MA Day 1
Posted on June 18, 2013 by Hannah
Today was very intense. I can’t say I’m not surprised, It’s officially been a week since I left home and I’ve been trying to get myself oriented to the life at Providence. This is my first time in America and it’s like watching TV only your in it and I forget to interact with people sometimes because of that. It’s true. So anyway, I’m in a graduate program called Masters in Interior studies Adaptive Reuse of space under the Interior Architecture Department of RISD. I applied for the program with the idea at heart that this will challenge my creative output in interior design and will inform my knowledge in sustainability and architecture. That’s it in a nutshell, however i don’t think i was really prepared for -all- this. I think nobody in the class expected it to be this intense on the 1st day of school. I’m still up and about contemplating on our first project and it’s almost 3 am. I have to remind myself that I’m a student again and this role needs some getting use to. That and the food, the weather, the people. Goodness, what did i get myself into.
For the first project we’re asked to create “The Intuitive Shoe Box”. Selecting two operative words from the “Verb list Compilation: Actions to Relate to Oneself by Richard Serra and draw spatial studies within the parameters of an imaginary shoebox that imbues an effect described by a series of adjectives identified with rooms and spaces. I chose “to flood” and “to hole” as my two operative words to create the effect of an “intimate” space. Why? I’m not entirely sure. HAHA. Bwiset.
The impulse decision was from the prodding of my professor upon seeing my drawing which I’ll share and add here when I’ve mustered enough strength to transfer photos from my phone.
However, I do like the critic of my classmate that utilize “to flood” and “to hole” in a different light – literally and figuratively. She’s suggesting the holes will be flooded by light and it’ll create the effect of “Luminous” or “Spiritual”.
Gaaaah! We need to submit the first model by Wednesday. I’m not too happy with what I’ve come up so far but I’m super challenged by all this. I’ve only slept an hour and have a slight stomach flu to boot but I can’t wait what’s in store for us in class later.
That’s that for now.
Posted on April 25, 2013 by Hannah
Just thought I’d follow up the last post with some random drawing i did just now.
Same but different
Posted on April 24, 2013 by Hannah
Wow. I’ve been ignoring this journal for a very long time. My last post was from November, a month after I moved in with the lovely couple behind Electrolychee. Almost 6 months have passed and it would appear I’m moving out again, this time to another continent if my visa gets approved that is. This whole business of waiting and the anxiety of the unknown has been the center of my existence since the day I found out about my acceptance to graduate school. It starts this june – Gah. I’m at the point now where the universe is stirring my career towards a direction I thought I’ve out grown and It’s daunting that my sentiments from when I was a measly 22 year old cookie cutter in the gutter of Cubao X is coming into fruition – 6 years later. After I managed funding my studies in interior design about 4 years ago (WTHELL), I packed my t-square and markers and thought perhaps this may not be a serious career path for me, but alas I got into the graduate program in interior architecture in RISD. So yeah, that’s the bit I can’t digest yet. Until such time I’am fully aware what kind of voice I’ll be contributing to this industry, I won’t understand how this happened. Now, it’s a matter of finding that voice in between bouts of self doubt. /melodrama
So, What have I been up to the last 6 months?
February : Art month. I can’t even begin how that month traspired. It was a cacophony of Philippine art all over Manila which was glorious. They say it’s a good time to be in the art industry in the PH as the Philippines is making it’s mark all over the world with artists like Tapaya who’s been getting high accolades in the international scene. My family’s gallery set up an exhibit in this fair.
Art Fair Philippines 2013 from Neil DC on Vimeo.
January: These are WIP photos of props I made for the website of Liter of Light. I worked on this last September 2012 and it only came out about 2 months later. It’s been entering a number of advertising award shows as of recent by the agency BBDO Guerero who produced it. I heard it’s doing quite well. It was a good account, I had a lot of fun working on this.
Sometime in late 2012 : I got invited to do a talk about production design in Sari Dalena’s film class in UP. I was trying hard not to be awkward as seen in the photo below.
My little illustrator agency has been working on redesigning the website as of late 2012. We’ve been working with the talented Kara Villaseran in between a number of accounts we’re not yet allowed to publish. I’m really not suppose to publish this here now but I’m doing this a physical note to finish all work in the site and get it up and going..
Lastly, my dear friend Charlie of whom’ I’m proud to say is part founder of this studio in Melbourne, has came up with this site to chronicle our little postcard trading over the years.
That’s as far as I can recall for now. I’m really bad at this journal thing. buh.
TOKWART x Crajes at Pablo Cubao X
Posted on November 14, 2012 by Hannah
Last Saturday, Wiji and I collaborated with the lovely ladies of Crajes at Pablo X as TOKWART Space invasion.
Tokwart x Crajes from John Christian Del Rosario on Vimeo.
Can’t complain really.
Posted on October 16, 2012 by Hannah
Life’s been good to me and I’ve nothing to complain about. Incidentally this makes so much sense!
Design and Illustration : Wedding Invites
Posted on August 13, 2012 by Hannah
A few entries back, I mentioned that there are quite a number of weddings in my circle of friends this year. Incidentally, I’ve been having a few wedding-related work as well. I know it’s odd that I suddenly had the urge to discuss this now at a time like this.. But well, I’m just in the mood to post something happy and light after days of gloom and rain here in Manila.
