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.