The Finished Works of Day 2 in the Sketchbook Challenge

Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers. Isaac Asimov

As promised (more to myself than anything… must keep up the discipline!!) Here I have the finished drawings of some of today’s sketches… Hope you like them 🙂

As always Maya’s drawing first 😀 :

my drawing:

Tomorrow (or rather today in a few hours) ill have some more awesome drawings from Maya -she is working on a very good one; and perhaps some finished drawings from me.

From 2010-2011, 8 Best Findings

Last year for December, I made lists of most of the things that had happened in my life on 2010. The projects I could not accomplish, the best dramas, anime, and Luna Sea was always present with their music to make my holidays brighter. However, there was one post that didn’t make it; “10 Top Findings This Year”. I had written about the things and people that had entered in my life, and changed me in a magical way.

 “Do you believe in destiny? How many times have you been asked the destiny question? If you have been asked at all? Then again, this is such a mystery to the human mind that it is impossible not to ask this question even to yourself. I believe there is not one person on this Earth that has never wondered about destiny. Is it real or not? Are we born with life already planned for us by the all mighty? Or do we just live life and go with the flow of things? I think both.

I think we are born with a purpose, whether is the same for everybody or not I do not know, but we all have something to fulfill. You live your life making choices; once you have made a choice, you have paved a destiny for yourself. Cause and effect, I strongly believe in that. I also believe the people and things (events, objects) we come across with during our time on Earth are important in this cause and effect theory. That whatever we find along the way, helps us shape our future/destiny.

This year there has been many memorable things that helped shaped my destiny. I have seen things that have changed the way I think in so many aspects I can’t even begin to describe. I have been given the opportunity to do things I never thought I would do. Then, there is that one person I met –now my good friend-, Carolina.”

This year it has been full of downs more than ups, but I don’t quit that easy. I have to think of the good things that came into my life, and those other that stayed and never left me. Always supporting me, always cheering me on… so, to close the year I wanted to blog about those things/people that I encountered during 2010-2011, and that have stayed, hopefully for a long time.

8-The charcoal artist:

Originally, my number 9 finding on my 2010 list. William Kentridge, a south American artist, born in 1955. He is famous for his animated shorts done with charcoal. But what is great about him is the innovated way in which he does it. Ill show you, because some times a picture says more than words:

However this year, I have seen less of Kentridge and art as a whole, and more of music and Kpop. Big Bang is the band to bring me in into the world of Kpop.

Please read the post on Big Bang written by my fellow warriors to learn more about this amazing band. Meet Big Bang 

7-Asian Films:

Wow… I mean, WOW. I had opened myself to Asian films before; this year is not the first time, but certainly the beginning to my Asian film obsession. The movie that made it happened is one of the greatest movies I have seen; The Chaser. The story centers around a cop turned pimp, who is on a painful quest to finding his girls that have disappeared recently, and he believes were taken to be sold in the human market. What he finds, however, is something even more terrifying. I think anyone who believes themselves to be film fanatics should watch it.

Other movies that are as great as this one: I Saw The Devil (also a Korean film like The Chaser); The Warlords; Battle of Red Cliff; 13^th Assassins; A Bittersweet Life; Internal Affairs (yep… the original version of The Departed).

6-Lisbeth Salander:

This was also an original pick from 2010, but it has escalated even more this year with the anticipation of David Fincher’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Yeah, yeah, yeah… you can say what you please about Hollywood making versions of other films and so on… but, this movie is not a re-make exactly, but Fincher’s own version, as he sees it to be, which makes for an interesting argument among Larson’s fans (/me is one of them). I think it is somewhat arrogant of someone to take something that is great, and presume to make it greater. But Fincher IS a great director, and I know this movie on its own will be great. Lets not compare it as a re-make, but lets view it as a different version of the original. It helps to stop the unnecessary hate… hate? Tsk, have you read the comments around the blogsphere? Yep, HATE.

