sneakie peekie....

Okay guys, I let you guys to see what tools I use.

Yes, it's very important to use a ruler and tape measure! And... oh my, I can't stop collecting my wooden boards! I always find wood boards in the flea markets, woodworking store, antique stores, everywhere... Sometimes I get abandoned wood pieces for my personal artworks. Oh, I love my Black & Decker. He's my super handsome boyfriend. Hahaha, I can't help it. I should buy more Black & Decker power tools!

Liquitex rocks. You know what, I greatly thanked to my auntie Ester, who lives in California, brought me to the big art store during my first USA trip. When I entered the art store and felt speechless... I saw the whole complete art materials: Liquitex, Grumbacher, Pebeo, Caran D'ache, Winsor & Newton, more. Heavenly, oh, heavenly... I bought alot, hahaha! Well, Liquitex is my favorite acrylic paint.

Ok, I started painting Liquitex gesso for coating layers. Weeee, weeee...

Hooraaaayyy, I sketched on my big wooden piece for my current client Cristina. I really miss doing enormous stuff.

Aye, I'll be ready to paint the full colored painting! I'll be busy again! See you guys! *winks winks*

Third Printing???

Remember about my first children's book, The Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots? I visited my wonderful talented witty intelligent friend Nikki's blog today. She said:

I spent an hour or so browsing around Fully Booked yesterday. Whenever I am at a bookstore, I can't help but check if they have still have copies of The Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots. (When they don't, I make sure I text or call Adarna House. Hee-hee. It's the marketing person in me.) I was happy to find one of those revolving Adarna book displays with four copies of my book on display. I noticed that the colors of the cover seemed a little different so I picked one up and checked the pages too... and guess what I just found out? We're on our third printing!

As always, I am thankful. It's not actually third time "lucky" - more like third time BLESSED. We're on our third year and I'm thrilled that the book continues to sell.

Our first and second printings were sold... But now... my gosh... Third printing again? I'm crying now. I can't believe how much Nikki and I are so blessed!!! Indeed, we are thrilled that our book continues to sell!!!!!!!!!

If you don't know about this book, here's a synopsis:

Follow the adventure of the Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots as it makes friends, learns new things, and travels to different places. You will discover why it feels unique and a little out-of-place in a world of silver paperclips.

2005 PBBY - Salanga Grand Prize Winner
2005 PBBY - Alcala Grand Prize Winner
2006 National Book Award, Best Children's Book

Language: English
Author: Nikki Dy-Liacco
Illustrator: May Ann Licudine

If you're interested with this, please order this in the Adarna House Publishing, it's only for US$1.50, paperback.

OHHH, MAMA MIAAAA! HOORAY!!!
*Let's dance together!!! weeee!!!*

TIK TAG TIK!!!

My former elementary classmate and beautiful talented friend Vangielyn tagged me, duh!


Here are the rules:
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
Ahhh, 10 years ago... I got passed two college entrance exams in Saint Louis University (Bachelor in Architecture) and University of the Philippines College Baguio (Certificate in Fine Arts - Visual Communication). So I finally took CFA up because my talent suited this course.

2) What are five things on your to-do list for today?
1- Make rough sketches for my new clients
2- Check on my grandpa's health every two hours
3- Buy foods at the grocery store and wet market
4- Check emails from clients, friends and family
5- Take a walk alone

3) What snacks do I enjoy?
banana que, kamote que, isaw, fishballs, ginataan, palabok, ensaymada, pizza pandesal, steamed peanuts, bakery goodies, watermelon, strawberries, ripe mangoes, dark chocolates, walnuts

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire? (Psssh Vangielyn, pareho tayo ung plano natin!)
- to plant more trees, fruits and vegetables in my own hacienda
- to buy more cows, goats, chickens, horses and fishes for my own farm
- to make more native hut cottages and tree houses
- to make advertisings for my own hacienda like hiking, camping, swimming at the cave pool, etc.
- to get insured
- to make a Japanese garden with weird statues
- to buy a real fuzzy siberian tiger
- to travel around the world

