Art Attacked! The Beginnings…

Recently, I had the urge to browse over my portfolio and reminisce the times when I still draw. I remember that a Lion King coloring book opened the doors of art for me. An idea that went in my head as I looked at the pictures was, “Could I draw these…?” It was then that I began “copying” the pictures. I can’t really remember the exact steps I took nor was I expecting that something decent would come out of it. After all, back in 6th grade Art Class, my templates hardly got displayed on the bulletin board (although, I made it ONCE with a copied picture of Bart Simpson). I had no basic formal training in drawing so even if someone asked me “how” I managed to draw the main casts of The Lion King, I wouldn’t know what to answer. For me, I just copied them.

Aside from the above, I was able to draw Mufasa, Sarabi, Scar, Rafiki, Zazu, the 3 hyenas and young Simba and Nala together. I was 14 when I did these and it’s been generally non-stop, despite occasional dormancy, drawing from then on. Eventually I got into anime, manga and Joe Madureira illustrated Uncanny X-men comic books, a comic creation workshop by Whilce Portacio and sprinkled with some Renoir and Michaelangelo (because they just look sooo preeeety!) that basically shaped my artistic inclinations.

I have not drawn, not even *sketched* anything in over two years (laboratory manual illustrations don’t count) and these were the last. Perhaps the reason being my right hand is currently focused more on properly gripping and swinging a tennis racquet rather than keeping it steady as I sketch or ink a material. I miss drawing. I want to draw another portrait (Argh! Zizou, you were supposed to be next after Depp!).

Being able to draw is sometimes related with being creative. I would probably pride myself in this…if only it were true. Sure, I can draw, rather, copy things but ask me to draw something from scratch, I don’t think I can translate my idea into paper…or maybe I could but it would be a struggle. Half-baked creativity, anyone? LOL! In the mean time, I’ll just stare at Voltes V—I didn’t know what came over me and attempted to draw a robot. Fortunately, the mecha designs of yesteryears are a lot easier compared to today’s. Let’s volt in!!! (Seriously, anyone who can give the actual Japanese translation of that? ~_^ )

Practice what you preach

Today, I CONTENT ANALYZED my blog entries and the results are the labels that you see on the right side panel of the screen. I could've O.C.-ly gone further and do a full blown grounded theory analysis (I was actually tempted to operationalize my categories) but I have a life and need to continue doing other pertinent tasks.

I AM applying what I learned from school though. LOL!!!

Must...RESIST...!!!

I DON'T NEED A RACQUET THAT COSTS TEN THOUSAND PESOS.

Even if it is the Head Flexpoint Radical MP. On Paylite.

I DON'T need that kind of racquet.
I DON'T even play competitive tennis.
I DON'T need a new racquet for that matter.

Sigh. What I need is to GET PUMPED in writing two research papers, revising three syllabi, checking *looks at lab papers* A LOT of lab papers, reviewing biopsychology and getting published--single authorship.

Repeat bold and italicized mantra to self.

Random

JPOP: Out of curiosity, I watched Macross Frontier. Even if the Macross saga received raves ever since, I was never a fan of it—simply because singing female pop idols facilitating a space battle just isn’t my cup of tea. Sure, they make GREAT background music during the fight scenes and that’s exactly what I had to—pretend that it’s just BGM. I guess I’d take it more seriously if it’s just the mecha (maybe that’s why I’m more interested in Macross Zero…), but the equation of Macross is always Mecha + Music so if I can’t live with one, I guess I’ll never be a Macross fan. Anyway, the fight scenes in the last episode of MF were incredible (again, I am speaking as if the essence of the pop idols’ singing is irrelevant to the plot and is merely BGM to pump the fight scenes), and dare I say BETTER than Gundam. INCREDIBLE ANIMATION—so good that it’s enough to make one wonder what it’s like to fly one of those Valkyrie thingies ^o^. The plot is relatively simple and if I cared a little, I might’ve taken the effort to fully understand what it’s about—but definitely not head-splitting like Gundam (or Evangelion—head AND soul-splitting!). What else…there’s a love triangle here—the lead pilot dude and the two female pop idols. Surprisingly, I don’t hate the triangle (but I don’t favor any either). It’s open ended as to who ends up with whom but I don’t really care…I was amused that the creators actually have a rationale in making the lead guy very androgynous (typical “bishounen”)—smart of them to say he came from a Kabuki-oriented family, there goes your excuse! LOL! Conclusion...YAY for GUNDAM 00 Season 2! ^___^

