Collective Random Analysis

Teared, Torn, Text, and Timber

Recognizable element of my art works are those teared or small torn papers with letters or writings which records my thought during the moment of its creation plus the wooden wall or planks and of course the frames or framing which divide the element. 

   You will also notice that my use of symbols doesn't divert very far from realism...at times in can be classified as a trompe l'oieil. I like to represent common things and the usual things that are often taken for granted or those things that are in my immediate reach.
   This insignia style appears accidentally during my Self-discovery phase right after the CCP visual art workshop (1985) and during that time, perhaps I was the only one with that characteristic...but now, I've seen several almost similar works....and maybe I can assume that they somehow able to spread this style...the internet has shrink the world very greatly.
   Those images came spontaneous but I carefully analyzed which item will go or where to place them, and some additional non-copied elements too and then at times stylizing to fit the thought I had in mind. During my early stages before I was greatly consumed by the domestic world, I frequently use pencil (Mongol) to represent that idea..or the concept in itself....

  

Reviving My Word-Press

Since this blog was spontaneous and fragmented most of the time, I think it would be easier to follow my thoughts and directions on a more concise journaling which summarized only important details. A blog with a bit of reflection not only about my artistry but anything that came across my mind. So I need to revive my word-press blog FherZonal View which paused way back in 2011. I've also created another blog for Archiving my artworks Artist Statement of a Random Man.... 

I'm also trying gauge which website will bring me more audience; as well as easy to load webpages since my internet connection is the main problem why I have lesser post by the way. 

The Power You Have, as it is

One day, you will have your voice heard...wait for the right moment when all the Noisy crowd ran out of things to say.

One day, they will turn around and have a second look at what you are trying to say....

Keep on painting.... keep believing...

My father believe that, we all deserve at least an hour of Fame in our lifetime. But are you ready when that time comes?

Into my self-analysis once again....it seems a crack that I've overlooked is seeping in to distort my claim to fame or at least enjoy these recent achievement. I need to reconnect with my values...how to enjoy the fruit of these outpouring blessings. I don't have to be guilty or shy away....this had been what I really wished all along.

So why do I feel tired, consumed, and less expectant? The real pain in my aging body... and yet many much older persons are stronger and living the fullness of life but now why me? What was it all about that I feel drain....

I've been suffering from unknown depression even if I have reach certain heights. Yep, I knew all of these already that I can simply change my perception and ev'rything will simply change...at least on my mindset. How to maintain that joy? Perhaps, I was always to caring.... for others.

♫What’s there beyond sleep, eat, work in this cruel life

Ain't there nothing else 'round here but human strife

They say it’s difficult

Yes, stereotypical

You gotta be conventional

You can’t be so radical.....♪ ♪

It is when your material expectation didn't materialized. It is that uncoordinated thoughts again, and hesitation, and guilt. For no reason at all....

Circumstances....and true blue realities....and limited resources.

Never set expectations on those things that are beyond your control; like acceptance, fame, wealth etcetera. Those things are outside of us. You can Not expect everyone to Like you...there will always be haters remember. Like hoping to win a Contest, the power to win is not in your hands but in the hands of the judges. The best thing to do, is actually to do your best.........period. It can be achieved and it is within your power to control. Rejoice already when you are able to submit your entry. Call every finish artwork an achievement. Celebrate every step you have taken. 

If you set your goal that requires another persons approval, be ready to accept disapproval. The proper mindset should be, it is enough that you have communicated your request to that person.

Madalas ang tanong ng baguhang Artist, magkano ko kaya ito maibi-benta? Tanong muna natin kung sino kaya ang bibili? Ehek Mali... 

Ang tamang tanong, para saan ang lahat ng mga ginagawa kong ito.... dapat meron tayong Vision...at ang vision ay hindi lang dapat magka-pag exhibit or maka-benta. State your cause...Like, para makapag-aral ang mga anak ko, makapag-donate sa mga cancer victim... panis na yung dahilan na gusto ko i-share ang talent ko. Eh di wag mo benta kung gusto mo lang i-share di ba? 

Dapat mag-open ka muna ng bank account sa Heaven.

We don't define artists by their tools, for tools are only there to serve the message. Art is communication. And real communication comes from the heart. That's the only call I want to answer.- Crista Cloutier

Ang Art minsan parang comedy yan. Nasa bato ng punchline.

Kahit luma na ang joke basta maganda ang delivery pasok yan.

