Hey guys!

Sorry for the lack of updates. I haven't been making real drawings/paintings recently (again). I've made a couple of sketches but I haven't started painting on them yet. They're on the backlog pile. ;_; I'm sure I'll get to work on them soon once I'm finished with some collaborations and requests. And school reports. I realize that time flies too fast when you paint. You start at 1PM and when you look up it's already 5PM and you barely made progress. /sigh I can't wait for school to end. Only 50-something more days to go and I become a free unemployed person.

Small recap on exciting things this month:

1. The first week of January, I had a shoot with Regine David and Pat Ramos. I also got to model alongside with Phoebe Rutaquio (who is an amazing naturale model, by the way). Please check out their photos.

By


By


Kudos also to our wonderful teammates:
Make-up: Bernice Cid
Co-photographer: Ionne ~boozeberry
Assistants, flip girl and fan boy: Ysa and Quincy
Dresses by Cherry Veric and Marllon


2. ~fifi-feuille sent me a note a few weeks ago, requesting ~Faythful to make a layout out of Meet Me Halfway and this is the final result:


I love it so much! Everyone, please check it out~


3. I tried drawing a comic and I think I failed misserably! I'm slowly painting the pages but the supposed comic ended up resembling an illustrated storybook (something like a children's book or Stardust). /cries I'm still working on it but I slightly feel embarrassed that I really can't make figures move.

Comic and anything panel-driven isn't really my thing but this was a good opportunity to try it out *comic illustrator virgin* but it's really impossible for me after so many repeated tries. I recently found out that I'm poor in translating images in my head unto paper.

I will post them here on dA when I'm done with them. I have great respect for comic book artists. Comic-making is really a difficult feat. All you comic artists are crazy geniuses. Please don't be surprised if I ask for your autograph out the blue or offer to wipe the sweat out of your face while you're drawing.


4. I'll Feature You!
I don't think I've been maximizing the use of my dA sub. I promise to update my dA journal at least once a month and abuse img src. Anyway, here's something I've never done before. *dun dun dun*

I'm featuring the first 10 commenters who want to be featured here on my journal but there's a catch: You need to have at least 2 traditional artworks in your gallery. Please comment with their URLs so that I know that you're interested. I'll feature 3 of your works (at least 1 of them is something you did traditionally). I'll probably come up with different themes next time.

GO GO GO!!!



Valerie
Blog, Tumblr


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On a random note:
(And I apologize in advance for being preachy but I really had to let this out)

I think photographers should always give due credit to their team. I've encountered a couple of photographers here on dA who either undercredit or totally omit the names of the people they have worked with. I think it's shameless to neglect mentioning your team/co-workers or even make it seem that you did all the work but in fact all you did was measure the light and hit the shutter. Who arranged the shoot, who did the make-up, who worked on the wardrobe, who did most of the thinking, who else majorly helped? Sometimes their work is a lot greater than yours.

~anti00gravity pretty much summed up everything concerning this, "You're only as good as your team."

And "sorry I forgot" doesn't cut it.

I have an asterisk beside my username!
and I split the subscription bill into half and took advantage of dA's premium sub gift promo. (Great idea, *Rinian!) I'm a first time subber~ Sign up for it. You only have until December 25.

Commissions are open
Just note me if you're interested. Although I might not be able to start on it until late February 2010 since I'm swamped with a lot of paint work and school work. But you can note me to reserve a slot.

Collaborations
I did a couple of collabs with Edric Chen ~fcfmanila, like these two. I helped out in conceptualizing and forming things from cloth. There's also another one with him where I get to merge painting and photo but I don't really have time to work on it now. Just wait for it soon. ): Also did an unplanned painting collab with Katrina Teh !liberti. I'm planning to do more works with her soon.


For the meantime, I closed collabs. Thanks to everyone who sent me notes about it. I'll open them again soon. I'm always looking for people to work with, especially when it comes to hands on set/prop-making and traditional work. I'm not too partial on photomanipulation work.

Year-ender post
2009 was fun. Definitely better than the previous year. I tried my shot at being a vocalist for a local band for 4 months, did roughly 6 gigs and performed on a ridiculously huge stage. I got to attend James Jean's talk with some friends and had him sign a copy of Kindling.

I wasn't very productive this year. Paintings are a lot less than the previous years. I told myself June this year that I'm quitting this whole art thing, that was when I was in the band. I'm not sure if I'm regretting that decision. Missed painting so much and went back to it.

Modeled for Brandy & Zoe, Coexist and ~feanne's beautiful acrylic accessories: Tamis Design. You can find photos of the latter 2 at *slumberdoll's gallery. All were surprisingly fun. I always shy away from modeling because I've never really appreciated the way I look. (Even got myself braces early this year.. That's how insecure I am.. LOL). Also spent 3 or 4 consecutive weekends with a friend shooting models for a benefit fashion show and concert lookbook.

College will be over in 3 months (but graduation will be in June 2010). I hope that I'll be able to get into a nice stable job that can give me time to work on my paintings. (Is that even possible?) I've got a list of professions I might want to get into. Apart from stable job xyz, I want to work as a fashion illustrator or a painter, draw for high fashion apparel and magazines, things like those. Or own a boutique. I still really don't know. I'm as confused as the graduating candidate next door. What are your future plans?

Anyway, since I won't be updating this place for a several weeks...
Merry Christmas!


,
Valerie
Tumblr

<sub>Hey guys, I'm opening commissions.

Material: Watercolor on paper

Please specify which style you want by picking one in this gallery closest to what you have in mind. Works are predominantly in watercolor and possibly mixed (using other traditional and minimal digital elements). Please be advised that I am not adept in drawing males.

18x12" SIZE
$50 Head to bust
$53 Head to waist
$55 Full body

12x8" SIZE*
$30 Head to bust
$33 Head to waist

(*If you plan to order this size, it's better if you request for simpler styles rather than something that looks too real, since the paper is smaller.)</b>

+$5 additional elements: animals, things, what have you (max of 3 different add-ons). Unfortunately, I am not accommodating requests for full background as of now.
+$20 additional person (maximum of 1 ONE additional person/character only) - Only for the 18x12" size but we'll see if I can fit another one in the 12x8" size.

What you'll be getting:
1. A digital version of the artwork, full resolution (300dpi), good for print.
2. If you wish to obtain the original trad work (without digital stuff found in the final print), there's an additional price you have to pay for the hardcopy AND shipping fee depending on the size of the work. Just note me.
3. I have the right to post a small version in my site. I will not profit from it. I will not sell the original work to others without the commissioner's permission.
4. Down payment required before start of work.

Payment Method: Paypal.
If you're from Manila (Philippines), I can arrange meetups.

You can reach me through:
1. dA Note
2. chua.valerie(at)gmail.com</sub>