Art is never finished, only abandoned....

A recollection....

2009-05-24T02:26:00.000-07:00

After a few long months of waiting the book that i'm working on is finally complete. The book is called,"The Ironman" written by Voicu Mihnea Simandan and carefully illustrated by yours truly. The collaboration started somewhere around early february of 2008.

I've met this new friend online, a frequent visitor in my blog, who've also told me about a brilliant author (Voicu Mihnea Simandan) who was at that time looking for someone who can create some illustrations for a fictional children's story that he was working on. Though i was new and inexperienced, i was interested with the job on offer, so i've decided to pack-up all my hidden confidence and might and contacted him through his website. From that moment on there was no looking back for me, everthing happened just like magic.

"The Ironman" was actually my very first book ever to illustrate. I've done some illustrations and cartooning jobs in the past but this one being a book itself was a different experience for me, an absolute unknown ground. As expected, there were some sleepless nights trying to complete some time consuming, and brain-draining illustrations before the deadline comes, and times when i had to juggle my way between illustrating and the very hectic schedules of my full-time job. But, the over-all experience was absolutely and undeniably exceptional. I've enjoyed it a lot.

Currently, i'm working on another one of Voicu Mihnea Simandan's book that is equally as interesting as the first one. "The Ironman" is full of twists and adventures that you and your kids will certainly find yourselves drawn into it's every pages for hours and hours. And though i'd love to tell you more about what to expect from this amazing book, i'll refrain doing so because it won't be fair for the author, myself, and all the efforts that was involved in this project isn't it, so i'll leave all that to yous to find out for yourselves. By the way, you can check this book and know more about the author himself online by clicking those links i've left below. Goodluck on your adventures everyone.

http://tinyurl.com/db27h7 - The Ironman. A play

http://ironmanbooks.blogspot.com/ - The Ironman Books

http://stores.lulu.com/mihnea - Mihnea's storefront

Tagak (white herons)

2008-05-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

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AB was always requesting for a sunset from me before, so finally here's her sunset.... With a little bit of my touch in the foreground of course ha-ha....! Here's my version of a majestic looking Philippine White Heron.... Aren't they lovely....? I always see this bird in the rice fields when i was still in the philippines.... But you know what, i've never done this before in colors.... Actually, this is only the second time that i've drawn this bird in colors, the first one was with my last drawing below.... =D

Beast of burden

2008-05-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

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A couple of hours ago i was thinking of a scene to draw, something Filipino again of course ha-ha....! It's been a while since i last updated my blog so i was really trying to finish this as fast as i could tonight.... I was thinking of another landscape, but a plain landscape would be a bit lifeless isn't it....? That's why i've end up adding this Carabao and its calf in the foreground.... Looks alright....! I call this one, "Beast of burden" because this beast is always involved in the hardworks and heavy loads in the farm....

Babae sa kumot (Lady in the blanket)

2008-04-19T04:34:00.000-07:00

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It's been a while since i last posted a new drawing here, so before everyone gets bored of coming over and waiting for a new one to be posted, here's another drawing that i did just a couple of hours ago hope you'll like this one.... This is my imagination gone too far ha-ha....!

Actually the whole idea of this composition is not about the naked lady, but about the blanket she's sitting on....! I was just trying to find out if i know how to draw a large piece of fabric with all those folds, twists, and wrinkles on it.... The naked lady is just an added attraction....! =D

Labandera ( Laundry Lady )

2008-02-29T17:52:00.000-08:00

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It's been a while since my last art.... I was so busy doing a lot of things lately plus a job that i've found online so the only time that i can do some blogging is during the weekends.... Anyways, here's another one for yous.... This time it's about the Laundry Lady or Labandera in Filipino....

In some remote towns where the shallow rivers are still alive with crystal clear water from the cool springs and large river channels high up in the mountains, this is a very common sight mostly in the early morning when it' is still cool and free of the baking sun.... The women, mostly housewives gathers by the rocky bank of the river to wash their laundry in a large galvanise pans that we call Batya in filipino language.... Have a great weekend all....! =D

Harana (Serenade)

2008-02-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

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Since the whole world is going to celebrate Valentines Day soon, i wanted to share to you this drawing that i've really composed today for the coming day of love and lovers.... I call this piece Harana (serenade).... Well, this doesn't usually happen under a mango tree like my version here because the parents then were very strict, but i think this is close enough....! =D

The filipino traditional Harana usually took place just below or by the maiden's bedroom window where she can look down and listen to the patient lad and his guitar offering a lovely song as his way of telling her his humble, and honest intension.... This is still a very common practice in small towns and barrios nowadays, but does not exist anymore in the big cities where the present generations were already influenced by the western ways and lifestyles....

