Of Hoarding and Yesteryears

This is an illustration I made for our organization, 'Haranya'. It is a group dedicated to writing poetry in Filipino, within our university. We used this artwork for one of our projects. I colored it a few days ago to put some life unto it. It is based on Porferio Requinto's poem, 'Nakatambak Na Basura Ang Kahapon'. 

Nakatambak na Basura ang Kahapon

 By: Porferio Requinto

Nakatambak na basura ang kahapon,

sa paglipas ng panaho’y di inalis

dahil duwag ang gunita na magtápon.

Nilalangaw ng lugamî ang naipong

poot, galak, pait, lambing at hinagpis— 

nakatambak na basura ang kahapon.

Lahat sila’y ibinuro ng hinahon

sa pag-asang may natirang mga tamis;

dahil duwag ang gunita na magtápon.

Magkahalong bango’t sangsang ang umahong

pagdaramdam sa nagdaang di nawalis;

nakatambak na basura ang kahapon.

At sa halip na limuti’y ibináon

ang sumpaang wala namang nagbibigkis

dahil duwag ang gunita na magtápon.

Nakaraa’y nagbabanta ng paglason

ngunit diwa’y nakahanda nang magtiis.

Nakatambak na basura ang kahapon

dahil duwag ang gunita na magtápon.

The poem is in Filipino. I would not attempt to translate it because translating poems is not my forte. Basically, it is about not being able to let go of one's previous love - of how one keeps all the sweet, painful and bitter memories because he/she is not able to let go, and how these memories endanger him or her (i.e. of not being able to love again, being hateful, etc.). Despite all these, the person keeps all such feelings and memories inside, because he or she is still unable to let go.

Cake

I did this when I was around fourth year high school. After four years, I was finally able to put the finishing touches and give a title for it. I wish to have colored 'Cake' in detail, but my tablet's pen is missing. I only have my laptop's track pad. It kind of sucks.

When I Talk About Acting (Colored)

Used some digital effects to color 'When I Talk About Acting'. I guess I won't be using my colored pencils for a while. Our scanner is too ancient to capture anything. Also, I've decided to put a watermark on my works. One of my friends' doodle circulated around the net like crazy, and her work was not credited properly. Alas, my name trying it's best not to look like it is there.

The person I was talking about was Bea Manalo (http://tacofeeyaki.blogspot.com/) . So in case you guys see or have seen this doodle below, that's hers. 

Doodle by Bea Golpeo Manalo

Experimental #1: Territorial

I was finally able to buy a new set of colored pencils! Hoorah. There goes my savings. I opted to buy the 36 colors over the 48 ones, since the latter costs around Php 500 *tears*. My wallet is in recession. 

For my new artwork, I opted to divert from my usual practice of putting meaning behind each of my works, just to unwind. This time, I tried experimenting with technique. I entitled my new work, 'Territorial'.

I made everything transparent, removing the opacity of the spaces within my work's figures.

Also, my sister introduced to me this awesome gray fineliner. 

I used it to create a sort-of double image for the figures I have made. You can do this technique in Photoshop, but I want an all-traditional media for this particular work.

I made the collars of her clothes transparent as well.

Instead of the black fineliner, I used the gray one to draw her shadows to minimize the line's visibility when I color my work.

I opted to use cool colors for the flowers. I used purple, blue and pink because they usually blend well and are easy on the eyes. Also, I removed the boundaries of color as well, having them blended in spaces wherein they converge. 

As usual, I enjoyed designing the fabric and coloring it in. I used colors that are still within my color palette for most of the fabric's parts. Then, I opted to blend in some warm colors to avoid having the piece radiate gloom.

Eyeshadows are fun. Whenever I color, I really enjoy putting in the make-up the most.

Coloring is not my forte, but I am practicing. I need to achieve a proper blending and even distribution of colors. However, expect my next works to have color in them. Also, I might do the effects and coloring for my previous works. I am not used to using digital media in making art, but let's see.

Of Secrets and Innocence

I am very fond of kimonos. I grew up watching anime and have imagined wearing one someday. So, every once in a while, I draw something inspired by the Asian culture, particularly those of the Japanese.

