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The Art Of Swimming To Shore

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Some days are succulent, others a bit parched.

Today I feel the full pang of uncertainty.  And I absolutely hate it.

I am not a fan of being wishy-washy: in others and especially with myself.  It just hit me out of the blue.  The one thing about the creative journey I detest is its unpredictable nature.

I like plans. I like making lists. And I like crossing things out one by one. But sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. My plan.

Sometimes I think of so many things that I need to do that it actually tires me out. People think I’m especially hard on myself. And it’s true. I wish I could change that as well.

I’m the type of person who thinks in black and white. Grey areas I find rather annoying. But I guess life really is one massive grey patch in this entire universe.  I always thought I had a PhD in dealing with uncertainty but that doesn’t mean it gets easier each time.  It just reminds me this isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with it.

Part of me feels like I’m running on empty, part of me feels like swimming against a riptide.  They say to swim against it will only prove fatal.

To survive is to stop moving.

Experienced divers told me  the only way out of an undertow is to stop flailing,  allow your body to relax and float, and then swim parallel to shore instead of fighting to rush towards it.

And the most important thing: don’t panic.

artist's workspace

So this is what I’m doing now:

  • I’ve finished my 3rd novel, including the last installation of Harry Potter (which is captivating by the way!).
  • I’m now on my third art book today.
  • I stare out the window and into the sea a bit longer than usual.  If it’s not so humid, I might even decide to walk there for a change.
  • I am going through other pilates exercises I haven’t done in a long time.
  • I just had lots of ice cream with a friend who came over today.
  • I’ve started answering letters from blog and Instagram friends.
  • I’ll write out some letters.
  • I’m gonna take a nap. I don’t take naps.
  • I will clean up my workspace.
  • I will spiral out and won’t make art this entire week.

I am doing nothing.

A lot of nothing.

And I will swim back to shore.

***

5 Thoughts On “Art Inc.” And Why You Should Read It

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It took me a while to finish reading “Art, Inc.” by Lisa Congdon.  I bought this when it was released but put it down as I got distracted with other things.  Last week, I finally picked it up again and devoured its last pages by this morning.

art inc by lisa congdon

It’s for the working artist.

Simply put, all the ideas, options and possibilities for all forms of art are spelled out for any artist who wants to make a living off their work.  From licensing, illustrating children’s books to fine art selling, it’s all up to the artist to test them out and see what works best with your art.

It’s concise and comprehensive.

The flow of content is very easy to follow. The tone is friendly and language of writing is pretty straightforward. It makes it easy to digest all the information one page after the other. The book is rich with the author’s personal experiences and thoughts as a flourishing artist, so it makes the written ideas very, very real for the reader.

The testimonials are a source of encouragement.

The book features 20 interviews with artists of different fields.  I absolutely love hearing and reading about other people’s lives and how they carved their creative path, what worked and what didn’t.

The layout.

The aesthetics of the book affect my way of reading.  The main reason I put the book down was my vision had a hard time adjusting through the lengthy content on portions of red-orange pages and orange-on-white pages. I managed avoiding the strain by reading only in natural daylight, and not under a lamp. It changed everything and I sped through the book effortlessly thereafter.

The list of resources.

Lisa Congdon makes building a career out of art a concrete experience ,  as she  thoroughly  lists down specific resources: from conferences, galleries, printers, residencies, etc.  I think this is the part about the book I love best because it gets the ball rolling and gives you a specific starting point and orientation.  

I am so glad I got a copy for myself because it filled in a lot of gaps and opened my mind to the vast ways of doing things across the multitude of  art fields and personalities there are in the world. I honestly believe both the established and neophyte artists have so much to gain from reading this book!   “Art Inc.” is a great source of inspiration, a bubbling well of ideas and a fantastic instrument to get the wheels of your mind turning and makes you want to get off your seat and do something right now.