....Happy Valentines Day all....!!!

Sabong (Cockfighting)

2008-02-01T05:35:00.000-08:00

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I really don't know what to post today, but i was so desperate to update because i haven't done that for quite a while now that's why i have no choice but to post this one.... It's a bit cruel though, this is shall i say one little cruel corner of my culture ha-ha....!

It's like one of those gladiator thingy, the roosters here will fight, bleed, and die like those early days roman gladiators.... I did this one last night with a few quick strokes of my tablet's pen while i was talking to AB.... I just like the way i've captured the movements here but not really planning to post it, but look who's talking now.... =D

Tagged by Paulette

Also, i've been tagged by Paulette.... This tag is for five things you don't know about me.... Thanks Paulette....!

1. I don't have a formal training in arts, but i've discovered my talent in drawing when i was six....

2. I always dream of becoming a wildlife illustrator one day.... Isn't it obvious in my arts that i love drawing animals....? =D

3. I'm not only good in drawing, i'm also a good cook....! I can create a good dish or desserts by heart out of just anything edible that is available in the kitchen in a flash....!

4. The last time i've eaten a solid breakfast was two years ago....! I don't normally eat anything in the morning, except a cup of coffee....

5. I love fishing so much but never really successfully did one since i was twelve..... It always ends up just during the planning process, everytime.... =D

Thanks again to Paulette for this tag....! =D

Kalesa (Horse carriage)

2008-01-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

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While nursing my sore left shoulder and arm, my right hand was busy doing this....! Actually, i'm not sure if i did it right here.... I really don't remember how a Kalesa looks like, this is just how i've imagined it.... This is the taxi cab of the old days in the philippines.... The humble and undying Kalesa is still being used in some other parts of the country but mostly for tourism purposes only nowadays....

Though i believe that we've just inherited this ways of transport from the spanish era, the humble Kalesa has been and will always stay as an icon and a great symbol of the filipino culture and traditions.... =D

Town fiesta....

2008-01-19T00:22:00.000-08:00

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Probably i was just hungry or maybe i missed the taste of Lechon (roasted pig on bamboo pole) that i got inspired to compose this drawing last night and it came up just fantastic....! You have no idea how grateful i am to have this software, i can do magic with it....! Anyways, this is a very common scene during any town fiestas anywhere all over the philippines where the humble Lechon is always the star, i wonder why is that ha-ha....! Maybe too yummy huh....!

The only thing missing which i didn't include here is the large noisy crowd that's always present in celebrations like this, or else this composition will look like a football stadium full of fans ha-ha....! By the way, one week from now in the town where i came from back home they are also going to celebrate their first festival for a patron saint this year, which i will miss-out again....! Just look at that yummy Lechon, yumm....! =D

Lumang Gulong (Old tyres)....

2008-01-16T20:05:00.000-08:00

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Where there were small towns, with small crowded streets, and less heavy busy traffic, amidst the towering highrises of a modern and progressive city, the rolling of an old tyre always exists.... Interestingly, street games for kids the less luxurious ones are strangely seasonal too, i don't know the reasons why but that's how they are eversince....!

Maybe when they got bored of one type of game like playing a wooden-top for instance, they then shifts to another all at once like some sort of a blast of trend.... But one thing is for sure, street games never runs out like a wheel that had kept on rotating constantly from bottom to top, top to bottom, and around again.... Like these pieces of old and worn-out tyres in the drawing, probably a piece of junk to others, but for those who can't afford the luxury of a remote controlled car, or a bicycle perhapse, these old tyres and sticks are fantastic pieces of toys that deserves a special warm corner inside their shanty houses to park.... =D

The break of dawn....

2008-01-16T01:31:00.000-08:00

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Here's another one.... Inspired by my entry about "Rooster and Hen" being featured in one lovely new blog-friend's amazing blogsite.... I thought, why not give it another go and draw another one....! But i will not call this a rooster or a crowing rooster anymore, but instead i'm calling this art, "The break of dawn" because it's about the break of dawn and the roosters doesn't crow at midnight, they crow at dawn di ba he-he....!

