VISUAL VISCERA

THE MASKS I HAVE

2011-08-11T11:45:00.004+07:00

For the past couple of days, I have been enjoying doing these masks for an occasion that I promised I'd keep mum about. However, I still wanna put these here, so I will remember what I did. They're all painted, papier-mache masks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

2011-07-29T19:59:00.003+07:00

Tomorrow's my birthday. I am supposed to like it and be in a celebrating mood but, like in the past few years, am not. However, people still remember - strangely. I guess, I do matter. Here's one story that happened last night, and I thank you Manang Alice. ;-)----Last night, mulling on the possibility of celebrating my birthday penniless, I chanced upon Manang Alice acoss my gate – the balut

SAYING 'I DO' IN THE RAIN

2011-07-02T10:02:00.015+07:00

Last Saturday, Marga invited me to a mass wedding of couples but I never made it. Afraid to be caught in a downpour, I opted to stay dry and warm in my apartment. But NOT the couples who braved the rains, wind and mucked-up traffic to say their "I do's". As a promise to her (for being unable to go) I am posting pictures of the wedding here. This mass wedding was organized by KMBI - Kabalikat Para

HOY JOSE! AY LAB YU!!!

2011-06-18T10:50:00.003+07:00

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities and work, preparing for the third year our group CANVAS' Outdoor Banner Show called 'RELEVANT RIZAL?'. This year will be in commemoration of Jose Rizal's 150th birthday. Yeah, the grand old man who came to be the national symbol of our patrimony.A lot of artists participated in our show. It was a success.And we got a lot of coverage in news

BABY YOU'RE A FIREWORK

2011-04-25T18:07:00.007+07:00

There are two women - as far as contemporary pop music is concerned - that I admire a lot. And that's Macy Grey and Katy Perry. And there are two things that I do every time my brain hits a blank wall - dance and cook.I couldn't move this computer to show me cooking so I'll just dance to the tunes of these two women.(I think I look like a bald bull going amuck on the second video. Okay, I'd

THE GIFT

2011-04-18T15:53:00.004+07:00

VENDADERAS48"x 48"acrylic on canvas2010"I usually avoid relatives who come for a visit from abroad and come bearing gifts," I admitted rather drily to my high school mate as we shared a table during recess. "They always give these K-Mart or Walmart-bought things and declare that they're the latest in fashion. Like last time, my mom asked me to wear this pair of cheap canvas shoes that were made

NEW VIDEO FROM CANVAS

2011-04-14T17:49:00.003+07:00

Check our campaign at CANVAS to gather 4,000 USD by the end of the April from at least 50 donors. We aim to raise this amount to publish collections of our award-winning stories and give to 3,000 children in the Philippines.It's a worthwhile CANVAS Project with GLOBAL GIVING that you can check out, give and spread the word about. Here's a short video on the project:

AN OFFERING

2011-04-08T15:09:00.004+07:00

OFFERING (study)ink on 125g/m2 grained paper11.75" x 16.5"April 2011 THE OFFERINGacrylic on canvas15" x 15"April 2011 A small work I did a few days ago for KRISTO - the annual Lenten exhibit.(I actually prefer the study on paper I drew. I decided to remove the bird and put thorns on the heart.) ---------- 'Kristo,' both a Lenten and art ritual, returns this year by Junio De Los Reyes Since

AN OPEN LETTER TO GATHER SUPPORT

2011-04-08T08:32:00.005+07:00

To Those Who Get to Read My Blog, Hope all is well with you. I am writing to solicit your help and to tell you about an opportunity/activity that CANVAS is presently pursuing. Details below. Any help you can give - even just to forward this email and get the word out to your friends/contacts about this campaign - will be greatly appreciated. :-) Thanks. DANIEL PALMA TAYONA ==================

TO REGRET

2011-04-07T20:11:00.005+07:00

TO REGRETink and gouache on paper9.5" x 13"KOKURYU Japanese sketchpadFebruary 2011Sometimes, even if I’ve told myself I don’t regret, I still do.I regret……that I don’t get to visit my father as much as I should. He doesn’t remember anymore that he has sons. He only mentions my mother’s name even if she’s right in front of him.…taking another big scoop of creamy double chocolate ice cream when I

THE OLD BAG

2011-04-05T15:17:00.005+07:00

AN ODE TO MY FATHERink and watercolor on paper11.75" x 16.5"2011(As my father slips into the abyss of his Alzheimer's... I remember.) The black traveling bag was marked ‘T-shirts ni Tatay’. It’s one of those canvas overnight bags with wheels business people would use whenever they’d scoot from one airport to another, the same one my brother used when he went to Singapore for a month. I could

IN MEMORY OF THE DEAD

2011-03-22T22:01:00.007+07:00

IN MEMORY OF THE DEADink and watercolor on paper11.75" x 16.5"2008It has been several days since the tsunami hit northeast Japan and killed thousands of people - a horrifying testament to the power of nature. I would, every now and then, see videos on the struggles and hurt the tsunami's survivors have to endure. The images I see are the most profound expressions of human pain and loss.I found