***

 

From The Kitchen: Leche Flan

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After a blah Friday night, I’m having a friend come over tonight for some home-cooked things and maybe a glass, or two.  It was a rough night, after terminating my sushi dinner 30 minutes after sitting down as my light-sensitive migraine attacked me full-blast. It was so intense that I threw up when I made it home.  I panicked a little as I don’t typically throw up, no matter how much alcohol I’ve had. So it was that bad.

Even after I turned off all the lights, threw myself on the bed and covered my eyes with a sleeping mask from a previous airplane ride, I still felt like there were giant waves gushing inside my head and body. And no, a migraine is not a headache.

The only cure for me is pitch-black darkness, utmost silence and sleep. So I did that and now I’m almost back to normal.

And I’m going to celebrate by cooking up a storm today and capping the night with leche flan: a traditional Filipino dessert made from either from carabao, evaporated or condensed milk topped with caramelised sugar. It’s likened to a denser panna cotta without the gelatin.

leche flan recipe

I am very sensitive to sweets so my version has a lighter texture, somewhere between a traditional flan and a panna cotta, with a delicately sweet flavor that’s easy on the palate.

LECHE FLAN RECIPE

1 tall can evaporated milk

4 whole eggs, beaten

2/3c caster sugar for flan

1/2c caster sugar for caramel

1/2 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, beat the eggs lightly and add 2/3c sugar to dissolve.  Add milk and vanilla and mix into the mixture. Set aside.

In a llanera mold (I forgot to bring them here to Singapore so I use a round cake pan), throw in the 1/2c sugar and caramelise this over the stove.

Once the sugar melts into a nice golden brown liquid, start moving really fast to prevent the leche flan from hardening and cracking. Using a sieve, pour the milky-egg mixture into the caramelly pan and quickly transfer to a steamer.

Cover and steam over medium fire, 30-45 minutes.  You know your flan is ready when you tap the surface lightly with a spoon and it’s bouncy and solid.

*****

 

Artists And Instagram

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I initially got into Instagram because of my calligraphy phase.  After almost a year of aimless fun posting my artwork, my dog Jones, the cake I baked and random sunsets, I saw that I had 700 followers.

I said, “Ok, cool.”

instagram tips for artists

But when I started taking Instagram a little bit more seriously, it changed my life.

I don’t make sweeping statements so I’m not even kidding. It changed the way I perceived my work, conducted myself online and it actually gave me a professional direction in my art.

Ultimately, I found a way to make Instagram work for me. I recently passed the 20k mark and have to admit, the numbers have pushed me globally in directions I could not have foreseen. I’ve begun conducting a sketchbook class and creative forum and started an art community on IG called Sketchbook People.   I don’t dish out gospel truth, but the thoughts I share below are a few of the things that have  worked for me.

What’s in a name?

“So why the Jar Of Salt?” is a question I get asked almost all the time.

Easy.

I used to be a food writer who eventually started a food blog named after something I used to collect: salt. Hence, www.jarofsalt.com and @thejarofsalt (only because the name without a ‘the’ is already taken) 🙁

When I got over my 5-year creative block and decided to go full-steam ahead into my professional art career, I needed to re-brand myself.  I’ve met people randomly and upon exchanging cards exclaim, “Oh you’re the Jar Of Salt!”.

It seems by then, the name has stuck so I decided to keep it.  Why?

It’s not too long.

It’s easy to recall.

And it’s a word that’s easy to comprehend across different cultures.

I wanted a name people could remember even if it’s said in passing or in a rush. So I kept it even if the name has nothing really to do with art because it’s a word that has already been identified with me.

Choose  and create your OWN photos well.

Ah. Where to even begin on this topic?

For starters, “nice” photos are the ones that get a lot of support.  In social media terms, that’s called “engagement”.  Keep the shot clean, well-composed and well-lit.If you’re posting a painting or a drawing, try to refrain from using filters so as not to distort the details or colors of your work.  You don’t have to be a professional photographer to get the job done. A steady hand, a good eye and proper timing is all you need.  Take it easy on the filters and focus on crisp lighting. There are so many apps out there to help you get the job done without tinkering in Photoshop or Lightroom so give Snapseed a try.

