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Photography Archives - The Jar of Salt

Apr 04 2017
1

When Art Becomes A Little Less Fun (Part 3 of 3)

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In an earlier post, I delved into the changes that happen when art is no longer something you do for fun, when it’s something you have to do because it’s your life, and it’s your job.

Things change when you do art professionally.   When things shift from hobby to industry, we become our own boss. Thus, parameters need to be defined and, like any other 9-to-5, work conduct must be upheld in all our transactions.  The goal of our craft is not simply about getting messy and mixing paints for its own sake.

It becomes about someone adding value in the world.

Art is not free

When I was 14, I hand-painted posters for an event in my local country club. It was something I personally pitched to the manager, and something I wanted to do because I was on summer holiday and I was running out of things to do.  The deal was they provided the materials, and I drew. I honestly think that was the start of my professional career! 🙂

One would think twice about asking a lawyer, a doctor or a carpenter to do work for free.  However, and quite sadly, many people will not hesitate in assuming that artists will be okay to do things pro bono. Up until recently, I still got offered mileage as payment, good golly.  In my opinion, mileage does not pay anymore, not in this era of social media with today’s generation of outspoken artists.  You can read my thoughts on this  here.

I’ll understand if it’s for a charitable cause that is in dire need of support, and it’s also your prerogative if you want to accept work  in exchange for goods and services that will be of use to you.  Be open to negotiations but refrain from doing things for free.  Doing things for a free meal? I say no.

I’ve also read about a lot of people on social media reaching out to designers and artists asking them for free items in exchange for a blog post and an Instagram feature.  It’s easy to get excited at the idea that someone else will talk about your work.

But here are some key questions to ask:  Who are they? What do they promote? How wide is their reach? And most importantly, how robust is their engagement? It’s not always about the number of followers that makes the difference so I’ll talk about this at a later post.  Always be on your guard when offers like these come your way because people who sincerely want to promote you on social media will do so out of their own free will because they truly believe in you.

The practice of doing art for free should be obliterated from our paradigm.

Refrain from apologising

I think a good number of artists have an issue quantifying work. It’s uncomfortable and makes people queasy. But over time, I learned to do this as gracefully as possible, with conviction and dignity. After all, art is work, mine and yours. The best advice I ever came across was in an article on the internet.  I cannot remember whose article it was but she said this: Never apologise for your prices.  

I used to be guilty of this when asked about my rates, ending it with “For the project, it costs $_____.  So sorry!”.   Now that I think about it, I can’t exactly remember why I was being apologetic yet it rolled offf my tongue quite easily.

Like I was apologising that I had to charge for art.

It was only when I accepted and embraced the full scope of my work and that it IS a job,  a profession like everything else and thus requires equal treatment like all other industries. Thus said, setting our professional fees respects global industry standards, ideally. It is rooted on size and materials (if it’s something like a painting), experience,  merit and scope of work. This makes your pricing clear, reliable and fair because it’s objective.  It’s not some numbers you pulled out of a hat or priced based on the level of emotion attached to your work.

The idea of a starving artist must die a swift and instant death right now and never be heard from again.  It is a poorly romanced idea of what makes an artist “real’.  When it comes to being a professional artist, there is much weight on the word “profession” as much as there is on “artist”.

The goal as working artists, aside from making beautiful art, is to make a living by being fair, sincere, trustworthy and credible across varying projects and clients. What our art means to people is just as important as who they’re dealing with, and our sense of commitment and purpose in all our endeavours.

To read Part 1, click here.

To read Part 2, click here.

Nov 22 2016
0

The Art Of Gratefulness

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If there’s one thing I learned over the years, gratitude is more than just being thankful in your heart or blurting out a perfunctory nicety. How does gratefulness hold all the pieces of my life and career together?

To be honest, I believe it’s something I tend to take for granted on many days and overlook in my so-called busyness.  Building an art career (or any career, for that matter) is not a one-woman job.  Whatever success I’ve achieved in my life is a result of an amalgamation of creativity, work and faith — mine and yours.

Being thankful, is not just a word or a fuzzy feeling. It’s really a lot of work and conscious effort.

How have I made gratitude real and tangible, really?  Hmm. Good question. Let me count the ways (5 of them, so far).

