Open Spaces Part 2 (Unedited Work)

From outlines to colored-in separated pages. Here are the unedited spreads from the Lorena Bumbilya outlines I posted last time! (Don't remember the post? Check out the initial stages of the project here.) You can click on the pictures to see them better.

1st spread

2nd spread

I'm still gathering some comments to edit these colored spreads. So stay tuned for more progress to come!

Do you have comments yourself? I'd love to hear them! Don't be afraid to click on that comment button down there and let me get some of your advice. :)

Open Spaces

A couple of months ago, I had this project to illustrate 2 spreads of an except from a "children's book story" (Lorena Bumbilya by Christian Tablazon). The quotations are intentional because although the task required me to draw for a children's book with bold lines, bright colors (y'know, the works), the story itself was not rainbows and butterflies. Set in the slums, it revolved around a malnourished girl who got her hair cut off because of lice, a symbolism (as I would take it) for her dignity and dreams.

The except went as such:

With her right eye, she watched the vehicles passing by all afternoon while she waited for alms. She was already unmindful of the smoke and heat of the noon.


It took her some time to find a place where she could sleep. This one didn't look so good but there's not much choice. Lorena curled up and tried to sleep and forget her hunger. She has tissue paper smeared with spaghetti sauce and banana peel for dinner. Now as she slowly dozed off, she imagined lots of expensive fruits in front of her instead of banana skin, or being inside a fast food munching on her coveted snacks and meals. But now, leftovers from the garbage can had to do. She also learned that the night was unusually cold when sleeping in open spaces. 


Sounds grim, right? Well, I hope my illustrations won't be too! Crossing my fingers here cuz this is actually the first time I'd be drawing a human person in such cartoony and bold (not to mention sad) outlines. Here are the first few stages of work on this project:

The bald Lorena amidst smoke

Smoke and Mirrors. Trying to create images in smoke.

Putting the two pages (of  the 1st spread) together. Too bad our scanner is too small!

Lorena in the cold cold night

Giving her back her hair and lost dignity

Dreaming of food

UniPin Water and Fade Proof Pigment Ink on bond paper

The next stages of this project has yet to be posted! :)

A Little Early For Gong Xi Gong Xi

I've been searching for some time and inspiration to continuously make new artworks, or at least finish the current ones I've started. So far, I've been a failure to my own ideals. Insert sigh here. I hope somehow school wouldn't interfere as much anymore! Hahaha!

Here's hopefully something that would dampen the creativity pool. An old poster I did over a year ago for a Chinese New Year event. It's kind of telling me to paint a series of Asian-themed works! Hmmm... let's hope I get to do so!

Chinese Ink, Photoshop editing

Doodle Nostalgia Part 2

Here are some of the more serious works of art that I've done in the past. Looking at these, I can't help but ask myself, how could I have done these?? Wished I still had that sense of artistic inspiration. Time to find some!

This is a design for frosted glass art. If you visit my high school prayer room, you'll find the finished work there.
(Pentel Pen black permanent markers on letter bond papers)

Close up on Christ. This was one of my proudest works :)

An old semi-crammed class poster project. No Photoshop or computer editing was done - all old school! That was when I didn't know the famous line in the 60s was literal!
(Faber Castel colored pencils, Faber Castel watercolor pencils, Unipin Water and Fade proof pigment ink on Oslo paper)

Here's to youthful creativity! :)

Can't Stay Vintage For Long

I haven't been posting any wardrobe pictures recently because 1. I've been wanting to focus this blog on artworks... 2. ...since I'm not really a big fashionista (just a person with great appreciation!) and 3. My camera just went into hibernate for me to take pictures in my daily life :(

But last October 30, I attended the afternoon shows of the Philippine Fashion Week and luckily, there were so many cameras all around! So here's a quick peek at what I wore.

H&M basic tank top, vintage maxi skirt, Charles & Keith platform shoes, Mango and F21 accessories

 I really wanted to show this outfit because it only proves that trends come around! Can you believe that THAT maxi skirt is around 20 years old? Almost the same age as me! My mom bought it for herself and then eventually gave it to me a couple of years back. Never got around to wearing it until this event. Since it was an afternoon show, it was perfect for a summer-y vibe look (my favorite kind of "vibe"!). Thank you, Mom, for your incessant effort to vacuum seal your old clothes!

Age old fashion advice: Never throw anything away (well, at least pieces as classical as maxi skirts)!

Doodle Nostalgia Part 1

Since all my art's been on a lag right now, I've decided to post all my funny "young" illustrations back when I was in high school. How these doodles make me so nostalgic! Lo and behold, my works from years back!

For a poem called "Krispy Kreme"

Random comic strip 1

Random comic strips 2

Random comic strips 3

For a poem entitled "The Next Tragedy"

For a poem entitled "The Little Girl in Your Dream"

An unused art spread for my high school yearbook

One of most amateur but most hopeful sketches

Under Construction

All art and illustrations are under construction (a.k.a. artists' block)... and this blog has yet to swallow up some new passion. Here's to new inspiration! Let's go, Kat! Push, push...

IoTD: Old School Food Logos

I've always had this thing for vintage designs, especially vintage designs related to FOOD! You know those old Coca-Cola posters back in the '40s? Yeah, those kinds. Something just really draws me to them!

Some of my things actually have those vintage food logo designs and digging them out to daylight today just made me back into that old school craze! Check out a few of my vintage-y things!

KitKat shirt - A play of words here! I like buying shirts that state the obvious, especially if there's a pun with regards to my name. Yes, I'm corny that way. Haha!

Chips Ahoy! canvass bag - My best friend gave me this with a matching graphic tee (I think I donated it already!). Of course, any food packaging cannot go without the nutrition facts at the back...

Friends, only 100 calories! Definitely a light carry. Woot!

Dunkin Donuts Earrings - This is the most recent addition to the collection! Okay, it isn't THAT vintage of a logo, but still. Aren't they so delishly cute?

Bazooka bubble gum shirt - My brother's shirt, which I just love to borrow (*ahem* steal *ahem*) sometimes. Reminds me of my elementary school days. Also, the vibrancy of the blue is just something I can't resist!

See them again makes me want to make posters with old school themes. Maybe one of these days I'll make one. For now, inspiration overdose will suffice! Lovely Coca-Cola posters I'd love to hang on my wall (once my mom doesn't pay for my living anymore):

Just for fun! This is so cute! :)

Realize how it's all females in there posters (except for the last one)? It's gonna be fun to draw! Yey!

What are YOUR favorite vintage designs? :)

Unfinished For Now

A quick shot of what I'm working on right now. It has a watercolor base on which I'm starting to draw line details using my trusty UniPin ink pigment!

This was supposed to be a poster design for my org in school, but it didn't make the cut. So now I'm planning to continue it with a different design in mind. Hope I'll be able to finish this! Haven't finished a work for awhile now...

What do you think would be nice for this painting?:)

If There's One Thing I'd Do

... for the rest of my life, I'd draw and paint my days away.