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a-list: valerie chua at heima

Valerie Chua’s solo exhibit happening tonight at Heima, Makati. Here’s a sneak peek of her works c/o Heima. Lovely pieces! They somehow remind of the illustrations in the ending theme of  70s anime Candy Candy.

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“Valerie Chua is a self-taught illustrator from Manila. She started painting halfway through college and has never let go of the brush since then. She specializes in traditional media such as watercolor, gouache, and acrylic. Her work is predominantly influenced by East Asian watercolor artists and magical realist literature and poetry. Backyard of the Universe is Valerie’s first major solo exhibit, marking her breakthrough as a painter who specializes in illustrative art and storytelling.”

i saw design: the sketching backpacker

While most of us take photographs during our trips, Filipino artist Robert Alejandro (the same person behind The Sartorialist Sketches and the “RO” in Papemelroti) draws and paints to document his travels around the world. His blog The Sketching Backpacker features some of his drawings during his trips around Europe and Asia.

They remind me of those days in college when we had to make watercolor drawings of period style architecture, interiors, and furniture pieces for our history classes. Plus, our Prang watercolor paint sets looked just as messy, hehe!

*images via the sketching backpacker

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design trail: bencab museum, baguio

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I didn’t get to visit a lot of Baguio’s tourist spots when we went there. Our visit was short but sweet. And the BenCab Museum made the trip worthwhile. We were there for the opening of the pottery show of my aunt, Ofelia Gelvezon-Téqui. Her glazed stoneware works were on display in one of the several galleries in the multi-floor structure.

{lobby/reception area}

There are works by masters like Joya, Magsaysay-Ho, Edades and contemporary pieces by young artists, indigenous crafts and artifacts, and of course BenCab’s own masterpieces. I love how they displayed the bulol rice granary gods on cantilevered shelves along one whole wall from floor to ceiling.

{bulol collection on display}

I also love how they utilized natural light throughout the whole space. They installed skylights, floor to ceiling windows and clerestory windows.The museum also has a little shop which has a nice collection of books and souvenirs and a café (Café Sabel) which overlooks the forest. Below the museum, you can also wander the farm and garden which produces organic vegetables, fruits and coffee.

{glazed stoneware by Ofelia Gelvezon-Téqui}

{Café Sabel}

{farm and garden}

The same day we were there, a group of about 600 students just visited the place! The BenCab museum just celebrated their 2nd anniversary and it’s already one of the must-see attractions in Baguio. The BenCab Museum is on Km. 6 Asin Road. For more information, visit their site, http://bencabmuseum.org/

art in the kitchen

For artists and visual learners who are into cooking, you’ll love the illustrated recipes of graphic designer Claudia Pearson from Brooklyn, New York. These two prints (top and below) can be purchased from her etsy store here.

For more illustrated recipes, visit Recipe Look (last two images) which has a collection of submitted recipes from their readers all over the world. Hey, maybe someone could submit an illustrated version of a good recipe of chicken adobo or pork sinigang!

a-list: abi goy

These works by Filipina graphic designer Abi Goy make me smile. They’re fun and feminine yet strong at the same time. Apart from illustrations for popular children’s books, Goy also creates cute postcards and pillowcase designs. I wonder what inspires her to make these whimsical but chic illustrations. Her other works, which you can find at her website, will definitely make you instant fans. -lilli

objects of design: x-ray art

I really admire British photographer Nick Veasey’s works. There are a few other artists who also excel in X-ray photography but no one brings out the inner beauty of the familiar like he does. In his own words, at his official site, he explains how he counters our society’s obsession with superficiality by “highlighting the, often surprising, inner beauty.” I especially like his X-ray photos of plants and flowers which we’re sharing with you here. But he has more wonderful projects like X-ray images of people, animals, toys, machines and even Jimmy Choo shoes at www.nickveasey.com.

Watch out for our exciting posts next week on this year’s winners of Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE), interior design category. Have a great weekend!

a-list: kwentong barbero

Ulo ng mga (Walang) Balita by Dawani de Leon

The 3rd year UP Fine Arts students recently held a one-month exhibit at the Pasig Museum entitled, “Kwentong Barbero”.  The exhibit showcased art works by 12 artists, each one doing an interpretation of  Kwentong Barbero, our local term for hearsay.

Untitled by Clara Herrera

Interference by Amil Asuncion

Click here to see more of their works.  For inquiries, you can email camilleangelica@gmail.com

Special thanks to Angge and Clara!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

diy crafts: will you marry me?

The other day, I heard that a friend’s friend wanted to propose to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, he’s having problems about getting an engagement ring—he finds it too expensive. I don’t blame him.

If I were his friend, I would suggest going unconventional/symbolical and consider these interesting alternatives:

Maybe (just maybe) his fiancée-to-be will appreciate the enormous thought, creativity, and effort (not to mention the meaning and the feeling) poured into making such “designer” pieces.

These rings are made by Maria Apostolou for the Ring-A-Day Challenge over at Flickr. She’s a jewelry designer and a metalsmith from Greece. I think her designs are playful, imaginative and well conceptualized. Talk about thinking out of the box!

I particularly like her “moss ring” (above) which looks like a living ring to me. I wouldn’t mind being the recipient of this (as long as it comes with a pair of diamond engagement earrings, haha! Kidding ).

Click here to see the rest of Maria’s designs for RAD.

*All photos via Maria Apostolou’s Flickr photostream

i saw design: art in the park, an invitation

If you’re not doing anything today, you might want to check this one out:

ART IN THE PARK on February 27, 2010, Saturday, 2 to 10 pm, Jaime Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati City. Organized by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines with the help of Bgy. Bel Air and Security Bank MasterCard.

An annual project of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, ART IN THE PARK is an affordable art fair for paintings, prints, photos, and sculpture. Pieces have a price ceiling of P20,000.00.