Philippine Sunset

I love sunset. I prefer it over sunrise. Just like I prefer autumn over spring (even though there’s no autumn or spring here). I took a picture of this view that I saw at the rooftop of our building as the cool, but strong, wind was blowing at me. It’s the monsoon wind. Both the feel of the wind and the sight of the sun setting give their relaxing effect. It’s like magic. I feel like I don’t live in reality but some kind of 3D animation, like what you see in Final Fantasy movies, except that I know most of the buildings I was seeing.  Still the beauty was so mesmerizing that it’s like a painting that I only see but cannot touch.

A Quick Sketch on a Rainy Day

Since my schedule for today was ruined because I wasn’t able to sleep last night at all, I decided to just make a quick sketch on a Canson watercolor paper, using Faber Castell watercolor pencils. I used the warm colors mostly because the weather is a bit gloomy with the gray sky and all. I’m grateful for the weather, though, because, as much as I used warm colors, I wanted to convey the emotion of longing. I think it’s poetic. I find emotive portraits to be very appealing. :)

On Chris Evans

Chris Evans… Isn’t he one of the most beautiful men alive! 

But strangely enough, I don’t seem to remember his face very well. It’s only when I see him and I remark how beautiful he is, and his name is announced, that I exclaim “Oh my gosh, it’s Chris Evans!” It’s always like the first time I saw him.

I mean, I know the name because I know the owner of that name is a very good-looking man but that’s always my reaction. Whenever I see him, it’s always like the first time I saw him and I’m always surprised that he’s Chris Evans. I don’t know if it makes sense but for someone as good-looking as he is, I just can’t seem to contain his face in my head. Unlike the others like, Josh Hartnett, the first time I saw  Josh Hartnett, I said to myself, “Wow, what a handsome man”, and I always recognize him. Is it because of the hair color? I don’t know. It’s just weird. Anyway, I really just want to say that I really think Chris Evans is very good-looking and I can’t wait to watch Captain America!!! \o/

Hmmm… Now that I think about it, maybe this time the reason is because he looks different in Captain America compared to, say, when he’s in the movie “Sunshine”. Hmmm...

"L’Autrichienne" - Movie About the Last Days of Marie Antoinette

I’m often asked why I’m so obsessed with the topic about Marie Antoinette. It all started when I first read about her and her demise in a general world history book (a book for high school students). I was in grade school when I read it. It’s my passion to learn about how people used to live in the past that led me to Marie Antoinette. I read that she was executed by the Revolutionists through the guillotine. That’s all I can remember. There were so many information missing that I ended up wondering how she felt about the whole thing; how she felt when she heard the Revolutionists' verdict, how she felt when she was on her way to the scaffold, how she prepared herself and things like that. So, I started looking for more information about her. I checked every book store I could find to look for information but unfortunately they’re not readily available. Until I checked the internet and saw abundant information. Some are false and some are true. It took me great lengths of research to separate false information from the truth. There were so many false rumors and accusations said about her that people still believe. So many people are lazy to do their own research so they settle with what they heard and leave it at that. I think it's unfair that her reputation is still being tainted until today. Finally, I bumped into the movie “L’Autrichienne” - a movie about the trial of Marie Antoinette – starring Ute Lemper. The casting is perfect. To me Ute Lemper is the best choice to play the role of Marie Antoinette. Ute Lemper is German and Marie Antoinette was Austrian, so it’s only fair to think that Ute Lemper’s French accent is also similar to Marie Antoinette’s. I first saw a trailer of L’Autrichienne done by another Marie Antoinette enthusiast – more thanks to her for introducing me to this great and hard-to-find movie. I looked for a DVD copy of it until I got a hold of it. For years I have been wondering about how Marie Antoinette felt when she was imprisoned. The movie showed it effectively; from the damp place where she was imprisoned, her trial and verdict. It also showed that Marie Antoinette was not in good health condition during her last days. It was said that it’s due to severe stress and anxieties. The movie effectively showed Marie Antoinette as a human being who had also felt fear, heartache and pain. She was neither a cold-hearted woman nor a cunning woman as she was pictured of the Revolutionists to be. She was a kind soul. She is innocent of all the things she was accused of and she faced death with courage and with dignity. L’Autrichienne is a great movie. I hope they will make it available in stores again, and this time, internationally.

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Book Review

This book “The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” confirmed that I was right after all when I thought that everyone has the ability to draw. Although, as I was growing up, since I often hear people say they don’t know how to draw, that only the lucky ones do, I believed them. I grew up drawing and my favorite subject is people. When I was young when people talk to me I always look at the details of their faces. I start with the eyes, the nose, the mouth… I love looking at the way their faces change depending on their emotions. When people say that the eyes are the windows to one’s soul, it’s true because there lies the deepest emotions that artists look for to put in their visual poetry, or painting. I love looking at people and draw them but since I started working, I thought I didn’t have time to draw and I became lazy with traditional art. My lack of practice in traditional art became a growing insecurity until I came across this book “The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain”. I thought, ‘Hmmm… maybe I should give it a try and see how it will help me. I’ll read the book and follow every exercise as if I really don’t know how to draw’, so I did. With each page the author takes into consideration the emotions of the beginners, and assures them it’s alright to feel the way they do, because what they will be learning from the book is the solution to their problems. Most importantly, the book focuses on how to activate the right side brain, which is responsible for our ability to perceive and execute art effectively and that’s where beginners begin. There are sample drawings of before and after from students who took the exercises and their drawings show how much they improved in their drawing skills. I finished the book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who really wants to draw. I don’t regret reading this book because it also taught me the right approach to teaching people how to draw and that is to help them activate the right side of their brain. I can now say with certainty that everyone knows how to draw. It's all in the mind. Just give them a good head-start and they will be ready to draw. “The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” is a very good head-start. Kudos to the author: Dr. Betty Edwards.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is like a calm before the storm because part two is a hurricane! Cinemas are jam-packed with Harry Potter fans as they line up to watch the last part of Harry Potter. The ending of the story is just right and consistent with the whole story line. It's not like other fantasy movies that failed at the end in an attempt to make a happy ending. Also, the actors deserve a round of applause for their very effective portrayal of their respective roles. All of them are natural and no over-acting. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is still showing in Philippine cinemas. The movie is so good that it's possible it will be extended for another week. I rate it 5 stars (5 stars = very good).