Art Stalking: Lisa Congdon

I learned about Lisa Congdon via Maria Popova's wonderful site called www.brainpickings.org. It's one of my most frequently visited sites since I started dipping my toes into the corporate world in order to give my mind at least ounce of creative inspiration and stimulation while taking a break from I.T. work.

She has a very spontaneous and quirky characteristic about her work that reminds me of Maira Kalman. Her hand lettering is playful, informal and absolutely unique. She is also self taught and her illustrations range from portraits to patters and random objects and it blows my mind that she didn't start drawing or painting until she was in her early 30's!

Here are a few of my favorite paintings and artworks by Lisa Congdon courtesy of her blog.



Maya Angelou, Frida Kahlo and Anaïs Nin portraits which are part of her Reconstructionists Project with Maria Popova. Check out new posts at her blog every Monday!

While her portraits are realistic and traditional in nature, I adore her playful take on using digital media.






Awesome repeat patterns that were hand drawn, scanned then digitally colored. Aren't they awesome?!

She has a very positive voice in her blog aptly titled "Today is going to be awesome." The moment you visit her site, it's just full of inspiration and love for pretty things and the actual illustration/drawing process. I also admire her dedication and her ability to stick with yearlong projects that require her to post photos of collections and make hand lettered quotes every day or paint portraits every week.

I also found out that she is getting married this coming Saturday! Congratulations Lisa! :)

Note: All photos posted in this entry are by Lisa Congdon.

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Always Pursue Growth

Made a simple rubber stamp last week then used my Leonardt Manuscript 300 nib for the words. I thought of this quote because a lot of us are too hard on ourselves when we set goals and try to achieve them. It's better to pursue growth, because growth is never ending. Ask not if you're already perfect, but if you're better than the day before.

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Psychedelic Adventures: Mt. Pinatubo Travel Diary

I was anticipating a very rigorous hike. It was my chance to jumpstart a much needed exercise regimen after the food trips that me and my friends have been getting into for the past several weeks. My college friends and I were discussing the idea of going on a day hike to Mt. Pinatubo one evening and I remember its epic eruption way back in 1991. I woke up to a white garage and I thought it was snowing! It was the second biggest volcano eruption in the 20th century, according to The National Geophysical Data Center and had caused multiple deaths in the area due to collapsing roofs and health issues. More than a decade later, Mt. Pinatubo doesn't seem very intimidating anymore. I have visited its crater in 2009, trekking through 7km of ash and stone and just last week, I had the chance to marvel at its crater for the second time.

Jim and I attended a wedding at Fernbrook Gardens the night before and I arrived home at 10 pm. Shortly after, I started preparing my things--dri fit clothes, arm sleeves and sunblock for UV protection, cap, linen pants, band aid, Jelly Ace for my trail food, a couple of bottles of water, shades, slippers, running shoes. I was to meet up with my college friends at 2:30 AM and head to Capas, Tarlac to touchbase with the Pinaykeypoint Tour Guides by 5:30 AM.

After signing the waiver forms, we were given a short introduction and what to expect on this trek. The skies weren't cooperating, and dark clouds loomed above us. I prayed that the weather won't force us to circle back to the Pinaykeypoint Headquarters before getting a glimpse of the crater. Our group was divided into two--Jim, Miwa, Chiqui and I in one 4x4 jeep while our other friends Cha, Prech, Louison and Fetz in another.

Each jeep had a Pinaykeypoint representative, a driver and a local tour guide. They involved locals in the tour as a way of providing a living to Aetas in the area. The 4x4 jeep was subjected to much tossing, and it was kind of difficult to stay still. The view was boulders and boulders of ash and stone with a bit of plant life sprouting everywhere. I remember the contrast of the scenery when I went to Mt. Pinatubo in January 2009. It was very hot and the place was so dry, I hardly saw any grass in the area. We were lucky that it's the not-so-dry season, so the ash didn't go to our eyes too much. The ride was an adventure in itself, but I was looking forward to the trek as well.










At one point there was an argument between the driver and the Pinaykeypoint representative. She was urging the driver to continue with the 4x4 ride, but the driver said we were supposed to be dropped off and start the trek. Apparently, we were still in danger of not being able to reach the crater on time because the impending rainfall. We were forced to ride the jeep all the way through the main drop off point, which was just 30-45 minutes away from the crater.

Well, so much for putting on so much SPF! Haha.

