Post-it Affirmation Art no.3

"Major and minor decisions: Do not delay!!!"

Pambihirang Guniguni

They say that a painting or art doesn't need verbal explanation. All the things that the viewer might want to know is already there on the painting itself, readily digested—visually. 

That is just one of the ways of seeing art or a painting, if one wants to decipher its message. 

My painting for the Looking for Juan banner project, on first look, seems unrelated to the specific theme relayed to me, which was to depict what it means to be Filipino. One might even comment how on earth is that work all about Pinoy? I could hardly think of a specific subject to work on because to define our people or nation is as diverse as our flora and fauna: each is unique that makes up the whole. Working on a tight schedule and with no specific subject in mind, I tried to paint anything on the canvas. While paint-doodling, I thought maybe it is better to avoid patriotic cliches, pessimism, or sarcasm. Why not tackle on positive points of view? I thought art perhaps doesn't need be heavy to be meaningful or powerful. Then it dawned on me, maybe I could celebrate Pinoy creativity itself.

I prefer not to explain every bits of my painting, I'd like to leave something for the viewer to figure out. Explaining the work takes out its mystery, just like when you specifically describe the artistic Filipino. But here's what I wrote so people can be able to grasp a little story about it:

“Pambihirang Guniguni” (Exceptional Imagination)

24”x 48”

Acrylic on canvas

As an illustrator, the artwork is my interpretation of the ingenuity of the Filipino creative: a hybridity of styles and cultures that resulted to powerful imagination, liberal spirit, and diversity of technical expertise. We may have been bound from the colonial past, but I believe the concoction and transmission of cultures has positively shaped the Filipino artist today: responsive to the changing times and globally competitive.

If you are interested in this original painting, please contact CANVAS or 1/of Gallery at:

CANVAS

1/of Gallery, 2nd Level Shops at Serendra

Global City, Metro Manila
Philippines

Tel. (+632) 901.3152
Email:  info@canvas.ph
Blog:  lookingforjuan.blogspot.com

Proceeds will be used to fund projects that promote Philippine art and culture.

This painting, together with other originals of the project is on view until July 7, 2009 at the:

Alab Art Space of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Building

351 Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City

Open to public mon-fri 9am-6pm

Sinugdanan Artist's Summit

"May Nilaga ang May Tiyaga"

"Magsumikap ang May Pangarap"

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I think what our people need is an inspiration. What better way to feed the soul than through art. From a sound mind and soul, every wonderful things follow: you think and do right, care for others, and strive to prosper.

My work is a visual affirmation, these are illustrations that depict positive reinforcement. We usually counteract negative feelings and behaviors by repeatedly saying positive phrases. In this work, I used visual images to deploy that effect. Our mind works magically as it controls us through our thoughts. Therefore, we should always be careful about what we are thinking, it is important to think positively. The paintings are rendered in a simple and whimsical style so that every viewer can easily grasp their meaning, working the images way to their minds subliminally. Visual images and texts are so powerful that they influence most of our lives. Hopefully my paintings create lasting happy impressions thereby viewers getting inspired and consequently urges to take positive actions. 

-------

This is my work from the Sinugdanan Artist's Summit in Bohol. Should you be interested in any paintings from the summit, please contact The Outlooke Point Foundation at info@theopf.org

Proceeds will be used to fund projects that promote Philippine art and culture. 

ASTiG ORiG Pinoy Banners at CCP!

So what does it mean to be Filipino today?

I am proud not only as a Pinoy but also taking part on this very significant project from CANVAS.

The original artworks from this great outdoor banner project will be on display at the CCP from May 12 through June 7, 2009. The banners will also be on view at the University of the Philippines sometime in June.

My participating artwork depicts the creative ingenuity of the Filipino. Here's a sneak peek of my painting...



I hope you will not pass on this opportunity to view all the wonderful artworks!

How to Make a 3D Stereo pair in Photoshop

When I was in grade school, my classmate showed me his cool book, "The Magic Eye" where 3D dinosaurs pop out from random bits of colors and shapes. At first, I could hardly see the dinosaurs he was talking about, wondering maybe he was just making a fool out of me. Until I grew up and came across Stereograms. I was so surprised to see the images in 3D, finally.

It is hard to see the effect at first, takes some time to get it right. The technique is slowly crossing your eyes in a relaxed manner. Do not force your eyes into the image if you don't get it right in the beginning. When you've learned the technique, the rest becomes much easier. The visual experience is truly amazing.

A stereo pair is another version of a stereogram, an illusion of three-dimensional depth is created using two identical images but slightly angled differently. The eyes fill up the "empty" spaces to create the illusion using the cross-eyed method. There are many ways of producing the effect, and there are also many pieces of research about the topic on the internet, you can google them if you are interested to read on further.

I made my own version using my recent illustration study for a corporate invite in the photo above.

The steps are simple, follow the steps below to match with the photo above:

a. Select an image that can be viewed in 3D easily. Images that have depth and perspective work best.

b. Duplicate the image by copying into another layer in Photoshop. Make sure the distance between the object is at about 2 inches. Or, if you have mastered the technique of seeing a stereogram, you can adjust the distance by trial and error - moving the second image to the left within the desired 3D depth.

c. Try to cut out each part separately for the first object. In this case, we are separating the chair, then slightly move it to the right, transform or skew it slightly to show it at another angle, or use trial and error using the cross-eyed method until the desired depth is achieved. Clean up and fix missing parts using eraser and stamp tool.

d-e. I want to have the wings and dress depth in 3D, so I cut them out and slightly moved them to the right or left, depends on the order I wanted them to be: to the left when it's closer, to the right if it's farther away to the back.

f. This is a guide on what to expect when viewing 3D using the cross-eye method: while crossing your eye slowly, try to merge the two images together until a single image form in between. The 3D "floating" effect can be viewed this way.

Happy viewing!

***

If you like this post, please comment

Or gift yourself and loved ones with lovely goodies here

I'll appreciate it very much, thank you.

Plus, please check out my youtube videos and sub my channel:

Cute magical bunny in watercolor and acrylic meditation painting

Space cats in watercolor and acrylic meditation painting

Spirit animal in watercolor and acrylic meditation painting

Post-it Affirmation Art no.2

"The internet is best for knowledge, dramas are best kept somewhere else."