My thoughts on selfies?

I’m not a fan especially of accounts that contain almost only just your face for its own sake, unless you’re documenting your journey to health and fitness. Then that’s a different topic altogether. Why? Because I’d rather follow something or someone else whose content adds value to my life and interests.  Many celebrities actually don’t post much of their physical selves online, and I appreciate that. To me,  their photos actually tell me a story of a life, and somewhat shows me their vision of their own world. And that they are actually interested in things out there other than overly indulging in their self.

In my case, I’m a painter. What I choose to wear really has no bearing on my work and  I have no plans of celebritifying myself with posed photos.  I do, however, try to insert myself casually in slivers as minimally as possible so as not to distract, and just to let people know there really is a human being lurking in there somewhere.

Seek professional help.

By seeking help from the pros, I don’t mean buying your followers, god forbid.  To me it’s like paying “people” to pretend to be your friends.  Stay far away from that unfortunate scam.

What I’m talking about is taking professional coaching and classes that teach you how to make the most of your life and time online to make it work for you.  I took an Instagram class from Melissa almost exactly a year ago. It was to be the one of the best decisions I have made for myself.  All the insights, ideas and options she presented helped to social media an extension of my work and the curated life I choose to share. It was this class that helped put a very efficient system in my online life. For anyone who wants to make Instagram work for them, and not the other way around, I highly recommend her class.

Update: She has a class coming up and you can still sign up until Oct. 31, 2017.  Use the code IGHOLIDAY to get a $100 discount for this year’s class 🙂

Keep it real.

As an artist, I post my work-related mess. My cluttered workspace. The errors on my sketchpad. My words thinking out loud. I refuse to look “Instagrammy” (if you’re on IG you know what I’m talking about).  It was only recently that I realised that showing this side of me is something that my IG community seems to look forward seeing.

My account is a personal documentation of a person’s creative journey and body of work.  And I try my best to let it reflect exactly that in the most relaxed way possible.

It doesn’t really bode well with me, calling myself an artist and not being able to muster enough creativity to come up with original content. This is the reason I do not re-post stock photos of beaches I’ve never been to, or coffee shots that don’t belong to me just to prettify my account.  It makes me feel weird.

This is also another topic  altogether I’d like to talk about later on regarding copyrights.

And no, tagging and giving credit does not absolve you of infringement.

Be very careful when it comes to borrowing and sharing photos. The last thing you want is to receive a cease-and-desist letter form the lawyer of the person who took that photo.

Good manners.

More than the aesthetics, I try to treat people online as I do in real life.  I never followed people asking them to follow me back, nor do I spam people’s accounts with smiley faces and words like “cool”  with hopes that they will click my name and follow me.  I also try to respond to all the comments as soon as I can.

Unlike Facebook, IG only allows for 80 of the latests notifications to show on my phone, and there is no way to scroll back to that once the new alerts come in.   If I don’t respond to you, it means  one of two things:

  1. I either didn’t see  because it  has been buried by the newer notifications,
  2. You really didn’t say anything that merits a response, or
  3. You happened to ask a question that’s been asked many times over.  If that’s the case, the answers might already be on the blog.

Posting a pink flower, a thumbs-up or heart on the comment field is not something I would actually regard as a comment, unfortunately.

Finally, if there is one behaviour on IG that still surprises me it’s this::  people who will follow you but will immediately unfollow you when you decide to follow them.

Yikes.

It’s like a person sweet-talking you to purchasing something who will suddenly turn cold as soon as you’re done with your purchase.

*****

I had a very looooong dinner last night with a friend and social media was the one thing we spent a great deal of time bantering about. We realised that we come from that generation of kids that crossed from analogue living to digital lifestyle.