RESEARCH: Of course, marathoning MF through online streaming meant that my PC will be occupied for a long time so I took this opportunity to go through my Youth Research literature. I ACTUALLY TOOK NOTES AND WENT THROUGH 15 OF MY 19 RRL!!! Now THAT is mixing business with pleasure. Unfortunately, I’m not yet done. The last ones were incredibly high in content that I have to decide how to go about the note taking. I will finish it this week. Yeah! *fistpumps*

SNIPERS: If I recall correctly, I have a thing for characters who play snipers (or anything long-ranging shooting skill—including in basketball where I’d choose a 3-point shot over a slam dunk any day). I just have a teeny weeny bit of a complaint…WHY THE HELL DO THEY ALWAYS GET KILLED?!?!? It happened in G00, FMP and MF! Darn it.

YUMMY: I remember Vivi (who’s in NZ now) always likened my types of guys in the looks department as “boylets”. Well, I doubt THIS DUDE will be classified as one. Yay, someone finally joined Eric Bana in the rugged look category—go Diego Buñuel! I won’t tell your mother you went to *bleep!* ^o^.

In Current News…

TENNIS: I finally broke the strings of my racquet. I had it replaced the same day, accompanied by some uneasy feelings of what happened in Toby’s Megamall. I purchased two things separately using two different credit cards because the attendant told me that only I swipe per card is allowed in establishments. I haven’t heard of this rule but instead of asking the cashier, I simply did what she suggested. On hindsight, I thought I felt kind of duped…and stupid. I mean, when I was eating at Sushiya, I asked the manager if that rule apply to them, and they said no. I even had my mother call me up to ask her…the OC-ness really hit me and I hated the feeling that I wasn’t assertive enough to ask. I mean, it wouldn’t hurt and it wouldn’t really cost me anything. Of course, I allowed myself to become paranoid and thought that it could be a scam or something. Argh. Why was it that I didn’t see them rare 4 pieces Slazenger tennis balls were available and on sale. Lesson learned: ASK, IT WONT’ HURT. On other news, I intend to break in the new strings…I experimented on the tension, I wonder what 60kg feels like.

RESEARCH: Last week was the brainstorming of our Department collaborated research on Youth Development. I’m glad I went but on the side, I felt a little disappointed at myself that these guys came up with really good theoretical frameworks which made mine look preschool-ish in comparison. It then came with a feeling that I can’t seem to feel the expertise I supposedly have achieved now that I have a Master’s Degree in Human Development Psychology. I teach, but the expertise I gain is that of teaching—how to wing things and still have the goals attained. I’m beginning to feel that maybe unconsciously I’m getting bored with my current state because it’s so monotonous that I can even risk not preparing for work because I know how to handle it when it all comes down to the actual thing. Maybe this is a sign that I need something new…something more challenging. Something that will motivate me to move.

JPOP: Thanks to Ohmer’s dvd, I saw the spinoff movie of Deathnote (L: Change the World). It was okay; it’s not something I would buy nor download but it was nice to see L and his eccentric ways. The whole idea of the antagonists were simply flawed and really, had they further developed the idea of why there is a need to use bioterrorism on people and not just “because we are overpopulated and abuse nature” (a big “HUH?”), it would’ve really made the film more exciting. And much as I like seeing L, he doesn’t seem to be so much himself in this movie…I mean, I missed his shrewdness in the first two films (as well as portrayed in the manga) and in here, he’s…not as proactive as I want him to be ^^(). But there were ‘Awww…” moments for sure =3