I remember the moment when i finished drawing the "Rooster and Hen" that i was even laughing because i couldn't at all believe that i've really done that drawing myself ha-ha....! I really thought that it was just a sudden struck of luck completing it successfully....!

Driven by that same thought, there i was this morning, challenging myself once more to grab a pen aiming to draw it again.... Well it doesn't necessarily have to look like a reproduction of the same art but instead a totally different art as long as it includes a rooster in its composition, and finally here it is....! Funny thing is that, i couldn't believe that i did this one either ha-ha....! Anyways, at least now i've proven to myself that.... still i couldn't believe that it was me....! =D

By the way, Paulette's site is a HUGE collection of artists and their arts.... I was delighted to see some of the beautiful artworks and creations by professional, amateurs, hobbyists and crafters, and arts by invisible artists like yours truly there.... Don't forget to check her out.... It was amazing, i've even saved a few of those site's URL in my computer, so in that way i can easily access and read some more about their lives, how they've started and their arts.... You know, artists loves to read about the life story of another artist too, it's like a more solid source of inspirations for us.... Thanks again Paulette....! =D

And also to Redlan, who featured me in his blog tonight, this entry is for you too Red....! Please don't forget to visit Redlan's blog as well, it's full of interesting topics, you won't regret your visits there ha-ha....! =D

Saranggola (Kite)....

2008-01-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

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I love this one.... Well, flying the Saranggola (kite) is a favorite summer sport or past-time by not only the young ones, but also by those who are young at heart....

When i was little we used to build our own kites out of shopping plastic bags and bamboo splits, then we go kite-flying all day long along the river bank nearby because that's the only unobstructed wide and open area we know where we could safely fly our kites free from getting caught-up in the twining power lines and tall trees.... We had a lot of fun those days, that's probably the reason why i like this one because it reminds me of my childhood.... =D

Rice Farmer....

2008-01-11T00:13:00.000-08:00

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A rice farmer working in the field.... This method of farming using a buffalo and a plow is still widely used in the philippines today.... This whole composition is a display of great strength and determination....

Bahay Kubo (Nipa hut)....

2008-01-09T04:13:00.000-08:00

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This idea came to me while i was washing a pair of pants today humming a very popular filipino folk song about a Nipa hut surrounded by diffirent kinds of vegetables.... I got inspired by a song ha-ha....! Nipa by the way, as it is commonly known in the Philippines is a palm tree variety that only grows amongs the mangroves along the banks of shallow and muddy rivers....

The sword shape leaves of this palms can be folded, arranged and stitched in a row using the fibers from the same tree over a thin bamboo splitting to form a meter and a half long ply that are then being used as a roofing material for bamboo houses.... The Nipa roofs can last for five years.... =D

Rooster and hen....

2008-01-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

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This is my version of a Rooster and its Hen.... Still using my Corel Draw software.... Okay ba....? It's not as hard to do as those ones i did in oil before because i can easily draw and colour this software-generated art less the trouble of preparations and mixing of colours, and most of all the mess, but still this kind of art helps me a lot in exercising my hand as well as my brain to further improve my talent and skills....

I'm having a lot of fun using this fantastic software ha-ha....! I think i'll just call these Corel arts my study because i might transfer them to the canvas later on.... =D

Durian....

2008-01-06T04:13:00.000-08:00

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Ang Durian bow....! This is probably the only fruit that i haven't tried yet in my whole life and i guess i'll never will ha-ha....! It has a reputation of being the most stinkiest of all fruits....

They said that it will take a tough nose to stand it's smell but don't be fooled by that, the meat of this fruit is said to be very tasty and sweet, you have to avoid the spikes though....! I've enjoyed drawing this so much because of those spikes, they are very challenging to draw.... =D

Watermelon....

2008-01-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

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Watermelon everyone....? Look very sweet, cold and juicy....! Great refreshment for summer....! Yum....! =D

Seascape....

2008-01-05T03:01:00.000-08:00

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My first attempt to draw a Seascape using Corel Draw.... I find it a bit harder than oil and brush.... This style of art is very easy to do with brush....

Self portrait....

2008-01-04T04:53:00.000-08:00

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This is probably the closest that i could get using my mighty pencil to how i look like.... Kakahiya he-he....! Only thing is, i look a little younger here ha-ha....! Using my Corel Draw again, this is my self portrait.... =D

Wild Budgie....

2008-01-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

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A wild green Budgie on a branch of a tree.... Not really satisfied with this one.... I should've drawn another Budgie beside it....