Similar to what I've done in Bohol, I started picking up trash along the way. Jim also followed suit and we collected enough to fill a small plastic bag. There were candy wrappers, cigarette butts and it infuriated me to see a Piattos wrapper squeezed between the stones beside our trail. How hard is it to carry your own trash and find a proper place to dispose of it? Hay, people.

As Jim and I were exchanging frustrated thoughts about travel ethics, my bad vibes left me for a bit when I saw the water.




I've seen this before, but it's still breathtaking.

Unlike my first visit to the crater, travelers are no longer allowed to swim in the water. The local government already implemented a law against swimming in the 300ft crater because there were a couple of death incidents just earlier this year. Hearing about the newly implemented law, I was glad that I got to swim in the crater at least once in my lifetime!


The crater also has more space to set up tents for travelers. In 2009, that beach-like area in the photo above was filled with trees and grass. We slept under the natural shade which was also a very organic way of enjoying the place. We felt like legit hikers then. Our backpacks served as our pillows and we brought our own sarongs to cover our faces while we slept. The tents were c/o Pinaykeypoint and it was still a very welcome change from the 10:30 AM heat. We had lunch after taking photos then took an afternoon nap.

After an hour and a half, we were woken up by the tour guides and signaled that it's time to go. Before heading out to our jeepneys, I stopped and took some last minute photos. I chanced upon these two Aeta kids who gamely posed for the camera. They were scrawny as hell and didn't have any slippers on but their smiles were all good vibes and sunshine.

As part of our itinerary and Pinaykeypoint's advocacy, a seedling was planted in our name at the drop off point. It gave me comfort that we were giving back something to Mother Nature after this trip. I hope that all agencies also take after Pinaykeypoint's cause and encourage travelers to take care of Mt. Pinatubo. :)

Read more about Mt. Pinatubo here and learn more about Pinaykeypoint Mt. Pinatubo Tour Packages here.

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Doodle Caboodle: Excellence Is A Habit

A doodle inspired by Aristotle:

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

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A Corpy's 5 Tips on Practicing Creativity

Before I began drawing and blogging regularly again, one of the challenges that I faced was the inception of an the idea to be translated into an image. Numerous questions go through my head about what to draw that I end up being paralyzed and not continuing because I felt that my subject wasn't creative or interesting enough. My constant self editing before undergoing the actual process made me realize that I didn't get any better at drawing just by thinking of what to draw and then postponing altogether. I discovered that in order to really practice and get better at something, the most important thing is to simply start.

Of course, it's crucial to be deliberate in your work to find a purpose and message for an illustration. Happy accidents can only get you so far, right? But in order to hone a skill, whether it be illustration, calligraphy or writing, one must keep on executing and go through the entire lifecycle of a process.

For my fellow corporate professionals who are also trying to remain creative, here are

A Corpy's 5 Tips on Practicing Creativity

1. Keep a notebook wherever you go

You will never know when the next big (or small) idea will spring out of your system until you're there in that actual light bulb moment. Chronicling the feeling or the idea through writing or a sketch will allow you to remember and develop the fleeting thought while you're in transit, on a line to the loo, while waiting for your boarding time at the airport or in between breaks at the office.

You can doodle too, which can serve as an artwork on its own.

2. Bring a camera with you

This has proven to be a really useful habit for me specially when I travel or when I watch people. Since moments are so ephemeral, a camera is an essential tool for me be able to capture people, pleaces and movements that could later on be useful for an illustration or a subject for sketching and watercolor practice.

Whenever I'm in search of a subject to paint, I take out my camera and browse through photos from months back and exercise "seeing" while drawing. I didn't have to rack my brain for a subject to draw, instead, I was able to immediately practice my perspective, my sketching, my inking, my underpainting or my washes.

3. Be prepared to suck.

Cliche as it may sound, it's true. Practice indeed makes perfect. But I used to have a tendency to get discouraged with my abilities while practicing, because I sucked and I didn't want to make mistakes. Seeking perfection is fine, but if your pursuit for perfection keeps you from growing and taking risks, then there must be something wrong with your process. Perfection is the end result of practice. Practice doesn't have to be perfect yet. Just continue and you will get better.*

*I always remind myself of this too.

4. Know when to focus and when to multitask.

For an individual who is juggling a job and a passion, it's easy to get caught in the day to day chaos of life. Multitasking is idle time disguised as busy-ness, they say. You think you're doing a lot but you end up not progressing when you look back. A lot of people would advise against multi tasking and I would agree to a certain extent. Multitasking can be a good strategy by combining nonproductive time with a productive task to be able to free up your hours and focus on your work or your craft. Check your Facebook on the commute and not touch your phone or laptop when you get home. Instead, work on a sketch, an article or that unfinished song you're been putting in the backseat for the past month. Watch TV while doing jump rope. Read a book while waiting for your lunch to be served. Listen to podcasts or TED Talks while driving. Doodle while you're in a meeting (seriously, studies show that doodling supports memory retention by 29%).