Diary of a Struggling Artist

I was really contemplating very seriously to call this blog as "Diary of a Struggling Artist" because when you're already at your mid-forties you should have at least established yourself in the market. None of those things had happened yet although I was considered as one of the respected artist via the not so small circle of social media. Perhaps, this blog would be more interesting if I narrate on that aspect of my life instead of telling you just the evolution of my Artistry.
    After I fully decided to be a self-employed artisan nearly five years now I come to realized that this path I've chosen had many loopholes to consider...and perhaps, I was foolish to jump into the bandwagon ill-equipped. 

   The Art of realizationism perhaps had lost it sting on my ears or to the public but I am not saying that it is irrelevant now...or I should say my authority to speak the matter about Realizationism is questionable at the moment. Starting another blog isn't an option since I don't have the time to launch another time consuming activity after having what? Five or Six other blogs plus a dozen more of other social media account. 

   Well, for this New Year I had big projects at hand, it might help you see how it would get along. So today from The Art of Realizationism this blog becomes Diary of a Struggling Artist. 

Pardon My Eloquence

I feel so blessed...

   despite recent turbulence that almost broke my reasoning capacity these past months; there are still enough reasons to laugh and cheer. I thought it would be a dry season for me since I have no line up of event on sched...yet last minute confirmation for my facepainting rescue  our financial worries for the most expensive season of all. Glory to God!!!

   At times, I had this tendencies to overspend...most especially on art materials. The addiction for sketching miscellaneous and to venture to realms only those that can afford to sustain the momentum will survive. 

Some are simply false alarm...

My philosophical humor resound the true sentiment of my domestic affairs.  No more need to covert the real status... I am still a struggling artist wishing for a corner of my own...never mind the centerstage, just a little space to call my own. At least recognized for all my worth. 

It is extremely hard to earn respect in my chosen playing field. There are evil crabs ready to snatch you in the air. Obviously there are far more talented people in the planet. 

    The need to return to my roots...being redirected by uncertainties...of new learning...and shocked. To be overwhelmed by enormous discoveries...of new found fame and re-installment to a pedestal. Which heights I feel dizziness embroidering my apparel. 

Re-aligning my direction as an artist, that is probably the best resolution I can focus into as the new year enters...

The Sporadic Resonance of 2013

Not yet sure if this is gonna be my year-end report for 2013. Usually an annual report should be written on the first month of the following year. I just feel like evaluating my life today. Too many upturns and downturns had happen this year...four or five years in the zone yet only this year have I realized the gravity of my decision... as a freelance artist, the sense of fear just arrived late this year. 

In the Art world; it's not just about education, talent, and resources...you also need connections and sometimes CONTROVERSY.

   Natural calamities somehow affected my artistry...who wasn't? Creative mind lingers on that premise of the Universal consciousness. 

   Tagged ArtLover Group, my baby mellows as I became too crowded with personal issues and building my own artistic career. Well from time to time I still re-share artworks from other artist. 

   Career path seems to be stepping up on its proper places. Fellow artist said that I now have a label, a name of my own...well at least on my circle of FB contacts. No major artworks sold except commissions. I've just realized that I'm now the most sought after face painter down here in Laguna area...No doubt about that. Haha. 
   Re-activating my membership on 4S (Styles, Strokes, and Sketches Society) on Friday the 13th of September.... was perhaps the most important decision I took this year. Re-joining the Master's Challenge are one of the biggest leap in my artistry this year no matter how simple the task given...realizing the importance of this activity to paint even if you don't like what you're doing. It's a matter of discipline and prioritizing. 

Let me review therefore some of the highlights of 2013 as far I'm concern...

   February this year when i started updating this blog again...(see Behind the Mask) also around this time when I started making individual pieces; as you all know I'm more into Visual Manuscripts these past 3 or 4 years...although it is my lifetime thesis I think I need to build up exhibition pieces too. 
   There is of course that love hate relationship with my visual manuscripts that subside when I enter Styles, Strokes, and Sketches Society or 4S. 

   Penetrating the Artworld via friends of friends on FB...attended some exhibitions especially ... During these times as you mingle with fellow artisan you realized the true colors of art in Philippine setting...politics plays a major role and so I step back for awhile. 

   Around the third quarter of this year I begun to explore various field and this I reported on Maturity in Artistic Variations...

   I've said I will make hundred of Fish series...well, so far I made fourteen...

Im-Fher-sionism...was simply an adaptation; or perhaps my default setting. 

My first entry to 4S Tournament...

2nd Entry Four Seasons...

   The underpainting that Maestro Jose Tolentino Jimenez mentioned became one of the most important tip for me this year. I think I over stock myself with green paint because of this. 

   November when I started to paint in oil pigment...still trying my luck on this area as I feel I'll be more comfortable in acrylic or anything that dries very fast...

My first one-man show via the internet...Thank you so much Ms. Turs Simsuangco for this opportunity to showcase my work. 

