"Painting is all about sign"

"Painting is all about sign."

Does this quote sounds familiar? Well of course, it was uttered by nonetheless than the great Spanish painter and co-founder of the Cubist movement, Pablo Picasso.

I am not a Picasso fan. I am not into cubism or abstract art either. I am as I say, has always been a realist when it comes to art style. But I am an artist and artists should never stop learning. Artists must learn to respect and learn from each other. Learn from each others experiences, skills and knowledge.

I remember when I was browsing some books in our college's F.A. library and saw Picasso's pre cubism works..., leaning into the academic and classical realism, that was the time I realized why so many people admire this man, particularly the evolution of his style.  We also had this film showing of the movie Surviving Picasso, whom Anthony Hopkins starred in and you could see how all of us (students in a somewhat activist-filled institution) got affected by this man's principle and idealism. Set aside his political views and moral perspectives, I find him as a typical artist/painter like us who just needs to survive day to day struggles of life. Reason enough why I would go to his exhibit.

Wow, I am going to a Picasso Exhibit. Yes, a dream come true for anyone. Artists or not. Seldom do we get the opportunity to admire firsthand and up close the works of these famous individuals who graced the walls of the equally famous galleries of the world, and this is my chance. Picasso's works will be exhibited here at the Gallery One of the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi from 27th of May - 4th of September. Picasso Abu Dhabi - Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso Paris, will feature 183 of his works including paintings, sculptures and works on paper some of which came directly from his studio.

Still, I am not a fan. But maybe after I see this genius' showcase of his masterpieces I could be one.

Here are some of the paintings that will be featured in the exhibit...

Self-Portrait. 1901, Oil on Canvas

Portrait of Olga in Armchair. 1918, Oil on Canvas

Three Figures Under A Tree. 1907, Oil on Canvas

The famous...

Portrait of Dora Maar. 1937, Oil on Canvas

Jacqueline with Crossed-hands. 1954, Oil on Canvas

All pictures are from the Picasso Exhibit Official site  http://www.artsabudhabi.com/picasso_default.htm

The Filipino Invasion

When I went for vacation last February in Manila, I was fortunate to snatch up the famous Volume 2 Issue 4 of Comic Book Artist (CBA) in Fullybooked, The Block branch in SM North Edsa. 

For those who don't know, it is the issue where it featured the CBA interview with the great Alex Nino and the prolific Tony DeZuniga. It is also where it showcased the first batch of Filipino illustrators that migrated to the States to find better luck in DC and Marvel comics which the editors interestingly titled "The Filipino Invasion."

Here are some inspiring pages from Alex Nino, and the intro page of the Filipino Invasion segment wherein they used Nestor Redondo's Darna splash page in color.

Sorry for the awkward images. These were just taken with an IMac built-in webcam.

Welcome to the Jungle!!!

Finally I was able to take hold of the 8th issue where The 99 team first set foot in the Philippines to fight some bad ass terrorists.

Here's the cover and the page of most importance.

Hearts and Darkness

This is the 9th issue cover of The 99, an oversized superhero comicbook based in Islamic culture, produced by Teshkeel Comics.

I once wrote here in my blog about Widad, a Filipina character who's part of the pioneering members of The 99 team. Widad was created alongside the 90 other characters (in the works) by Fabian Nicieza, the writer responsible for the creation of popular X-men characters such as Deadpool, Shatterstar and X-Force.

However, what's cool about this Hearts and Darkness issue of The 99 is..., this is the 2nd of a series of 2 issues that Fabian N. will feature our country, the Philippines, particularly the island of Mindanao. That's why you see a jungle-like background in the cover, (waterfalls and banana leaves?) Oh, by the way, the cover and half of the interiors were done by none other than Ron Wagner, yes Mr Ron Wagner of Batman, Blaze, Hawkman etc. (http://www.rjwagner.com/home.shtml). And I'm sure you noticed the pink colored girl behind the three slightly darkened figures in front, with rays emanating from a pendant, she is actually Widad, our hero. Cool eh?! This is supposed to be her formal introduction to the team that's why they made this cover special.

I expect now that Widad, will appear in the coming issues of The 99 and will be an integral part of the team. Well, it's always an honor to see a "kababayan" fighting for truth and justice to save us all from the corruption of evil men. YEHEEY, GO WIDAD!!!!

Oh, sorry..., I'm over-reacting.

KOMIKS, Sa Paningin ng mga Tagakomiks

Para sa mga kababayan nating mahilig sa Komiks at sa mga nais maintindihan ang takbo at pag-inog ng industriya ng komiks sa ating bansa, inirerekomenda po ng inyong lingkod ang librong ito. 

Komiks, sa Paningin ng mga Tagakomiks, mula sa pangunguna ni Randy Valiente at Fermin Salvador, isang compilation ng mga natatanging impormasyon at karanasan mula sa mga taong bahagi ng isang makulay na mundo na minsang nagpaikot sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.

Ako ay nagpapasalamat kay Randy V sa pagbibigay sa akin ng pagkakataong maging bahagi ng aklat na ito. May mga akda akong nalathala dito na minsan ring lumabas dito sa blog ko. Ang una ay ang aking karanasan at dahilan kung bakit ako napasok sa industriya ng komiks at ang pangalawa ay ang "To Draw or Not to Draw Manga," isang pagbibigay importansya sa ibat-ibang uri ng sining katulad nga ng Manga.

Available na rin daw ito sa Popular Bookstore na matatagpuan sa Timog Ave. cor Morato Ave., sa Q.C. matapos ma-sold-out sa unang labas nito.

Nang huling magkausap kami ni Randy nung ako ay magbakasyon sa Manila, binalita nya sa akin na sinisimulan niya na ang sequel nito at tayo nga ay mapalad pa ring naimbitahan na mag-contribute. Sana nga ay mabigyan ko uli ng oras ang pagsusulat dito.

Sana rin ay marami pang mga kasama natin sa komiks ang makapaglabas ng ganitong klaseng babasahin at nawa ay dumami lalo ang magka-interes dito.

Kung kaya may isang bagay lang akong gustong iwan sa inyo, huwag na huwag niyong kalilimutang bumili ng kopya nito.

(Wala akong bayad kay Randy dito ha, compli lang.)