5. Always make time.

The last and final tip is also the most important. Make time for your craft. Go to a quiet corner and don't let distractions keep you from doing what you love. Facebook and other social media are great channels to stay connected with friends and family but they shouldn't be the highlight of the day. The television is a means of entertainment, not a way to use up 24 hours of your day. Work takes up the majority of our waking hours so it's important to utilize our remaining time wisely. Stay focused in coming up with an output and make creativity a habit. 

This is not a tried and tested guide, but something that I'm trying to continuously practice since I started drawing regularly again. Letting go of analysis paralysis took me quite a while, and trust me, it still bites me back in the ass sometimes. I have started to become more aware of my fear to start something and that was the first step that I took to learn how to stop being such a control freak and just keep practicing.

For more inspiration and motivation to practice, check out The Done Manifesto by Bre Pettis and Kio Stark

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Watercolor Weekday: Harry and Minerva

People watching is one of my cheapest hobbies. To set the record straight, I am not a stalker, nor do I have any intentions of being one. (Sa twitter at instagram lang, promise!) I just like to observe how people interact from afar and sometimes make up stories about them in my head. When I see an interesting looking person, I try to imagine what he or she is like--what she does for a living, what could be his errands for the day, where she could be headed or why he has that peculiar expression on his face.

While on assignment in the US for 2 months, I got to see and interact with different sorts of people, specially when I was doing my usual touristy rounds in New York City. I remember a Saturday afternoon spent at a Cafe in Manhattan with a couple of my friends, just watching strangers pass by. We were seated right across the cafe window and it felt as though we were watching strangers from a big screen television.

I've recently started a habit of carrying a camera every where I go and taking photos of random people in hopes of being able to draw them eventually. For today's Watercolor Wednesday entry, I decided to draw an old couple I saw at the Lillie P. Bliss Garden at the MoMa. They seemed to be perusing some book or article and I loved how they were seated side by side, never taking their eyes off of what they were reading.

Let's call them Harry and Minerva.

Started with a pencil sketch of Harry and used him as a scale reference for Minerva.

Doing a wet on wet wash for the background, because I have an aversion to white space. Haha.

I did an underpainting of the skin, making sure that the wrinkles had shadows to be able to show more texture

While doing the initial underpainting to their clothes, I chose a contrast of green and red for Harry and Minerva respectively. In the photo that I took of the couple, Harry's jacket had a more subdued color, but I wanted it to be a bit brighter on my drawing since I will be adding more shadows on it later on. I also added a bit more texture on Harry's hat.

I added more dimension to Minerva's hair and clothes and outlined her eyes and mouth. I super loved the fact that she still had her backpack on. Despite her age, she looks like a young stundent still eager to learn.

Did some final touches on Minerva's glasses and scarf and outlined their shared reading material.

So there's Harry and Minerva, reading side by side. Perhaps they were reviewing the map of the MoMa or reading the MoMa Highlights. I can imagine them doing an exchange of thoughts about what they saw at the MoMa that day, sharing their favorite paintings and discussing the mind boggling minimalist and abstract art. Whatever it was they were doing, it was a pleasure to watch them and even more so to draw them.
If you wish to share some interesting photos of people, let me know! I'd be glad to include them in my next installations of Watercolor Wednesdays. :)


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Psychedelic Adventures: Coron, Palawan in Pictures

It's funny how my blog can't seem to catch up with my (mis)adventures. I still haven't finished writing about my Day 2 and 3 in Coron last April, and here's another post about Bohol already lined up! I don't want to write a lengthy entry about Coron again, so here's a few more photos from that trip.

 Smorgasbord of colors at the Coron Public Market. Fresh fruits and veggies, anyone?

Amazing blue fish at the wet market! I just had to take a picture.

Do you remember him? It's Kuya Danny!

On our way to Barracuda Lake. More turquoise waters and amazing rocks await!

