On Blabbing

Whilst in the middle of planning for work-related tasks, I've decided to blab about things I was thinking about.

- Last month, I downloaded the BBC player app on my phone, and to say that it was a good decision is a big understatement. The app has a lot of podcasts and radio shows that could cater to different interests, which was the very reason why I downloaded it in the first place. Another reason, which I consider as a "subconscious" reason, was the Radio 2 Beatles special that BBC Radio prepared in line with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' Abbey Road album .

Just last night, I heard a podcast episode about Poppy plant. Yes, the plant associated with opium and the First World War. Listening to the history of the plant and its association with key events in human history was fascinating. The thought that a plant was interlaced with our collective history and consciousness speaks so much about the relationship of nature with humans. Thus, it poses a challenge for everyone to take care of plants and animals. Very informative and challenging.

Some podcasts, dramas, and shows on my favourites list: Soul Music, The Why Factor, and Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire.

- I am currently contemplating about my journal options for 2020. Although I enjoyed journaling using my current journal, there are specific aspects of it that I didn't like. I did try some journal notebooks throughout this year, and that actually helped in narrowing down my options for journal notebooks. If there's one take-away from this experience, it's to try things out to discover which suits your preferences.

November- December 2016 Movie List

It's a rare thing for me to watch movies that are not my part of my favorite movies list. I  always tend to stick to my favorites. Oops. That's why being able to watch 4  new old movies last month was a surprise. 

Me Before You

-I watched this because my friend said it's a good movie and he's correct. After watching the movie, I realized things and I was able to see a part of me in the movie. Sometimes it's Clark that reminded me of myself, sometimes it's Will. My most favorite part? the last part because 1). Paris and 2.) Will's letter is for everyone, not just for Clark. 

What If

- This is an overdue movie I told myself I will watch 2 years ago. I don't know why the realization took that long, nonetheless, the movie's still as charming as its trailer. It gave me an idea of Toronto, plus the postcards sent by Chantry's boyfriend were beautiful- *excuse my postcard addiction* hehehe

Grace of Monaco

-This movie was the start of my current fascination with Grace Kelly. The funny thing was, after watching this movie, I watched biographies of Grace Kelly and discovered interesting stuff about her. To be honest, I've known her since I saw that old book we had at home, but that's all. When we were young, my sister's bet was actually Grace and mine was Audrey.But it's actually just now that I became curious about her. Back to the movie, I love the outfits wore by the actress who played Grace. I also love the setting of the movie ( Monaco is such a lovely place).

Rear Window. 

- I just finished watching this last night and I was blown by the way Alfred Hitchcock did this movie. To be honest, I watched this because I was really curious about Grace Kelly and her costumes. But after watching the movie, I realized this is something I would totally recommend to a friend. I'm planning to re-watch this movie because of the following reasons:

• The apartments were so realistic that I became so interested with 1950s New York. 
• It's a mystery film ( Hi to my favorite Detective, Shinichi Kudo)
• Watching the movie left me puzzled to the point that I  searched for the analysis of the film, just to assure my inner self that my assumptions were true. 

Mean Girls
-I never thought this movie was interesting. I think this is a movie everyone should watch as it talks about the truth behind high school struggles.

Roman Holiday
-Rome's actually my first favorite city (dream destination) before Paris . I think the reason with the Roman fascination was the book we used to have at home. Watching the movie made everything I saw on our old book come to life, the only problem with this movie is that it's black and white. *Sad*

On A Rainy Saturday

Someone's holding up for tomorrow, like the twentieth-century lovers.

2019 Art Materials

This is what the changing tides brought to my personal choices- new art materials. The funny thing is, I didn't realise these changes until I sat down and enumerated the things I currently use. The thought of leaving my old favourites behind was frightening- I'm always frightened, so what's new? But looking back, the whole process of going to art stores (or bookstores) and testing new products was something I genuinely enjoyed.

Watercolours: Sakura Koi and Winsor & Newton Cotman

Water brushes: Sakura 

Brush Pens: Tombow Dual Tip and Pentel Fude

Fineliners: Sakura Pigma Micron in 02 and 03

Fountain Pen: Pilot Metropolitan

Pencil: Pilot Color Eno Mechanical Pencil in Blue (0.7mm)

Journals: ABC Daily Journal and Monologue Sketch Pad

On Sketching

It's been 5 years since I started using watercolours. I can still remember the day I bought my first watercolour and paintbrush- it was a Saturday after my class. Initially, I used my watercolours for lettering. However, I stopped my lettering journey last year because it wasn't interesting anymore. Not that I don't like lettering, it's just that I need a new way to make something out of my interests. I  also want to try something that's completely different from lettering- something that rely less on letters and more on what I see when I walk. Luckily, this feeling towards lettering made way for me to try something I've been wanting to do ever since- sketching.

As far as I can recall, before buying my first watercolour, I used to spend my midnights drawing buildings using our old crayons. Those midnights were my way to release the tensions of the day. Thus, I consider buildings and colours as my intimate moments with myself. That's why, when things are difficult to bear, I would go back to buildings and colours to tame myself. 

As for this new hobby, trying to sketch after a long time while using a different medium was difficult. Due to my lack of knowledge with perspectives, lights, and shadows, my works looked unrealistic. It was a little disappointing, I know, but I think not trying at all is much worse. After months of sketching, I'm quite confident to say that I'm making little progresses. I'm more satisfied with my works than the ones I did 3 months ago. 

Here's to more sketches in the future!