Digital Hand Lettering: You Can

You can do it!!!

Last month,  I bought my very first Zig Brushables. Before having one, I use normal brush for my works. Using a normal brush wasn't easy especially for a left-handed like me. My works look untidy because the colors smudge. It was one of my watercolor frustrations. 

So when I learned that brush pens are now available in the Philippines, I told myself that I need to have one. I remember checking every local online shops that sells brush pens. Comparing their prices and checking if they have physical stores since I don't want to spend extra for shipping fees. Luckily, the bookstores located near my place now offer the same products I saw online. Yehey!!!

One of the products I was able to create using my Zig Brushables is the "You Can" digital poster on top. I digitized my hand lettering using our Canon scanner and edited it on Adobe Photoshop CS3. The process was very easy, you don't have to be a Photoshop pro to do one. Once you master the basics of Photoshop, you can do something like the one I did and use it as invitations, posters or even desktop wallpapers. Isn't that great? 

These are other samples I did. You can change the colors of your background/ text depending on your personal style. So if you are looking for something to do with your friends, try this and I'm sure you and your friends will enjoy.

(If you want an in-depth tutorial about this, just let me know.)

Samal Island Photodiary

Samal Island is located in Davao del Norte. It's on the southern part of the Philippines so if you're coming from Manila, a flight to Davao City is the fastest way to get here. Once your airplane has landed to the city, a quick ride (less than an hour) will take you to the port where small ships will take you to the island. Though short, the travel to the island is wonderful. You'll see ships moving and waves dancing.

Aside from the resorts, there are old houses found in the island. The styles of each houses describe the decade it was built- a quick class on history.

The people are very friendly. They are very helpful and they always provide the best for their visitors. Like the other places in the country, life's not easy in the island. The roads are not that good and the people walk miles just to get to their destination. But as always, I admire how these people can still laugh despite the hardships they are experiencing.

Coron Photodiary

A peaceful escape from traffic. Coron is located in the northern part of the province of Palawan. The airport closet to Coron is the one located in Busuanga , so you have to rent a van that will take you to the  town proper.  But fret not if you think the ride to the town proper from the airport is boring. Busuanga is looks like a place straight from New Zealand- grassy fields and thousand cows.

The town proper, although small, is  the perfect  place for those who hate the noise of cars. Tricycle is the main transportation, more affordable than the ones in Manila. The foods are imported from nearby provinces since bananas, rice and even coconut trees do not grow in the area. Expect that the price of the foods are quite expensive, but don't worry, the foods are fresh and delicious-worth their price.

Island hopping in Coron is magical. Fishes of diffent colors and sizes will greet you. The virgin beaches can be compared to the ones found overseas. The calmness of the sea will energize anyone. The blueness of the sea alone is a work of art. The different shades of blue are really pleasing.

Never leave the place without knowing Coron's wonderful people. Everyone is friendly and hospitable- very Filipino. Their stories are really inspiring. They prove that life is still meaningful despite all the challenges this world gives.

P.S. Today is the Philippines' 118th Independence Day Celebration. This post is for the ever beautiful Philippines who never ceases to amaze everyone. 

Capturing Creativity

My attempt to hand letter some lines from the song Me and You using my Zig Brushables in black.

Hand lettering and music are two of my favorite things. Poetic songs are truly creative. Hand lettering works are also creative. I will always admire artists for being creative to associate their emotions with visible things. It isn't easy, I suppose, but I know it's a remarkable thing.

How can one be creative? you might ask. Look around you, I say. To be creative is to open our senses to our environment, what's around us. The things we see everyday, be it good or bad, can inspire someone to continue this passion. The  gloomy sky can inspire an umbrella designer to create a yellow umbrella. The blue sea can inspire a songwriter to write about the calmness it brings. The traffic can inspire an architect to work with the government to solve the traffic problems. Inspiration is found everywhere, always free for everyone's consumption.

Try walking outside. Free your mind from the things that worry you. Free your mind from all the expectations, open your eyes to endless possibilities that this world can offer.

Close your eyes and try to feel everything. Try to capture the moments that amaze you, inspire you or even challenge you. You don't always have to capture these moments through your camera, capture it using your eyes.  Phineas once said that the greatest camera is our eyes and I totally agree. Rewind it every now and then. It's not bad to rewind the moments that encourages you when you're down.

Style Lessons from the Ye-Ye Girl

                       

Francoise Hardy has been my ultimate French girl since the first time I heard how poetic her songs are. Her personal style is one of the reasons why I adore this shy and laconic girl. By looking at her 60s pictures, one can see that she leans on simple and basic pieces, which is very French. During the time when everyone wears girly clothes, she was sporting the complete opposite. Her androgynous style proves that you don't have to wear pink dress to be stylish. All you have to do is to be confident that beyond these clothes is the real you, loving and living life to the fullest.

On Expressions

Now I believe that the hardest thing to do is to express our love for the things that inspire us. Now I believe that it's hard to explain how someone or something fascinates us when we think that there's no word that perfectly describes how we feel towards that someone or something.

I don't know if this is true to others, but I am always having a hard time writing about the things that I love. I always feel that I whenever I start writing about my inspirations, I get lost. I don't know if I'm jut having a hard time writing in English or what, but the moment I start composing my thoughts, I get overwhelmed. I can't organize my thoughts. I can't think clearly. I can't.

And I will always ask myself with the same question; " what's the problem with you?" Je ne sais pa. I don't know. You see, if I know what's the problem then I shouldn't be having a hard time sharing my inspirations.  If discovering the best way to express my thoughts is a journey, then I would love to embark on that journey. It may take long but I am positive that it will be worth it.