  • When I first started my art career early 2000s, there was no such thing as self-promotion because social media did not exist back then. Simply put, our careers back then relied mostly on traditional print and TV media editors.  I got lucky and writers sought me out on their own. All it took was one significant write-up in a major broadsheet to get the wheels turning.  Each time a local editor published something about my work, I always delivered a sincere hand-written thank-you note along with a small print or illustration.
  • Over time, whenever I would hit a  major milestone in my work, I would reach out to past establishments, writers and editors, to give them an update to thank them for helping me get a leg up and for giving me a chance to get my work out there.They didn’t have to do anything for me, but they did so because they must have found some value in what I do. And that is what I’m grateful for. I still touch base with many of them more than a decade later.
  • When I come across a book that has a profound impact in my life, I reach out to the bestselling author a letter via their Facebook page or email. I express how their words and insights have moved me in an unforeseen but magical direction.  Them writing me back is of no consequence to me.  But guess what? THEY DO.  Sometimes two weeks late if they’re very busy, but they write back a sincere note with an apology for their delayed response.  And they are equally thankful to hear from you and me.
  • When I used to work in the 9-to-5, I did the rounds of job interviews. And I went to a LOT! Like seriously, even the ones that may seem slightly off-tangent. But I believed in forming links through even the vaguest of job applications. Sometimes the interviewer would deem me unqualified/overqualified for the position BUT knew someone who needed someone like me.  He or she then passed my credentials to others which led me to eventually landing me a job. Every time I’d come out of an interview, I remember sending out a brief e-mail upon returning home (because back in the day you could only email from the home computer!), thanking them for their time and energy. It might not mean a lot, but it’s my way of acknowledging the other that I appreciate them for considering me worthy of their time at the very least.  Gratitude is also a skill to be practiced.  When I used to work in a PR firm, I was taught that all thank-you notes and responses after a correspondence, event or receiving something nice needs to be sent out IMMEDIATELY (no excuses nowadays with social media and smart phones!).  Now that I’m self-employed, I still continue this practice whenever I come home from any sort of  meeting, face-to-face or online,  results favourable or not. I say “thank you” not because I need to get something out of it, but I do it because I think the other deserves to hear it.
  • Finally, I count my blessings whenever I catch myself griping about something that is not up to par with my expectations.  When I catch myself in a spiritual snag, I blurt something out under my breath, sometimes struggling especially on days when things are going nowhere where I want it to. “Thank you for ____ ” or “I am grateful that ____”.  Yes, I whisper it out loud because I need to hear myself say it.  And it can be for anything, big and small, and the most trivial of things: from lying down on a comfortable bed, to having art supplies, to having all my faculties about and being  a fully abled and functioning human being, to having my husband and Jones on the couch with me, or the kind words someone shared with me that day. It’s easy to feel thankful when you get exactly what you want. The days that feel a bit more parched and wanting, however, are what I feel is the real challenge of my own sense of gratitude.

I think it’s also quite easy to dwell on what is not that it really takes will and conscious energy to embrace the is and the now.  The temptation to need and want abounds in many aspects of my life that gratitude acts as my anchor and beacon all at once, to shine the light on who and where I am supposed to be, which  is right here and now.

And that at this very moment, as an artist and everyday human being, I am gratefully enough.

Sep 01 2016
0

How Does One Become A Professional Artist?

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People have asked me this: “How does one become a professional artist?”

Now that I look back, I realise that being a professional and working artist, with emphasis on “professional”,  goes beyond talent, imagination and skill.

sketchbook class

“My word is my bond.”

I picked up this principle when I worked in a bank. It is a phrase used by stock brokers on the trading floor, wherein agreements and financial transactions are made and delivered without signing any documents.  This is a value that was deeply ingrained in me ever since, and one that, I believe, makes me a valuable artist to work with.  As a working artist, it is important to be regarded as someone reliable and trustworthy, whether it comes to being punctual at meetings, responding to email messages quickly, following through on a commitment, and completing a project on or before the agreed date.

Language is of the essence.

When writing professional correspondence with clients, be mindful of your tone, choice of words and grammar. Emojis, smiley faces and LOLs are reserved for chat messages with friends.  I would also recommend to keep cute language and emojis at a minimum when responding on social media because nowadays, our chosen platform serves as a window to our work. This applies especially to the name or handle we assign to our social media accounts. So please think carefully and choose a name that can easily be spelled and remembered, and one that you feel reflects your brand best.  Finally, for as long as the purpose of the written transaction is about work, keep the language polished.  It will remind clients that they are working with someone who takes their work seriously.

Let your “office” reflect who you are.