JOY'S ROOM

2011-03-08T14:52:00.003+07:00

JOY'S ROOMink and gouache oncold pressed acrylic paper, 185/lbs.2011I received this note from Jim about a lovely woman named Joy. She had cancer and appeared one day at the door of Jim and Shanti's vegetarian restaurant Bliss in Baguio. After fast becoming a convert to the delights of the couple's cooking and ebullience, she found herself going there every night. During her last night in Baguio,

JE NE VEUX PAS TRAVAILLER

2011-02-27T09:12:00.004+07:00

I don't want to work (but eventually did) and I ended up doing a small video of a favorite song.I'm putting it here, so I'd remember. ----------- SYMPATHIQUEby Pink Martini Ma chambre a la forme d'une cage Le soleil passe son bras par la fenêtre Les chasseurs à ma porte Comme les p'tits soldats Qui veulent me prendre Je ne veux pas travailler Je ne veux pas déjeuner Je veux seulement

THE DAY I DANCED

2011-02-23T11:09:00.004+07:00

DANCEpen and ink on paper9.5" x 13"KOKURYU Japanese sketchpad2011I heard the notes from the cassette tape scratchily flowing through the old speakers in the room and I know one of the most unforgettable moments in my young life was about to begin. One. Two. Three. I took three deep breaths and made halting steps towards the center of the makeshift stage. At the first few seconds of the music my

THE DAY I TOUCHED A COCK

2010-09-02T16:45:00.004+07:00

"Just being cocky like a rooster."pen and inkdrawn on Kokuryo Japanese Sketch Pad7.5" x 9.5"August 18, 2010"Bro, you get one cock for only 2,000 pesos. Wanna take care of one?" asked Johnson as he turned excitedly into a stall in Cartimar selling fighting cocks of every size."And why would I take care of one?" I asked, slightly annoyed at having to talk about fighting cocks again. "The only way

F*** YOU

2010-08-21T20:52:00.004+07:00

For all those times I got dumped (Okay. I am exaggerating. It happened only once.) I found this gem of a song.This song just fits EXACTLY the sentiment after being a dumpee. It's also a good L.S.S. tune - Last Song Syndrome - that's now stuck in my brain.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE 2

2010-08-15T22:49:00.003+07:00

It Takes a Village IIacrylic on canvas64" x 48"2010I have been running out of words lately to write down my thoughts on things. It's like I've ran into a blank wall. I couldn't even write anything about this piece I finished a couple of months back.For now, let it suffice that this is a bigger and second version of this. I'd rather let the image speak for itself this time.You can just look for

I AM AS BLUE AS BLUE CAN BE

2010-07-24T20:07:00.007+07:00

...but not anymore. :-)It is finally done. Two weeks and a near disaster, this 72 x 24 inch piece is done. Just a few minutes ago it was picked up from my apartment and I will say 'hello' to it again on July 29 during the biggest gathering of galleries in the metro and the second international art fair in the country called Manilart 2010.It's a pretty exciting affair really. And I hope, I still

WHAT A DIFFERENCE...

2010-07-21T09:51:00.005+07:00

... a few days make.It's a Wednesday morning and I spent a sleepless Tuesday evening thinking of a foot. Yes, a foot... a hand and a bird.I never thought that I would be dwelling on how a foot would look like or how significant it is that it can affect the composition of an image and its meaning. I drew the top image's foot as resting on the edge of the green man's skull without even bothering

IT IS PROVING TO BE...

2010-07-15T16:53:00.005+07:00

...CATHARTIC.This has been the fourth day that I have been sitting on the floor painting this image and it has proven to be quite soothing to the soul and heart. Yes, my emotions have stilled and I've been working on this piece with a quiet and steady beat - not bad considering that sometimes it takes me forever to finish a painting.Am I happy? No. The pain and hurt is still there. But I am

WHEN EMOTONS OVERFLOW...

2010-07-13T14:35:00.004+07:00

... a painting starts to grow.It's kind of corny or perhaps can be mistaken for being too predictable of creative individuals, but when emotions are starting to build up and there's a need to pour it out a bit, they (including this writer) tend to to do something tangible about it. Musicians write songs. Dancers let their bodies flow. Writers, poets pen down stories and sonnets. And painters...