Before the plunge! Cheerleader lang ang peg! Hahaha

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Creativity Show and Tell: The Anti-White Space Project

The month of May is proving to be very eventful for me despite the lack of updates in my blog (sorry about that)! I'm so glad that I have enough time to draw and paint these days, but things might change as I start a new project at work. I learned last week that my new team will be reporting to our Global One office starting May 15, which means I will be traveling daily from B.F. Paranaque to Eastwood and back again (eeeeep!). That's more or less 4 hours of my life spent in transit, so I'm looking at options for temporarily staying somewhere in Mandaluyong or Makati so that I can save some time crossing the south super highway to get to the office. The start of a project means more time for work and less time for life, but uncertainties aside, I'm really looking forward to this new endeavor and the other things that are lined up for me this month--a couple of weddings, a trek to Mt Pinatubo, and possibly, a 10km run!

I also just got back from Bohol with my family but my trip felt so bitin (short) even if we stayed there for 4 days and 3 nights. There were a bunch of hits and a couple of misses during the trip (*ahem*Cebu Pacific*ahem*), and I can't wait to post pictures and write about it!

But before I do my rant and rave about Bohol, here's an update of what I've been doing for my creativity show and tell this week:

The anti white space pattern! 

This took me almost a day and a half to finish. I wanted to do a negative painting, but I didn't have any masking fluid so I did a rough sketch of the pattern first then outlined the white space. I covered the rest of the paper with paint, trying to overlap the colors. Unlike my usual take on color, I chose reds, violets and blues for this pattern so that blending would be easy, and the washes would somehow look seamless. The colors were a joy to blend using my Prang watercolor set, and I like how the painting turned out. What do you think?

It's another addition to my watercolor pattern series. Hope you like it!

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A Post-Labor Day Drawing

What a productive weekend! Sunday afternoon was spent at a cafe in Alabang Town Center so that I can focus on drawing. I get so distracted at home with television, the laptop and even my bed, so after going to mass, I decided to have lunch by myself and work on my sketches.  Since most of what I've been drawing lately are nature-inspired subjects, I wanted to practice drawing human faces and body movements.

The Pierre Couture Tray at Cafe France. It was soooo filling! The sandwich was okay, but I loved the pasta and the coffee.

I was super excited to try out my new Prang semi-moist watercolor! It's only around 350 pesos at National Bookstore. I usually use my tube watercolors, but for the purpose of mobility, I decided to get this. 

The messy cafe set up. Prang watercolor, Canson paper, Muji mechanical pencil and a kneaded eraser. Kneaded erasers don't have messy residue unlike rubber erasers. I totally swear by them :)

This drawing was based on a photo that I took while my friends and I were buying bread in Coron Market. I chanced upon a street cleaner who was arranging his broom at a corner nearby. He seemed to be concentrating, so I just took a stolen shot. I chose manong street cleaner as my subject to serve as my "Labor Day" drawing. Let's call him Kuya Danny.

Doing the under painting for Kuya Danny's face and clothes. I love that Prang watercolor set generates super vibrant colors! 

Adding more details on Kuya Danny's face. WHAT IS BIGOTE?! (What is mustache?!) Hahaha. Drawing hands and doing the shading on the clothes has always been a perennial problem for me, so I'm determined to work on that. I'll get better, I promise!

Dear Kuya Danny, thank you for your hard work and diligence in keeping our streets clean. I salute you and all the Filipino workers who are doing their very best to earn a decent living. I will be thinking of you as I choose my candidates and cast my vote for the Senatorial elections. 

P.S. You're totally rocking that mustache. :)

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Art Stalking: Gayle Kabaker and Krisatomic

I'm welcoming May with tons of inspiration from a couple of watercolor and gouache artists! These fashion illustrations are uber chic! I love the way they do their washes and how cleverly they draw their subjects.

Here are my favorite watercolor illustrations from Gayle Kabaker (photos courtesy of www.gkabaker.com)

She has a loose way of playing with paint which I absolutely love. The way some colors bleed after a wet on wet application is always so fascinating for me. I find so much mystery and flair in these women's faces, it makes me wonder what they are thinking. There's a certain element of sophistication and elegance about about them, don't you think?

Kristina also known as Kris Atomic is a fashion illustrator and photographer from Brighton. She has been a subject of a previous blog entry, but that was way back in 2009. 4 years later, I still  admire how her blog and her style has evolved and how she manages to make adorable and quirky yet very fashion forward illustrations. Her super fresh and fun take on color and composition is so inspiring and I love that she has a very recognizable and signature way of drawing her subjects.  All photos courtesy of www.krisatomic.com

I was once into drawing human figures and subjects, when I was doing my Flickr 365 Drawings Project in 2008, but eventually got into drawing more nature-inspired subjects this year. I think it's high time to practice drawing faces and figures again!

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