Let’s face it. Not many of us will have workspace that clients will be able to visit.  With the internet, however, we are able to set up a virtual office, a room of our own, where people all over the world can visit at any time of the day.  Whatever platform we choose,  whether it’s Tumblr, Instagram or Facebook pages, it would be best to be mindful of the quality of our photos and the visual content that we post.  Keep the selfies, duckface and OOTDs to a bare minimum if it’s not relevant to what you do. Save the passive-aggressive quotes for your personal FB account.

Putting our best foot forward works to anyone’s advantage, which means going the extra mile with good composition, cleaning, adjusting the tilt or brightening of our pictures.

Uphold industry standards when stating your fees.

As a working artist, you get paid. And frankly, discussing money is perhaps my least favorite part about transacting art.  Good news though: it gets easier over time, I promise.  You eventually gain confidence in the discussing money as you learn to pick up financial language that is neither demanding or imposing.

But the most important thing for artists is to never undervalue yourself.  Please. To begin with, stop working for free.  Unless it’s a charity, an NGO or a cause that is close to your heart, you must get paid that is commensurate to your efforts.  Back in the day, we were at the mercy of industry movers for exposure in getting our name out there — simply because there wasn’t any social media available for us to do the work ourselves.

The promise of exposure as payment  does not work anymore in this era. Unless it’s some really high-profile client of massive proportions, or one that you think will be a fruitful springboard for your goals, exposure simply does not pay.

Be humble and grateful.

This is one practice I’ve done for as long as I can remember.  After meeting a potential client in person or over the phone, or when a project has been concluded, always send a message of thanks. This goes such a long way.

Thank them for their time and their effort to come meet with you.  Thank them for their ideas. Thank them for the experience.  To this day, I still thank the key people who gave me a break when I was just starting in 2004.  It makes such a huge difference simply saying ‘thank you’ for the opportunity to work together and for their support, big and small.

The world is small and things have a way of finding its way back to you. When you plant the seeds of kindness and exercise sincerity and goodwill, people will sense it and will be more than happy to pass your name to someone else.

Of course people will remember you for your talent, but being remembered for your character is simply priceless.

Jun 20 2016
0

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?

– – – – – – – – –

Sep 21 2015
0

Artist On Holiday: W Hotel Bali

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where to stay in Bali 1

This was my daily dose of CMYK from our window, even while on holiday in Bali. Staying at W Hotel in Seminyak was a welcome treat for the senses: from the comfortably modulated beats piped in all corners, to the hint of lemongrass that permeates the air.

travel tips Bali 4

Before flying in, I was dreading being cooped up in some stuffy, formal hotel with canned air-conditioning.   So you can imagine my delight when I discovered that all communal areas — lobby, room corridors and lounges — open up to the sweeping view of the Indian Ocean thundering  just a few steps away.

where to stay in Bali 3

For someone who loves quirky design and colors, staying at the W was such a pleasurable experience.  This is their lobby at sun-down, with perfectly timed mood lights changing at intervals.

where to stay in Bali 5

The waters of Bali are not to be taken lightly.  I grew up in a land of beaches so I should be used to falling asleep to the sound of the gentle lapping of the sea.  But the sound of the Indian Ocean constantly roars, which explains why you don’t see anyone swimming in open waters and you stumble across signs like these:

W hotel Bali review 1

While I like the sun, I never really appreciated the concept of sitting under the sun doing nothing. I get a tan because I swim or play tennis.  So it was my first time to do actual sun-bathing and for the first two minutes I felt and looked every bit awkward because I didn’t know how to sit and do nothing under the sun.

So, I decided to do what comes naturally, which is to draw.

travel tips Bali 2

From where I sat, I could see our room.  This is the glow we see from the balcony at night:

photos hotel room W Hotel Bali 2

I have to admit the intensity of the wind whipping against the glass door of our veranda combined with the thundering waves of the ocean gave me a tinge of anxiety for a few seconds. Then I decide to let it go and allow myself to just be.

photos hotel room W Hotel Bali 5

There’s a lot of natural sunlight and air that kept our room nice and airy.  In the daytime, we are greeted by rays from the bathroom skylight.  For those who think someone might come by to do some window washing, just click the button and a shade covers the ceiling for your peace of mind 🙂

Pictures W Hotel Bali 2photos hotel room W Hotel Bali 4

The bathroom space at the W is not found wanting. In fact, it’s safe to assume that the bathroom occupies more than 1/3 of the room but with a lot of area to spare.