WHEN THINGS END

2010-07-09T07:59:00.008+07:00

I got this one morning in my email...im sory for late reply and censya na rin dahil nagloloko ang facebook account ko...;< dan, i dont want to be rude or harsh on you but then it doesnt leave me any choice but to tell you this over an email... i know ilang ulit na rin akong nagpaalam but i think this will be the last time. im no good for-- we both know that, maniwala kaman o hindi im not the one

HEROIC KIDS FOR THE FILIPINO CHILD

2010-05-19T19:59:00.009+07:00

This year has been pretty interesting.A lot of things I used to do suddenly landed on my lap and I find myself doing them again. First was making illustrations for a children's book (something I haven't done for a long time) and now, designing a set of four books written by different authors. In a period of less than a month, I managed to brew up these designs for a lovely set of tomes -

HOLDING HANDS

2010-04-18T10:33:00.005+07:00

Cover of the bookPublished byGig and The Amazing Sampaguita Foundation, Inc.2010I am tickled pink.I am holding in front of me the printed copy of a children's book I illustrated after a long absence in the illustrious and illuminating world of illustrating. (Talk about being redundant in words, no?) The last time I made illustrations for a book was more than eight years ago.I am posting here

WHAT SEX DOES

2010-04-08T19:42:00.006+07:00

"The Sum of All My Desires"pen and ink on paper15"x15"“If I have a daughter of my own, I’d allow her to have sex when she’s already 40,” I firmly announced to my two drinking buddies after one of them announced that he just found out his 17-year old is pregnant. “Wouldn’t she be too old by then?” the guy across us and asked. “Oh, it’s alright. At least at that age, she won’t have all those issues

THEY WERE ONCE THIN

2010-04-06T16:13:00.005+07:00

I was cleaning my second floor of unnecessary junk, debris and fossilized memories when I opened a dusty box of old books. Sitting silently between the pages of a yellow book about male beauty pageants (I can't remember how I came into possession of this volume) was this drawing.Now here's proof that I once drew my figures not so robustly.

LOVE MY BODY

2009-11-22T16:56:00.011+07:00

Originally done in ink on Mi-Teintes Canson paper10" x 12"2009This is what I have been busy with after the two exhibits were done. So far, I've done about eight images of these yoga poses and is going to grow in number. (It would depend I guess as to how many poses there are in yoga.) I watched a yoga class in nearby Malate and was amazed at how limber the huffing hefty heffers were.Through

KATUTUBO Series

2009-11-22T15:39:00.004+07:00

KATUTUBO series 1 & 2ink and acrylic on acid-free Arches paper10" x 11"I have been enjoying doing this series of small works on paper I collectively call "KATUTUBO". Loosely basing the images on my "Pintado" series a couple of years back, I figure I would come up with, well... hopefully, ten of them. :-)Sigh, I haven't been blogging for weeks. Methinks I have to kick my behind to make up for the

TWO SHORT STORIES OF FAITH

2009-11-09T06:54:00.003+07:00

"A Brother's Faith"36" x 24"acrylic on canvasNovember 2009I. “Tol, we could let him sell the tickets too you know,” my childhood friend told me as we were walking down the hallway of our old high school.“Are you sure about that? I mean, I don’t know about you but I haven’t seen him in ages. Has he really changed?” I told him with a questioning look. “Last time I really saw him was when he got

INK STORIES

2009-09-29T07:27:00.003+07:00

I would like to invite you... yes YOU... to view some of my latest works on paper. A collection of more than a dozen pen-and-ink works and limited edition prints on archival paper will be on view from October 1 to 15, 2009 at 1/OF GALLERY at the 2nd floor of Shops at Serendra at the Bonifacio High Street Mall in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.This is my fourth solo exhibition so far and

AN OILY DISASTER

2009-09-23T21:42:00.004+07:00

Fish for Lunchpen and ink on paper9.5" x 13"“Why are you walking funny?” Karen asked me when I walked into the dental clinic that morning. “Is something wrong?”“Oh, it’s nothing,” I said as I slowly maneuvered myself on to the clinic’s dark brown faux-leather covered 30-year old box sofa, careful not to press together on the seat both my ass cheeks.“Nothing?? Then why are you sitting in such a

AUGUST BOUQUET

2009-09-22T18:33:00.003+07:00

23”x 30”pen and ink on cotton paperI made a second version of the fly on a bouquet of flowers based on the words I wrote below two years ago.Originally written in July 2007.______________I was putting the finishing touches on the last flower I was doing when Andre sent me a message that he’s already downstairs. “Ahhh, great! He’s bringing in food. Finally!” and so raced my thoughts that I can

BOUNCING BIGAS (RICE)

2009-08-19T19:05:00.005+07:00

"Hey Dan, we're at the press checking the colors of the pages," and so went Franny's message in my gmail chat. Finally, the pages are at the printer's and I gave out a sight of relief. It's done... well, almost.I haven't done other work aside from painting and what I do for CANVAS for... oh... a couple of years, and doing the design of this book is a bit of a breather from what I usually do. It's

UNTITLED DRAWING

2009-08-16T08:42:00.002+07:00

pen and ink on paper

NO WORDS. WELL... ALMOST.

