Solitary Walk: The National Art Gallery

08 March 2013

Pictures taken on: 06 March 2013

I promised myself another solitary photowalk after my deliberations, but then there aren't a lot of areas in Metro Manila where I can't take pictures with a DSLR alone without getting mugged or stealthily robbed (or at least feeling like it). So I thought of cancelling the solitary thing and just taking someone with me. 

Then the Anthropology professor assigned us to go to the National Museum's exhibit on Baybayin, which is the Philippine's ancient script.

So I decided to go on with the solitary walk in the Museum of the Filipino people. But I've already been there.

Once I got to the museum, I saw the building right next to it, which is the National Art Gallery. I realized I've never been there.

So before doing my extra credit Anthro homework, I went to the National Art Gallery first.

I'm super compressing this post because the museum is so big and there's just so much to see. I spent a few hours inside and I was very hungry once I got out.

Ah, Neocolonialism. You so pretty.

Since the building used to house the country's Senate, it was super fancy inside. It made me think of other public buildings in the country, where fanciness isn't exactly a priority. What if it was?

Attempt: Watercolor Typography

19 October 2012

I promised myself I would try out using watercolors this sembreak. I wanted to take a break from acrylics and color pencils and try something new for a change.

But alas, I totally suck at watercolors. The tutorials I looked at made sense while I was watching/reading them, but watercolor is a different monster when tried out. It's hard to control and mix. I need more practice (and more patience) if I want to make a decent painting.

In the end, I ended up making these. I was inspired by these Notes to Self posts, and I wanted to make something "successful" at least.

This is a reminder to myself for thesis... and life in general.

The piece below is a line from the novel Para kay B, by screenwriter and author, Ricky Lee. It's the first contemporary Filipino novel I've ever bought. The line refers to the feeling of one of the heroines. She was a mother who had just discovered --- and accepted--- that she had feelings for another woman.

I'd like to experience that feeling someday... not the falling in love with a woman part, but the part that makes you feel like you've been set free, yet you'll never get lost.

The last one is something I like to tell myself whenever I have problems: that I should be resilient.

I will make more of these. I'm tempted to use all my watercolor things just for these handmade typography instead of practicing techniques and making actual paintings. But oh well.

See you soon!