ASCEND :::
my face toward the sky

And sometimes, words are not enough. Sometimes, things become too abstract that when I look at a white space, lines and curves just beg me to let them out and breathe. These are my sketches, and each are alive and solid with the emotions I had the second my pencil touched the page.

o arcanum - this was drawn during a rainy day. i was in my room, looking out the window when i remembered a story my grandmother used to tell me about elves and dwarves residing in mounds on the soil. i was always wondering how they deal with the rain. maybe they use magic to fend off the little droplets that assault their home. this is one of the magic-using elves i thought of.

o bound - this was sketched at starbucks 6750, during one of my melancholic moods. the woman is lying down on her side. she has strength, she has beauty, and she is everything almost everybody wants to be, but her eyes belie her tiredness from life.

o cleansing - this was drawn in school, during a class. i've always been thinking how it's like to be an angel... and this particular angel is relatively new to heaven -- undergoing cleansing before actually ascending to his duties.

o cool - this was sketched at starbucks vito cruz. i saw this guy at the other end of the room, and he looked very casual, that it just brightened my day somewhat. i had to capture the moment.

o daimon - this was inspired by a character from the anime, rave. sieghard's persona is one that appeals to me very much -- an icy, know-it-all bishounen.

o divine - this was sketched at nighttime, and the image of a scimitar came to mind. i thought how cool the weapon was -- its shape, breadth, and strength, without being too much of a burden. the horns on the guy represent the weapon is oft used by demons in stories.

o dreaming - this was sketched at starbucks 6750, and i was supposed to draw a brujah vampire. as i was finishing the sketch, i realized it would be better to draw a human being, looking oblivious to the world, but ensconced in a dreamworld of her own.

o dryad - this was drawn in my mother's office. i saw some trees out the window and the images od dryads came to mind. it was such a healthy looking tree that i figured it ought to have a beautiful dryad in it.

o fallen - another sketch of an angel. this was done at seattle's best greenbelt 3. i was told that angels can fly because they have no burden to bear. but what if an angel suddenly has something in his/her heart that is just too much for her to carry?

o gabriel - yet another angel. my rendition of the angel gabriel. drawn at starbucks vito cruz while listening to Lamb's song, Gabriel. "i can fly, but i want his wings / i can shine even in the darkness, but i crave the light that he brings..."

o heat - another sketch drawn at starbucks 6750. it was such a hot afternoon and i was wearing such hot clothes. i just decided to draw someone with the appropriate clothes for the weather.

o helen - i never thought of naming this drawing helen, but a friend said it looked like how helen of troy would be. i didn't get what she meant, but i named it helen anyway. originally tho, i was thinking of drawing a gypsy woman in a wagon on a caravan. i've always wondered how gypsies lived like... always dancing, always performing... how fun it must be. whatever a gypsy does, she does with passion; whatever a gypsy is, she is with passion.

o kidlat - i missed drawing super hero types. i was at a rizal class and the professor mentioned that jose rizal founded a club called The Kidlat Club. i thought it sounded really neat and i wondered how the members would look like. this is whatmy playful little mind came up with.

o naiad - this was drawn overlooking the jamboree lake at muntinlupa. it was such a quiet and lovely place, i thought naiads must reside in there, playing with the ducks and guarding the statue in the middle (which most probably has a treasure inside).

o parisian - after watching view from the top. the scene where gwyneth paltrow was walking the streets of paris by herself was beautiful, and somewhat sad too.

o persephone - the bride of hades, lovely as well as melancholic. some of my friends want to use the dress on their wedding. hehe...

o phoenix - used as a totem by an indian girl. i was originally thinking of drawing jean grey since i just saw X2 and the movie really got to me but i thought i wouldn't be able to do jean grey justice, so i reverted to an earlier idea instead.

o priestess - my idea of a wiccan priestess. standing under the moonlight before casting a circle. i know she's supposed to be skyclad, but i figure most wiccans have already included fashion in their ceremonies. hehe...

o randy - those who have known me for a long time will definitely know who randy is. those who don't, well... let's just say i miss him a lot.

o rapture - remember lilandra? i was thinking of her while drawing this. then i decided to mix a little elven features into her, and this was what i got.

o sensei - after watching matrix revolutions. i really liked seraph's clothes so i based this guy's robe on what seraph was wearing.

o shakti - this is the indian word for "power." i was thinking how it would be like to have such power at your command.

o shatter - this was drawn at starbucks vito cruz. was feeling mildly angry at something and i wanted to hear glass shattering. i contented myself with drawing something to the effect instead.

o silk - i was experimenting on drawing hair. on paper, you would immediately notice the traces of erased lines. good thing it didn't show when scanned. also, the japanese characters on the guy's shirt read, surprise surprise, Silk.

o summer - i haven't been to a beach all my life, but i imagine it would be such a beautiful place, with beautiful people, and nothing to worry about except getting the perfect tan. (or hooking up with the perfect someone. hehehe...)

o undine - another representation of a water spirit. undines are lovely, playful, creatures of the water. they are supposed to have divining powers, and they use magic on a whim.

o wasted - was feeling really tired, really exhausted, and really abused when i drew this. i'm not a smoker tho. i just thought it would add to the mood. hehe... oh yes, she's not wearing panties.

o winter - goodbyes are sad, sad things... rain is perfect, but winter captures the poignant silence more.