Lifestyle Archives - Page 4 of 5

Jul 04 2015

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My First Art Giveaway On Instagram For 2015!

By Jar Of Salt | Uncategorized | No Comments

Care for a little art print giveaway on Instagram?

It’s my first for 2015 and my way of saying a heartfelt “thank you” for your incredible support and inspiring words that helped me start somewhere.

To enter & receive this A4 art print, simply:

1. FOLLOW @thejarofsalt on Instagram, and

2. TAG a friend in the comments section of this post on Instagram . That’s all!

There will be TWO winners: you AND the friend you tagged.

You can enter more than once!

Winners will be announced FRIDAY July 10 (9am EST). Framing and clips not included.

Have a fun weekend everyone!

Jun 20 2015

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Are You On Instagram?

By Jar Of Salt | Uncategorized | No Comments

Been working on fixing up myself on my social media account lately. And after deleting HUNDREDS of photos, changing my handle (I don’t even know why I chose a different name on Instagram in the first place), and fixing my bio, I think I am set.

If you’re on Instagram, pop in and say “hi”! It would be nice to hear from you 🙂

Happy weekend everyone!

Jun 15 2015

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5 Reasons Why You Should Read “Creative Block” By Danielle Krysa

By Jar Of Salt | Uncategorized | No Comments

It’s not everyday that I come across a book that is after my own heart — every single page, cover to cover. Danielle Krysa (aka The Jealous Curator) is a story in itself, one that all 50 featured artists in the book speak of. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve picked up a book so engaging that it’s the first thing I read while having breakfast (and the only thing I read throughout the day when I’m free!).

Here are 5 reasons why I BELIEVE every person who has tried creating (professional artists and artists-at-heart alike) should definitely have “Creative Block” in their collection:

Reason #1: Danielle Krysa

Find out why she’s called “The Jealous Curator” and you will understand why the book and the author are one and the same — and that ultimately, we are just like her, too 🙂 By the way, I’ve only met her through social media and I already think she’s an incredible human being.

Reason #2: Pictures. LOTS of pictures!

One of the best ways to be inspired (or jealous, whichever it is you choose) is to see other people’s breathtaking work. The book is packed with images that draws the reader instantly into the world of every artist, designer, illustrator, painter and sculptor Danielle interviewed.

Reason #3: These artists are human.

With our bellowing voice of self-doubt crippling our fullest potential, this book opens our eyes to the world of prolific and creative professionals. “Creative Block” is a collective story, humbling tales of otherwise ordinary people who talk about their work, the artists whom THEY are jealous of, dealing with negative (and scathing!) remarks and their creative process.

Reason #4: The book is easy on the eyes.

The size of the book makes it easy to appreciate full-color art spreads. Moreover, what I enjoyed most was that it was a quick read, where around 3 pages are dedicated per artist in a Q&A style of writing.

Reason #5: It is packed with practical advice and easy-peasy projects to do.

Every artist featured in this book provides a Creative UNblock activity, nothing too overwhelming actually. I’ve tried a couple myself and they encourage you to think out of the box by looking at the mundane in a different way, and using whatever is already physically available in your life.

Here are two of the projects I’ve tried thus far:

1. Creative UNblock #26 from Jessie Draxler: gather ordinary things from around the house, place them together and take a photo. I went through my paper bin and found this crumpled foil from my acrylic palette and placed it beside a Dalí coffee mug.

Danielle Krysa book Creative Block

2. Creative UNblock #04 by Cassandra Smith: make a little sculpture out of a found object. My take on this is drawing my dog Jones around some used corks I found on a shelf. Wa-chaaaa!

For those unfamiliar with my earlier posts, click my ABOUT page and find out why this book means a lot to me. “Creative Block” has become a friend of sorts that I can turn to when in need of some delicious creative replenishment.

Have a succulent day and get those creative juices flowing now!

PS. No, this is not a paid post, in case you’re wondering. I just really, REALLY loved the book 🙂

Jun 08 2015

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Hello, Etsy Singapore!

By Jar Of Salt | Featured | No Comments

Thanks to The Cotton Shoppe for a memorable group shot!

The past couple of weeks have been very invigorating, and inspiring. For the first time since I joined Etsy years ago, I finally see the living and breathing faces behind the website I’ve come to love. I actually joined Etsy around 2006, shortly after their initial launch but closed shop pretty soon because I just couldn’t sort out an efficient delivery system with our postal system back in Manila. But when I moved to Singapore four years ago, I found myself giving it yet another go.

Photos by TinkerSG and Matt Doris.

