Color Memory

I love drawing. I really do. It's been my passion since I was a kid, starting with those huge Crayolas. That memory was still clear in my mind, I wanted to draw grass and trees but I lacked a certain bright green so I asked one of my classmates.

"Can I borrow your green?", I asked.

"It's NOT green!", she remarked, "It's SEA GREEN!"

I couldn't argue as it was written on the label "Sea Green" coupled with my lack of knowledge on what the other shades of colors were called at that time. This was 1st Grade.

As I grew up, I also got exposed to Fantasy literature and Comics which I've spent a lot of time drawing (although most of my works back then were on my school notebooks and my sketchpads are back home.) without really studying color theory and anatomy.

My work has been totally different from the arts that I wanted to pursue, but nevertheless a good career move as computers will be here and will continue to exist and maybe someday even completely replace traditional media (though I prefer working on traditional of course!).

I'll leave that topic for another entry. I do think that observation plays a very vital role in producing any form of art from our heads. Some people aren't really happy on what they have made, but they could not see the genius that they have conjured.

Sure, some of the works we'll see may not exactly have the perfect proportions in terms of anatomy or colors, but there will always be something distinctive of it. Upon observation, we see the strokes, the shades, colors within colors and that's what makes up the beauty of a piece.

It's not because we think another artwork is more beautiful than what we have made makes ours inferior to it as it will have different impacts on different people. Remember that old saying "A picture means a thousand words".

Of course, criticisms on our works are always hard to accept. They're like our children being judged in a contest. If the criticism makes sense and is insightful, this can help us improve.

Just like in guitar shredding. Never compare yourself to highly accomplish virtuosos/artists. They have the liberty of drawing/playing almost the whole day and get paid to do it. Most of us are constrained by time, especially for work unrelated to art and other personal activites, and TIME is essential to being exceptionally great at something.

To me, as long as the passion exists, the possibility of making something great can be accomplished. Do it for yourself first, if it is pleasing to you, chances are other will be as equally or more happy than you are.

Just like that childhood memory, think of yours, share it and cherish it and think of how you've improved and how you can improve more by again, observation and a bit of study (OK, a lot for some stuff hehe)

Lastly, I hate the "l33t" groups or whatever. Yes, you are the greatest and we aren't good enough. You are perfect. But you know what, sometimes I see artworks that have brilliant colors, concept, proportions and depth... but I find them empty. It's too perfect that there is no soul in them anymore, they are made solely to feed egos.

Les Aventures de Sylvie (The Adventures of Sylvie)

Part curiousity and part study led me to rummage through old books of my wife that dated back to her adolescent years. An interesting series I found was Les Aventures de Sylvie.

It's a very innocent adventure series, kind of like the ones for young adults genre. I find it fun as she goes to places, meet new people, make new friends and it also makes for a good french excercise.

Although we do not personally have the whole collection, maybe we will someday when we have more chances to drop by thrift shops.

Loot for Thought - Fans Earth

Back then when blogging and word processing software were scarce, pen-and-paper was still the dominant players in school and art supplies. Today, if you would like to pursue a career in fine arts or the like, computers, a tablet or a lightpen (Wacom) are the best way to go. 

Indeed, but sometimes you want that pen and paper feel. Wether it's writing or drawing, it's the same feeling that some of us miss experiencing like scribbling on smooth paper using sign pens, fountain pens or even fine tip technical pens.

My all-time-favorites are Rotring and Staedtler pens in the 0.1 to 0.3 range. Pilot V5s are also good for drawings. I've scavenged for these beauties today. A pen holder/binder from Brunnen was cool too, I just wished they had more designs to choose from.

The Passion for Books

As a kid born in the 80s, I have had the chance to play and experience pen-and-paper Dungeons and Dragons. I remember the times where we used to fabricate stories of our quests that are wild and so spontaneous that sometimes our characters would even die.

Before then, I hated books. I hated reading. I wanted everything there to be consumed (e.g. pictures, video. etc.). As a result, the only "books" that I would have are textbooks from school and comics from DC and Marvel. I didn't have many as they were expensive and I was in grade school when the only money you had was from your allowance. 