Pictures W Hotel Bali 3

Pictures W Hotel Bali 1

The bathroom walls have an option for full glass view with a wall you can pull out from the bedroom if you want more privacy.

Pictures W Hotel Bali 4

Our view fully faces the ocean, which we can enjoy from the daybed and lounge chair in our spacious veranda.  The W also does its share to take care of Mother Earth.  It took me a while to figure out why the room kept getting hot. This sign explains why.

photos hotel room W Hotel Bali 1

And there’s also this. I’m proud to say that we did cooperate accordingly.

Pictures W Hotel Bali 5

The hotel was bursting with energy and colors everywhere.  Which is probably why I loved the place so much, says the girl who doesn’t like staying in stuffy hotels.

list of hotels Seminyak Bali 2

 

travel tips Bali 1

At the W, none of the funky coffee mugs match. And it’s just the way I  like it.

By the shore, we made some friends.

list of hotels Seminyak Bali 4

W Hotel Bali review 3

W Hotel Bali review 4

Though we chose to spend a lot of time soaking in the beauty of Bali from the W, we had a lot of time to explore the flavors around Seminyak.

W Hotel Bali review

The first meal: Babi Guling.  Similar to the Philippines’ famed Cebu lechon (suckling pig) but a lot more fragrant.  Every juicy bite is succulent and bursting with lemongrass  goodness without that usual porky taste that stopped me from eating meat for years.  Compared to lechon, it is served in slivers and not chunks.  It’s probably THE dish that made me decide that, yes, Bali will be a regular trip from now on!

Where to eat in Bali 1

I also enjoyed this fall-off-the-bone beef dish from Bambu, hinting of citrus from lime, probably a sliver of coconut milk and a dash of sweet chili.  But before that, I had this:

Where to eat in Bali 2

Softshell crab drizzled in more sweet chili.  If you’re familiar with Thai flavors, the Balinese palate is very, very similar.

Where to eat in Bali 4

Bambu | Seminyak, Bali

What I appreciate most about Bali  is how tradition is interspersed in every bit of modern flavor, design and sound.

Where to eat in Bali 3

where to eat in Bali 6

Farm-to-table dining by rice paddies at Sardine.

travel tips Bali 3

where to stay in Bali 2

At the lobby | W Hotel Bali

I must to explain that I typically don’t t like watching movie previews or read movie reviews. I like the element of surprise and will watch what I want to watch, regardless of what other people say. My approach to our last-minute holiday in Bali was somewhat like that.  I only had enough info to know where we’re going, but other than that I wanted to just let one thing lead to another.  I had no idea that Seminyak would be both rustic and stylish at the same time, and that there was so much diversity in the area.

W hotel Bali review 2

You see them everywhere in Bali.  Tiny baskets or trays of flowers on sidewalks, lower porch steps, main entrances or even counter tops of stores. It consists of colorful buds and petals, somtimes crackers, a cookie, candies and you can even spot a cigarette in there every so often.  Our driver explained that all structures have two offerings, one on a higher level, and another on a lower part of a home or establishment. The ones in front is to ward off the bad.

where to eat in Bali 1 copy

Barbacoa | Bali

And  finally, who would have thought that one of the best fish tacos is to be found in a place like this in Bali?

list of hotels Seminyak 1

One other thing that caught me off guard about the island? The weather.  We traveled on a whim last week where the air was PERFECT, ranging a comfortable 19C-29C (64F to 88F).

 

I am a very fussy traveler so I’m very grateful that my husband put everything together a week earlier to create this breathtaking holiday. From the moment I stepped out of the plane, my first bite of local food and the quiet moments just soaking in the island’s beat and nature, everything was just magical.

It is now officially a favorite.  Bali, we look forward to greeting you each morning very soon.  Ubud up next!

Aug 30 2015
0

Busting The Day’s Creative Block With Semi-Circles

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moleskine art

There are days when you just know what you’re going to do and make and there are days that are a bit of a struggle. Anyone feeling creatively stubborn today?

For this Moleskine spread, I chose one tiny element from my previous sketches, like the semi-circle, and just drew it over and over and over and over again. It’s a lot soothing and easier than it looks, I promise.

Jul 04 2015
0

My First Art Giveaway On Instagram For 2015!

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instagram giveaway

 

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
0

Are You On Instagram?

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jar of salt

 

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!