   Some of the highlight images of 2013...

Fher

The Secrets of GrandMasters

I will never commit the terrible crime of aiming too low. -- Og Mandino

  I hope this post would encourage everyone...to unravel the wonder within us! 

For now I'll just let my painting speaks for me...I'm preparing for an on-line art  show about Nude so forgive me for now, I didn't mean to crowd you with female anatomies. But I promise it would NOT be lewd...it would be my tribute to feminity and I had great respect for women and girls.

   Nude painting measures the painter's Artistic level...contrary to conservative view that Nude art satifies only the flesh and defame a person it actually raised it to the highest pedestal of aesthetic value than just mere object of desire. Bringing the human anatomy the utmost respect and appreciation it deserves. 

Forgive us painters, we just can't resist painting something we find beautiful. -FMY

(Plus it's difficult to paint clothes you know.)

   IN fact, I am not in my comfort zone when I paint frontal nudity...

   After that Hyper-realism attempt on Michelle Pfieffer's portrait I have this new verve or zest for painting...it consumes more energy and time...but the challenge itself already brings enlightenment. GrandMaster Bueno Silva commented on my work "In the end it's not the satisfaction...it's the means."

   The idea to excel beyond what I can do, actually came during my small talks with Grandmaster Jose Tolentino Jimenez...when he said that "lahat naman ng gawa ko sinusubukan ko kung hanggang saan ko kaya; tumitigil lang ako kapag napansin ko sumasama na ang diskarte..." (in all of my works I try to do what I can; I only stop when I saw that its getting ugly) Ohhh I don't know if I translated the essense right...but anyway, that is the big turning point why I decided to re-master painting...painting with the heart and passion of a true master.

   

   I usually give up easily...thinking I could never duplicate anyway those super-realistic works. Having No formal art education besides that month long workshops at CCP, I thought it's all I can do...I limit myself that I can only settle at what I know...the big mistake all the while was that I didn't try hard enough.

Redefinition of Realizationism 

   Therefore this work will redifines me and measure what my heart can fathom or what my mind can think of. If you look at it, you would probably say that its okay...it would probably get some thumbs up already...The satisfaction had been reach...

   But it surprises me that I can actually go further than what I was made to believe...overcoming my fear that I would actually ruin my work if I delve into hyper-realism...

   I know I still have much more to learn in the process...the above work is on-going, and as I've said these will redefine me as a person. 

   Now comparing my earlier approaches...

   

Therefore I plan to renovate some of my earlier pieces...an I'm excited in the challenges ahead of me. 

Dedication, Focus, and a Static Mind

It's nice to share what you know...there's always that benefit of mutual learning. And after realizing that what I've been teaching to others....are actually those things that I've taken for granted whether consciously or sub-consciously. 

   Yes I've been teaching dedication and focus but that is something that I truly needed nowadays. Maybe I became complacent which by the way I was reminded once more by Maxwell's "sharpening the saw" principle. So after psyching myself and re-dedicating my heart with the same enthusiasm I had during my self-searching years I came up with all these works included in this article.

      It seems I have forgotten the daily bombardment of this tagline "Passion for Excellence" during my employment years. Now that I am self-employed, the more that I should excel effort to achieve more of what I am capable of. You're employer strictly impose QC so why can't I for myself. 

   Being self-employed doesn't mean I am already exempt with company rules and regulations. It doesn't mean I don't have to be strict in Quality control...nothing change I am still an employee...an employee of my DREAMS. (and ambitions)

   There is one good example of my under-focus painting...it seems at first glance that I really took great effort by utilizing many details on it but actually it was hurried and impulsive. 

    Now, although this is simplified I really took great care on it's visual appeal. I re-summarized symbols and considers balance and aesthetic value. The strokes are also more pronounce....

   Speaking of re-dedication and re-focus...my ever static mind was disturb once again...unsatisfied at what I have done or probably now I became aware into a different perspective so I grab all my 12 visual manuscripts and weigh all the consequences. I decided to revise once more "A Whisper to a Scream 6.5" therefore it shall be the 6th revision.  

   Probably, now you are getting the idea or the processes it must undergo on how a visual journal transform. Probably you are wondering, After learning now the painful process of actually tearing down a beautiful piece to fit a new realization. That is real life, we must go through sometimes with all the bruises. Reality is not a bed of roses. 

   For now, this will be the art journal in focus, since it is anyway the collection that  what first intended for public sharing. The others might undergo the same fate too but we will see since as I've told you, these lifetime theses always revolve dependent on the feeling of the moment.

   Who knows maybe tomorrow I'll be refresh with a brand new eye (vision).