As we sipped the last drop of wine from our stained glasses, we concluded this: social media is no longer just any other tool external to us. It has now become an integral part of our existence and a secondary voice to interact with the world today. And no matter how we choose to sculpt our image and curate our lives online, it always helps to remember old school values when using Instagram and social media:

Be kind.

Show respect.

Stay real.

So You Didn’t Go To Art School

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Well, neither did I.

And that’s okay.

Because it never stopped me from doing professional work as an artist.

Gosh, my head is bursting  with thoughts and ideas that it’s actually paralyzing so I’m gonna clear some cobwebs and all the clutter in my head by writing this out.

Or maybe… I’ll just bake bread?

Okay, fine!  I’ll write.

I’ll write.

So I finished with a degree in BA Psychology and if I had to live my life all over again, I would still choose to spend my four years researching, experimenting and reading all things Psychology. The one thing I would change, however, is that I would take non-academic art classes outside of university and start the actual doing of art immediately, and not procrastinate for 7 years (12 years, if you include the creative block).

Throughout my life, inside and outside of school, I’ve always been regarded as an artist, probably even before I could write.

But to be a working artist?

That was never an option back in the day. In fact, it wasn’t even considered a profession professional enough.   I was told that I would finish my degree and I was, in a way, pretty much expected to work in a “good” company where I would also retire.

Thinking about it, the idea just leaves a funny taste in my mouth.

However, I happily finished my Psychology degree, one which I enjoyed thoroughly and continue to be passionate about. But I’ve worn many hats since I finished school. Eight hats, if I’m not mistaken.  I have worked full time in a high school, a modeling agency, an international bank, a boarding school, a PR agency and  eventually juggled freelance art  with part-time hours in a modeling school and even a culinary school.  I also did food writing for some time which led me to start a food blog (hence, jarofsalt.com), and even had a radio stint for month as a news announcer. Heck, I even got certified to teach Stott pilates  two years ago.

Yet in all those years, I never really stopped making art. Whether it was made for myself or commissioned by a client, art was always my natural groove.

To eventually do what I really wanted to do (a late start at 27) and do art professionally was met with labels, resistance, that I was rebelling and that I was lost.

On the contrary, committing to make art as a profession was when I truly found myself.

colorful jars of paint

So, now what? You want to do art but there are probably a million and one reasons to not make art. But should the lack of art degree hold you back?

I think not.

In the era of the internet, there are so many ways to invent and reinvent yourself.

How does one become an artist in this day and age, then?

1. Be and Make.

It’s hard to be an artist if you’re not making anything at all. This makes sense, doesn’t it? Don’t pressure yourself, though.  No one expects you to make the next Sotheby-worthy masterpiece tomorrow (but feel free to do so if you can!). Start with doodling on the margins of your books. Make circles on your notebook. Draw a flower. ANY flower. So really, the first step to calling yourself an artist is to be one.

And that starts with making.

2. Commune.

I’ve spoken of my creative block many times over but what was the first step to break the ice?

I joined WordPress in 2011 and started blogging.  When I first joined WP five years ago, I lamented about the lack of art in my life.  Then one post led to the next, one comment after another.  And it got the ball rolling.  I managed to produce my first sketch after five years.  And things started rolling ever since.

There are also so many creativity, sketching, drawing and art groups on Facebook. I suggest you type in those words and see what shows up and resonates with you and your preferred medium. Discussions can be amazing, so much to learn, and sometimes all you need is a regular art challenge to get the juices flowing.

With social media, you can also follow artists who inspire you.  Many of them are active in real time.  Comment or write them an email.  Many of them will happily respond, you’ll be surprised 🙂

3. Learn.

The very first art class I took was for pottery, in 2006. And one of the things I did to break the ice after my creative block later on was to take another live class as well. This time it was for  printmaking. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel motivated or challenged enough in class 🙁 So I hope to revisit this someday as I still have a lot of printing ink in my work room 😮

I also tried my hand (literally) in calligraphy .  It’s a skill I thought I can never learn (or even enjoy!) because of my messy penmanship. But with proper instruction and like-minded people, it can be done.  My calligraphy obsession was short-lived but it lead me to Instagram to share my work.

