I wish I could have...

Brands, ads to kick off 2009
By Roger Pe
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 16, 2009

Roger Pe wrote his opinions about Department of Tourism Live Your Dreams, TV commercial:

"What do you always dream of? Why watch your dreams go by? Whatever it is, dream no more because you can always “Live Your Dreams” in the Philippines.

Good proposition, with lots of possibilities for a long, sustained campaign. The execution is refreshing, far from the usual stuff you see in a generic tourism spot.

The music adds wings to the commercial. It flutters with the chirping forest birds up in the sky and sways with colorful fishes under the sea. Given more media money, even parrots will be humming it in no time.

May Ann Licudine, the Filipino artist who did the illustrations for this animated spot, should win a Caldecott, (the world’s most prestigious children’s book illustration award, in case she publishes them).

Unfortunately, the ad’s campaign theme is a tad close to Hong Kong’s high profile “Live It, Love It” line. People do remember, remember?

Granting that it is not entirely the same, they should veer away at least from the “Live it” line on the website, pronto. Or tweak the phrase a bit to make the idea as solid as it can be, and escape the unavoidable comparison.

The solitary white lady on the beach, transforming from fantasy to reality looks a bit of a stretch. The “Big Feel” everyone is waiting for is also not felt.

The Philippines is just a few hops away from ASEAN countries registering whopping double-digit foreign arrival figures annually. We are pretty sure there’s a creative way to loop the tourists in and not bypass us. 2.5 Stars

To the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3: Thank heavens for finally opening the first building people enter when they land in the Philippines. While we cannot have the grand spectacle of a Bangkok or Hong Kong international airport just yet, this one will suffice for now. Not bad, but we deserve better.

Let it not be said that this is already it. As the world moves forward, we hope that we will, too."

Awww, I don't know what to say... I didn't have no idea that he wrote it about me on Philippine Inquirer (it's one of my favorite Philippines local newspapers). I'm so happy and pleased. I wish I could have Caldecott Medal unless I should write my own story and illustrations, sigh when will I have free time to start it..? Thank you very much, Sir Roger... I really appreciate it! :)

About my online portfolio website, sorry, i got another bandwidth again. I got more than 700 unique visitors per day thru my art website. eeeeep! But better visit my flickr, deviantART and here, my blog. :) thanks for loving my artworks and supporting me! I love you all!

New Pieces + Kirkus!

Hello everyone! Wow, I was inactive here because of my bad health and busy schedule. Now I enable comments this time. I'm so sorry that I disabled comments on my blog since past few months ago. I want to tell you all the reason: two anonymous people left their bad words on my blog, they harassed me. That's why I closed the comment box and felt greatly bad and quiet. I still don't know two unknown people. Oh well... I am completely okay and I don't care about harassing people. Hope you understand me, my fellow bloggers and readers.

Hey guys, I have good news: I'm now a new Auntie! Liam is a son of my brother Jeremy and his wife Willen. He's quite adorable, isn't he? He looks like my dad, Jeremy. and Willen. When Liam will grow up, I'm sure he will ask me to make artworks for his future homework, hahaha! Check this cute photo out! (Guys, do you see a white spot in my right eye? Ugh, it's a cornea ulcer... any lights can hurt my right eye! Ouch!)

Hehehehehe, I can't stop looking at my cute nephew.... Now I'm posting my new wood paintings for the group art show Catalyst in Nucleus Gallery. I started doing more complex colors and details after I made my previous project, Live Your Dreams. My family and friends told me that my art style is more different and improved, I was really happy. When I worked on my pieces, I was very inspired by my favorite artists Hayao Miyazaki, Winsor McCay, Helen Hyde and Mary Blair. Thank you very much for supporting me, Nucleus Gallery especially Lin! My original works are AVAILABLE now, hurry up art buyers!

Shardul Panthera
Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood
8.5” X 24.75” inches
SOLD

The Notorious Ornate Horned Frog
Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood
9” X 10.75” inches
SOLD

The Great Mushroom Oranda
Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood
9” X 10.75” inches
SOLD

The Vivid Gastropoda
Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood
9.75” X 9.75” inches
SOLD

I made two works with my new medium: Graphite & Pastel on Wood. They are not bright just like my acrylic & colored pencil works because I wanted to make them look like antique / vintage-style. So I love my new medium! Next time, I'll do more subtle graphite & pastel works!

