Who Are You?

This is my last art journal entry for 2011... and is currently still the last entry. Yeah, yeah... I'm frustrated about it too. Ever since I started going to the gym I feel like I have no time for anything else (probably because I'm too tired after the workouts LOL). I've been putting off my art and other matters. But things are going to go back to normal soon (I hope) and after I rearrange some things, I can finally divide my focus with the myriad of things I left hanging.

This was the result of going through my box of mementos from my high school and college years. I came across some letters which were given to me during retreats and those papers that were passed around the class where you had to write down something to describe the person whose name appears on top of the paper. Well, in my case it was full of "smart", "quiet", "kind", etc. Though I don't discount that I may have given off that vibe then, I was  a conduct awardee after all, I realized that it was a bit superficial. Was it my classmates' fault for not digging deeper or was it my fault that I didn't open up myself to them more?

Or maybe this was all just a result of not knowing who I was at that time either. How could they know when I didn't even know myself? 

To tell the truth, after all these years I still haven't quite figured it out yet.

But I would like to think that I'm getting there.

Waiting In Line

Amidst my seclusion the past weeks due to my Smallville marathon (more on that later), I found the time to get my bills paid. Believe me, if only I could pay it through online banking, I would have never stepped out of my condo. But it was just at the corner, literally, so it wasn't so bad to go out and get a little exercise. (Hah!)

When I got to the bank, I remembered why I hated going there. Two words: long lines. I went to two different branches and it was the same. Why is it that whenever you go to banks it seems that the tellers always go on a break and there is only one remaining?

I decided to make good use of my time, and let out some frustration in the process. And I came up with this little ditty. 

We fall in line to give them our money

Try to avoid looking at each other's eye

To reveal how much is your worth

In dollars, nickels and dimes.

Tell me when my number's up

Tell me when it's my turn

To meet that girl who's in front of this line

Who'll take what's mine with a smile.

Eventually, it ended up in an art journal entry.

...Yeah, I'm still figuring out this art journal thing. My gesso basically turned into rubber so I wasn't able to paint the background. Not satisfied with it at all. But I figured art is an evolving thing so maybe I'll revisit this for some improvements later on.

Speaking of improvements, I already made some on my previous entry:

Just added a few sunflowers I cut out, but it looks marginally better, right? I think it gives it a more uplifting, optimistic look. But... it still needs... something. Ah, well.

By the way, for more of my emo writing - my alter-ego is at Quilled Thoughts. Please be kind. :)

I've got a feeling

I'm still sucky about doing these art journals. I'm now thinking that it's just scrapbooking without the pictures?

I just finished watching the anime Beck and reading its continuation in the manga. Despite my current love of K-Pop, I initially was a rock fan due to my older brother's influence. Watching Beck made me revisit that and I've got this song from the Beck OST stuck on my head. Originally by The Beatles, I've Got A Feeling is just really upbeat and mellow at the same time. The contrasting lines of the song just fits what I'm feeling at the moment. Yeah, your life has its ups and downs... but everybody does. Just chill.

I wish I could sing it live just like what Beck did at Greatful Sound. How cool was that?

The first page

Er... I know that I haven't blogged lately. Just two posts in a month?! Lazy, lazy, lazy.

And as if I wasn't lazy enough, I decided to make an art journal. It's not that hard to do, but it's not exactly easy. 

I'm jealous of people who mix all these things to make something beautiful and kitschy. I've always wanted to try this style because I'm one of those people who somehow manages to collect so much junk - I mean, stuff - and have nothing to put them in on my 47 sqm condo. And though it hurts me to tear up my beautiful Japanese fashion magazines (sniff!), I'm satisfied that I'm going to make use of them instead of them collecting dust on the floor.

Gotta have materials first, right? I've already got an X-acto knife, doilies, assorted decorative tapes, paper... I had to buy a cutting mat which changed my life! Haha... I don't know how I ever cut something without it. 

Also, after weeks of searching and deliberating, I settled on a Muji notebook to serve as my journal. I like it that it's plain and unassuming. Ah, imagine if ever I have volumes of this stuff on the shelf! So pretty! They also lay very flat so it's perfect for scanning.

So, here's my first page. I'm not really satisfied with it, but that's okay because it means that there's room for improvement. I might start to venture into paints again and wouldn't that be fun? (and messy!)

The First Page

Materials: doily bought at Landmark supermarket, plaid wrapping paper, cutout from Japanese magazine, piece of cloth from an ukay 3 for 100 find, decorative tape bought at 168

There are a lot of people doing this, I think, but I was inspired by the blog Awkward & Beautiful. Check it out, you might be tempted to try it too.

I'll try to update more often both with my art journal and blog. October is off to a great start? Yay!