5-Wordpress:

Last year I started this blog, I was happy to be able to express myself without having to feel sorry for my opinions. This year, I have also started another blog (The Dramatards) in company of Amanda, and Laken; two warriors that united with me on the cause of dramatardness (a new term on my dictionary). We will bring to you the very best of our drama experience, as well as the very worse… and boy do we rant about that! Don’t miss it. The Dramatards

4-Luna Sea:

Luna Sea is originally a find from 2010. But like Lisbeth, it has been forever constant in my life ever since. I love their music. They are talented beyond words. I believe them to be one of the greatest rock bands ever… yeah Im not saying they are the number 1, but… /me is a fan so she will place them on Greatest Rock Band Ever list any time :p

3-Friends from the blogsphere:

– Alannah Murphy (no, she is not Peter Murphy’s daughter) Alannah has been a supporter of my art, my rants, and my craziness along the way. Sometimes more than others, she has taken the ride with me into lala-land (laura’s world) She has taught me things I didn’t expect to learn, and she has trusted me with valuable things, which makes me feel bless I met such a person. I admire her determination to bring to life, what I believe will be, a hell of great fictional character… mi amiga hurry up and make him famous!! The world wishes to know him. 😉

– Laken Shirley (No she is not a vampire, but I thought the same when I first learned of her name) In the short time that I have met her, Laken has been a great help to me in many ways. Most importantly, she believed in me when I needed her to, and surprised me with wisdom, which I never expected from some one as young as her… errr, to not make me feel like an old woman, lets not disclose her age, okay? I don’t mean to say, youngsters are not capable of being wise, but is hard to meet one, especially online. I hope Laken continues to surprise me; it definitely opens my mind.

– Amanda Snyder (my fellow nekkie spammer) We have spammed together pictures of hotties, here and there… everywhere; we have taken over threads, post, and pages all over the blogsphere, with our charms (yes, I can be charming too) and quirkiness… as odd as we are a pair, we have many things in common. “Great minds think alike” right Amandita? I found in her a good friend, that has helped me and understand me… the latter is not something easy, trust me. Where will our next Taking Over take place?

2-My talent (reborn):

A co-worker said it not long ago, that my skills have improved ever since 2010 began. Yep, it is true. I have found my passion again, and this time I know that it will take me some place far… where or when? I don’t know for sure, but the feeling of forever growing is always constant since I discovered my own style. Visit the art gallery to see some of my works.

1-My good friend, Carolina:

I met Carolina in my art class of last year. She is a cheerful little miss that has brought many good things into my life. I got back into drawing full time because of her. She advised, and supporter me greatly, and still does. I admire her as well. She is a person with a goal in mind and pursues it, never quitting, never falling behind of her expectations. That is endurance and a big love for life, which I find admirable. Her desire to make a change is always constant and never weavers. With a dedication like hers to make it happen, the world could really see a different side of life. Thank you Caro, for always being a true friend, from the beginning, when we met in class as fellow students/artist, till now, as good friends. Don’t ever go away, I need you. 🙂

I would like to end with a quote from one of my favorite movies of all times… no, more than that, it is the ONE movie I have learned from the most; the movie I keep learning from, and keep going back to; The Last Samurai.

Before the final battle, leader samurai Katsumoto asks Algren if he believes in destiny, and Algren answers: “I think a man does what he can until his destiny is revealed to him.” There is cause and effect, but above all, there is definitely a purpose.

My Starting Point

“Yesterday I wanted to rant, or more like pour out my thoughts here. Your post lifted my spirit; it made me laugh aloud like crazy. Suddenly I felt, I was not so lonely anymore, and I’m sorry for being selfish. It is somewhat cowardly to amuse myself with your frustration, for that I apologize.
Today, my frustrations have come back. I want to put it in writing, maybe it will sink in… you know? Get some sense of worth.
He said there is no such thing as “waiting for inspiration”. The action of doing something will bring inspiration. There must be a starting point; no matter how unappealing, it will surely become something greater. That creativity lives in the here and now, that it is born from simplicity, that it feeds from certainty and control; but I must get rid of all judgment in order to keep it. I must take a route and be willing to depart from it.
I’m standing on a starting point, but…. Where is my willingness? Why am I so obstinate to think I need to wait for it? And why am I so wretched? To all these things I knew the answer, but still, I chose to be weak minded. I thought (if I’m permitted to use your word) I had been abandoned, but as it turns out, I am the one that has abandoned…”

I wrote this in a rant thread, I have been away from my blog far too long.

