Watercolor Weekday: Exercising Creativity

I started this blog with the goal of documenting my creative pursuits, artistic activities and design projects outside of my day job as an I.T. Consultant. Since childhood, my love affair with art has never wavered despite the smorgasbord of interests and life events that have come my way during my adult life. There was always this need to create, to play with color, to scribble, doodle and draw, even if they were on scraps of paper, the back of receipts or an artist grade watercolor paper. I've kept notebooks of sketches/doodles and journals for calligraphy, and as a toddler, I also used to draw/paint on walls (to my mother's horror), but that's another story. 

My volunteering week in Bohol in early January

Since I am a huge fan of paper and any surface that you can draw or paint on, my recent victim is a 2014 Starbucks planner that my sister Kat gave me at the start of the year. It was an extra planner that she had no use for and I, being on the receiving end, was happy to have another one of those planners that have a lot of space for doodling and less space for, well, planning. I've kept a bunch of planners before and while they have been useful for jotting down my to do list, most pages were used to document events after the fact, with tons of swirls and shitloads of block lettering.

Baguio doodle

Marker crazy with my Mt. Pulag entry

This year's planner is no different as I've been really enjoying with the daily activity of sprucing up my planner's weekly pages. I've improved with actually using it as a planner as opposed to only using it as a doodle notebook (yay me). Maintaining a planner has helped me in my productivity and in keeping my appointments, making sure that I accomplish what I had set out to do on a particular day. A concrete example is my weekly runs that I carefully indicate on a particular date based on my training plan. I write them in nice big letters, to make sure that I do not back out from my intended target. Mahiya naman ako sa lettering ko, diba? Plus, I get a kick out of ticking off each item on my list when I finish them. 

Since I have a perennial aversion to white space, I make sure to use up some blank pages in my planner to play with watercolor. This painting on the starting page of February was my mindless relaxing doodle when I had a couple of hours to spare on a particular weekend. I went into do not disturb mode and started painting. I love making mandalas even if sometimes I don't really know what my strokes mean. I enjoy the spontaneity of these paintings because I never have a preconceived idea on how it would turn out. 

A mindless watercolor doodle to fill in the white space

Last night, I had an urge to do something different not on the pages of my planner, but on its cover. There was something about having a planner with a generic looking brown faux leather cover that did not sit too well with me. With all due respect to Starbucks and their amazing ability to start a phenomenon on Filipinos' annual obsession with planners, I wanted mine to look a bit different because every second person in Manila probably has a card filled with peppermint mocha and toffee nut latte stickers somewhere. I remember attending a training at the office one time and I think 5 out of the 8 participants brought their Starbucks planners with them. I brought my red Mercury drug (!!!) notebook, coz I use that and not my planner to jot down notes at work. Thank you Mercury Drug, gamot ay siguradong bago.

Anyway, I took out my Reeves Acrylic paint set, and without a plan or a specific design in mind, I started painting little triangle patterns on my planner. I dunno why, but I've been crazy about these geometric patterns lately (see blog header!). Unlike watercolor, acrylics tend to adhere to different supports other than paper, so it really integrated well with the planner's cover. The dark colors were really opaque and brush strokes were hardly visible. The yellow pigment however, was bit transparent, so I had to apply triple coating. I kinda like how it turned out. There is some sort of tribal vibe to it, don't you think? I can't decide if I want to fully cover the whole thing with paint or keep it as is. Either way, I'm happy that my planner doesn't look like anyone else's.

So you see, exercising creativity can be done by anyone every day. Whether it be doing a full painting, doodling on your journal or writing down your plans and things to do for the day, everyone can practice being creative. It does not require any qualifications or a degree in art. Make a mess, play with color, go crazy with all sorts of materials! There is no real formula for it. All you need to do is open yourself to the possibilities. 

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Watercolor Weekend: Wrapping Paper Doodle

November Day 1 and I'm off to a good start with my creative sparks. My family and I drove to Batangas last night, and I made a couple of drawings while I was there. Our home in Batangas is such a nice place to get creative. I disconnect myself for a while because there's no internet and the television only has limited channels. I didn't mind, because I was really looking forward to getting some sketching and painting done. More on those in my next post!

