On the Spot!

On-the-spot art contest is more than judging what meets the eye.

I thought judging an on-the-spot art contest was easy. It should technically be simple: gather works that have something relevant to say and appeal according to one's taste, rank them in order, and you have a winner. It turns out judging is more than that. You also take into consideration not only whom you'll give hope for their future artistic career but also whose family you think needs the prize most. Well, I wish there could be percentage for that.

I joined my first on-the-spot art contest in grade 4, also my first time to join the art club. One sunny saturday, our art teacher brought us to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. It was my first time too to go out on my own with fellows. The theme was interpreting the Grimm brothers' tales. I chose Rumpelstiltskin, drawing the princess without a face like Modigliani in black-purple gown weaving some gold out of hay. I think it was inspired by a Modigliani's painting from a back cover of the Reader's Digest my dad sends from Saudi, of course I wasn't aware about the painter at the time. As far as I remember, my work was unfinished. We also left early so we didn't know who won but we went home happy with freebies and new experience. My favorite art teacher treated us snacks.

My second on-the-spot was more successful. The event was at the CCP grounds organized by Nido, dubbed as "Mga Munting Daliri On-the-Spot Art Contest." It was actually a fun day, my mom and siblings were there to support me while having a picnic at the bay area. I never thought I'd win but I offered my prize to my dad who was at home sick and depressed for being jobless.

Yeah, like a real melodrama!

Some of the succeeding contests were also quite successful. As I grew, my intentions were different. Times were difficult so I joined these contests hopefully to win the prize money and help my growing family.

By then, I acquired the techniques and look of the popular art style that kids and coaches think will be successful in art contests. So, I also used the same style while relying on good concept to make it standout. It was this simple abstract geometrical figures colored in gradated and saturated hues style. That was more than 20 years ago, and kids today still use the same style. Everyone uses the same visual language, medium, and palette. Does this mean their coaches' or art teachers' knowledge on art stopped at Abstraction? I hope they teach more about art and other kinds of visual expression in various media.

My top pick: the only one in the batch which I think that yields narratives and looks happy to me. And also because this work strongly reminds me of my works back then, same style and technique, the prevalent "successful" style on every local kid art contests even today.

Usually, kids who join art contests mostly come from underprivileged families. If your art entry was like Amorsolo's or Juan Luna's, Picasso's or Michelangelo's, then you are probably one of those privileged kids who could visit museums, attend workshops, and knew art was more than this prevailing style. Usually one or two of these kids in the group join only for the sake of fun. The rest, it's gonna be for their family's food on the table or to pay for schooling.

Now that it's my time to judge a small art contest at the Ayala Museum one sunday afternoon, my view on art contests has changed. I went on to observe how the kids work, parents and teachers coaching on their side, full of hope and working their best. I could almost see myself in them.

I shared the judging with two senior and well-established artists. Surprisingly, we all had different favorites. Honestly, it was intense for me because it's hard to convince someone who's more experienced than you are. I couldn't express myself and wasn't assertive enough.

It was a learning experience.

I gave credit to these two works above for their realistic rendering and graphic compositions among the batch. Two of the three works I think have advanced skills. Age range of contestants were 12 to 19 years old. Medium is limited to oil pastels on illustration board.

Some of the entries I picked as finalists. The theme was about their perception of being a Filipino. One of the judges quite convinced me over the work on the right most side. He thought although it looks anime, which is understandably the popular and influential style today, it's the only work that speaks about herself as a young Filipino artist full of potential and hope. The rest were using cliched symbolism and concepts.

From afar, young as they are, you can already tell which ones who really have inborn talent and the others who'll spend more years practicing, or pursuing by parents. 

What I learned about kids

1. If you say NO, they will do so otherwise. 

2. They are suckers for any story. So read them a book.

3. You can't outwit them, no matter how hard you try.

4. Their ears are always glued to silly things, but they are not dumb.

5. You can get a view of today's young adults' minds, feelings, and aspirations through Twitter. Try not to judge, but learn from them instead.

dear student illustrator-researcher

clay creature heads, work in progress. 

Dear undergrad student illustrator-researcher,

Every time I receive your email for an online interview, I'm not sure what to do: should I help you come up with better questions for your thesis, or a better email to secure you an interview? Leaving me wondering what to do keeps me thinking for so very long that eventually I forget if I have replied or not. I apologize for that. So, to avoid this in future email interview requests, here are suggestions I think that will get you a successful email interview from me, and perhaps most importantly from popular foreign illustrators who might be busier, less patient and understanding than me, haha! :-)

1. Review at least the basic rules in grammar and check your vocabulary. I admit, I don't write that well too but I always take time to review and revise. Though I prefer an informal (conversational) tone of email, it won't hurt writing down a respectful, undemanding, and well-thought out request. No highfalutin words necessary, just keep it nice and friendly. Always assume that the recipient is busy, say what you mean in short and direct sentences. A simple but effective outline consists of: a greeting!, personal introduction, your thesis topic, type and/or schedule of interview, then your questions (shoot it right away).