Morass Chaser I
Graphite & Pastel on Wood
8” X 5.75” inches
SOLD

Morass Chaser II
Graphite & Pastel on Wood
8” X 5.75” inches
SOLD

And another good news.... I made a new Etsy shop for myself and my sister Erica. As a matter of fact, I planned to open a new shop for selling my art last year but I canceled it. Because my art buyers and clients enjoy my stable art commissions more than my art prints. I didn't expect that my art commissions make more double money so I'm so lucky.

Let me explain about our new shop. We named the title shop Kirkus!, a small colorful carnival-themed shop. I got inspired by the style of Winsor McCay about his bright colors and carnival stuff for our shop: bracelets / anklets, coin purses and handcarved rubber stamps. Erica and I started doing business since December 2008. Hehehe, Erica didn't know how to make packages and take good photos so I did all. Whew, hectic hectic. Well, I need to learn more about Etsy info, shipping, policies, etc. Anyway guys, enjoy visiting our Kirkus shop! Please see more pics on Flickr account. We hope you guys like our simple products and support us. *Mall giggles and smiles gently*

(Nope, that's not my arm with real red tattoos. That's my first cousin Dyanne. *winks winks*)

Regarding the art commissions, they are still close, sorry. Because I have "reserved" art commissions for my few clients since 2008. I thank you all for emailing me about commissions, in time, I'll let you all when I'll be available. Right now, I'm ready to work on my illustration for the wedding invitation of my first cousin Harley and his beautiful sweet bride Georgia.

Hey I miss you all! How are all you doing? Share your news with me. :) See you guys! *Mall hugs all readers tightly and goes back to her work again... she's too workaholic.*

Catalyst / Dreams to Reality

Gallery Nucleus
CATALYST & DREAMS TO REALITY
January 17 - February 2, 2009
Opening Reception: Saturday January 17, 2009 (7 pm – 11 pm)
Admission is free. Refreshments and music provided.

Gallery Nucleus brings you two simultaneous group shows - Catalyst and Dreams to Reality - featuring a crop of emerging and most-talked-about contemporary young artists of the day.

CATALYST is comprised of emerging artists whose work merits special attention. These are the artists that we admire, and who possess a contagious energy and enthusiasm in their craft. Featured artworks and themes are distinct and vast with each artists drawing upon their own personal aesthetics. The art featured will delight and intrigue viewers from the surreal and darling worlds by May Ann Licudine aka MALL, to the patterned and atmospheric painting by Cielo Oreste. Also featured is established illustrator Chris Appelhans, French artist Adolie Day, Fashion Illustrator Laura Laine, the highly ornate paintings of Yellena, installation and mixed media artist Edith Abeyta, and academic painter Leonardo Villasenor.

CATALYST ARTISTS:
Adolie Day
Cielo Oreste
Chris Appelhans
Edith Abeyta
Laura Laine
Leonardo Villasenor
May Ann Licudine aka Mall
Yellena

Opening the same night is DREAMS TO REALITY. Curated by artist David Jien, Dreams to Reality began as a desire to help a friend in need. Friends and artists have united together to do what they do best - art, and in turn are donating their proceeds to this admirable cause. Artists include those who are quickly making a name for themselves like Ekundayo, Mike Alvarez, and Andrew Hem whose works have been showing at galleries throughout Los Angeles and the USA. Other featured artists include Alvaro Sanz, Swank, Devin Strother, Leo Eguiarte, Wayne Johnson, Julienne Hsu, Alisa Yang, Reinier Gamboa, and Eric Skotness.

DREAMS TO REALITY ARTISTS:
David Jien
Idrew him
Alvaro Sanz
Ekundayo
Mike Alvarez
Swank
Devin Strother
Leo Eguiarte
Wayne Johnson
Julienne Hsu
Alisa Yang
Reinier Gamboa
Eric Skotness

Taking a Break

Hello. My big sister Mall is taking a break and she might not get online for a few weeks. Oh no, I found a white spot in Mall's right eye today. She's having a Cornea Ulcer since yesterday (but now she got a flu. Oh poor sis..) She needs lots of rest because she got infected from her stress and a contaminated water source or air. Don't worry, she will post her five latest paintings in the middle of January.

- Erica
P.S. they are my kittens. meowwwppuuurrrrr. =^.^= The photo was taken by Mall last year.

Welcome 2009!