A Wise Leafless Tree

My cousin, Hera, asked me to draw this piece for a wedding she organized. My staunch ally, she has been excited when I told her I am dirtying my hands with paints and graphite.

Her request is a great timing for I have been planning to draw trees. It must be my activist response to the subtle denudation around me or an effect of my Sunday sojourn to feed the mice. Nevertheless, it was a pleasure to start painting this living wood.

The university is rich with different variety of trees. Every morning, I enjoyed looking at the verdant foliage that looks like velvet. It is quite fascinating to any artistic eye to watch the playful sunlight as it teasingly kissed the leaves. However, only very few, including my friend Leonore, will be fascinated at the wizened leafless trees.

But there is a lesson or two to be learned from trees bared with its verdant crown.  Amidst the beating of the sun and lush beauty around it, the leafless tree stood its ground, with humility and grace. When people scarcely look at it except in dire need of firewood, its hands continue to reach out to the azure sky, proud of its dried and cracked branches.

When I almost reach the end of the road and I have cataract on my eyes, hemorrhoids in my ass, wrinkles on my face, varicose veins in my legs and arthritis every cold night, will I be able to reach out with grace, humlity and pride like the leafless tree? Or will I live the rest of my life, eaten with despair and grief of pains I can’t let go?

A lesson from the leafless tree. Ring!

Take Home

Filipinos are very fond of taking home leftovers from parties. There are special reasons for these.

One, there are many leftovers during the party.

Two, the partygoers rain so much praises on the banquet that the host is so flattered that she has to pack some for these people.

Three, (and this particularly happens if your mother is my Ma), if your host is your mother, she would pack for an army so you won’t starve for days. But you would see her the following day.

Last Saturday,  I took home a different kind when I dropped by the celebratory party of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) that coincides with the birthday celebration of its dean, Dr. Ramon S. del Fierro.

After our lunch, my friend Jinky was quick enough to ask Sir Monch-kins the centerpiece on our table. Since I know my friend is not the type to fuss on flowers, I asked from her the centerpiece and took it home.

And here it is in watercolor. I hope I did justice to the ornament for these are beautiful flowers that mirror the kind heart and strong disposition of Dr. Ramon del Fierro himself.

A Preview to Nude Art

To be able to draw a nude portrait has been on my bucket list when I re-started art. It would come as a surprise if you know me 15 years ago. Raised in a conservative family and awarded as one who emulates the virtue of Notre Dame, I hope I won’t be adjudged unfairly for this shift in interest.

This is not my first attempt to nude art, neither was the painting entitled “A Woman Unchained”. There has been several attempts in the past and I can say, modesty aside, that I have improved in my figure drawing.

But why nude?

Figure drawing has always been a challenge to me. One of the many ways my big brother devised to tease me when I was a kid was to draw me in an exaggerated size, making me look fatter than I really was. Though I wanted to get even, I can’t draw a human figure as good as my brother.

Not anymore. Shame on you, Kuya. :)

I read from a book that to be able to draw a person, sketching them in nude is an excellent starting point. It makes sense for when a person is naked, the lines and muscle tones are very much visible and distinguishable. No clothing will distract the artist’s view.

And if I may be poetic about it, the human body is a beautiful masterpiece. If  an artist will be able to draw it on canvas, it would be tantamount to paying homage to our Creator.