Anyway, here are some pieces that I thought came out nicely.
The first one is a collaboration between me and Wiji. I supplied the illustration of Puto and Lianne and Wiji did the layout and the graphic design for all the wedding collaterals. Thought I’d also share that this wedding was beautiful and special because it was a collaborative effort by the couple’s friends. My lovely lady loves of Nomnomnom Happy Food, Mara and Carina, supplied the sumptuous food and styling of the venue and I couldn’t be more proud with what they did to the place.
It was a beach wedding (obviously). I was just in time for the ceremony after a 4 hour bus ride and naturally I stayed over after consuming mounds of grilled shellfish (It had natural butter). I don’t remember not smiling or laughing or eating with friends whilst the sensation of sand beneath my feet amidst the sound of waves and starry sky – i don’t romanticize often, so forgive me! It was sheer joy! Nature the unbeatable beauty, it is the ultimate testament of love!
The next day, the girlfriends with the bride, paid the macho sun a visit.
with Wiji of the http://thecuriousstudio.com/ / L-R Leo Saño, Gabie, Lianne the Bride, Mara of Nomnomnom, Denise and Wiji
- – -
The next wedding commission was for a colleague from Vietnam. In 2011 She hired me to illustrate her website’s banner and I was delighted to hear she was getting married to that cool dude who beat me at a betting game at my first ever English vs Germany 2010 world cup. I sided with England just because they were all for Germany, not knowing the team were complete a-holes.. (the flat was filled with Germans, so they’re collective boos against England was hard to beat, especially for a terrible trash talker like me.) moving on..
This account was immensely over thought. The couple at some point, even pleaded me to stop illustrating their faces because I was unsettled by their contentment with my first draft. Since they lived overseas they paid me in full before getting any work. So my natural instinct was to deliver something awesome because I owe it to them for paying ahead of time (This is rare for any client you see). This is a beautiful problem to have kids and I learned something new about myself – the more anxious you are to impress, the more it gets worked up. Here’s an evolution of the work I did for them.
This was obviously inspired by Vietnam’s lotus ponds. My original work for Ann Ha was similar and she specifically requested me to incorporate lotus elements into the composition. I enjoyed working on this too much I think..
That’s it for now! Hope that was a cheerful post. It cheered me more than anything i think, recalling the beach wedding with friends is a great contrast from what our weather is like nowadays. Wishing you all a wonderful week!
Soupie Snacks : “Mary”
Posted on July 2, 2012 by Hannah
this is a comic i drew based on a real life character – MARY. When we asked what her name was – she had a funny tag line “But I’m not a virgin anymore.” She was homeless and hung out in my folk’s place in the mountains. Another situation presented itself a few months ago with my ever so funny father / artist. Sorry for the poor quality of the photo of the comic below…
P.S. She spoke in fluent English not Filipino.
true story.
Life : Quickly
Posted on July 1, 2012 by Hannah
Hi Blog. There have been pretty awesome moments in my life these past few months that I’ve failed to report in this journal. Like two months ago I went to Tokyo, Japan and while that was great, the memory seems blurry now unless I consciously try to remember. buhh. After that two week holiday, i went straight back to work and that must have muddled my memories a bit. Though I must admit, the trip fueled inspiration and pumped me up for creative work for a while. It’s been 2 months now and I long to go on another holiday.. particularly in Japan again. I’ve been a bit too active in Instagram lately which has started to fulfill my life – noting – needs. OK, It’s not really the most valid excuse for being absent. I admit I’ve been lack luster on blogging. So much effort goes into it… how do these kids do it?!! I USE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT TOO.. gah.
I’ve also been working a lot on projects from my little company called Human Projector. It’s a year old last month and work has been pretty steady. I don’t recall talking about it much because of fear of somehow ruining it.. o__O but I think i can say now that the company has went past the birthing pains and is legitimately alive. yey! Universe don’t oppose me!!
EDIT: 3 hours later:
Also. Another thing, as much as I enjoy working on print and setting up exhibitions for my mother’s gallery. I miss working on animated things. I miss working with the animators who makes my illustrations move. I’ve been lurking around vimeo and I miss creating environments for a story. I have this penchant for production design and i don’t know how some people can stand working with just one medium..
REWIND – February “The Birth Month”
Posted on May 30, 2012 by Hannah
February was pretty awesome. I turned a year older and one of my favorite artists, Boogie Ruiz, painted me on the spot as a surprise gift from my mother. A few days later my grade – high school friends schemed with my parents to surprise me while I unsuspectingly spend my weekend at their place in the mountains. Some of them high school friends I haven’t seen since graduation which was 10 years ago – GAH. Work wise this month paved way to many interesting design jobs. Yey.
Happy Birthday club. 02/26/12
My cat Shroom got his very first pet salon trip this month. I’m posting his face since it’s lovely, much like this month.
Soupie Snacks – “Weddings”
Posted on May 28, 2012 by Hannah
I’m still alive. I’m aware I haven’t been around much. BUT, i will post updates about the past 4 months right after this comic. This script’s been sitting on my computer ever since I had this conversation with our secretary.. So i’m pretty pleased about finally drawing it today. I’ve been in a creative limbo lately if you must know..yeah, so.. hi guys
