Paintings

One of the things I learned is that Filipinos don’t like caricatures. Caricatures usually mean that a part of your face would be exaggerated and you would look funny. Most Filipino caricatures would often be a cartoon version of the person – simple lines, shadows and less exaggerations. That’s what I did for this...

I created two studies of this precocious child and I believe I was finally able to catch her smile with the second one. It was a challenge to paint the first because it had two light sources. It was taken from a pic that gave the photographer her ready smile. I then saw another pic of her this weekend – she was...

What makes a good portrait picture? I can’t repeat this enough – it all depends on the photo you give the artist. If you give the artist thumbnails of your ID pic, don’t expect it to look like an Amorsolo painting. If you give them a pic that’s been blurred and beautified by an app – do expect to see another blurred and...

How do you judge a life well lived? Is it through the memories of the people you’ve left behind? Through the countless lives you’ve touched? How? Perhaps we just live the life we’re given. Live it the best way we know how and let other people worry about the remembering and judging part.

One friends told me that this is one of those really good paintings that I’ve done. I agree. I like what I did and how I did it. And if I knew the photographer who took the pic, I’d credit that person too. A pic is different from a painting. A painting has to invoke emotions or else it will just be a mere copy of a...

I voted for her when she first ran for the presidency. I voted for her again when she ran for another senate position. Why? Because I believe in her and what she can do. Yes, she has a fiery temper. Yes, she has a foul mouth. Yes she can be condescending. But she can get things done the way things should be done.

I’m not saying that digital painting is easier – but dealing with watercolor, you get to realize how temperamental it can be. It can’t be too wet, too dry [depends on the effect] and your brush can’t be too thick or too thin. Most of all – you can’t really erase a mistake. You can erase pencil marks. But erasing and...

His laughter heals. His jokes will make you think. He makes you feel good about living and about life. His thoughtful gaze rests on everyone and he always listens. It’s not about who you are or what you do in life – but what you believe in and what you’re willing to stand for. Yes, Fr. Benny is one of those humble...

I don’t normally do fanart. Perhaps I should do more of it as a way of practising techniques since most tv shows and movies do dramatic lighting. To help train myself in doing ‘different’ styles of portraiture in watercolor. I’ve always wanted to do Danaerys. I already drew images in my mind of her and her dragons. But...

Ok. Who watched Game of Thrones last Sunday? Hodor! Just a hint of detail in the entire painting – because everything happened in a blur of tears and emotions. Yes, I tried something different with my technique this time. Finished this under an hour. I guess the next one will be a burning Khaleesi. 🙂

My father told me that you can never have office mates as friends. I learned the truth to that statement when I started working. Yes, they will always be office mates – but friends? Real life friends? Not when you work together in the same company. Not until you learn never to burn bridges unless you don’t plan on...

Children are not meant to die ahead of their parents. That’s not the order of things. It tore my heart when I found out that and old friend’s daughter died last year. I painted this as a tribute. This is the first time I’ve drawn dark brown eyes this big. I think I will need more practise.  

I love drawing and painting people. They’re funny, interesting – really full of life. Even in death, their image and memories still breathe of life and bring a smile or two to the ones they leave behind. Somebody asked me to do a painting of her husband. His cancer came back and this time she’s trying to organize a...

I still need to have this framed and sent over. This was done on an A3 using really cheerful colors. 🙂 Tito Tony is my mother’s cousin. His mother was my grandmother’s sister. We lived right across each other in Paco, Manila. I’d hang out with them during summer. One thing I learned though, humor runs in our family....

I must say, it was love at first bite. Reggie brought home some smoked ribs and turtle-pecan pie. I think it was one of those truly memorable lunches when all we could talk about was the food. Then Reggie made me taste some real, smoked bacon and I was smitten. It took months before I finally met the man himself...