2009-08-01T20:31:00.004+07:00

HILA (PULL)pen and ink on acid-free paper305 x 485 mm.I have been sitting on this drawing for the past few days thinking I should say something witty or connect this to a story or an anecdote, or explain why I did this yadee-dadee-dah... but seriously, I'm simply stuck.So, I'll just do what I do best - keep silent and let the drawing speak for itself.There. I finally said it.-----------BUT... in

TELL IT TO A CLOWN

2009-07-27T23:40:00.002+07:00

I have been reduced to one big wet and whimpering sob with these two songs I've recently discovered.Old classics.Songs that tell of old heart breaking emotions.Makes one remember old wounds.Michael Crawford sings the song TELL ME ON A SUNDAY from the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical in a 1990 episode of the Johnny Carson Show.Here is an old song the real meaning of which I only knew through this video

MALOU AND ALF

2009-07-21T09:00:00.005+07:00

KAPANAHUNANpen and ink on acid-free paper305 x 485 mm.“I am going to San Fernando tonight. Nuqui’s there. I need him,” I heard Malou’s crackling voice over the phone when I picked up the receiver on that rainy night while I was busy with my books for the final exams.“What the…? Malou, are you stupid??! You’re near bursting and you’re going to fly off to follow a guy who doesn’t even give a damn

WHAT IT MEANS...

2009-07-08T14:26:00.003+07:00

...to come out. A Pinoy's way of "coming out of the closet".It's a bit late but pwede na rin... maybe for next year. :-)----------------...to be Pinoy. And it's really cool to be one. Rock on!This page requires a higher version browser

RAFFLE! RAFFLE! RAFFLE!

2009-07-03T08:04:00.004+07:00

Check out LOOKING FOR JUAN for details.

FROM CEBU...

2009-06-28T08:47:00.000+07:00

...to Queensland, Australia.

THE COURAGE OF DANILO ARRIOLA

2009-06-14T22:15:00.012+07:00

"You two guys should meet," Chamie chirped enthusiastically about this artist she kept on talking to me about more than a year ago, "I felt a sudden liking for Dan the same way when you and I first met. And I do think he's the brother of that college friend of yours who died of rabies."... and today, Sunday, I did get to meet Danilo Arriola - brother of Maya whose life, struggle and story left me

LOOKING FOR THE FILIPINO...

2009-06-13T10:38:00.003+07:00

It has been quite sometime since I posted anything online since the day I left for Palawan. Well, in the next few days, I'll try catching up on some of the news. :-)Here's an article written about LOOKING FOR JUAN last month. (Teeehihihi... my work got mentioned. It tickled me pink.)Looking for the Filipino, not just Pacquiao By Katrina Stuart Santiago Philippine Daily Inquirer

KABUWANGAN SA CUBAO

2009-05-22T13:51:00.003+07:00

It is actually called KABUWANAN (in Tagalog would mean "Moon Time" or "that time of the month") although I prefer calling it KABUWANGAN (craziness). It is that once-in-a-year event at Cubao Expo where artistry is celebrated.An annual artists' fair (it's the second time they're having it), there will be artists' booths, photo exhibits, a fashion show from indie designers, film showings, indie band

THE TRAVELLER

2009-05-13T20:06:00.013+07:00

My entry to the group show "LOOKING FOR JUAN - What does it mean to be Filipino?"Being Pinoy is to live.It is to be free and have the choice to forgive and be forgiven for all the past inequities of our collective history.Being Filipino in these times is to be able to find our own future unburdened by the weight of our past. It is to understand and believe in hope."So Jordee... you actually keep

JUAN AT THE CCP

2009-05-13T09:58:00.014+07:00

Last night we opened the exhibition of the paintings and sculptures whose images will soon be hanging along the pedestrian walks of the University of the Philippines and Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Majority of the participating artists came and it felt like a "getting-to-know-the guy/gal-who-made-that-art" sort of gig at the halls of the Cultural center of the Philippines. Wine flowed and yummy

FROM THIS EARTH WILL RISE...

2009-05-09T10:23:00.019+07:00

The PARK SITEOkay. Let me remark. WOW......something beautiful and lasting. It is a monument to friendship and one-ness amongst different cultures that share a piece of our mother earth we call the Pacific.Yup. I am talking about this "Survivor Meets Habitat for Humanity" kind of project CANVAS is actively involved together with THE PACIFIC RIM PROJECT to build a friendship park in Puerto

MOUNTAIN BLISS PART 2 - THE EXHIBIT

2009-05-08T15:47:00.024+07:00

I finally met Jim Ward, the tireless owner of Bliss Cafe. (I was only able to meet Shanti his wife later during the day when she got back from being with their daughter at the hospital.) He's a charming fellow who struck me as quite laid back and has this calm serene air about him. We went to his cafe after a short breakfast at Mcdonalds and, well, I was simply surprised.Bliss Cafe is small

MOUNTAIN BLISS PART 1

2009-05-08T10:05:00.020+07:00

I took some time out from all the hectic things happening around to lug some of my smaller works up north in the mountain city of Baguio for a small exhibit in Bliss Cafe. So, with a small bag on my back, a huge luggage containing 8 framed works and a camera I filched from Marga, I took the midnight bus up to the mountains and prayed I won't be sitting beside a snoring gorilla for the 7-hour ride

FOR ACE (MAY 26, 1970 - MAY 1, 2009)

2009-05-08T08:51:00.008+07:00

The first time we met was on a rainy early evening at a bus stop near our old house in Sampaloc. It was 1998. June. I got a call on my mobile from Ace who asked if we could meet at a convenience store near his place. He mentioned his location and I realized that we live pretty close to each other. The place he suggested was right smack between our neighborhoods.“Great! I am just a couple of

WHEN RENT IS LATE...