And my social media life has never been the same ever since 🙂

Also, thanks to the internet you can learn all sorts of creative things from the comforts of your own home.  Check out online art classes from Creative Bug, Skillshare and even Lynda if you’re doing digital.  Also, find other artists to follow because many of them give online instruction.

There are a lot of free classes out there so maximize them, especially on YouTube.  However, I highly recommend saving and spending on some of the paid classes because quality education is truly worth having, no matter how small.

4. Read. A lot.

I haven’t read fiction and novels in years but I constantly buy art and design books. And magazines! Even though some of them are more expensive than a book.  And that’s because fine quality art and design magazines are produced with the content direction of a book.  Frankly, I don’t like reading highly visual material through a screen because  I’m a tactile reader and I like making notes and marks as I use them for reference as I work. Look for inspiring publications like Flow, Uppercase, Frankie and Anorak.

I remember a successful artist who told me to invest in art books. The more, the better. I whined, “It’s so expensive!”.

His reply was simple, “Why, how much do you think  would you have spent if you went to art school?”

That moment changed my perspective forever.

5. Promote yourself.

Before  online everything and social media, I found  art circles to be very cliquish. I still do, to be honest.  When I started in 2002, everyone was at the mercy of print editors to get your name and work out there. It was so hard to reach out to editors and it usually helped to have someone refer you first.  Yes, I’ve done cold calls to media heads back in the day and they proved to be very fruitful.  It was only when my art started to circulate among publications that my career kicked off.  Eventually, editors and producers were the ones requesting  to work together.

Nowadays, it’s so different. If you post your work on Facebook or Pinterest, friends can easily share your work. Before you know it, one thing leads to another and then you blink: your art is already out there.  Know this however: promoting myself makes me feel icky. But it has to be done and you will find a voice that you will eventually be comfortable with without being in-your-face salespitchy. 🙂

Not all platforms work for everyone, though. Some find their voice in Twitter, others on Pinterest. Many on Facebook.   In my case, Instagram is the one that catapulted my work and helped instil a structure in the way I do things creatively.    If you’re trying to build a system to strengthen your social media presence, check out this course by Melissa Camillieri.    I highly recommend it, seriously.

Sit on this and think about what you want to do with your art, whether you want to be paid for your services or simply want to do it for your own pleasure. Heck, you don’t even have to share it if you don’t want to.

But whatever you do, start small.  Be it a nicely-written grocery list, drawing random stick people on the corner of the newspaper, adding color to a homemade cookie, a hand-written postcard for a friend, a practice stitch on a sample cloth, or even just splattering paint on a piece of  paper for no reason at all.

What matters most, I believe, is to just make.

What Do The Numbers Mean To You?

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In the era of like buttons, follows and social media milestones, I simply cannot imagine being an impressionable kid growing up in a life constantly measured by the number of likes.

However, to a regular Instagram user such as myself who conducts work by way of social media, it’s a completely different story.

So what do the numbers mean to me?

1. The reach can be exponential.

It is possible that I am able to reach out to someone having his morning coffee right now on a cozy couch room in Romania, while another fixes her laptop bag in Oregon on her way to work, and while another reader shares my content from somewhere in Brazil at the same time an IG friend might be walking their dog in Taiwan.

All this happening while I work from my little corner here in Singapore. Now this in itself is something I find very, very fascinating.

2. People are listening.

It’s nice to know that when I share something on social media, someone listens. Whether you have 10 followers or 10,000, it all starts with that 1 sincere and loyal listener.  I don’t advice seeking  and trying to hook followers for its own sake. When I follow others, I do so only for the sincerest reasons.

People can sniff a phony a mile away so always stay real and as authentic as possible, the way you expect others to be in real life. 