I did this drawing a while back, but I haven't had a chance to post it in full color. I used my Prang watercolor set and limited my self in using just a handful of pigments, unlike my usual psychedelic take on colors for my paintings. This drawing actually started out as a doodle, and I can't remember where exactly I got this paper, but it was really a wrapping paper that came with an appliance of some sort. You can really tell up close that it's not for watercoloring, let alone for drawing because it's so thin! But I didn't want it to be put to waste, so I thought, might as well draw on it. Reduce, reuse, recycle, yo!

My 8 year old niece Sofia was watching me at work earlier and we bonded over art and painting topics. She told me she's the vice president of her visual arts club in school, which made me so proud! She's really creative, so I encouraged her to continue practicing and keep on drawing even if sometimes she doesn't know what she's going to draw. I told her that this piece started out as a mindless doodle and that she doesn't have to over analyze things to come up with an interesting drawing. I gave this piece to her today and hopefully she becomes motivated and inspired to pursue art and remain creative. :)

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Ink Drawing: Heart In Chaos

Today has been really productive in the creativity front. The morning was spent frosting cupcakes for a client then drawing and inking all afternoon plus working on a design project with a photography studio's website. I finally re-made this doodle, digitalized it and properly edited it in Photoshop. I've been neglecting ink as a medium for my drawings, so I just thought I'd take a break from the watercolors and go back to basics. Oh if only all my Saturdays are as productive and as awesome as today!

Heart In Chaos
Ink on paper, digital

There's a lot going on in our lives and countless things keep us worried--deadlines and meetings, things to do's and chores, bills and responsibilities, traffic and oil price hikes, floods and earthquakes, zits and weight gain...the list goes on. I personally have a surplus of worries and it's easy to get lost in the chaos (the weight gain problem alone is really disconcerting) but I've learned that it's just a matter of putting things into perspective.

Last Sunday, Jim and I were walking home from a nearby diner when a kid came over and asked us to buy sampaguita from him. We initially dismissed him but he was persistent, so we decided to buy him food instead of giving him money. Right after ordering a burger for him, he asked if we could just have the food to go because he wanted to share it with his siblings. While waiting for the food to arrive, we asked the kid a few questions and got to know him a little. 

His name is Aries. He's 11 years old and the seventh among nine children. He doesn't know how to read, and he never went to school. He's been selling sampaguita since 3PM that day and would only go home at 12 midnight or until all the flowers were sold. His elder brothers are parking boys and his mom stays at home, taking care of his younger siblings. His dad had passed away already. He held coins in his hand because he didn't have any pockets. He had a shy way about him that was endearing, but the whole time that we were talking to him, I just saw sadness in his eyes. I asked how many flowers he's sold. "Isa pa lang ate.", he replied. It was already 10 pm and I ended up buying the whole bunch just so he can go home. The kid just broke my heart.  I'm hoping to chance upon him again and help him in some way, maybe give him books or buy another bunch of sampaguita from him again. 

That encounter with Aries was a wake up call that there are far more people who have bigger problems than I do. That boy is a reminder that we are very fortunate and that we should remain thankful for all our blessings instead of focusing on what's missing in our lives. Life isn't and will never be perfect but as long as our hearts are in the right place, I think we'll do just fine. 

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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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Doodle Caboodle: Empire State of Mind

I don't want to start a discussion about lyrics and their grammatical errors, but since I am smitten with this city, this ode to the good old NYC is the first song that came to mind. Plus, I love Alicia Keys.

I used Leonardt Manuscript 300 nib with this and my Panache italic calligraphy nib in medium on my Moleskine. I'd like to learn Adobe Illustrator so that I can make this into vector art and have it printed and framed. Would you buy a print like this?

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Doodling Is A Way Of Life

Whenever I travel, it's imperative for me to bring at least one notebook in case I have the sudden urge to draw or write. I've said this before, and it still holds true until now--doodling is really therapeutic for me. Faced with a blank page poses some kind of pressure to an aspiring artist, kind of like how a writer would feel when experiencing writer's block. Doodling is a free form way of creating, which allows me to just go with the flow and not be pressured about what will be the end result of what I'm doing. In the end, I am surprised with myself and how I managed to pass the time and be able to create something interesting and intricate.

An entry on my Moleskine. Musing about how much I enjoy doodling. 