2009-04-23T06:27:00.004+07:00

... my landlady knocks on my door and she can be as nasty as Pearl.The Landlord from Will Ferrell(Just kidding. My landlady's the sweetest woman there is, and she's my squaredancing partner too.)

JUST BRAGGING

2009-04-18T05:53:00.003+07:00

I posted some of my works on RED BUBBLE a couple of days ago, and look what I got...... already one of my works got featured on their homepage. Now the challenge is, would people buy the works of a far-flung Pinoy in an Aussie site? Wait and see...

WANNA HAVE AN ADVENTURE AND A JOB?

2009-04-16T10:51:00.002+07:00

We're looking for someone who can help document the building of the Philippines' Pacific Rim Friendship Park.Briefly, we like to describe the activity as Survivor-Meets-Habitat-for-Humanity. The idea is to bring together architecture and art students from different parts of the world who, together with counterpart Filipino students, will design and build a Friendship Park under the artistic

THERE IS A PERFECT WORLD...

2009-04-13T00:20:00.001+07:00

... where incredible talent just boils through the surface REGARDLESS of age.WATCH and be wowed.

IN A PERFECT WORLD...

2009-04-07T16:29:00.004+07:00

In a perfect world, artists create original works of art. They sign their names on their works, claim it their own and sell them as originals... rightfully. If they make multiple copies of their works, these are numbered and their signatures are affixed onto them. If an artist will copy another's work, acquire inspiration from it or use the components of the other's works on his own, the artist

MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

2009-04-05T10:29:00.002+07:00

See you up there in BAGUIO CITY this May!!Woohoo!!!

A NIGHT AT KRISTO

2009-04-05T09:03:00.012+07:00

I took some pictures from the KRISTO 2009 exhibit using Marga's camera and I figured I'd post some of them here. It all happened last April 2 at Botong's Up - a 3-floor bar that's surrounded by paintings. The top floor serves as an exhibit space and a bar. Pretty cool joint. First time I've been there.That's Delan Robillos, the guy who runs ARTery Manila talking with Buds Convocar and... (okay, I

KRISTO 2009 - LENTEN SHOW

2009-04-01T15:19:00.001+07:00

KRISTO 2009JUAN DE LA CRUZ (John of the Cross)A LENTEN EXHIBITThe Annual Kristo Lenten Art Show for 2009 is featuring works by various visual artist on April 02, 2009, Wednesday. The exhibition will open at 7 p.m. at BOTONG'S UP RESTOBAR located at the ground floor of A. Venue Mall, Makati Avenue, Makati City. (It is between J.P. Rizal St. and Buendia Ave. right across Great Eastern

THE MAGDALENE

2009-03-30T06:52:00.006+07:00

ANG PANATA NG MAGDALENA24" x 24" acrylic on canvasMarch 2009(She will be part of an group exhibit entitled KRISTO for the Holy Week)I.“Ahihihi, ikaw koh-ya yung artist sa Jacinto no? (You’re that artist living in Jacinto?)” she giggled as she recognized me buying while I was buying at a vendor’s cart beside the church.“Yeah,” I answered, turned my head towards her and took the plastic cup filled

A CANVAS INVITATION

2009-03-29T13:52:00.001+07:00

Our PACIFIC RIM PARK PROJECT is definitely a go… 25 students from China, South Korea, the United States, Russia, Mexico and of course the Philippines are converging in Manila on May 3 and head off to Palawan on May 5. We will launch the park in Puerto Princesa on Saturday, May 30. We don’t know what it will look like yet, but we’re going to have a blast finding out!To celebrate the opening, we’re

JUDGEMENT DAY IN U.P.

2009-03-29T11:16:00.026+07:00

When Gigo called me to sit-in for him as jury in another thesis presentation of college kids, I was quizzical at first. Until he told me that it will be at my old alma mater - the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, I immediately harped "sure". I thought it won't be a bad idea to visit my college after I left it since graduation and see the things that have or haven't

BUY ART DURING HARD TIMES

2009-03-25T07:43:00.009+07:00

PEONIES18" x 40",pen and ink on paper,2006"So, how long have you been buying art?" I asked Kerwin while walking to his office at the end of the hall."I've been buying these since I was in college," he replied as he ushered me through the door. "I'd save up my allowance and go through the galleries and check out the paintings. There's one particular artist whose work I really saved up for. His

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

2009-03-24T07:36:00.005+07:00

(click the image above and it links you to online radio connection of DZRH)I'm gonna be on radio. I'm gonna be on radio. (I am humming this while I am jumping up and down cooking breakfast.)-------I opened my email yesterday and I received this...We are pleased to confirm the allocation of the episode of our multi-media program, Kalikasan, Kaunlaran! (KK!) on March 25, 2009, Wednesday to the