So here we were recently, all the makers of sellers based in Singapore coming together to meet up with lovely people from Etsy’s UK office! It was an afternoon well spent and a day of good vibes, exchanging ideas, meeting like-minded characters and forging new friendships. I’ve also gotten an invitation a year ago for a craft party but I wasn’t feeling too craftsy at that time. When they announced that Etsy’s global craft party was coming up, I said “Well, why not?”, especially since the theme was PAPER. etsy sellers singapore 2 etsy singapore 1 When I entered The Playtent, it was refreshing to see the colorful, packed venue bursting with life and already in full-swing. I found myself sitting with the group of Ana, where they were quietly folding paper to make paper bracelets. etsy sellers singapore 3 People always mistake me to be the crafty type. But nothing could be further from the truth. Not to mention, aftsy and craftsy are worlds apart and not mutually exclusive. Doing simple crafts — needle point, origami or sewing — pose as a challenge both for my dexterity and my patience 😀 etsy sellers 5 As there were so many little kids running around, I actually didn’t notice there was a collage activity happening on the first floor. I only noticed this on my way out. I actually enjoy cutting paper so I wish I saw this earlier 🙁 etsy sellers singapore 1 I wish I could have stayed longer but the logistics posed some difficulties for me with a sprained ankle, which did not allow for me to fold my legs beneath me and sit on the floor. Looking forward to the next Etsy activity! etsy sellers singapore 4

May 13 2015

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Committing To A Creative Process

By Jar Of Salt | Illustration | 6 Comments

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. 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 annoying 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 and saw everything through with nothing disposed of.

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 I believe it’s really is such a great way to simply surprise yourself.

Apr 18 2015

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How To Use An Old Wine Cork To Break Creative Blocks

By Jar Of Salt | Uncategorized | No Comments

I am still waiting for Danielle Krysa’s “Creative Block” book to arrive at my doorstep.

Tick tock tick tock.

For those not in the know, she is the energy behind the artful blog The Jealous Curator. Love love love! 🙂

In the meantime, I follow her on Facebook and she has been generously sharing monthly tips from the artists featured in the book, to break the very things we conjure in our heads that hold us back from being our most creative self. I only caught the April project shared by mixed media artist Cassandra Smith :

Make a little sculpture using a found object. Find something around your house, at a thrift store, a wacky junk store, anywhere! An object that is about as big as your hand or smaller is probably the best size to start with, so it’s not overwhelming. And make sure it’s something you don’t mind ruining. This is just suppose to be fun after all! And then transform the heck out of it! Paint on it, glue things to it, cut it in half and glue it back to itself, or glue it to something else. Use the objects color and shape to inspire you. — Krysa, Danielle. “Creative Block”, 2014.

Karate Jones copy

This is my initial take on the project. Although I didn’t do a sculpture, I did manage to turn an old wine cork into a log for my dog Jones, who is channeling his inner Daniel-san.

Wax on.

Wax off.

Apr 17 2015

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How To Use Your White Gel Pen

By Jar Of Salt | Doodles, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

sketchbook art

Thought I’d give the Moleskine sketchbook a break and indulge in a trusty 300 gsm watercolor paper today. On days that I’m just not in the mood for black ink, I try experimenting with others colors: a red ballpoint pen, an orange highlighter, or even a white gel pen. As I also wanted something different, I decided to splash some colors on an otherwise plain white paper for a fresh change 🙂

Apr 16 2015

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5 Reasons Why We Should Not Stop Drawing Doodles

By Jar Of Salt | Uncategorized | 4 Comments

I cannot remember a time when I didn’t draw something and to this day, I still can’t distinguish my professional creations from doodles because they are one and the same. I never had formal training and I missed that chance to study Fine Arts at the state university because I forgot to take my exam. That’s another story right there!

The definition of a “doodle” I came across is “to draw aimlessly when preoccupied”. I did this a lot as a student because I had (and still have) a hard time focusing. It caused problems for me, of course, because I was labelled as distracted and spaced-out. This meant getting sent to the guidance counsellor.

1. Doodling kept me alert while I listened in class, though. That’s what helped me make sense of all the thoughts streaming in. It’s a bit of a detour and alternate route to learning, but it worked for me probably because the intuitive act of drawing is a good way to repel tension. This creative ritual puts my entire being at ease, which allows me to think.

2. I doodle not because there is nothing going on in my head but exactly because there is too much going on in there. And doodling is what harmoniously strings all the buzzing together into perfect harmony.

3. It’s possible people dismiss doodling as just some jumbled up, inane scribblings and something for the hands to do to while your time away. But I know that there are people out there that need a release and this kind of space in their heads to clear the brain of clutter so ideas can filter in gracefully. I believe the freedom in doodling creates a limitless sphere of nothingness in our heads where concepts, thoughts, shapes, words and colour thrive — if only we let them .

4. Most of my paintings, and illustrations are harvested from this crude process. Of course this method cannot work for all tasks, especially those that are time-sensitive, those which require minute detail and precision.

5. But doodling, I believe, is a skill we are all capable of. We joyously did this long before we even learned to write our name. But someone must have told us early on to stop making a mess, to stop wasting time, to only colour within the lines, or to draw a tree “this way”.

So how does one learn how to doodle? We just have to pause, relish the brief silence and simply remember.

Feb 08 2015

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A Workshop For People Who Think They Can’t Draw

By Jar Of Salt | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

UPDATE: As of February 27, this class is FULLY BOOKED. Thank you very much!