Recently I have come to a starting point, but don’t know how to follow the road: 

Sketch of The Forest Witch

Sketch of Jo (I had initially named him Yo, but then thought Jo would be a better name. I know it sounds unbelievable, but there are actually names like "Yo" and "Jo" out there)

What Awaits…

I have been neglecting my Blog this past month. If I were to say I feel I have not been motivated to write as much as before I would be sort of lying, because it is not entirely the case. But to say that I did not have the time to sit and write about the things that obsess me, almost makes me believe I am being arrogant. Truth is I was very busy with a project I was trying to finish before April 15. Something I wasn’t sure I would be able to accomplish, and to my surprise (I know it sounds bad… but I can be pretty hard on myself sometimes) I did… and boy did I finish it! Actually I have posted the drawing in the page Illustrations & Drawings, its titled “A Day In The Life: The Socialite, The Executive, The Homeless”

After finishing this project, I have noticed my lack of desire to blog; the fact that there are now tons of new projects waiting makes it even more difficult. However, I still come up with ideas for new posts and wonder if I am just being lazy –my usual self.

Today I finally made up my mind to keep on blogging, probably not as much as when I first started, which wasn’t so long ago… hehe. Nevertheless, I will continue to blog about my obsessions… oh! Yeah, those are: anime, art, books, manga, music, film, games, and talking nonsense, meh 😛

Here is to wishing all my projects come true… can’t wait to see what awaits at the end.

Luna Sea, “Storm” … J looks awesome with black hair right?  😀

If there didn’t exist such a song as “I For You”, and I wouldn’t be such a melodramatic person, “Storm” would be my favorite song from Luna Sea. So, we could say in my happiest moments, in times when I look to the future and hope, I hear this song in the background.

Lyrics in Romaji:

futo me o samashita mayonaka no purachina no hikari no naka
giragira to kagayaita kono machi mo waruku nai
kimi to nara kono arashi mo nori koe rareru hazu sa
do you like it rough?
tokimeki o sousa motome tsuzuke yo

Do you like it rough?

ima fuki areru arashi no naka sou dakiatte tashikame atte
ushina u mono nado nanimo nakatta hazu dane
te o nobasanakya ano hikari sae tsukame nai
what will it take for you
kimi ga nozomu you ni boku mo nozon deru

Kiss me in the stormy…
Kiss me in the stormy…

ima fuki areru arashi no naka sou dakiatte tashikame atte
ushina u mono nado nanimo nakatta hazu dane
shinjitsu wa kitto okubyou dakara sono sugata o keshite misenai
dakehdo bokura wa hanaretari wa shinai kara
te o nobasanakya ano hikari sae tsukameh nai
what will it take for you
kimi ga nozomu you ni boku mo nozon deru

Kiss me in the stormy…
Kiss me in the stormy…

Lyrics in English:

I suddenly woke up
in the middle of the night
amid the platinum lights
This glaring city
isn’t so bad

I know I can get through this storm
if I’m with you
Do you like it rough?
Let’s keep on reaching
for that sparkle

Do you like it rough?

Holding each other
Making sure
In the middle of this turbulent storm
There was nothing to lose in the first place, right?
You’ve got to reach out your hands
or you won’t even catch that light
What will it take for you
I wish
As you wish

Kiss me in the stormy…

Holding each other
Making sure
In the middle of this turbulent storm
There was nothing to lose in the first place, right?
Truth is cowardly
that’s why it never shows itself
But we will never part
You’ve got to reach out your hands
or you won’t even catch that light
What will it take for you
I wish
As you wish

Kiss me in the stormy…