ANG PANATA NG MAGDALENA

2009-03-12T18:44:00.005+07:00

Pen and ink sketch on 8.5 x 11 recycled paperThis study/sketch is for a new painting I am putting up for a group show called Kristo to be mounted for exhibit this Holy Week. I've begun the painting yesterday, and hopefully, my next post will be why I did this.I call this one "Panata ng Magdalena" (The Pledge of the Magdalene).Watch out... for the painting. :-)(Note: I did this while I was hanging

A SUNDAY AFFAIR

2009-03-11T13:48:00.018+07:00

Last Sunday, we (meaning the people behind canvas) had a book launch of CANVAS TALES - 3 Ecofables for Children. It was a fun afternoon for the kids and adults who came. Am posting some of the pictures here, courtesy of Sheila and Gigo's facebook. I stole these from them. Hehehe...Nothing dampens the spirit of Ali (Gigo's youngest daughter) even if the afternoon heat outside was so oppressive.

AN AFFAIR WITH BOOKS

2009-03-10T14:48:00.004+07:00

This volume is an anthology Francisco Arcellana's works containing the most number of his stories in one book. Published by the U.P. Creative Writing Center under the directorship of Prof. Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio way back in 1989. Book Design by Bernie Solina. I remember doing the drawing for the cover of the book using a charcoal pencil....and that's what he wrote on the first page. I've

ADVERTISING RESPITE

2009-03-03T19:30:00.008+07:00

This is one of those moments when I figure I have to take a bit of time off from drawing or painting and put my neurons into something I used to do - advertising design and copywriting.Teddy, the florist, is joining this big wedding and bridal trade fair and he asked me to design a flier for him. It's the usual half-bond paper size affair with a random smattering of pictures with some text that

THE ONE THAT I WALKED AWAY FROM

2009-02-28T17:57:00.008+07:00

On the Beach2003approx. size 11" x 18"acrylic on canvas "PETRA. I am from Norway. I teach kinder!" She had to say it aloud for me to hear her above the din of the dance music and the drunken revelry of the 20-something Canadian and British English-language teachers from Taiwan I was hanging out with that night at Hey Jude! bar. Barry, the big black Canadian with the barrel chest was pouring my "

HER NEW HOME

2009-02-23T18:01:00.007+07:00

Teddy sent me these pictures of a familiar piece.He's owned her since last year and has been hanging at his house's staircase landing.She's got a good home.I miss her.:-(

JUDGE FOR A DAY

2009-02-22T11:48:00.006+07:00

There were three of us seated behind the long table with our tally sheets and pens ready. While outside in a “holding room” across the hallway, there was a frenzy of activity from the kids prepping up their maquettes, boards, sample merchandising materials and powerpoints. The air was abuzz with excitement.The first student to present her thesis this morning was all jittery and her voice was

GO! GO! GO!

2009-02-18T09:39:00.006+07:00

I do hope to see YOU there. (yes, you, the one reading this) :-)By the way, I designed the book. Ahem, just bragging a little. Hehehehe...The Retail Price of the book is PhP750.00.It's about 8 x 8 inches, finely printed with a dust jacket. In short, maganda siya. ;-)The artists will aslo be there to sign the book.So... GO! GO! GO!

WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!

2009-02-18T09:31:00.002+07:00

Para sa mga nais sumali sa paligsahan ng CANVAS na 2009 ROMEO FORBES CHILDREN'S STORY WRITING COMPETITION, meron pang humigit-kumulang na isang buwan para isulat ang inyong mga obra't ipasa. Mabuhay!!For those who still want to join the 2009 ROMEO FORBES CHILDREN'S STORYWRITING COMPETITION of CANVAS, you still have almost a month to write your masterpiece and submit. Good Luck!!!

18 MINUTES ABOUT GENIUS

2009-02-17T08:45:00.008+07:00

“Aren’t you afraid you’ll never have any success? Aren’t you afraid that the humiliation of rejection will kill you? Aren’t you afraid that you’ll work your whole life in this craft and nothing’s ever gonna come of it and that you’re gonna die on a scrap heap of broken dreams with your mouth filled with bitter ash of failure?”-- from the 18 minute talk given by Elizabeth Gilbert on TED____I am an

HAPPY VALENTINE'S

2009-02-14T11:11:00.009+07:00

I had a pretty interesting experience last night.My brain was fried from a whole day’s worth of drawing and I thought I’d take it easy and head on to Cubao X’s Mogwai to watch One Giant Leap. It’s this music collaboration thingy I read in The Walking Man’s post. I figured it’d be one good way to spend a lonesome evening BY MYSELF before the dreaded pseudo-LOVE DAY called Valentine’s. (Ironically,

AN AFFAIR IN BACOLOD

2009-02-11T23:53:00.011+07:00

Remember that group show where a couple of my paintings got hung in Bacolod? Well, Marga just sent me a few of the photos taken from the show's opening last Monday. Since I am stuck here in Manila, I am simply just going to look at the pictures in her site and I figured I'll post a few of them here.You could see from above The Letter hanging on the right side. I figured since it's at the end of

