Happy 115th Philippine Independence!

Happy Independence Day! And here's my poster design for the very special day in my country, The Philippines. This is also for the newspaper Manila Bulletin. Design and layout by The Bunny (one of our major work as of now, I think).

(the image is a bit contrasted so that it may not be too dark for a newspaper print)

The text below reads: 

115th Year of Independence

Title: Freedom

Illustrated by: Jericho T. Moral

The featured illustrator is a member of ANG INK was graduated from the University of the Philippines. As of now, he maintains his traditional way of art.

His site can be found here: www.behance.net/jerichomoral.

Done in acrylic on watercolor paper. This one is a bit different painting for me compare to my previous works because of its more graphic, solid-lined figures.

Barber's tale and Other tales

Good day people! It's been ages since I last wrote on this blog (and that was also a rush posts about the very talented artists) as time and my current job (yes I have a job finally ) didn't require me to have time to visit my lair. But fortunately, I was given time to write this post for you, guys.

  

The scene features seven customers who received a new, and spectacular perhaps, haircut from the protagonist's father who is a barber in a local town.

 




As you can see, I have a new painting (at last!) that was done in watercolor on watercolor paper. It was meant for my current application for the circle of illustrators (also known as Ang INK or Ang Illustador ng Kabataan which means The Illustrator(s) of Youth) that specializing in children's book illustrations and storytelling for children. As for the requirement to be a member, an applicant must pass their works and illustrate from a featured story "Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon?" (What's Our Haircut Today?) by Russell Molina.

You can also look the story here.

I dont have much reference for my illustration aside from my figments of my imagination about a barber in a province who always tell tales of his kin, is friends, and any topic that thrilled his customers, so that probably they were not get bored while sitting on the barber's chair for almost an hour or so.

a barber shop in the 16th century

While some barbers today were reliable to have a great and fabulous haircuts and interesting to talk with them, a long time ago they are the one who used to be a surgeon which operates severely injured people without any painkillers or some sort.

The cure of Folly by Hieronymus Bosch

"The Barber" by the Greek Artist Nikolaus Gyzis

***

Recently I also received a birthday gift from the bunny the famous book of Sun Tzu, the Art of War. Since last last year I craved for this book, although there are websites or eBooks from the internet to copy or download, having a traditional book makes a difference. I had this sense of having a wonderful collection of books, imagining myself on an old library with books rather than stored in a technological manner such as computer.

 Postscript

The organization sent me a letter stating that due to competition, I didn't make it. Although I was disappointed a little bit, I am still hoping to improve myself next year.

Dugin Andrej and Olga Dugina and Other Sites

Recently I the Bunny sent me a link about this two very wonderful artists from Moscow. They are Dugin Andrej and his wife Olga Dugina.

I shown here the some of the works by Dugin Andrej. He is currently works in Germany. what I like about this artists is their precision and crisp details of each figure. Here are their site!

I also encountered this site about, as usual, grotesque gargoyles in medieval cathedrals.Its been a very long time since I wrote here. But, here I am! Still managing to have new posts. Don't worry many posts will come soon!

Raining June

Its June already. and as you know, in our country June is the beginning of the rainy season, where the bright blue sky and vivid white clouds is now covered with dark gray sky (or at literally clouds, but at time the clouds looks more of a sky). It is such a wonderful thing since during afternoon you can hear the dropping water into your roof while you are in your bed and about to sleep.

Rain has so many memories of mine. It reminds me yearly that school year is about to begin (where I always experienced wet socks inside my shoes during my grade school days). When I was younger me and my siblings used to bath at rain during mid-May. My mother said, which came from grandma, that the first rain in May is where grace is being showered from Paradise. But during that time, I only just enjoy of running in the streets while the rain pours from the sky rather than what mother told me.

Someone also told me that rain is a gift from God, that He throws coins of grace from the heavens. But when it became louder and wilder and stronger, it is no longer coins but babies being cast out from heaven. This are the unbaptized babies who are quite unfortunate enough to refuse to enter to paradise.

I don't sure who told me this story but it is such a sad story. But then, it is not a barrier to unlike rainy days.

Previously

Good day, people! Last February, the Bunny and I had a small tour of the Bozzetos Exhibit in our school since we saw they showcased Italian-inspired artworks, and we were eager to see these.

We are greeted by a print of Firenze (also known as Florence) by Giorgio Vasari.

As we entered the hall, I was happy to see this paper model of the famous Florence Cathedral. It was wonderful to see another beautiful model since I had a deep interest in this field.

And look! Another model made from scraps and found materials as we entered the gallery.

And we also took pictures of some of the beautiful works there (including an antique door of the Gallery).

And in gratitude to my amazing college professors, I just like to dedicate this work of mine to them. They were my teachers who helped shape my skills for the past five years.

It is a watercolor painting on paper I made about two months ago.

The painting shows a motherly figure teaching a boy with a book. I never encountered a nun teacher before, or rather I never had a nun teacher, only men from the religous order of Marist Brothers. My work here was inspired by Medieval marginalia figures (you can take a look what's Medieval Marginalia about in this humorous blog about it), though it is unfortunate to say that I forgot what exactly inspired this design, and from which medieval book did I take inspiration from, but the scene I think is about St. Anne teaching her daughter Mary.

And speaking of Medieval art, I just want to share to you an interesting Tumblr site which is all about Medieval Illustrations, paintings, and facts about the era. You can visit the site here.

As of now, I am looking for a job this month, and my goal (hopefully) is that I should have a job before June. Well, I'm just hoping for the best!