5) Three Bad Habits
- Work
- Walk
- Green Tea

6) 5 places I have lived… (present to then)
- La Union ( present )
- Baguio City
- Pampanga
- Dagupan City ( where i was born... )
- My mama's womb, hehehe! ( super korni ata si mall... )

7) 5 Jobs I have had
- Art Teacher
- Textile Designer
- Caricaturist
- Henna Tattoo Artist
- Photographer
- Paper Mache Artist
- Muralist
- Face / Body Painter ( only for special occasions / festivals )
- Art Judge
- Realism Painter
- Freelance Illustrator ( present )

Six suckers, er people I want to know more about…
- Kuya Gerry
- Bjork
- Rawini aka Bubbly-Pu
- Kerstin aka Ninke
- Nicolas aka Ploop
- Meagan

June Again

Ahhh... It's June again. Yep, yep, I'm still alive, hehehe. Sorry, I wasn't active past few days ago because I was spending time with my lovely relatives who visited us from Guam, USA for visiting my grandpa. We are very happy that he seems okay. However, he doesn't speak and walk. He always lays down on his bed. We keep taking care of him like we feed him some osterized foods with powdered medicines, talk to him about anything, change his clothes, wash his whole body, make him happy and comfortable, etc. Hope he will be able to talk and walk again.

I'm still waiting for Lin's response (Nuclear Gallery staff) about buyers' requests. Soon, I'll paint my next two commissions (two acrylics paintings, 24" X 36" each) for my wonderful intelligent lovely friend and client Cristina. Take a look below.

And I also started painting my unfinished mixed media piece, "Big Gossip" for sale.

Apart from this, remember what I told you about Merimask before? Weee, I bought a Red Fox Mask for my collection. It's quite awesome, isn't it? Merimask is awesomely talented!

I love love love love wearing this fox mask!!! Thanks Merimask!

By they way, I will be away for a few days. We will go to Manila for visiting my brother Jeremy. See you guys and hugs hugs hugs!

Our Journey Together

Hooray, I finished painting my commission, "Our Journey Together" for my dearest friend / client Stephanie. She and her husband Jeff love purple and brown colors, nature, flowers, mushrooms, snails, dragonfly, hummingbird, everything! Of course, I portrayed them, they look cute together! I'm very happy and pleased that they already liked it! Click this photo collage to view!

17" X 10" Acrylics + Coloured Pencils on Wood

Next, I'll make more art commissions for those buyers who saw my previous works through Nucleus Gallery. About the future book projects, hold on now, I should finish all of my waiting commissions first. I already wrote their names down. Thank you very much for your understanding and patience. *HUGS*

I can't believe that I am workaholic now. By the way, thank you very much for your deep concern and thoughts about my grandpa Pops. My family, friends, relatives and I are trying our best to keep him happy and praying for him.

Have a Wonderful Day!

Lolo Pops

Today, I sketched my grandpa Pops at the hospital. My young sister Erica saw my drawing. Our conversation was so funny:

Erica: Awwww... sweet. *smiles broadly*
Mall: Mhmm. *continues to sketch*
Erica: Awesome drawing. I wish he could smile.
Mall: Yeah, me too. *sighs deeply*
Erica: About your sketch... you know what, you must work as a court artist.
Mall: .... court artist??? O_O
Erica: Yeah. ^_^
Mall: Nah... no way. Suspects might stare at me when I could draw them. So scary.
Erica: Hehehe, if they stare at you, which means they fall in love with you. Don't worry, they can get cuffed so they won't kill yah. =^_^=
Mall: Silly, silly... What if they might scratch my face with their dirty sharp long nails? O_O
Erica: Nah. Anyway, isn't it so fun, aye? ^_^
Mall: leave me alone. >_>
Erica: HEK. HEK. HEK. *winks* What if they can pay you higher for making court sketches... Don't you?
Mall: I would love to... I better bring my pepper spray for my self-defense. >_>
Erica: Oh oh, what if you draw Paris Hilton at the court? @_@
Mall: AH! That's better because she's extremely rich! XD
Erica: I thought you didn't like celebrity suspects! Then give me your money! XD

Erica is so funny. Anyway, my grandpa Pops isn't okay yet. He looks thin now. I took my old photo of him in 2005. Isn't he sweet? I really hope and pray that he will get better soon.