THE STARS AND ME

2009-02-10T09:42:00.008+07:00

This is a bit, well, late. The Star Thrower exhibit of Liza Flores was last year. And I just realized there were some pictures from that exhibit that I want to show here. One of them is what I call "The Wall of Stars".See those stars on the picture above? I cut them out the night before I had them tacked on the wall for Liza's exhibit. I was so amused by them that I find myself still cutting some

CHOCOLATE KISS

2009-02-09T06:18:00.010+07:00

Thanks to Liza, a few of my older works are now hanging at CHOCOLATE KISS Restaurant located at the corner of Roces Avenue and Scout Tobias in Quezon City. I first came across their food at their branch at the Bahay ng Alumni inside the U.P. campus. I would always find myself gravitating towards their restaurant whenever I find myself "roosting" inside the grounds of my former alma mater. I had

AN AFTERNOON WITH MY BROTHER

2009-02-08T10:39:00.008+07:00

Mother and Childsize varieslimited edition print“I remember the yellow mosquito we’d hang over the bed each night we go to sleep when we were kids,” I told my brother while he was hunched over an old wicker chair he’s been fixing for the past half hour.“Yeah, and you’d always be the one hanging it,” he said dryly with his back still turned to me. “Would you hand me those scissors behind you?” he

BASKETBOL

2009-02-01T15:15:00.005+07:00

Basketbol15" x 15"pen and ink on paperBasketball... the country's number one sport. Every kid, every baranggay, every street corner has at least half a court to bounce an orange rubber ball around. Even with the popularity of boxing, it still is any Filipino male's past time. Whatever size, height or age and whichever island he comes from here, every one has to bounce that ball....and I hate

THE BIRDS OF LEVERIZA

2009-01-29T15:59:00.008+07:00

Birds (Limited Print) original - pen and ink on paper 15" x 15"“Papa ha! I see that you’ve been looking at my breasts. You like them?” asked a bubbly Jenny, a pretty young transvestite who took the seat across the table. “She” sat beside Brian while the two of us were finishing off the rice and remaining chunks of oily pork floating in coconut milk we just had in Aling Mameng’s 24-hour eatery. It

WAITING FOR ANDREI

2009-01-26T12:41:00.006+07:00

_________if i promise to be a better kid, would things finally go my way?if i promise that this is the last cigarette i’ll ever smokeor the last bottle of beer i’d ever drink will i be free of all sickness my entire life?if i promise to change for the better just to have you sit next to me will i ever see you again? will i be able to have my bestfriend back?we used to sit here.and now i’m sitting

A FEBRUARY AFFAIR

2009-01-25T07:47:00.003+07:00

If you're in the area of Bacolod City (for non-Filipinos, that's in the Negros island south of Luzon) do visit this group show which would run from February 9 to March 7, 2009.What's it about? Love and affairs. Hmm, the last one is something I've had too many of that Sheila can actually keep tabs on it more than I do.Oh... and I have a couple of works I am sending to that show, hence, my name up

THE REVEREND AND THE WORDS

2009-01-21T08:26:00.002+07:00

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A NEW ADAM

2009-01-18T12:18:00.006+07:00

MICHAEL11" x 17" pen and ink on paper"I feel sorry for the driver every time I ride one of those tricyles going inside the subdivision where I live in Cavite," Mikey told me while his back was turned towards me as I was doing my third sketch for our session."Why?" I asked and told him to twist his right arm a little to the left."It's because of the street humps. Each time the tricycle passes one

IT FEELS LIKE...

2009-01-15T16:42:00.005+07:00

... CHRISTMAS!That's how it feels like every time I finish designing a children's book.We're launching another wonderful book at CANVAS next month, and here's a sneak peek at the cover. :-)It's an anthology of three short ecofables the artworks of which were done by three filipina artists - Plet Bolipata, Liza Flores and Ivy Mellior. (Click the names and it'll lead you to the stories online. )

MEANINGLESS CONVERSATIONS

2009-01-10T14:19:00.012+07:00

The Letter 20" x 30"acrylic on canvasPeople are unique. No two people are alike. Even identical twins cannot be totally identical. The same thing goes for relationships. Every single relationship one goes through is unique from the other.There are relationships that would almost kill you (or the other person) when cheating is involved. I have a couple of female friends who went through hell when

OF BREASTS, WHALES AND LOVE

2009-01-07T13:50:00.008+07:00

The Flower20" x 30"acrylic on canvas “Yeah, I think I do know how breasts would feel like,” I remembered adamantly telling Sheila during an early evening dinner we had with some friends and Fiona – a buxom young creature who’s a delight for a every horny male. “I just simply haven’t touched a woman’s breasts, aside from my mother’s of course. My brothers and I, we were all breast fed.”“You haven’

NAME CHANGE

2009-01-06T11:19:00.005+07:00

www.palmatayona.comYup. If you look up on my new banner, you'll see the new name change. ;-)Type on your browsers my name and it'll lead you to this blog. It's a good New year's gift for me courtesy of a dear, dear friend - Nono - who does some cool web designing. That's him wearing the t-shirt that Patrick (the kid in yellow) kept on reading what's written on it.Chrissie, Me, Patrick, Paolo and