2. Never, ever (!) send a blind-shot or generic email to every illustrator/artist you can find. Ask yourself: do I like receiving spam mails? It works the same way. Although it's much easier now to touch base through the internet, contact only illustrators whose works are really relevant to your concept. Filter your questions according to their ideas. But first, do your homework to get their previous interviews or publications if there are, then if you think you need more data, that's the only time you email them with additional, again, relevant and specific questions.

Hint: Personally, I think for student projects in illustration (like children's books, comics, or editorial print and web) which usually require a printed output (or online) and meant for public consumption, there's really not much data you can get from illustrators. Sure you can learn some of their techniques, style, or journeys in their creativity or conceptualization but what's important is your personal vision in solving an illustration problem. You can only infer yourself analyzing how their work solved a particular problem in illustration and how will this information be relevant to your chosen topic. It's your ideas about their work that matters and who knows, you might discover something insightful that the illustrator might not even be aware of.

Since illustration projects are meant for publishing, all projects should be audience-specific and target oriented. Hence, interview or get data from your target audience more than the creatives. You should have acquired techniques and developed style in your previous courses.

3. Get only pertinent data for your bibliography to credit sources. In my experience as a researcher, I have not read in any research manuals of style like the APA, MLA, etc., that there's a need for your sources' signature, photo, or whatever as proof of your interview. This may be part of your school's absurd (honestly, I find it really insulting to student's integrity and capability) requirement, but this request will most likely turn you down an interview.

Encourage your advisers, department heads, and dean against this requirement. How can you trust yourself having the confidence in undergoing a research project if they can't trust you in the first place? I think, this requirement is just their excuse for not verifying your work individually. And besides, regardless of how you got your sources, quality and credibility will definitely show in your output anyway, so there's really no shortcut in completing your thesis.

I hope you'll find these suggestions useful for your research. Good luck!

How to recycle your toasted CD, or The Merry Christmas post!

My 2012 christmas card theme is peace, DIY multiple original limited edition intaglio prints.

May this season brings peace to you and the world over!

I was looking for ways on how to recycle my piles of toasted CD in a unique and useful way. I remembered a brief printmaking lecture by the Philippine Association of Printmakers I attended that led me to rediscover engraving. The lecture by Ms. Ambie Abano showed the use of acrylic sheets in engraving. Then I thought maybe the plastic CDs can also be used in the process. So I tried making a print using CDs and here are the steps I took:

1. Clean the surface of the CD with soft cloth so it will be easier to engrave your drawing. With any sharp, pointed tool as burin, carefully scratch out your drawing or design on the reflective side of the CD.

2. A finished design on the reflective side of the CD. It's a little hard to scratch the drawing on a plastic so make sure your burin is always sharp and pointed. Use a sturdy tool, and wear glasses to protect your eyes. The shiny surface also makes it hard to see your drawing completely, so if you like you can take out the reflective coating on the other side (Step 3). Simple designs with lots of textures work best with intaglio printing especially on plastic, so work more with different kinds of textures and patterns. 

3. Here's how to remove the reflective coating easily: with a sharp x-acto knife or cutter, carefully lift sideways the coating off on a small part at the edge (see picture above). Then, once you have taken out a few small coats, it is easier to peel them all off with a very sticky tape. Clean up your "naked" CD with a moist cloth. Be very careful in disposing this reflective coating, as it's very thin and light it might be toxic to leave it anywhere.

4.  Materials in making your prints: 

a. Pre-moistened paper. Dip your chosen textured paper in water then place on dry newspaper to absorb excess water. 

b. Semi-soft board or linoleum, can also be your cutting mat, where you will be placing your CD plate. Make registration marks in pencil to align your CD plate and paper in center

c. Water proof paper or wax paper 

d. Printer's ink (intaglio ink) which can be bought in craft stores or printing supplies, or oil paint in tubes, though I haven't tried that yet. Mix with baby or mineral oil if it's too thick. Use baby powder to remove some in your hands, so as not to spoil your clean paper. 

e. Round and heavy "flattener" to give pressure to your plate, this serves as your DIY machine press.

5. Using your fingers, thoroughly smear paint onto the engraved side of the plate. Then carefully remove excess paint with pieces of paper. Make sure some of the inks are still on the grooves (or lines) of the plate. After carefully removing excess paint, wipe your hands or use baby powder to absorb some unwanted inks. Hooray, you are now ready to print!