Aya's Depression II

I made this commission, Aya's Depression II for my cool client Marcus Lo (He's a great guy!). I really enjoyed doing this very much. Please click this big photo collage to view.

9.5" X 28.25", Mixed Media

(Acrylic, Coloured Pencil, Graphite, Sand Iron, Gesso & Coffee on Acacia Plank Wood)

Next time, I'll make two plank wooden paintings, The Midnight Dreams of Aya for sale. By the way, I saw many wonderful rubber stamps in Etsy and Ebay but I can't afford them. So I better made my own rubber stamps... Ta-da! It went smooth. I stamped them on my big package for Marcus. It was so fun. When I have time, I'll make more rubber stamps especially circus fonts and my characters Babu and Abu! EEEEeeeEEEeeeeEEEEEee! I really miss my carving skills/ linocut skills!

Tomorrow I'll start painting my next commission for my wonderful lovely client / friend Stephanie. Look at my latest rough sketch below. And awww, Steph showed me her sweet photo of my sold original painting (Mysterious Cats) and other artists' great pieces.

For the new projects (new children's books, graphic novel & music album cover) whom I got emails past days ago, wait for my response patiently. I need to finish my present commisions first. Thanks for understanding me! That's all folks! Good day to all of you, good night to me!

P.S. My grandpa is still at the hospital. Hope he will get better soon!

Get well, Grandpa + Meme Teen

Sorry for not replying to my bloggers in my previous entry and other new people / clients who emailed me past few days. Because I was greatly sad and worried for my grandfather Pops' critical health. He got another brain stroke (now 5 times... he was a smoker before). His right body is already paralyzed and his left brain is damaged. He doesn't speak and wake up but he can listen. My family and I keep visiting and telling him some happy stories at the hospital. We continue to pray for him faithfully.

To my fellow bloggers and commentors, please wait patiently for my response. To my new clients, I'll let you know when I'm available for commissions. Of course, I'll continue to work on my new art pieces for my current clients: Stephanie, Marcus, Lorena and maybe 5 buyers from Nucleus Gallery.

Apart from this, I found an interesting meme Drawn yourself as a teenager from Drawn! I forgot to share my quick sketch with you guys. Click this to full view so you guys see how I look like. It's so fun and enjoyable! Now, I tag you all who read this! Oh, don't forget to give your tag link to Dave Valeza, who made his own idea "Drawn yourself as a teenager". Enjoy drawing!

Fairy + Robot Commissions

BEFORE: I made my crappy sketches for the fairy and robot commissions. I wasn't happy and comfortable with these so I said to my client Jack "Uhm, I'll need to start from scratch." When I looked at these, I became frustrated. I asked myself: "Mall? What? Don't you like this composition? Change it. Background? Fix it. Colors? Themes? Study and research it. What do kids do? What do kids feel? Understand their feelings and dreams! Think about it deeply crazily madly! Upgrade your skills, brunette dude girl!"

AFTER: Then I tried and tried until it went smooth. Taaa~~~DAH!


Hooray, I finished painting my pieces past few days. Whew. I really enjoyed improving my skills about backgrounds, compositions, colors and yes, challenging themes. I'm quite happy that my client Jack, his wife Tatiana and kids Melina & Alexi already love them.