FullSizeRender (48) copy

3.  It helps foster and build ties.

I might be talkative to people I warm up to but I’m very introverted and keep to myself almost all the time.  Thanks to Instagram, however, businesses now know I exist and are able to reach out to me at all times of the day depending on where they are on the planet.

Through social media, I managed to quietly build stable and thriving work relationships from all around the globe without always needing to be out and about.

4.  It makes many good things possible.

It’s not called the “world wide web” for nothing. By making my presence as an artist online,  the doors are now thrown wide open to an entire universal population accessible by smart phone and computers.

The world, indeed, is wide and a vast web of connections.  Use it only to promote the good in this planet.

We sure could use it.

5.  The rewards go beyond the numbers.

I have also made online friends through Instagram and this blog.  Another good thing to come out of this are personal messages in my email or comments, sharing their own creative struggles and how my own journey helps them them take the first step.

This feedback is something I did not foresee when I began sharing my process online but I am  really grateful people  from all walks of life find something in my work to relate to.

The part I like most about being online is simply finding like-minded souls who I am able to have authentic dialogue with.

And for me, this is really what the numbers are all about.

What Happens When You Commit To Your Creative Process

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In one of her talks, Lisa Congdon mentioned a “painting curve” which looks like the letter “U”.  My process EVERY SINGLE TIME: start with giddy excitement as I begin with the first strokes and slather the first layers of color then midway I just want to hurl it against a wall or rip it to shreds because it starts to look nothing like what I see in my head.

 

But only recently I learned to soldier on through that uncomfy, awkward and antsy phase instead of chucking it in the bin. In the end, there is that sense of accomplishment in concluding a piece, even if I’m not always 100% happy with it ?

 

And this is what a sketchbook looks like when you commit to that process: every single page covered with complete illustrations, no ripped pages whatsoever.

An entire sketchbook that I finished intact end to end.

I learned the full meaning of one word when I used to go wall-climbing: commit.

Whenever I would hit a snag and hesitate and shout “I can’t! Bring me down!” to the one belaying from below, he would shout back “You kidding? Just commit!”.  Even other climbers nearby would chorus the same thing and shout “Commit! Just commit!”.  I quickly learned  that what they were telling me was simply this: Do not hesitate. Let go and release the grip of one hand so you can reach up with the other and move along, flailing and all.

So today, I apply the same principles in soldiering through my creative process.

Simply commit and allow yourself to be pushed in the direction your work is taking you.  Yes, there will be a lot of discomfort  but it’s an artist’s form of growing pains.

 

 

How Do Schools Kill Creativity?

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“Do schools kill creativity?”

When I first heard the profoundly entertaining words and witty perspective of Sir Ken Robinson, I almost cried. I post my creative process for people seeking their place in the sun, imperfections and all. Here is a man who said it all for me.

People’s unhappiness and confusion can be attributed to a general educational system that kills creativity, according to Sir Ken Robinson.

I remember how I used to get very mediocre grades in 4th grade, simply because I couldn’t remember the myriad of names in the muscular and skeletal system. I also recall how I was sent to the guidance counselor during my senior year because my teachers were concerned that I was not paying attention, that I was always, as they would say, “spaced out”.  I also needed to draw in my notebooks so I could understand what’s going on, and survived school by getting bonus points with my drawings in reports (Kids, back then we had no ClipArt gallery and no Google images!). The only reason I liked Math was when I got to draw shapes, angles and graphs using colored pens but I still almost failed anyway.

My math skills only improved when I started earning my own money after university, and my intelligence in science kicked off as soon as I started mixing artist’s solvents and when I started baking bread. I was also a late bloomer as a reader because I only liked Tintin comics, and colorful books with lots of pictures. I cheated through my book reports by spinning off stories from the summaries at the back (which my teachers saw through!).

