My First Art Exhibit at Matt Mason Gallery, Silang, Cavite Tagaytay

Sister and brother-in-law at the gallery

I think I got lucky on this one.  If this is a result of my new-found law of attraction practice, then I don't know what it is.  Just earlier this year, I've decided to get serious on painting.  And so I started applying for galleries, and lo and behold, it wasn't long that there was an open opportunity waiting for me at Silang, Cavite, Tagaytay.

And so I grabbed the chance by the horns, and found my way in it.  My fondness for painting hasn't really reached to my fondness of eating chocolate.  It's not something that I desire, although I wish to be the case so I would continually practice painting.  I just grab the brush when I feel like practicing.  It's not totally a a freeing in the sense that you still have to make good art.  It takes discipline to make sense of what you just made in a way that it better looks nice.  It is really easy to get lost in the flow and mess up what you have made because you were in the zone.  Some artist would think that as long as it's abstract, you could never go wrong.  Well at some point that's true, but it takes discipline to direct your energy and creativity in a way that's beautiful.  In the end of it all, creating artwork is just trying to explore possibilities, making a mess and trying to fix it so it would all look like a masterpiece.  It's just a bit like life, but on canvas.

Publisher: Shy - Saturday, July 30, 2016

Quick Trip to the National Museum: Get Up Close and Personal with the Spolarium

Late post again.  But since I have some pics in my drive, I figured to share this with you so hopefully you can visit this place if and when you are here in Manila, and if you are in Manila and still haven't been here, I strongly recommend this place.

Here are the reasons why:

1, You witness the Spolarium first hand and be in awe as to how big it is.  I covers almost the entire side of the room and mind you, the room is really big.  So you can only imagine how big it is.  

2. The place itself is well maintained and grandiose.  The limestone flooring and intricately designed metal railings were gorgeous that I had to take a feetsie. (My own term for feet selfie. Hello! LOL)

 3. The structure outside was phenomenal, I couldn't help but be proud of it.  Philippines represent!

4.  Aside from the Original Juan Luna Spolarium, another original favorite work of his is also here: The Parisian Life.

5.  The chandeliers in this place are fantastic and beautiful, giving this place a more sophisticated vibe.

6.  The glass paintings were also magnificent.

These were just few of my fave.  Try to find out what yours are when you get there.  And oh, let me now!

Publisher: Shy - Saturday, January 24, 2015

Cam on to Pinto Art Museum Antipolo

Where have you been all my life?

I've had been to National Museum in Hongkong and I remembered being fascinated and mesmerized by the artifacts--- how they were saved and preserved through time, and how well these were presented to the public.  And as I was going through each paintings, and murals, while in my higher ups of admiration, I felt a sudden jab when I compared what I was seeing to what I had seen in museums back in my country.

"Why can't we have anything like this?"

"Do we even have great artists and if so why aren't they featured as well as artists here are featured?"

It saddened me but I managed to brush these thoughts aside so I can enjoy the moment of seeing art showcased the way it should be.

I thought that the art industry in the Philippines was a hopeless case, but all that changed when I came to Pinto Art Museum.  "Hey let's go to Pinto Art Museum." he said, I thought ok  and when shown a link on Facebook showing off just 2 or 3 pictures of paintings in a Grecian-inspired house, I figured, that doesn't look so bad.  With my memories of local museums I've been to before, I knew it was wise to keep my expectations low.

Good thing my expectations were low and good thing I just saw 2 to 3 pictures because when I got there, the place really blew my mind!

 Since I don't want to spoil the surprise, I consciously decided to post few pictures.

You'll thank me later.  

Don't forget to bring your camera.  There's tons of things to click.  My partner-in-crime and I were like kids in a park because there were just so much of greatness for our eyes to see.

Publisher: Shy - Friday, January 23, 2015

What I do when I get Depressed?

1.  Go out with friends.  If you are no where near them, go online, chat them and ask for virtual hugs.  Believe me, it's better to none. 

2.  I head out in the social scene.  The noise outside will drown the not-so-friendly noise inside my sometimes fucked up mind.

3.  I get a sudden appetite for ice cream.  There's nothing a good peanut butter banana from Dairy Queen can't repair.  Problem now is when the ran out of this. 

4.  I exercise.  I do the 4minute workout.  It makes me feel like I've done myself tons of goodness, even if I just exercised for 4 minutes.

5.  Read a good book.  A feel good one.

So there are my rituals when I don't feel quite on track.  Actually what I really do is open facebook and browse through it, but I'm battling it and divert more on productive ones, one of which I missed out on adding on the list is writing.

Sorry everyone, just post valentine's blues kicking in.  Single lady rant.

Publisher: Shy - Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Buzzfeed Yoga Fail!

Tomorrow I have already planned to do a bit of yoga to get into the "healthy lifestyle" I had been yearning to have.

So like any resourceful person would do, I headed online and beseeched Mr. Google to give me info about yoga for beginners.

Suddenly I saw a post and oh, it's from buzzfeed!




For those of you who don't know what it is, it's practically a website which enumerates points and perfectly delivers that in witty and occasionally funny pictures.  So I reckon I'll be in good hands.

