Pilot: Self-Portrait

This is a brief post about how I came up with my self-portrait. I have not had a hair cut since December last year. Some months ago, there was one night that I was checking the length of my hair, trying to sport the bun look and documenting the progress using my phone's camera. The thought crossed my mind that since I was getting more serious about my art, maybe I can introduce more of my creative side by means of a self-portrait.

My face, getting a geometric treatment.

Marine Spiral

The world under water is teeming with diverse fish species. Try typing 'tropical fishes' on your search engine and you might find yourself astonished and overwhelmed by their huge number and wide range of colors that characterize them. As for me, that is what happened after I decided to take fish tails as my next subject. 

Some Psychedelia

Let me clarify myself first. First of all, I understand that Psychedelic Art is defined to be an art that is inspired by psychedelic experiences induced by drug substances. Second, I am against drugs. Lastly, I just like seeing things differently, not wanting to confine myself in seeing things as they are in reality. I can say that I was inspired by psychedelic art that I applied some of its characteristics on the next pieces which tackle the desire to see the world and man's individuality.

The first one, called "Journey", is inspired by the wanderlust movement that started a few years ago. This is my interpretation - the big guy that blows the cubic bubbles represents one's consciousness. Everyone is aware of the vast world out there. Everyone has a dream to go to a place he/she wants to see. The platform above the guy's head shows the readiness of a person to move from where he/she stands. The nearer the person is on the edge, the readier he/she is to jump and take on his/her dream. The gears of the bubble depict the things that will help him/her to get going, while the goblet head is the vessel that will be filled with the taste of his/her experience along the way and in that place.

Journey, watercolor pencils, 7 x 10 sketch paper.

Starter

For my first post, I would like to share how this passion project began. It was my curious observation of a Faber-Castell set of watercolor pencils from a trip to a local school and art supplies store that made me decide to put it on top of my gift exchange wish list last December. At that time, I never knew such thing existed. I was amused and amazed by the 2-in-1 feature of the product. Imagine, one uses the precision of the pencil for illustration and then turns it into a watercolor artwork with a touch of wet brush - not so messy at all. I just thought this might help me win back my passion for illustration that has been gone for almost seven years.

When I got the pencils, I did not use them yet. I brought them back to my hometown of Naga City (located in Camarines Sur, Philippines) during the holidays. I began my hunt for my first subject. One day, my family and I ate in a locally known restaurant that has an interior full of nostalgic stuff from the time of 20's up to the 60's - jukebox, vinyl records and portraits of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe wall art, vintage SLRs, what not. While eating, my attention was caught by a portrait of the handsome James Dean. Right there, I knew it had to be my starter.