Fairy Commission

9" X 12", Mixed Media on Arches Paper

Robot Commission

9" X 12", Mixed Media on Arches Paper

See more details:

Apart from this, I'm so happy that Nucleus Gallery made 8" X 10" prints (matte heavyweight) of my two pieces, The Sea Dragon and Bite Lite. US$20 only. Buy my prints on Nucleus print shop! Thanks, Nucleus Gallery folks!

I'll make more commissions and WIPs soon. Hmmm, I really miss my cat pets. I have to play with them this afternoon. Look at my cellphone photos of my favorite female cat pet, Flame (Abu's cat granddaugher). Whoa, she's a desperate cat model. See yah guys!

Commissions are CLOSED + WIP: Robot Work for Alexi

My art commissions are CLOSED now.

I got 9 or 11 waiting commissions, eeeppp! When I'll be finished my art pieces for clients and buyers, I'll let you know guys that I'll be available in making commissions again.

For those who emailed me and left comments on my blog, dA and Flickr, please wait patiently for my response. I have an internet problem nowadays so I got booted many times. So I was so frustrated with my crappy internet. Don't worry, I'll definitely reply to all of you guys! Thanks for understanding me!

Apart from this, my client Jack's adventurous son Alexi was so curious and eager to see my work in progress, I took quick photos for him. Hope you like it, dearest Alexi!

Jack sent me a photo of Melina and Alexi. So adorable! I love them!.
Thanks for sharing your true dreams, emotions and interests with me, kids!

Goodnight and Sweetdreams!

WIP: Fairy Commission for Melina

I'm still working on my unfinished commission for my client Jack's beautiful daughter, Melina. I can't wait to finish the robot one for Alexi (Jack's handsome son) soon. Anyway, Melina made her adorable fairy drawing for me. Absolutely sweet. She's such a sweetheart. I love her!

Apart from this, My close friend Leficia from Australia, who made a knitted beanie for my super belated birthday. She wanted to take a photo of me with handmade beanie. Awwwww... she's such a big talented darling, aye? She knows that I'm a beanie collector (I have more than 20 different beanies, anyway.) Friendship, Love and Trust are priceless, aye?

Whew... dang, I'm a need to finish my 5 awaiting commissions.... busy busy busy busy... I need to have more more more energy!!!! GAMMMBBAARREEEE!!!!!! KAYAAA KOOO YAAAANNNNN!!!!!!! I wanna eat a watermelon right now.... *Mall is so hungry...* It's unbelievable that the weather is totally hot here, like 37-39 degree Celsius. Ohhhh..... Anyway, I think I might be inactive nowadays, I should finish all of my commissions. See you guys soon!

4 Wooden Paintings + My Photography

Here are my 4 paintings for the 3rd Annual Power in Numbers, Nucleus Gallery. My pieces are small like postcard size in acrylics + coloured pencils on wood. DANG, they are quickly SOLD when the exhibit opens! Oh man, I'm crying now. OHMAIIGAWD, I can't believe this. I was like, "God, why did you bless me? Oh why Lord why why? Why did you surprise me? Words fail me, O Lord... ohmaiigawd...!" I'm very proud of my own characters Babu and his kitten Abu.

Sea Dragon
Niwashi no Babu-kun(Babu The Gardener)
Light Bite
Babu at the Torii

Here are my previous rough sketches. I must admit that I love these pencil pieces more than coloured ones. Because remember, pencil is my all-the-time favorite medium, hehehe.


Apart from this, I would like to share my photography with you guys. Before I did my rough sketches and coloured ones for the Nucleus Gallery, I got simple ideas from my garden. Nature always inspires me. Every 5 p.m., I always walk outside around my garden, play with my cats (my past cat pet Abu's family), dogs, goats and chickens, check my own old terra cotta sculptures (pigs and dog) and look something weird. It's like Hayao Miyazaki's film, My Neighbor Totoro. Sigh, I wish Totoro could visit and hug me in person at my garden! Then I wanna ride on the Catbus! Eeeeeeee!!!!! I love green and brown colors!


Good night and sweetdreams, guys!