Faye Villanueva's Blog, page 2
May 27, 2016
#FanArtFriday: Kyou Kai of the Hi Shin Unit
Materials used:
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors
000 Synthetric brush from Deovir
Menso brush (Zig)
Craft Doodle Waterbrush Large
Bianco Flash Master paper from Tri-west
If you ask me who my favorite heroine is, it’s got to be “Kyoukai of the Hi Shin Unit.”
She’s a warrior but she’s dainty. She’s fierce but quiet. Her eyes speak the sadness of her past yet her strong presence is a power that moves you forward. She is wiser than her leader yet she humbly submits to his authority.
Kyoukai is one of the main characters of a manga you guys probably hven’t heard of yet– Kingdom. She is the right hand man of General Shin, the best friend of the young man who envisioned the unification of China, King Ei Sei. “Kingdom” by Hara Yasuhisa is a visual retelling of the history of China and how its 500 years of war ended in the hands of an Emperor Sei. The story is told through the eyes of a slave boy named Shin who became a Great general (who Kyoukai served) under that emperor’s service.
A story of grit, horror, endless battles, survival, deceit and trust, hate and love, gaining enemies and friendships, That manga is one of my favorites and is worth the read. Although I love it, I have to make it known it STRICTLY isn’t for kids to read (too graphic). What’s even more fascinating is that it’s the history of China being told and yet… the author is in fact Japanese.
May 26, 2016
Watercolor by mistake
Unpacking these candies given by a girl friend who’s into#calligraphy!
I was recently hoping to grab a set of#gouache paints (the medium i’ve been using for the longest time but all i have right now are watercolors) then she gives me this (she thought they’re the same as watercolor). So I’m really happy with that innocent mistake. haha. Additionally, she also ordered two pearlescent watercolors by mistake (she only needed one) so she just gave me the other one instead.
Mistakes can actually be blessings in disguise. it can bless you as well as others. Our past mishaps and brokenness can actually be stories that inspire others to want to experience redemption for themselves.
Happy day!
PS: In case I left you hanging between watercolor and gouache, the former is transparent, the latter is opaque so they have different methods of application.
Check out what I did with my new gouache set here:
Sogeking and Gouache
There’s greatness in you waiting to be unleashed (no matter how coWardly you are). Now, get that pachinko to work!SO-GE-KING for #fanartfriday
Medium: gouache
May 25, 2016
The Gift of Giving
In a country where a lot of people don’t even have money to buy food nor slippers,… is it still art if they (the artworks in a gallery) are made mostly by underrepresented sectors of society?– (excerpt from “All Grit and Amore: Artworks by Invisible Ones” an article for Istorya ti LupLUPA gallery)
Istorya ti LupLUPA is a gallery of different art forms made by the people of Kalinga (and others). It isn’t a posh display with complicated artwork, but will allow you to look into the hearts of fellowmen we usually bypass and/or neglect– the invisible ones.
I stand in front of paintings made with soil and can’t help but think, “Their masterpieces are framed and displayed in a gallery! Buti pa sila. (I never experienced this before)” Then I realize, in more ways than one I am blessed more than they are, and yet what a priviledge it is for them to share their artworks to Manilenyos. It’s their time to shine and be heard and seen. For now, I am the invisible one.
May we, in one way or another, step out of our comfort zones and give out of our abundance (or the lack of it). Surely, as we give, the God above will give us more than what we gave away.
Istorya ti LupLUPA will be on display at NCCA gallery until May 30 (weekdays)
Photo (c) @persianbalut
Paper Plates and Yogurt Cups
Paper plates na ginamit ni BenCab bilang palettes para mabuo ang kanyang mga obra
“Mabuti pa ang disposable paper plates magarang nakadisplay sa air-conditioned na National Museum, ako, basang basa sa ulan, ‘di manlang tinitingnan.” #hugot
`Wag kang ano dyan!
Sa isang factory, naka-pre-set ang paggawa ng paper plates. Pare-parehong pagkakagawa. Pare-parehong purpose; lagyan ng pagkain kapag nasa handa, at itapon sa basurahan pagkatapos.
SInong mag-aakala na puwedeng magkaroon ng ibang purpose ito at balang araw ay imbis na itapon sa basurahan ay ilagay sa magarang museo?
Ang paper plates na ito ay ginamit ni National Artist BenCab bilang mga palettes upang buoin ang kanyang mga obra.