2009 STORYWRITING COMPETITION NOW OPEN

2009-01-06T06:20:00.007+07:00

Happy New Year from CANVAS!!!Start the year right and join CANVAS' 5th Annual Romeo Forbes Children's Storywriting Competition! This year's contest is based on an original untitled oil on canvas painting by Juanito Torres (pictured above - click on the picture to see a larger version).Please read the rules HERE carefully… there are a number of changes from our previous competitions, not least of

FAT IS BEAUTIFUL

2008-12-24T11:33:00.004+07:00

PEN & INK EXHIBIT

2008-12-24T07:43:00.022+07:00

I will never make a good photojournalist.Reason?I don't have a camera.When I had one, I would either lose it, drop it, forget the batteries, talk too much on occasions when I had to take pictures and forget that I am supposed to do that; and worse, totally neglect the darned contraption. The only camera I had was only around for a few weeks until I lost it, and that was years ago before the

BABANAM-KEWALAM-BABAH

2008-12-20T11:39:00.010+07:00

Don't ask me what "BABANAM-KEWALAM-BABAH" means but these half-naked tattooed men just simply struck a deep chord with their music.Listen, watch and shout WHOA!!!After scratching your head and thinking how these men are just simply pushing the adrenaline with their beat, here's another...I took the liberty of transcribing the lyrics of this second song.Sa gitna ng kahirapan matira ang matibay. (

MY MOTHER'S BREASTS

2008-12-20T09:57:00.006+07:00

La Madre Universal17" x 24"pen and ink on paperThis evening I will be heading off to Cubao for the opening of the small exhibit of some of my works. I was looking at the pen and ink work - LA MADRE UNIVERSAL (which is already hanging right now at HALO RESTAURANT) I realized, while staring at this image, that she's really about my own mother and not just any other woman... a woman who raised us,

PEN & INK EXHIBIT

2008-12-13T11:19:00.007+07:00

So, it's official. I finally made a small poster about it.(Pinoycentric wrote about it too.)On the 20th of this month December, I'd be putting on exhibit several of my pen and ink works on paper you see here in my blog. I count around 15 of these framed works on paper and two new paintings that will be hanging at HALO RESTAURANT which is located inside Cubao EXPO. It will be nothing fancy. Just a

UPCOMING DECEMBER EXHIBIT

2008-12-09T18:55:00.007+07:00

I got an email from Sandy of The Reading Room (it's a quaint little shop in Cubao X which carries these wonderfully quirky things) and she asked me if I'm interested in hanging a few pieces at HALO Restaurant. I figured that I love Cubao X so much when I did that art fair thing in October that I immediately said, "Yeah sure babe".So, I got to be introduced to Halmen, the wonderful lady who owns

A BOY, A BOOK AND A TALKING BIRD

2008-12-08T21:26:00.005+07:00

click here for the online version of the bookBeing part of CANVAS.PH, we're committed to spreading Pinoy Art and Culture, through events, exhibits, working with institutions and individuals, and through the books we publish. We've been doing this for almost five years now too.Recently, we just released a new gem of a book called MESSAGE IN THE SAND. It's the story of a young boy who did his own

IN GRATITUDE

2008-12-07T14:30:00.004+07:00

"One of them could have just simply said "thank you" instead of just trooping inside. I shouldn't have opened the door and wasted my effort," I confided to Sheila as I took my seat at the table in the restaurant."Oh, you're pissed. What's the matter?" she asked."It's that troop of fat-assed ladies over there that just came in," I told her as I pointed to her the three women

BAYANG MAGILIW

2008-12-04T20:18:00.002+07:00

BAYANG MAGILIW14” x 20”pen and ink on paperRemember Yellow?I knew I'd see him again after several months since I last saw him being beaten with an umbrella by another hapless victim of his skirt pulling. This time, he was at his usual post in front of the Mcdonald's at Taft Avenue but I doubt if I can still call him that moniker."Pssst... bosing. Bili ka ng bandila (buy a flag),” he poked me

MACARIA AND SINFOROSO (PART 2)

2008-11-30T17:22:00.014+07:00

HOPE 11" x 17" pen and ink on paper II. THE MAN With my hands trembling, I slowly tore off the top of the thick white envelope I got in the mail. It had the university’s logo on the upper left and my name neatly typed across the middle. A couple of days before, two of my friends in high school who took the same exam as I did already received the same envelope. But theirs wasn't as thick as

BLUE SKY

2008-11-29T20:30:00.008+07:00

Blue Skypainting - 36" x 36", acrylic on canvasdrawing - 11" x 17", pen and ink on paper“Hay naku. You actually made the drawing into a painting?!" exclaimed Andre when he saw the finished piece while fiddling through his bag for a cigarette."Well, might as well do it. It's already time to put it on canvas you know," I told him."Sigh... that painting just reminds me of the past," he added with a