6. Lay your materials in this sequence: wax paper - pre-moistened clean textured paper front side down - CD plate with inked side up - linoleum or cutting mat. Make sure your registrations are aligned on the CD and chosen paper. Once they're all okay, press over the CD plate with your round "flatenner" thoroughly, making sure all the surface of the CD plate is completely pressed and covered. Lift up the paper and surprise! Congratulations on your first print!  

7.  If you are satisfied with your print, hang it dry or lay it down on clean dry papers. After drying, you can label your print, just below the design with edition numbers, title, and of course your signature with a pencil. If you don't like your paper warped-up, you can flatten them with heavy books for several days.

Okay, some of you might wonder, why bother with all those tiring steps when you can just print on an inkjet printer? Well, it is a labor of love, and I'd like to ask you, which of the two would you rather receive: a toxic laser print or an original intaglio print sprinkled with some love and sweetness?

Merry Christmas and have fun printing!

The Seoul-ful experience

It was one of the most wonderful time of my life. I went to Seoul in South Korea to attend the awarding ceremony of the 20th Daekyo Eye Level Children's Literature Award. The experience was surreal, memorable, and fun, as exciting as sharing you these most cherished moments... 

My forever bashful smile and pose together with all the winners and Daekyo executives.

With Daekyo Chairman Kang, one of South Korea's top influential businessmen and president of Badminton World Federation, and Dora Yuet Lan Tsang, short story grand winner from HongKong. Chairman Kang's personal rags-to-riches story, through the power of learning, is very inspirational. Dora's winning children's short story, Much Hairdo About Nothing is very funny and aptly for today's vain kids.  

Daekyo Eye Level, our generous host. At the headquarters building, with managing director Mr. Terry Son, Gritty and Dora Tsang, my sister, and yours truly. 

The educational brand name E.Nopi or Noonopi, is a household name in South Korea, which later rebranded to Eye Level to cater a much global consumer. I am sold at the company's philosophy that is  based on "eye level" teaching and learning, meaning the system is tailored to fit at the child's perspective whereas most adults assume the other way around.  

The trip was really memorable because it was my first time to experience snow. It is truly a beautiful and magical experience for me. They were however amazed at me because not all people liked snow. Maybe it's the same thing with the sun or rain...and super typhoons!  

Most buildings are futuristic, as if they are sets from a sci-fi movie. This is a dazzling side view of the city hall, a juxtaposition of classic and modern designs amidst urban bustle.
I rarely saw cluttering giant billboards and tarpaulins.

I am very impressed with their road courtesy, sure heavy traffic is still expected on some occasions but you will never freak out from stress and rudeness! Everyone seem to abide traffic laws, yes, even buses. I already gave up on our local traffic situation: I just wish every motorists in Metro Manila will achieve that level of respect on the road. I don't think any new traffic schemes can save us from this traffic from hell, only respect and consideration for each other can redeem and fly us to our destinations.

Posh and automated place where we stayed.

A send off coffee chat with our very warm hosts and Eye Level team, Ms. Yoosun and Bella, together with the funny and outgoing Dora and Gritty, and my shy but fab sis.

At the Eye Level Learning Center. 

An early looming machine at the Museum of ethnic people 

Vintage and ethnic shoes!

Types or evolution of fans

 Monuments are really monumental. Take note of the sweet couple below.

Street plushies at Myeongdong

 Too Cool for School kitschies at the streets of Myeongdong

Awesome graffiti (or mural?questioning what is street art lol) inside the artful Insadong mall restroom.

A beautiful snowy morning at Seoul skyline.

Presidentiable posters and a camera-furious tourist. 

The magnificent Gyeongbokgung palace.

Gyeongbokgung palace interiors.

Real palace guards. We were too shy and scared to have a picture with them haha.

 Lucky me and my sister at the snowy Bukchon traditional village. Most of the houses are over a century old and there are actual residents inside them. I wonder how they are dealing with annoying tourists constantly swarming by the place. 

And of course, the immortal Gangnam area!

a unique book nook!

I thought this book nook inside a mall deserves a separate blog post. 

Before leaving Seoul, we dropped by E-mart, a large department store near the Incheon international airport. While waiting for my companions, I noticed this corner full of boxes and books. At first I thought it was a children's book selling area. But based on what I see on the this banner, it's probably an org dedicated to picture books. Too bad, there's no english translation! 

So I went around and looked at the artworks first:

These illustrations look awesome yet raw and unpretentious, and they look really professional!

And then I looked at the books:

They all looked great too! Amazing.

Then, I realized these were made by kids! or that's how I interpret it. I just hope I'm correct :-)

I checked the organization on the banner, The Story Book Institute on their site: http://www.maybook.co.kr/ 

Again, there's no english translation and I'm so helpless. Google translate doesn't translate korean language that well. It's probably a school for kids teaching how to make a picture book. Maybe someday, I can come up with a similar workshop so that many local kids will learn to appreciate more the art of making picture books!