Practicing a bit of yoga myself, I have come to see familiar poses, like some of these below:

 

Both I had already done previously, but not this bridge pose down here.  Now obviously there's a bit of difficulty and it could get a little tricky if you're not able to balance yourself well.  It seems like you can actually break bones, loins, tendons, and what nots if you're not able to do this properly.

and then reaching number 10.

Drum roll please...

Really now...

Image via troll.me

Are you making fun of my limitations?  I feel so incapable just by looking at it.  That one right there doesn't belong to the line up of poses.  I'm afraid this was mixed up with the easier ones and got separated from the circus poses that it belongs.

But wait, buzzfeed ain't finish yet.

What one great way to end this depressing post? 

Why end it with an even more depressing note, of course!

Yeah right!

Image via blackhatworld.com

It's more like...

Practice this, and you'll be heading your way to the ER in no time!

Buzzfeed, I love you, but this post doesn't sound right to me.

Post source via buzzfeed

Publisher: Shy - Monday, September 16, 2013

My Mehndi Henna Tattoo Art Obsession

I'm starting to get obsessed with mehndis.

Ever since I had seen some pictures of these on the internet, I get this voice in my head saying 'me too!' - that is an indication for me that I want to try it too soon if not later.  What makes the difference from those which I've actually pushed through from those which I haven't, is that the ones I haven't done, had 'me too!' persisting for few months and then would dwindle away to 'never mind'.  As for the things I pursued, the answer was always a 'me too' even after years.  That's when I know that I really really wanted to do it, and that's true to who I am,  and that it feels good to me. 

I love it for these reasons.

They're gorgeous.

Source

Publisher: Shy - Sunday, June 30, 2013

Two Cents from Marilyn.

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.” 

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” 

“This life is what you make it. Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, somg go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And babve, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up becuase if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” 

“We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” 

“Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.”

“You never know what life is like, until you have lived it.” 

Source: http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/82952.Marilyn_Monroe?auto_login_attempted=true

Publisher: Shy - Sunday, January 20, 2013

Painting Faces

I notice, when I'm in the mood to paint, I'm usually emotional.  Either happy, sad, whatever.  So it's probably safe to say that I found another medium to vent out my feelings.

And it's great, you know.

It's therapeutic.

Publisher: Shy - Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Which Mandala Tattoo Should I Choose?

I am nearing my dream of getting myself inked!  I've always knew I wanted to get a mandala, but after seeing a lot of options, I'm utterly torn to say the least.

Here are my top 5  in no particular order:

Source 

Publisher: Shy - Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Beauty on a Sketchy Friday

She Walks In Beauty

SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:

Publisher: Shy - Thursday, July 19, 2012

Day 3: Ilocos Trip - Juan Luna Museum

Right outside the museum you would see printed works of this famous artist, filling in 2 walls with ... Oh what the heck.  Look at the picture! :P

Publisher: Shy - Monday, July 09, 2012

Watercolor Painting: So I was Using the Wrong Paper

I feel lazy today.  I knew I needed to write several posts for the trip I had, but couldn't seem to get myself to even start a single sentence, much more finish a post, related to the trip that is.

Anyways, I've been trying out watercolor painting for a week now.  Immediately after deciding to go serious on this, I bought several brushes, a plastic palette, a sketching and a water color pad.  Right at the time when I blot my damped brush on the new water color pad, I knew that the reason why I had great difficulty on the first try was because of the kind of paper I was working on.  Silly me, I used a regular sketching paper for painting. Result? The colors won't spread and blend as much as I wanted to.  With this legit paper, it made things easier.

Publisher: Shy - Saturday, July 07, 2012

A Journey of a Frustrated Artiste: From Sketching to Watercolor

I discovered I knew how to sketch when I was 15.  I remembered it was one hot boring day, when everyone was having their own afternoon siesta.  I, on the other hand, didn't feel sleepy enough to do so, found myself walking around the house having no clue what to do.  Then as I passed by my mom who was by now sleeping soundly on her bed.  I figured.  I should draw her.  And so I did.  Several minutes after, I was done.  Hmmm, not bad.  In fact, it was good.  The face that I sketched resembled my mom.  I thought: Hey! I think this is a talent.  And I think so too until now.  With no formal background, no know-how on basic techniques, no history of practice, I was still able to make a decent sketch.  I figured this is definitely a God-given talent and I'm determined to develop it and take it into another level and make it mine. 

Publisher: Shy - Monday, June 25, 2012

Getting Inked!

Source.

I've always wanted to get inked.  When "Hit me Baby One more Time" was still a hit, I've wanted to get a tattoo at my lower back like Britney Spears, until I discovered that it could look a bit tacky.  So I figured having a tattoo running at one side of my body would be sexy.  And I still think so.  But it's just too big of a tattoo.  Don't you think so?  Besides, too painful. Yaayy!

Publisher: Shy - Sunday, June 24, 2012

My Afghan Girl

Just when I almost about to give up on her...

Publisher: Shy - Friday, June 15, 2012