The title of my illustration this time is 'Of Secrets and Innocence'. Unlike all the works I have ever made, I think this is the first time I am going to draw someone facing back. I want the people who will see this work to make their imagination come alive. 

By not drawing her face, I want to remove her identity and her emotion, leaving my audience all the remaining elements to tell her story. I also chose to put smoke to cover up everything that the character may possibly see or may be facing, so that the people seeing my illustration would only focus on her. 

I chose a Westernized hair bun for a reason. As usual, doing her hair was a delight. I also chose to give her a wavy hair so as to make my character sensually appealing.

My creative juices got worked up in thinking of a design for her kimono. I tried to balance the negative spaces and the elaborate details of the cloth. Also, I wanted continuity in my overall illustration - meaning, no sudden kimono cut off; thus, the irregularly shaped patterns and textile butterflies on the lower left part.

I have good news. I were finally able to buy colored pencils so my next works would most likely have color in them. Hoorah. It is quite troublesome sometimes when you have a sibling who is also into illustration. Our art materials get mixed up. I need to find a place to stash them.

Speaking of stash, I my sister and I got featured in Stache Magazine. Feel free to view our work, together with 29 other artists here: http://stachemagazineonline.com/

Below is the work I submitted for their April issue, entitled 'Warm in Winter'. I think this particular piece is lucky. This was one of my works that made it when I got invited to be one of the featured artists in a particular event in our university. It also gave me the opportunity to get acquainted with Valerie Chua (Google her, she is awesome) in DA. Lastly, this. If you guys want to buy a print, a collab or would just like to drop a line, contact me via my e-mail at joanna_empit@yahoo.com.

When I Talk About Acting

One e-mail made my day today - an e-mail from Stache Magazine. It is an online magazine which targets the creative Filipino youth. My sister and I both got our entries accepted for their all-out art issue. They are going to publish it tomorrow around 8:00pm! Psyched! I'll keep you guys posted.

I just made a new artwork yesterday. It's quite experimental of the art style I usually use, and it is colored! However, it is not this one.

This new piece I made is entitled 'When I Talk About Acting'. I was watching America's Next Top Model for the past few days, thus the inspiration to do something along the lines of fashion.

Aside from the hair, I really enjoy doing design for my characters' clothes, particularly the fabric. This time however, I opted to do it with hats.

Making the hat designs were really fun to do. Whenever I am out of inspiration for patterns. I usually Google pictures of textile patterns or in this case, hat designs. Then from there, I make a version of my own.

This particular hat was inspired by the gown I wore for my Junior-Senior Prom back then. It was Salmon in color and very simple. However, the bead work made the dress elegant. I also like how it reminded me of star clusters adorning the night sky.

I am not used to drawing my characters naked, but I opted to make this one nude for a reason, having a wide variety of hats covering her. 

I am quite happy with my works. I can't wait to color them. I just found out that my favorite Faber Castell colored pencils are missing. Bummer. I have a hunch my sister lost it along with the other art materials she left in a cab. Maybe I should try asking her to split the expense with me, for now, all I have is the watercolor pencils that are so hard to blend. Spectacular.

Deceit (Line Art)

I have trouble scanning my previous work, so I decided to blog about my new work, 'Deceit'. I miss having our old HP Scanner which is a thousand times better than our new one. So if you guys are going to buy one, I recommend to opt for the scanner-only feature, ours is a printer and scanner in one and my sister and I are not very happy with its quality. Right now, all the pictures I am taking are made possible by my iPhone's awesome camera.

Moving on, the inspiration for my next work came to me while I was reading one of my favorite mangas 'Kamisama Hajimemashita'. The idea for this piece revolved around the notion of how foxes symbolize deceit in different cultures.

I also merged the idea of femme fatale in this work. I want her to look sleazy and cunning, having a fox as a mask, and the fox's fur entwined to her body.

I also added roses to the fur. I intend to color them with yellow for a reason.

I also added butterflies, which I intend to color with blue, again, for a certain reason.

My new work is not as detailed as my first one, but as I always try to achieve with my other pieces, this one is also made with a meaning behind it. 

I am yet to find my colored pencils nor scan my recent works. My last work on my DeviantArt account was practically posted ages ago. I need to work faster.