Drawing can be one way to unwind and express ourselves creatively. Meanwhile, the sight of a blank sheet of paper can leave others feeling intimidated and paralysed just thinking of what to draw. I’ve had friends who say they want to immerse in a more artful lifestyle but always voice out the same thing:

“But I can’t draw!”

As grown-ups, we tend to get stuck trying to draw the ‘right way’ and to color within the lines just as we were once told. This pretty much makes up the ghost of our creative past.

The 3-hour hands-on workshop aims to:

approach art intuitively by celebrating the imperfect,
explore the kind of art where every drawn line and shape is valid, and
foster a safe and encouraging community for like-minded creatures.

Let the creative juices flow, build confidence in your own drawings and turn the pages of the sketchbook into your kind of art. When you’re finished, own it, embrace it, love it.

Participants will be equipped with their own art kit containing the ff:

-personalised journal
-practice drawing sheets
-drawing pad
-drawing prompts
-black archival ink pen
-pencil
-eraser
-good vibes

😀

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BLANK PAGE?
MARCH 7, Saturday
2:00 – 5:00 pm’

$90/person inclusive of materials and refreshments
To book a slot and for payment details, kindly send an email to saltrub@gmail.com.
Registration ends by March 5.

The cozy gathering will be held in a private space at Woolf Works, the afternoon’s lovely shophouse and creative sanctuary located at 176 Joo Chiat Road, 427447.

🙂

Once payment has been completed and received, you are considered confirmed and good to go! Registration closes two days before the event or when all seats are booked.

Fees are non-refundable but may be transferable for the same workshop.

For daily sketchbook entries, visit Instagram @themessycake .

For current projects, see jarofsalt.etsy.com .
For past artwork, view my online portfolio .

Note that this workshop is not a technical class. So you will draw the way you want to and the only thing you need is your imagination.

Dec 05 2014

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Where To Buy Art Supplies In Singapore

By Jar Of Salt | Uncategorized | 10 Comments

A sketchbook workshop in Singapore for the shy and hesitant artist and artist-at-heart. Join our little creative gathering on Nov. 21, 2-5 pm. Click here for more details. See you there!

Four years in Singapore and I still feel a little lost, not knowing who to ask or where to go when I need to find stuff. Recently, I’ve started going back to painting and I love working with large scale canvases. In my search for quality supplies, it was recommended that I head over to Straits Art. And if one were truly serious about his or her craft, then this is the place for you.

To begin with, I belive they’re the only one who carries Golden in Singapore. It’s a premium brand of paint which comes in runny, high-flow variety. I instantly fell in love with their teal and magenta shades, not to mention the viscosity once it flows over the canvas.

One key and highly notable advantage Straits Art has over any art store I’ve come across is the incredible competence and knowledge of the staff. No query was left hanging or unanswered, and they are familiar with all their products.

They are well-versed, fun to talk to, and very generous with their time. They even have open samples lying around for testing consistencies.

Straits Art is tiny compared to its competitor BUT the shop is brimming and packed from top to bottom with only artist-quality supplies — none of the student-grade art materials and paints one would normally see in an ordinary bookstore or other art stores.

I managed to find what I was looking for: a 1 meter linen canvas panel. Here it is in my studio propped on the easel I purchased from Straits Art, one which can support a massive 2-meter panel which I plan to do later on:

Moreover, they also carry a good range of Prismacolor pencils (I’ve seen work using these pencils and the result were illustrations in bold, smooth colors!),

a dreamy shelf of buttery Sennelier oil pastels,

and Schminke! 🙂

Processed with VSCOcam with m5 preset

They also have a good selection of top quality brand sketchbooks artist’s boxes and portable easels (?),

brushes (look at the detail on that weathered box!),

more brushes (LOVE),

and these disembodied heads looking toward the heavens.

Another thing I took home were two new nibs which I fished out from this box that calligraphers can only dream of:

You can go through every nib and test each one as you please. It was only when I got home that I realized the nib I chose was a gem. Look at the tiny, artful detail:

I enjoy coming to Straits Art because of the people — I can’t remember if they’ve been around since 1946 or 1948. Either way, they’ve been around for a pretty long time and their curation of brans is to trusted. They are truly passionate about what they do and what they sell. and I noticed that they do not impose anything on you. Best of all, you have their undivided attention as a customer and will have to wait your turn if they are attending to someone else before you.

For those looking for sincere conversation about art and care about the lifespan of their work, visit Straits Art, located at 420 North Bridge Road.

🙂

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Lifestyle Archives - Page 4 of 5 - The Jar of Salt

My First Art Giveaway On Instagram For 2015!

Are You On Instagram?

5 Reasons Why You Should Read “Creative Block” By Danielle Krysa

Hello, Etsy Singapore!

Committing To A Creative Process

How To Use An Old Wine Cork To Break Creative Blocks

How To Use Your White Gel Pen

5 Reasons Why We Should Not Stop Drawing Doodles

A Workshop For People Who Think They Can’t Draw

“But I can’t draw!”

Where To Buy Art Supplies In Singapore

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