Mabuti pa ang yellow pad, nakadisplay sa Museum (BenCab doodle)
Hindi ko akalain. Dahil tiyak ko may isandaang piso naman siguro siya para bumili ng matinong palette. Pero pinili niyang it ang gamitin. Magre-research pa ako kung may time para masagot ang mga tanong ko
May 9, 2016
What’s in my pencil case?
The other day, I saw a post on Instagram displaying the contents of her pencil case. I did not know if that was a trend that some artists started to show what tools they use on the go. But I also thought of sharing mine. I think this will help some starters out there to identify what tools they will need to start off their illustrating journey.
This is basically what I have when I am on the go.
What’s in my pencil case may be what you need to start off with your illustrating journey
April 21, 2016
Zona Cero (about, insights, and behind the scenes)
“Hanggang kailan tayo makikipaglaban sa lupang tinubuan?”
Matapos ang ikatlong pagtatangka upang sakupin ng Intramuros ang isla Manuvu sa pamamagitan ng mga Aserong Soldado, napagdesisyunan ni Governador Heneral Carlos Emilio na buhayin ang pinakapremyadong hukbo sa mundo—ang mga Hidalgo, at sumailalim sa madugong pagsasanay upang mapagtagumpayan ang misyong mapasakanila ang isla.
Isa sa mga bagong Hidalgo ay si Coronel Antonio Malik na anak ng alcalde ng Intramuros. Sa gitna ng labanan sa pagitan ng mga Hidalgo at mga Manuvan ay umusbong ang kahindikhindik na plano ng mga Illustrado para tapusin ang laban. Dahil dito napaisip si Antonio kung sino ba ang tama at kanino ba talaga dapat pumanig. (blurb)
Genre/ Category: Comics, Graphic novel, action, steampunk, alternate history, drama, comedy
P229/ $4.99
Here’s a new graphic novel I did. For now it’s available as an ebook at Buqo Reader (an app you install on your tablet / smartphone and serves as a Digital Boostore and ebook reader).
The story is set in 1982 where a country named Intramuros was colonizing other countries that were advantageous to the advancement of their country. A primitive country named Manuvu had been attempted many times before, but despite the technology of the Intramurosans they strangely never won from this tribe. Finally, the Governor General of Intramuros decides to train a new breed of “Hidalgos,” an elite-class group of soldiers, one of which is a young man named Antonio Malik.
“How many times? How many lives will be gone? Until when do we have to fight for our country?”
Due to his impulsive behavior, he gets tangled up with a horrendous plan by his superiors. He ends up seeing the pain of both the Manuvans and his own countrymen.
Why I wrote this book:
Even I am wondering why I wrote a book that has this kind of content (LOL). It was a story i came up with only last November (so technically, I worked on the project for half a year since its conceptualization). I thought of a stand-alone story that would introduce Anton as the protagonist at the same time prelude the graphic novel series I have been working on for the longest time. In the series, Anton had been out of the loop for three years and sent to war with a tribe and so this was where the story of the Manuvans was developed.
T/L: “But you have today and you can do something today.”
As the goal of the series (Incognito, soon) is to mirror the realities we all face both as individuals and as a nation, I thought that it would be culturally relevant to come up with a story for the one-shot (prelude) that reflects the plight of the current-day Lumads as well as reflect how God, during the time of Joshua or David, intervened and won the battles on their behalf. Not only that, I believe the characters of the story “Zona Cero” reflects the heartaches and sentiments of its would-be readers as well. I am not very particular with this, but I think you will find yourself in the pages of the story as well. I will let the story do its job. For now, my prayer is that at the end of the reading, the reader will take home something essential for himself, then act on it.
Behind the scenes:
As I said earlier, it took me half-a year to finish this. And I did this without the commitment of a publisher. I just thought that maybe I have to finish it first, by faith, and then see where it goes. Thanks to God’s provision for artist-quality watercolors, I decided to make this novel a full-color one.
Hand written script:
The first time I laid my hands on a Gansai Tambi (watercolor set) last December, I did Zona Cero’s cover:
Zona Cero is a combination of traditional (watercolor) and digital methods.
We also initially made Zona Cero public at the recently concluded Summer Komikon and gave away digital samplers (you can view it via Buqo here: bit.ly/1UMsoE9) and it was actually encouraging to know that a lot of people are actually interested with Zona Cero, discouraged in fact, because we didn’t have a book on hand for them to buy and take home. I guess this is the down part of not having a physical product.
One of the attendees of Komikon highly appreciated the art of Zona Cero and said that this full-color novel is in fact a “labor of love,” not to mention, the tedious researching BEFORE scripting it.