Luckily enough, I have had some classmates that were more fortunate than I was. I could at least borrow and read them during our break at school. Then it was this one day that one of my classmates brought to school a luggage. In it was books and manuals of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). I was astonished. The binding, the artwork, the fonts and the glossy paper. 

But then it hit me, what is it? What do we do with it? There's not much pictures and there's lots of text! This was what my 10-year-old self was thinking. Then he explained everything and said it was a game where we imagine everything based on some guidelines and we'll be "role-playing" heroes. I tell you, when a kid hears that he can BE a hero, he or she will listen.

Ever since then, we've played it for hours on end, even coming over a classmate's house just to play D&D on the weekends. That was really fun and this time around I didn't mind reading lengthy portions of text. I really think that this was the beginning of my zest for reading. 

Then all other things came over such as Choose Your Own Adventure books. It's also a kind of role-playing game but in the form of a book and you choose from a predetermined set of choices that leads to success or consequence. To me, it was reading pleasure but little did I know that it also improved my English!

That was it for me. I started to discover a more broader range of literature. History and Literature class was now officially my favorite subjects in class. I started to buy more books in college. When I finally got a job, I had scouted for older books from thrift shops. The more older the books are, the better for me. 

I started getting books that dated from the 50s, different editions of what I already have and some books I have never had the chance to read when I was a kid. My collection grew and grew until I had a real need for bookshelves which my McGyver of a dad especially made for me. 

I have recently learned a new language when I moved in to european shores. French. This again opened a whole new world of literature to me. A long time favorite of mine, Tintin, happens to be made by a Belgian sometime in the 50s. I have reread every book again all in french and it was magnificent. Other books that has also peaked my interest are Les Aventures de Sylvie, by René Philippe and L'île aux Fossils Vivants by André Massepain.

I have yet to read more older french literature later on as I have not yet attained the master level of the language yet. It's been roughly a year that I've started to learn French. The next step to my book journey would by my dream to write and publish my own book(s). 

Me and a friend has yet to finish that book and this blog space could be its temporary home.

Revisiting Milo Manara

Back in Manila, I happened upon specially made playing cards featuring the artworks of one of my favorite artists, Milo Manara.  He draws with amazing realism and his works were widely available a few years back here in Europe, but I could surprisingly find almost nothing today.

Fortunately enough, a local thrift shop here who sells old books and comics had some. I snatched it the moment I saw it, along with an adapted Cthulhu comic. I like the fact that I didn’t get any alienating stares as I went to the paying counter despite his work being branded as adult, it doesn’t make you wierd having some.

The shop definitely told me they’re not getting any new comics from Manara anymore. I hope I could still find some in the bigger city.

UPDATE: I've just read in the newspapers that there will be a reprint of some of Manara's works in color this coming April 7, 2010.

Sunshine

"Your past. Your whole life. Everything that has transpired in your lifetime, past and present, shows itself to me like shining pieces of gold on plain ground."

Her serene smile sunk into my heart. She was beautiful. Perfect. Many men would kill to have her. It's such a waste choosing her as the oracle when she could have had a better life than predicting the future all her life. Are all oracles like her? She is the 17th descendant of a family with a long line of oracles that aided mankind for centuries.

"Indeed. One has failed though, trenching onto the dark path." She said in a low tone while bowing her head a little. "And yes... you are again correct. Another is yet to take the same road as the prophecy told by the oracle before me."

The oracle moved forward, closing the distance between us. Sunshine obviously saw my confused expression. How did she know what I was thinking? Then it hit me. My thoughts! I cleared my throat hoping to disrupt whatever mind-reading sorcery she was doing.

Her bright eyes locked with mine, her soothing smile giving me comfort against my weariness from our recent clash with Klat's minions.

"I... " The words I intend to say were cut off as she held my hands tightly as we were at face length.

"NOTHING is secret."

This is the first book of Moorcock I bought on a thrift shop. II got it for cheap. You'd be amazed at what good books you'll find on these thrift shops selling used and new books.

The Elric saga has a very dark atmosphere set in a world of swords and magic. A must have for any fantasy reader! It's quite short compared to epic storylines such as that of Lord of the Rings or Wheel of Time, but still offers a good ride ride of an adventure.