kisapmata

The Big White Room

2009-10-04T13:12:04Z

Rest assured that I have once again found my creative space and will valiantly try to revive my online presence. The question is where? I've lost my taste for Deviantart as its contents had become a tad predictable. Flickr is too limited for the verbal diarrhea that I am bound to unleash. Facebook and Multiply are well... Facebook and Multiply. That leaves me with LJ and perhaps Tumblr.

For now, I leave you with this image with the help of our friend windrette

For February

2009-01-25T14:12:53Z

One down, eleven to go. In keeping up with my read-one-novel-a-month resolution, I'm already done with my January novel (100 Years of Solitude). Now I'm thinking about my February novel. Given the month, it seems "proper" to read something love-themed. Would anyone recommend The Time Traveler's Wife? The premise is intriguing so I just might pick it up. If you have anything better to suggest, feel very free to do so.

Suggestions that I probably won't take:

- Twilight. I already read it all and I truly, deeply want to shred Bella Swan to bits (and Edward is only as good as the first book).

- Nicholas Sparks. I don't know. I never read a book by him but anything that's a "guaranteed tearjerker" is probably not my cup of tea. But dare me?

- Anything before the 20th century. I'm looking for something more contemporary.

Go go go!

'spirations

2008-11-03T07:44:03Z

My current sources of inspiration are 90's pop, fashion, and wedding photography--an unlikely mix, but one that blends in strange and wonderful ways in my head.

5. 90's pop: Stars by Simply Red, Bizarre Love Triangle by Frente!, Baby, Now that I've Found You by Alison Krauss, and It's a Beautiful Life by Ace of Base are just some of the new old songs in my playlist. This is the soundtrack of my elementary school days for crying out loud! Some of the songs are just covers but they're versions that I'm familiar with. My actual playlist is a lot more eclectic (read: whacked out) once you see these in combination with standards, 80's, and clubby-tugz-tugz music.

4. Sea of Shoes: This blog is love at first shoe. As much as I love shoes, there is no way in hell that I could afford the likes of Dries van Noten, Alaia, and Givenchy. Also, my feet are extremely picky and complain at the slightest misfit. Come to think of it, living her shoe life is impossible given my lifestyle (running after kids cannot be done in 4-inch platforms) and context (welcome to the third world!). This is all aspirational. Thank you, Jane, for allowing us to feed our shoe fetishes vicariously.

3. Project Runway Season 4: I'd wear Jillian's clothes but Christian Siriano's are a fantasy trip. I'm suddenly reminded of George from Paradise Kiss. Where do you draw the line between costume and haute couture? I have no point of comparison since I haven't seen the other seasons but they say that this is the most talented batch yet.

2. The Sartorialist: When I first saw this site, it was, "Oh okay, he takes pictures of well-dressed people". But more recently, I've been appreciating the pictures not for the fashion but for the photography per se. Anticipation, he says. That is true. There is this split second where a moment can be caught in all its joy and honesty.

But right now, nothing beats...

1. mangoRED: Wedding photography to the next level. This team is fearless. Shoot right under the eye of Typhoon Frank? Check. Convince a bride to ruin a Monique Lhuillier dress? Check. Simply put, they add a fresh and creative spin to (what is ideally) a once-in-a-lifetime event. I've never seen anything like this for a wedding before. Phenomenal.

Snow White

2008-06-11T13:39:13Z

I was wandering through Tiendesitas and picked up a Snow White storybook for 20php.

This one has only a few pages. One of those 65php Filipino-made storybooks is a better buy, but I found this pretty enough for a start!

P.S. As you might guess, work is keeping me busy. So much multitasking, but our efforts are paying off! :)

Dreamscaping

2008-05-30T11:17:55Z

Fearless forecast: Most of my salary will go to bookstores. Aside from hunting down highly recommended literature and stocking up on art and teaching materials, windrette and I aim to discover the wonderfully illustrated world of children's books.

As I told another friend this, she told me about Jimmy Liao. I'm still looking for more info, but from the little I've read, he makes illustrated books that appeal to both children and adults. Ever heard of him? Any idea if his books are for sale in the Philippines?

Photo credits: Jimmyspa and Amazon

This sounds like something I'd like to do someday. A seamless blend of text and illustration--a hint of poetry told in words and images. A sort of illustrated book that even I would read at this age. Maybe it has the simplicity of The Little Prince, the forlorn quality of Makoto Shinkai flicks, the absurdness of Alice in Wonderland, maybe even the surreal feel of Avid Liongoren's dorwings. Of course, I have a long way from achieving all that, but one can always dream.

I chose my job believing that it is only a nice intermission leading into a grander scheme of things. However, the thought of "eventually" doing clinical assessment is slowly losing its appeal. Maybe colorful classrooms and children's imaginations are my natural habitat.

As of now, it's too early to make a judgment. Beginning next week, the long process of thinking it over begins.

... or maybe my life will figure itself out.

Blessings with the Rain

2008-05-20T12:00:55Z

These are blessed days. My daily routine as of late consist of waking up in midday, driving and running errands with the father, catching up on the series I follow, and plopping down with my laptop to Photoshop the day away. I'm finally catching up on the things I couldn't do back in college--days when nothing mattered more than the next deadline and diploma waiting in the finish line. I don't want to think that this will be over when June rolls in. More than ever, I'm determined to include all the shiny artsy things in my routine because nothing feels as great as losing myself in a swirl of lines, colors, and the occasional camera click.

These days also allow me to deal with the more mundane side of life--like solving a minor fashion crisis. I have this top with buttons that undo easily. The trouble is its original buttons are tiny and slip out of the buttonhole too easily. After a purchase of cute little buttons and a moment of "Yay I still have sewing skills!", the problem is solved.

Now I wish all buttoned clothes had interesting buttons. Maybe I'll just go crazy one rainy day and replace each and every one in my closet.

Remembrance

2008-05-15T08:15:57Z

It's my right brain talking.
I didn't even mean to rhyme.

The Saving Cross

2008-05-13T12:15:14Z

Clicking the image leads to my other DA account, with my less anime slash slightly more original works (plus some photography). I needed the distinction because I don't want to confuse people with my alarming split personality. :P

ABOUT THE IMAGE: I went on a 5-day silent retreat this March. Silent, meaning I didn't talk for 5 days. Crazy? It can be done. To keep me from going insane, though, I brought a blank sketchbook with me. All my drawings from the retreat are reflections, in a sense, and are therefore very special to me. This is the last among five I completed and it doesn't have the meticulous plant details I put in the first ones. Added some colors and shinies to make it post-worthy.

I tried to make it look more storybook-ish rather than anime-ish, but I guess the influence still shows. It's too hard to rub off a style I've been using my whole life!