I thanked her for that. I actually didn’t mind the effort. I just loved and enjoyed what I did. I’m hoping it will pay off eventually.
For now Zona Cero is available as an ebook. I am currently pushing for it to be printed and placed in bookstores too. For now too, I don’t know if any of you are reading my blog or have read Zona Cero. Please, if you have, let me know your thoughts about the material. For now too, Zona Cero is indeed a labor of love, done without the promise of “return of Investment”. As Jeff Goins said, “Do what you love even (or especially) when nobody is looking.” In case too that you re interested to read it BUT do not understand the language, let me now so that I can make and English version available soon.
Head on to Buqo to experience Zona Cero: Zona Cero Full
Sa mga araw na “meh.”
Current mood:
Sa totoo lang hindi ito tungkol sa init.
Tungkol ito sa mga araw na “meh” at “ewan” at “ayoko na”;
sa mga araw na feeling mo walang nangyayari sa mga efforts mo;
sa mga araw na nadedepress ka kasi hindi pa dumarating ang inaasam-asam mo;
sa mga araw na ayaw mo ng magtrabaho pero hindi pwede dahil hindi ka pa masustentuhan ng passion mo;.
sa mga araw na tiis-ganda muna sa mga gusto o kailangan (hal. bagong laptop o electric fan, o magarang pagkain man lang!) kapalit ang pagtupad ng pangarap o calling.
Ito ang sitWasyon ng mga taong enrolled sa tupad-pangarap program.
Huwag kang susuko. Huwag kang hihinto (pero pakiusap, matulog ka naman!). Pagodabels? Keribels! Ang bawat hakbang ay nagpapalapit sa inyong dalawa ng pangarap mo. Matatanaw mo rin yan! Ako nga natatanaw ko na kahit malabo ang mga mata ko e! Ganun din sa iyo.
HuWag na huwag mo rin kalimutan na higit sa lahat, manalig sa Maykapal. Sa Kanya ka humingi ng lakas. Siya lang ang magtatawid sa iyo mula dito hanggang doon dahil Siya ang gumawa sa iyo upang gawin ang bagay na ikaw lamang ang makakagawa sa mundong ito upang ipakita sa mundo ang inspirasyong nagmumula sa Kanya
Sa lahat ng mga pumupursigi sa tupad-pangarap program, mabuhay kayong lahat!!! ice cream tayo dyan!!
PS:May drawing workshop ako. Baka gusto niyo sumali http://bit.ly/1S4HGAD
March 7, 2016
Wishlist 2016
I’m dropping this off here. Not sure though who’d care to know. The list are all material things, some needs, some wants. I’m keeping the intangibles between me and God, and yes, they’re the more important wishlist :) Taking advantage of free media :)
03-15-16- my day :)
Enter a caption
February 24, 2016
How to Sequence your story
Some have asked what those “pieces of papers” are and what was I doing with them (a few weeks ago someone took a pic of me working on these and posted it and I didn’t know. haha)
A photo posted by Arya (@persianbalut) on Feb 7, 2016 at 5:45am PST
Here’s a little explanation: each piece of paper contains a book/chapter title from the series I’m working on but I was having trouble convincing myself with the sequence of events. I applied what my mentor taught us to “put those pieces of ideas in an index card each, then try rearranging them (like puzzle pieces) until it makes sense.” Similarly, i rearranged the “books/chapters” into where they best fit and added a few chapters to fill gaps. So right now I’m pretty convinced with the sequence already. I’m excited to share them with You BUT this is only the beginning of the process. Each chapter should yet be scripted (they each already have a treatment, thankfully), then sketched into panels, then into the manuscript, and edited in between (and a month is too short to do all that). So, in a nutshell, I guess you understand that making comics (series) isn’t for the faint of heart. But I’m loving it anyway. and I still have a lot to learn .
HEY! if you care to know what this series is about, go LIKE Incognito Graphic Novel Series on the right>>> because that’s what it is!
On the other hand, @persianbalut arranges his MA-I stories in an excel file. I find it unusual but that’s how he does it. So we have different methods of scripting and it’s fine as long as the story is communicated properly.
Anyway, if you’re trying to find your way into storytelling, i hope I gave a little tip for you to get going :)
ANNOUNCEMENT: MA-I Comics is now available everywhere via BUQO APP. Download it now on your smartphones and tablets. More info at BUQO.PH.
A photo posted by buqo (@buqoapp) on Feb 23, 2016 at 10:55pm PST