Doodling about my love for Baguio City. I go there every year because of the weather, the food, the culture and the art surrounding the northern cordillera.

Inspiring myself to work hard despite the challenges. This was taken from a manifesto by John Cage and Sister Korita Kent. 

"Rule Number 7: The only rule is work. If you work, it will lead to something. It's the people who do all of the work all time who eventually catch on to things."

This doodle was inspired by this article from thecoolhunter "Do Your Own Thing". It made me accept my path as an I.T. Professional and my calling as an artist. What's my thing? BOTH!

Another inspiring quote from thecoolhunter.com

A colored doodle inspired by a Veruca Salt song. I played with colored markers with this one.

I doodle when I want to pass the time or when I feel like zoning out. I put on some music, take a notebook and a pen with me and let the lines command me like they know exactly where they are going on that sheet of paper. It's therapy for the soul, and I think everyone (artists and non artists alike) should try doodling!

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Doodle Caboodle!

Ah, wasting ink is so therapeutic.

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January, Why Do You Hurry?

Just a doodle that I did this past week using the Sky Glory Free Ink Roller that I got from Little Town Store sometime in January. I initially thought they were gel pens but they are actually Ink roller pens which I love coz they have a more "watercolor" effect.

The week has been a blur with work sometimes getting in the way and decisions about my business trip (which is still not very clear at this point) still being discussed, but I think I had a great month last month and it was an awesome way to kickstart 2013. My creative momentum is absolutely spectacular and the more I draw, doodle, paint and make things, the more inspired I get every day. Thank you January for the inspiration!

Here are a few notable drawings for this month:

And since this is a good time to do some shameless plugging, this blog entry's title was taken from a song I wrote way back in 2011 to be included in my band KAZE's  album hopefully this year!!

John You Worry - KAZE

Blackbird Bar, Makati

John you worry, why do you hurry?

John you worry, it's the start of the year

You make me lonely in January

Til you come back, December will hold me near

Fireworks in the sky, you made it all worthwhile

Started singing the blues, said you'll be back in July

Captured by your charms, you held me in your arms

Goodbye is so overused, so I tried so hard not to cry

Oh dear, you worry me, the year ahead is long you see

Our hearts were ablaze, hormones were in a rage

Left me breathless for you, you had me trapped in a maze

The days had passed us by, we had to say goodbye

In winter you kept me warm, but summer came in way too late

The clouds have turned to gray, I would be yours if you could stay

Oh you promised me that you will be back soon

But the memories have faded 'til the month of June

Your guitar is playing softly in my ear

I wish that you had made it so perfectly clear...

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Hoping To Follow This for 2013

Just a doodle that I did yesterday night. It's a reminder that even if I'm not doing this for a living (yet), I can still draw and create something everyday. 

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Inspiration Strikes Again!

I found myself with a bit of time to blog and draw and do calligraphy these days because I am on a holiday break. I got myself inspired from different art and design blogs, but the most recent addition to my bookmark is Alessa Lanot's Life After Breakfast. She's amazing! I learned about her because I have been reading Fozzy's posts for quite some time now, and one afternoon, I was lost in her world of water colour, rubber stamps, typography, vegan food and all sorts of wonderful things that I wish I could do more of. She's only 2 years older than me and she already has her own restaurant and art workshops left and right!

She has so many awesome ideas that I got myself inspired and did some calligraphy and doodling as well. This coming year, I will live more creatively. I will find more time for my band, for the cupcake business, for running and frisbee, for travel and for art. The year ahead is brimming with so much hope and potential, the multitasking year is here, but at the same time, I will still aim for balance. Oh, and the apartment turnover will be in 2013 as well, so I am sooooo excited to get involved with interior design too! Ideas, ideas, ideas! 

Anyway, here's what I came up with last night while I was still high on dark chocolates and inspiration. I used poster paints, sakura 0 paintbrush and J Herbin nibs. :)

A mistake is a product of risk. Taking risks is sometimes alright, so long as we are willing to live with the consequences. With making mistakes, we realize our faults and we discover our strength to carry on and continue with our task. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; instead learn from them.

Ah, positivity is difficult specially when you've had your fair share of trials. But as they all say, happiness is still a choice. Let's focus on the good things in life! There is so much to be thankful for :)

Here's to more creativity, positivity and endless energy for 2013! 

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