Green Dreams

"The dream was green. And green dreams never lie."

The Man With Three Nipples (Working Title, Draft)

A very rough draft of a story I hope to polish into completion soon. Watercolor background. Freestyle lettering using a Penesco 501 Esterbrook nib and Cross ink. Somehow I made a mess of the lettering, bleeding ink everywhere. The watercolor layer on the page seems to disperse the ink before it gets absorbed into the paper. But I guess it added to the rough charm of this page.

It's about this man who has to endure life with three nipples. You can try to read it here (again, reminding you it's a rough draft) or wait for the final form.

Heaven Bound

Heaven Bound (Watercolor, Acrylic, Ink on Moleskine)

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo Da Vinci

Imagination

Each world we conjure in our head is a creation. I imagine, in the vastness of the universe, somewhere sometime, that world materialized with all the creatures, the people, the culture and the magic that goes with it. Somehow, the blueprint of this world resides only in our head, in our memory. And whenever we forget, an apocalypse happens.

Imagination (watercolor, acrylic, ink on Moleskine)

“It's all a question of imagination. Our responsibility begins with the power to imagine.” ― Haruki Murakami (Kafka on the Shore)

Christmas Muertas

Poinsettia Overload.

AngI.n.K. Corner: Tutubi... tutubi...

I remember as a child, I used to chase and catch dragonflies with my brothers and cousins at the backyard of my grandparent's house. Now, with all the progress in the neighborhood, they're all gone. nowhere to be seen. How I wish to see them once more.

Main artwork done for AngInk corner, pubished in Manila Bulletin last December 1, 2012.

Kidlat sa Bilis

Recently, Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan held its 21st Annual Exhibition, entitled Mabubulaklak na Dila, Mga Sawikaing Filipino, all about Filipino idiomatic expressions, or “sawikain” We had to create a spot illustration interpreting common idioms and I was assigned to work on “Kidlat sa Bilis”, (translated as "fast as lightining") which meant to move very fast. While thinking up on this piece I asked myself "When do we run our fastest?" Of course, when we are running for our lives. 

I even imagined a background story on the piece: Mom asked Boy Kidlat to buy vinegar, but is so afraid of neighbor’s dog… so he took his Lolo’s agimat that grants him the gift of unnatural speed! 

The exhibit at CANVAS.ph has recently concluded, but the other pieces can be seen at the UP College of Fine Arts starting December 6, 2012.

21st AngI.n.K. Annual Exhibition: Mabubulaklak na Dila - Mga Sawikaing Filipino

It’s the time of the year again when InKies showcase their obsession for creation through the power of children’s illustration. The 21st Annual Exhibition of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (AngI.n.K.) is entitled “Mabubulaklak na Dila: Mga Sawikaing Filipino” and here we illustrate various distinctively Filipino idiomatic expressions. Seeing the previews of the submitted works of art, I couldn’t help but be excited to see how the participating artists interpreted more than 50+ “sawikain” This is surely going to be one entertaining exhibit! And entertaining is the apt word because your eyes and mind will feast on the variety of styles: from the intriguing, controversial and mysterious to the literal, ridiculous and humorous treatment.

You’re invited to visit the exhibit and look at the masterpieces. If you like, play a little game. Try to guess the “sawikain” correctly without looking at the title card of the painting and see how well you score! (That’s what I’m gonna do!) Better yet, if you like the paintings, you can bring them home (but leave some money, we worked hard for our babies).



The show runs from November 16-30, 2012 at CANVAS Gallery and Gardens. Opening reception is on November 16 5PM. See you guys there!

Firewood

"Love what you have and you'll have more love
You're not dying
Everyone knows you're going to love
Though there's still no cure for crying"

I started making this after listening to Regina Spektor's song "Firewood". I love her.

Caught In The Rain

"Of all days I should forget to bring my umbrella, why did the sky all of a sudden decide to rain now?," Mesma muttered while taking cover under a mushroom along with other elves who were caught unawares by the sudden torrent of rain. Huge globs of rain explode as they crash against the ground, splashing water everywhere, it was impossible not to get wet. And with the rate the rain is falling, pretty soon every mushroom on the mound will be engulfed by the rising flood. Forgetting the umbrella was the least of his problems Mesma realized.

11 Minutes of Sex

My Moleskine drawing "Magkadugtong sa Bituka" in Paulo Coelho's Blog! Woot!



http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2012/05/11/11-minutes-2/

Even if he didn't personally ask me to have it featured in his blog, the mere fact that he SAW my drawing, and CHOSE it to ACCOMPANY his WORDS is AWESOME!

Catch For The Night

Catch For The Night
By Christian Oliver A. Cruz

Last summer, the whole family went to Donsol where they say we will be able to see the gentle giants of the sea, the biggest fishes of all... the Butandings! So excited was I! I even read books about them. They open their big mouths and in the planktons go. I wonder what planktons taste like.

We rode on boats and headed out to the sea. So excited was I! I made sure not to blink because I wanted to be the first to spot them. I looked to the front. Then to the right. Then to the back. Then to the left. I made sure to look all around. Hours passed and still no butanding. Soon the boat headed back home. My little sister was crying, "Why are the butandings sleeping? Wake them up mommy!" I wanted to cry too, but I didn't. I wonder why they didn't show up.

My little sister was still sobbing as she slept beside me that night. As soon as she was sound asleep, I left the bed and looked out the window. It was a clear night with the moon and stars up in the dark sky. A lot of stars tonight. There's the Big Dipper. There's the Small Dipper. Hmmm, I wonder what that one is. As I stared to that group of stars, I noticed it started to move! Soon, other group of stars moved as well! Suddenly the moon shone bright, illuminating the whole sky to reveal what the moving stars were!

I rushed to the bed, woke my little sister, "Look up to the sky! Look up to the sky! The butandings! The butandings! There they are, up in the sky!"

We ran to the beach, to the nearest boat and sailed up to the night sky. Up and up we sailed high up to the night sky! Awesome sights galore! Butandings everywhere! Golden starfishes shining bright! Fiery jellyfishes zooming by.

I told my sister, "I want to catch a butanding for you, so you'll never cry again!"

"Thank you Kuya, but I don't think that's a good idea," she replied.

"But I'll catch one for you anyway!" I flung the net out and caught a huge butanding, its star-studded body struggling.

"Kuya! Stop! Look at him. He's crying!" I looked at my catch and there it was staring at me with tears in its beady eyes. I felt shameful of what I was trying to do. "I'll be fine Kuya, don't worry," my little sister whispered to my ears. Together, we released the butanding back to the night sky as it rejoined the other moving stars.

We came back to the shore, back to the room then back to bed, where my little sister and I went back to sleep. This time, no sobbing.

The morning sun woke us up. As we were packing our luggage for the long trek home, Dad and Mom said, "Don't worry kids. Perhaps we didn't see the butandings today. But all the more reason we'll be back here next year!" I caught my sister gleaming at me with a pretty smile. I winked back at her. So excited for next year!