Hill Myna....

2008-01-02T23:06:00.000-08:00

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Here's another one of my Corel Draw attempts.... I think they call this bird Kiyaw in the philippines.... A Hill Myna on the branch of a tree....

My Corel Draw attempt....

2008-01-02T02:22:00.000-08:00

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Look what i can do using my drawing tablet in just 15 minutes....! I couldn't believe it myself ha-ha....! =D

My friend Cam....

2007-05-14T04:26:00.000-07:00

It was sometime last year when i've painted this portrait of Cam.... He's my best friend in our workplace, Cam is a vietnamese national who came to australia as a refugee during the heat of the vietnamese war with america....

He's among those vietnamese people who took their chances and crossed the great and untamed china sea in search of safety far away from the war that hits their homeland in 1940's....

He showed me an old and fading black and white photo of himself when he was just 3 years old, the photo was almost falling apart when i saw it.... I was touched by the thoughts that he've lost everything during the war, and that little photo is the only thing left to remind him of his childhood....

He asked me if there's anything that we could do to save that photo from fading.... I said you could go to some photo centers, but if you want i can paint that in oil for you and so i did.... It might not be a hundred percent replica of that little black and white one, but i did my best to at least bring it as closer to it as i could.... Anyways, he likes it....! And that made me proud and happy as well....! I've added the colors here to make it look a bit lively....

The birth of a republic

2007-05-10T05:05:00.000-07:00

This is my own version of the scene taken from the creation of the philippine national flag.... I did this painting somewhere in 2002 and i was quite pleased with the results.... This painting is quite large in size, a 122cm x 91cm oil on canvas....

I got another one that is much larger than this but just this one alone is already more than a handful....! At first i didn't know where to hang it because of it's size but finally i was able to find a good spot right on top of my wall unit which is perfect....

Bananas

2007-05-10T04:59:00.000-07:00

Back in the philippines, in the city where i grew-up, there's a lot of banana plantations.... Farmers often harvested their crops while they're still green, it will then undergo a forced ripening process inside a Nipa shed before hitting the market when the fruits had already ripened....

This is a very common practice amongs farmers and is being handed down from generation to generation.... They believe that forced ripening method brings out the natural flavour and sweetness of the fruit.... Well, there's nothing wrong believing that myth but nowadays we never worry about that anymore.... Just leave it all to the genetic-science ha-ha....! This is a 91cm x 91cm oil on canvas....

Umaga sa nayon....

2007-05-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

In this painting i was trying to capture the serenity of the life in the village back home.... I didn't felt like i was successful in creating that scene so it's up to you now to judge whether i got it close enough ha-ha....! Anyways, this is how a traditional style village look like back in the philippines.... There's not much like this to be seen anymore nowadays due to the speedy expansion of the modern ways and lifestyle, but seeing one of these is quite a fascinating experience....! Another one of my larger size artworks, a 153cm x 101cm oil on canvas....

We were children once....

2007-05-10T04:47:00.000-07:00

Who could ever forget the beauty of their childhood.... I envy the youth, sometimes i wish to be a child once more and enjoy the freedom, and wonders of being young again.... There's so much in a child's world that had kept us coming back for more even just in our thoughts....

So this painting is obviously a product of my youthful thoughts, all the influences and learnings that had mould me into the man that i am now.... This one is not so large, only a 45cm x 61cm oil on canvas....

Cockfighting

2007-05-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

Illegal to some, but a favorite past-time in most parts of the philippines.... If there will be an olympic events in cockfighting, i'm sure that the pinoys will not be left behind scratching their heads because we are the champions amongs champions when it comes to this kind of sport....!

Also a common sight in small villages and towns, Sabong as we commonly call it is quite a drag among spectators.... You wouldn't even expect seeing a basketball left rolling on the ground unmanned when this cockfighting begins....! This painting is a 61cm x 91cm oil on canvas....

The hunter....

2007-05-10T04:42:00.000-07:00

You can still see the carpet at the background.... I took a shot of this on the floor, the reflection of the light from the window affects the camera so i've decided to put it flat on the floor....

The painting is about a native hunter standing on a mound of rocks, trying to make a clean shot with his poison dart.... Aiming at maybe a bird or a monkey.... I was trying to create a scene here of a dense forest with the fog and the rays of the sun penetrating through the leaves and the trees.... This is a 46cm x 91cm oil on canvas....