Sir Ken Robinson raises an interesting point: that professors shouldn’t be the hallmark of success or intelligence because most of the time, they live in their heads. We have an educational system that works on everything waist up. Everything academic, everything cerebral is given much weight. He also mentioned that in 30 years, degrees will probably be useless and obsolete.

I actually believe him.

He mentions back in the day a diploma guaranteed him a job. Now, you need an MA because the BA isn’t good enough. The jobs that require the MA now need a PhD. He observes that you now have a bunch of people with sparkling degrees who stay at home andplay video games all day.

So now what?

As expected, I was never encouraged to be an artist or a writer because they said I will starve for the rest of my life. As a former educator in a mainstream school, I felt bad when students with mediocre grades in major subjects are regarded as a big joke by no less than the teachers themselves. I joined the educational system in hopes of finding students who are just like me and do better in their lives sooner than I did.                                                    

Although I became a working part-time artist at 27, I stopped a few years later when I hit a creative slump, riddled myself with debilitating self-doubt and one colossal creative block that spanned almost 5 years.   It was only in 2012 that I gratefully picked myself up, and rebooted my art career.  At almost 40, I have just begun working once again as a professional painter and artist.

And a full-time artist. Finally.

He also shares the extraordinary story of Gillian Lynne, the famous choreographer of “Cats” who was considered a below-par student who kept fidgeting and lacked focus. She was brought to a doctor by her mother to be examined for behavior. Her mother narrated Gillian’s “problems” to the doctor. Later on, the good doctor asked the mother to step outside with him so they could discuss privately. He turned the radio on and left the room. Then, he told Gillian’s mom to look inside the room to see Gillian dancing to the music playing all around the room. He advised her to send Gillian to a dancing school: “Your daughter is a dancer. Send her to a dance school.” And when she went to dance school, she saw everyone was just like her — kids who had to keep moving in order to learn.

Let the children dance, sing, cook, paint, sculpt, write and whatever it is that makes their hearts sing. People are not machines where data can simply be encoded, programmed, controlled and re-calibrated. We have feelings, we can taste, smell, hear, feel and see things.

If only we let the child’s imagination, senses and creativity flourish, change everywhere will be massive.

– – – – – – – – –

 

A List Of My Drawing Pens

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I always get asked on Instagram what materials I use for my illustrations. So, here we go. A list of the blacks pens for drawing that sit on my desk right now.

pens for drawing

Calligraphy brush pen (whose name I can’t read)

I picked this up in Kinokuniya, if I recall correctly. But I’ve seen them in regular bookstores as well around Singapore, amongst the paintbrushes and bottles of black calligraphy ink.  I like using this for some of my bolder illustrations because of the varying line width it produces in my strokes.  It gives my work a more fluid look, which I love.  The good thing is I’ve seen these come in different sizes as well though I choose to use this wider one.

Stabilo Greenpoint

I love how this pen glides so smoothly. No, not all pens are created equal and not all pens glide smoothly across different paper textures. This one does.  I use it for lettering and I like how it doesn’t bleed and does not look too bold considering it’s a felt tip pen. Best of all, this pen is made of 98% recycled plastic so you’re doing Mother Earth a big favor!

A stubby writing pen called iSign 0.7

I bought this on a whim because it’s short and fits nicely in the small pockets of my bag.  However, ink tends to flow too much while writing that it produces lines which look bolder than a 0.8 pigment pen. And it bleeds through the paper causing messy blobs on the other side. This happens even if the sheets I use are relatively heavy  The only reason why I bought this was because of its size and for random bits of writing grocery lists and such.

Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.8

Permanent, archival and waterproof are three things I look for in a drawing pen.  Why? Because I don’t want my lines to smudge once I start layering it with colors.  Things like felt-tip pens, brush pens and other colored inks will make your black lines run unless they use this type of ink.  Of all the disposable lightfast pens I use, this is the pricier one thus far.

