it’s also been filled with wonderful new beginnings, old and new passions, old and new relationships, clarity, awareness, and profound memories and moments to be carried on. I look back at 2016 and see it as the year I chose to embrace the power of my choices. Back in 2015 and in the early months of 2016, I found myself driving towards dead ends. There were a few victories to be had for sure, but the other choices I made reflected either fear or self-doubt. The latter part of 2016 was all about looking past the drama and learning to love and accept myself, bit by bit. It was all about choosing to let go of negative energy, beliefs and emotions, while constantly choosing to believe in the power and spirit of positivity. Because choosing to believe in positivity did bring about change. Slowly, but surely. And change, as cliche as it does sound, always starts from within. And so another year begins. This 2017 is a year to give and spread love and positivity. It is a year to create the realities we strive towards. It is a year to be open to change, growth, and learning. And most importantly, it is a journey towards growing more in trust, hope, and love. We are who we choose to be. Welcome, Year 2017! :) I'm really excited because a sudden thought or inspiration occurred to me. To be technically correct though, I'm harnessing an aspiration based on an idea I had sometime ago. I want to make a fairytale illustration. Something like fan art for fairytales, but in my own interpretation and style. Here's the add-on: this is still a pretty open idea, but I really want to create art for Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. It's been a timeless, adapted tale throughout the years and the reason why it's so inspiring is the fact that it's been taken apart and recreated so many times over. My favorite interpretation to date is Tim Burton's version (I have always been a Tim Burton fan!) I love his attention to detail plus the dark, whimsical setting he effortlessly brings to life through his films. It's almost always creepy and disturbing, but the darkness has a beauty and an art to it. It is one of the most imaginative interpretations of Alice to date. I'm including some screenshots for inspiration and reference here: (disclaimer: I do not own these photos. Credits to Walt Disney / Tim Burton Productions): Perhaps this will be my next concept exploration after finishing the paintings for my NeonMob series. Speaking of which, I do plan on writing a blog post after I finish up my series in order to sum up and detail my insights during and after the project. I'm really excited! I'm nearly through with the paintings and hope to be able to post them within the month of December, probably just in time for Christmas! :)
Heeey!!! It's another day and another awesome workshop to blog about :) Again, my workshop buddy Kim and I attended, and the cool thing is that the speaker/facilitator today is also Kim's friend, so small world.
The Watercolor Lettering / Calligraphy workshop today was really informative and substantial. It was organized in a very structural format wherein Shai (our facilitator, on Instagram as @shaifalcutila) began introducing the subject and the essential tools to be used. Just learned today that a sponge is a better tool to use in watercolor than tissue (for fiber absorbency). And since Shai is a graphic designer, she taught the differences between a calligraphy text, a typography font and lettering. Calligraphy is pretty much based on penmanship (so it takes a lot of practice!) We had to do calligraphy a lot back then in Chinese classes, so making thick-thin-thick strokes came across as familiar. (Though in practicing strokes, the hard part is that you can't go back on a stroke to correct it, so it's a one-time-big-time kind of thing.) I found chinese calligraphy quite difficult though because the way you have to hold the brush is super different from how you can hold and write with a pen. She also had us do some warm-up drills and basic Alphabet lettering to practice brush control using either calligraphy brush pens or watercolor with brushes. Brush control was all about practicing strokes, and knowing when to press down on the brush or lighten the brush pressure. I'm amazed at the fact that the act of brush control can really teach one to practice and exercise both dexterity and grace. Even then, the most enjoyable idea about calligraphy is the fact that you don't have to think much while moving your brush. It's the kind of experience that just teaches you to simply go with the flow. I'd have to admit that it's one of the few times that I really did enjoy working with watercolor. For one thing, the last time I probably used watercolor was during the interior design board exam, wherein it was required. Plus the fact that we were pressured to render interiors in the medium before the day ended, so it was so much fun to work without the pressure or the stress in this particular situation. Also, I'd have to say that the really awesome thing about working with watercolor paper is its absorbency and texture. It's way thicker than ordinary bond paper, and the texture of the paper creates a definitive style on its own. And watercolor is way more beautiful when done by hand with traditional media, than with a digital tablet and a computer. I really think that watercolor is difficult to recreate with digital media. Overall, watercolor calligraphy is so cathartic and therapeutic. This experience, to me, was a jumpstart towards a new venture or pastime. Watercolor is so much fun to play and work with; and personally, I loved how dabbling in watercolor can inspire simple moments in creativity and passion. The best thing is, anyone can get into it and just enjoy being in the moment. Looking forward to more inspiration! Will definitely practice watercolor calligraphy again. :) paper cut art workshopSo it was my first time attending a paper cut art workshop with my friend Kim. It was hosted by the Learning Village in Meridian Campus, QC. The feeling of being there in the moment was like child's play in a sense, it was a wonderful and positive feeling--getting the feel of paper, cutter and scissors and letting your imagination wander--and the people around are so talented and creative as well. Kim mentioned that Meridian is an international school specializing in arts and humanities, and most of the students are so artistic in so many different ways. I felt a bit of nostalgia while spending time there as well. The atmosphere was so friendly, free and childlike and I loved it. Our speaker's name is Ryan Villamael, (He is on IG as @cutfelt) he just came back from a Singapore exhibition and he showed us a lot of his past works and projects and they were just downright amazing. Inspiration-wise, I really felt his art and his passion. He uses other media like felt paper and fabric, and his tools for paper cutting are simple as well. I admire how he is not afraid to take on big challenges and how dedicated he is to his vision. He described going through frustration, not knowing what an artwork's result may be--and seriously, the results are amazing. I know that frustration all too well, and to be able to rise above that fear of failure and fear of the unknown is such an incredible feat. You simply have to remember that passion and love for what you are doing is greater than your fear. I've got to hand it to him, paper cut art is not easy. It requires a lot of patience and discipline, but on the other hand it is completely enjoyable and a great de-stressor. It's also pretty therapeutic. It's something like calligraphy, you can always practice it in your spare time and get better at it. Also, it's very tool dependent--you need a nice, even cutter and a handy pair of scissors. I am amazed at how ordinary media can create such beautiful works. Our classmates were just so talented and full to bursting with ideas, and immersing myself in the same atmosphere inspired me to stop thinking and just go with the flow. I'm looking forward to attending more unique and amazing classes/workshops like this! Time to save up some extra moolah :) Time for the good news!I'm just downright amazed by how intentions can really turn a wish into reality! I'm beyond stoked since Neonmob administrators just approved my submission/pitch and I'm beyond blessed :)
I'm excited to start working on the series, and I look forward to sharing insights on my journey here soon :) |
Nonsensical whimHi, I'm Ashley. This is my blog on journey towards discovering art and documenting my learning experiences. (Particularly Photoshop, Digital Painting, Sketchup/V-ray, Interior Design, fun tutorials I've discovered and the like). wordpress:TUMBLR:Archives
December 2018
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