Weaving woman

2007-05-10T04:39:00.000-07:00

I found a photo of this in the internet and decided to transfer it to canvas.... It turned out nice, but actually this one freaks me up every night ha-ha....! It looks a bit scary though ha-ha....! But i like the lines on her face, it's so challenging to paint.... This is a 75cm x 100cm oil on canvas....

Munting gamo-gamo....

2007-05-10T04:34:00.000-07:00

From the famous books written by Dr. Jose Rizal during his time, Munting Gamogamo was one of my favorite stories of all time.... Actually in this painting, we're not talking about the boy or those books he's reading....

If you've noticed those moths flying around the glow of the kerosene lamp, that's what this painting is all about....! The whole story by the way, in case you haven't heard of it yet is quite short but tells a lot of lessons in life directed to the youths.... This is a 71cm x 51cm oil on canvas....

Dyesebel

2007-05-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

Ha-ha....! I don't know why i painted this 'coz it's so off the topic....! Has anyone ever heard of the name Dyesebel....? Even played by some popular celebrities in philippine cinema like Vilma Santos, and Alma Moreno....?

A mythical creature, half human and half fish that had fallen inlove with a fisherman.... Actually i was trying to finish a very ugly unknown brand of white paint that day which i bought impulsively, but i dont want to throw it away so i've decided to paint just anything that comes in my mind and use it the abusive way ha-ha....!

Amazingly, it came out quite well though it's a bit thick probably because of the word " ABUSE " i suppose ha-ha....! This is a 91cm x 61cm oil on canvas....

Bullfighting

2007-05-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

Bullfighting is still a part of some fiestas and celebrations in most parts of the philippines.... Only been converted into a form of gambling by some, but in any angles the sport is still a so pinoy tradition....

Seeing two bulls fighting like this armed with bowing sharp horns and massive structures is totally an absolute fearsome sight, so i've applied a lot of sharp corners and angles here to really capture the rage of the moment.... This is a 91cm x 61cm oil on canvas....

Tropical fruits

2007-05-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

These are tropical fruits....! But what's so special about this tropical fruits....? I think it's how you compose the settings and things in a painting that makes it unique....

In this painting, i was trying to get the real texture of every fruits in the picture.... All the shadows and the depth of colors.... I don't know if i was successful in creating that but here it is, it's up to you now to judge it yourselves....! This is a 61cm x 46cm oil on canvas....

Old Ifugao man

2007-05-07T03:53:00.000-07:00

This is sooo fantastic ha-ha....! A lot of my friends here wants to have this one and even attempted to buy it but they never succeeded ha-ha....! This is one of my favorite work.... I like the lines on the face, so realistic....! And incase that this looks so familiar, yes it is from a photo of an ifugao man that i've found in the web somewhere in 2002....

I felt the drive to paint straight away when i saw that so i grabbed my paints and brush and start tranfering it to this canvas....! Sounds so easy....? No it wasn't because i've spent almost two months on this one just on the lines of the face alone....! This is a 61cm x 91cm oil on canvas....

Bamboo wall

2007-05-07T03:24:00.000-07:00

I was thinking of adding some other things to this rather than just a bare bamboo wall, maybe a lizard perhaps or a moth clinging to it.... But then i said nah....! Just leave it as it is and besides, this painting is all about the wall anyway so why cover some parts of it....! Just leave it bare, show more bamboos he-he....! This is a 46cm x 91cm oil on canvas....

Shanty house

2007-05-07T02:55:00.000-07:00

This shanty inexpensive dwelling is already an icon in the philippines.... A mess to the upper society, but a palace to the less auspicious kind, a symbol of poverty, uncertainties, and sometimes it's also a symbol of contentment in life because they are very much aware of their capacities, capabilities, and limitations....

In those places, the real meanings of life seems to be glowing more brighter than ever.... I give this painting my full respect.... This is a 90cm x 60cm oil on canvas....

Woman with clay jar

2007-05-07T02:19:00.000-07:00

I forgot to check the quality of shot on this one.... It's a bit blury and we can see the reflections from the blinds on my windows on it's surface.... Anyways, i'll just post it still and just fix it later....

This is a painting of a native woman scooping water from a spring using a piece of half shell to a clay jar.... The bamboo growing in the background gives a good contrast to the foreground.... This is a 50cm x 70cm oil on canvas....