Pigma Micron 0.5

Another archival pen, Microns also come in various nibs and have proven to be very reliable as part of my pen selection.  Waterproof and indelible, it comes in handy if you like layering your work with other water-based pens and prevents it from creating one giant mess.  I don’t know if it’s just my luck or if others have had a similar experience but the Micron tips tend to fray and soften a lot quicker than the other brands.

Uni Pin Fineliner 0.05

Before I discovered any of the pens I’ve mentioned, Uni Pin was actually the one I used a lot.  Perhaps it was because it was introduced to us in our high school art classes but it’s extremely sturdy. Like the Micron and Staedtler pens, Uni Pins are archival, waterproof and permanent.  I have not had a Uni Pin’s nib go bad on me up to its very last drop of ink.

This list is not absolute and base it solely on the brands I’ve come across. Some people can produce stellar and jaw-dropping work using even just an ordinary blue Bic ballpen.  It’s absolutely inspiring!  Do experiment with different types and see what fits best with your choice materials and imagination.

Other than those I’ve mentioned, what pens do you use for drawing?

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5 Reasons Why It’s Okay To Not Be An Artist Right Away

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I thought I missed the boat forever when I forgot to take my university entrance exams for a degree in fine arts. Yes, I forgot.

Okay, I’m saving that story for an excruciatingly embarrassing post at another time.

Anyway, I learned years later that life does find a way of pulling you back: to your authentic self, your true calling. From the time I lamented in 1993 that I’ll never be a professional artist ’til I started painting for a living again in 2013, life happened.

A lot of it, actually.

And here are five reasons why I am grateful that I became a self-taught working artist in my very late 30s.

1. I learned to get my ass kicked early on.

Banking is, perhaps, the one career I am glad I tried, albeit short lived. I learned to be time-sensitive and organised, go through things with a fine-toothed comb, and observe business protocol when dealing with clients from all walks of life.

If there is one gem of a take-away I carried with me ever since, it would be “trader’s word” a.k.a “my word is my bond.”

And that is how I conduct all my transactions in all my endeavours.

I honestly think this is what spells the difference between artists and professional artists.

2.  Working in different jobs means being exposed to all sorts of characters.

I am probably one of the few who have had fantastic bosses along the way.  But I’ve also had my fair share of lousy encounters and attitude from co-workers whom I now consider an insignificant value in my life’s total equation.

When I started going solo, I got taken advantage of quite a number of times, from clients who suddenly disappear when you start to collect payment (or clients who simply never paid)  to fellow artists who don’t conduct themselves ethically.

Nonetheless, the experience shaped me into someone made of sterner stuff,  with the foresight to always take the high road notwithstanding the frustration that comes with it.

Oh, and another thing. Working in different jobs means building your personal network by organically meeting various people who are not artists. What does this mean for you? Well, simple.  You have an audience who can potentially be your client who will support you and buy your art 🙂

3.  I learned to be real and I learned to be humble.

As an artist, I tend to live in a colorful nirvana in my head.  Having been exposed to a great number of people through the myriad of jobs,  I learned to live in the real world.  This means:

That I won’t get my way all the time.

That I have rent and bills to pay.

That the going does get tough on some days.

That people are allowed to disagree.

That I don’t know what I don’t know.

That there are people who won’t like me.

And that in order to make my dreams come true, I need to be willing to get my hands dirty, swallow my pride and simply do the work.

4. I learned to talk about money.

Enough with that “starving artist” mentality.  Working in less dreamy and romantic careers meant talking about things that can make you uncomfortable.

Like money.

Work is work and thus needs compensation that lives up to industry standards.  And just like any skill, your time and energy deserve to be paid, no task too small.

Because you earned it.

Learning to discuss it tactfully, however, is an art that you master over time.

5.  I learned to protect myself.

Contracts. In writing. Always.

With the wisdom and discipline I managed to pick up along the way, I now bring so much more to the table than just skill and imagination.

I learned that making beautiful things is a gift, but to be reliable and trustworthy as an artist (and as a regular human being) is to be a gift.

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