Cantil (after the harvest)

2007-05-07T01:49:00.000-07:00

A scene after the harvest season when everyone took their time and relaxed after a long back breaking planting to harvesting season.... Here you can see a boy flying his kite made of paper or plastic materials....

The stock of straws on the foreground are what was left of golden stalks of rice that used to be growing in the fields.... The rusty farming plow is standing motionless right next to it.... A sign or retirement.... This is a 70cm x 51cm oil on canvas....

Mga bata sa ilog

2007-05-07T01:17:00.000-07:00

We use to do rafting when we were kids except the nakedness of course ha-ha....! Our house was close to the river before so access to the water wasn't so hard....

I almost lost a brother that time when he fell off the raft, but luckily the current wasn't so strong then and he was able to paddle back to safety.... We didn't do anymore rafting after that.... This is a 61cm x 92cm oil on canvas....

Blood compact

2007-05-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

I'm always fascinated by the other filipino artists version of this scene from the katipuneros blood compact.... I'm still not satisfied with this one and i'm planning to make another version, but at the moment i'm so busy with my job so maybe some other time....

I signed this as complete but actually it's not finish....! Maybe i just got frustrated with my unsatisfied expectations towards the the painting that's why i abandoned it.... There's suppose to be a dog under the table and a piece of paper on the bamboo chair at the foreground....This is a 90cm x 90cm oil on canvas....

Gregorio del Pilar (dakilang heneral)

2007-05-06T01:06:00.000-07:00

I don't really know his life story, but i reckon he was the very first general of the filipino guerillas during the heat of world war II against japan.... This is a very fine painting.... I couldn't believe that i did this beauty ha-ha....! Also if you'll run this through an x-ray, you will find an abstract painting right behind it....

I was attempting to create an abstract when i got sick of it and cover the whole canvas with white primer paint, then the picture of napoleon on top of a horse flashes in my mind and i began painting a version of that with Gen. Gregorio del Pilar here.... This is a 100cm x 100cm oil on canvas....

Katipunan uprising

2007-05-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

Raging Andres Bonifacio ha-ha....! Define history: Events that kept on coming one after another ha-ha and this is another one of those....! I love philippine history that is why i got this scene printed in my brain.... This is my own version of the uprising of katipunan....

There's a bit of violence in this painting, but i've set a strict rule to myself that there will be absolutely no sign of blood in this painting ha-ha....! This is a 101cm x 77cm oil on canvas....

Vegetable Basket

2007-05-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, you're looking at the story of my life ha-ha....! I started out as an art-gutsy 6 year old kid who teaches art subject to the whole class including my teacher when i was in kindergarden....! When i was 10 years old, i went to inlist myself in an art contest at school amongst older kids on my own....

That time i asked my father what i should draw because i haven't got any idea of what should i put in my illustration board that time.... Then my father told me to draw a bunch of veges, pumkins here, tomatoes there.... etc, etc....! Exactly like this painting, only my skills are more well developed now....

So armed with just a pencil and a box of crayons, i went to the battle and beats all the tough kids ha-ha....! I won first prize, then another, and another until i graduated primary school....! Quite a story huh....! But that's not all, in the 90's i designed bridges, dams, monuments, parks and so much more....! Nowadays, i wanted to design my future.... I already have the visions.... Now i only have to make it happen ha-ha....! This is a 71cm x 51cm oil on canvas....

Cagsawa marketday in Albay

2007-05-05T22:29:00.000-07:00

Do you remember that church at the foot of Mt. Mayon....? As far as i can remember, there was no photographic records of that place before it's destruction from the wrath of mayon volcano....

What i've tried to do here is the daily scene that was there before.... I don't know how close i got there, but my imagination told me that this is how it should be then....

The town is called Cagsawa, and if there was a church there based on the bell tower at the foot of mayon now and continuesly disappearing, there should be a marketplace too somewhere close to it....

So this is my version of the little town of Cagsawa as i've pictured it in my mind.... This is a 91cm x 91cm oil on canvas....

Ifugao mother and child

2007-05-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Another photo from the web that i've successfully tranfered to the canvas.... It's a mother and child moment that is very hard for me to explain.... Some sort of a silent ritual that only them could understand....

Most of the time when i am looking at this painting, i get puzzled by the scene that doesn't register any reasoning in my mind.... A very solemn moment between a mother and her beloved child has a mysterious closeness that only them could understand.... Yeah, that's how i thought it is.... Happy mothers day to all the mothers.... This is a 51cm x 61cm oil on canvas....