It's one of those entries that I find to be obligatory and filled with much incentive! Avalon.ph is giving people an opportunity to win a Moleskine Colour a Month Daily Planner 2010! But beyond that this is something I truly feel inclined to write about and with no place to do so. I figured DA can use some holiday cheer. So here it goes! The things I am absolutely and sincerely grateful and thankful for this year:

1. Being Able to Celebrate Christmas
It's completely surreal to have a tree in our house and to have our home generously decorated with tinsel and glittering decor. This will be my first Christmas after two years of "mourning" and the first without my grandfather. Recalling how we'd used to celebrate with a grand banquet accompanied by operatic Chinese karaoke really brings tears and strong emotions to light. It's never going to be the same. But when we worry and we can't sleep, we count our blessings and I thank God for my family's health, the successes of my life and the pleasure of meaningful and laughter-filled friendships.

2. Friendships with a capital F
This entry will be piled with inside jokes and memories which I will cherish forever! In case it hasn't been said enough, I love you my friends, my work wives, porn sisters, old school and new school hoods, babies and little sisters and brothers and sons and fathers and mothers of liberty.

-F for FUUUUUUUUUU-- for that time we spent 2 hours looking for chicharon bulaklak at 9-11 in the evening and capped the night with our prize, 8.9 german beers, rice, leftover garlic-cheese pizza slices, oreos, kfc flavorshots and gravy, garlic tomato dip and potato chips.
-F for FONTANA. The kitchen misadventures, Jacob cosplays, inappropriate bed time conversations (how did I manage to talk about bull semen and cow farming?), olympic pool and hot tubs (pare ito pala ang pakiramdam ng shabu shabu), comedic drinking cups, magical 90's ipod and CLARRISSSE!!!
-F for tomFoolery. Equating drinking vodka cruisers as social deviance and dinners out on a SCHOOL NIGHT, mahjong tutorials and nostalgic why's what's how's and LOLs
-F for Freedom. graduation, beach tripping, running from the rain, diving into a multicolored pool. Viola Guy. 8 years tears fears tenderness and love. Camera abuse, painting, band watching, exhibit loving, and food gasms.

these are merely some things that comprised a magical and unforgettable year that will forever be... dare I say it? Legendary.

3. Meeting one of my life's inspiration.
I've said this on my tumblr and it needs to be said again. Meeting James Jean is such a huge highlight for this year. It is perhaps the least of my expectations and yet it was so timely. Like God sent down a fuck yeah! from heaven just in time for my birthday and then I responded with a PREACH PREACH HALLELUJAH. Utterly humbling and such a valuable experience to have learned from his years of insight, aesthetic taste and working experience. This man is an incredible example of an individual who knows and does want he wants. And that sort of bliss is something very admirable and such a huge encouragement for any artist-fan's dreams of making it. His awe inspiring talent, kindness and actual presence is beyond moving and good lord there are not enough superlatives and adjectives to do him justice.

I am happy.

There is no greater joy than this feeling of absolute contentment. On this very moment my shoulders feel spent, my fingers are typing away despite the dried chunks of gesso stuck between my nails, my skirt is a grunge like galaxy of white flecks on dark blue fabric and my hair is pulled back in my usual messy work bun and I've never felt more refreshed and inspired. Grateful even! And full of Hope for each and every new day and the year to come.

What are YOU thankful for this year?

It's been months since graduation and since then work has been greatly on my mind. Not that I have been employed by any company as of late. I've chosen to stick to my guns and live the racket and entrepreneurial life.

This account has been long ignored since there are a lot of things that should be looked into. I've done a few notable pieces during my absence and I will be uploading those soon. But most of the work in my gallery will be put to storage. I've had this account for six years (imagine that! All of college and bits of highschool). It's about time that everything's properly put in place.

I would like to thank everyone who has watched and commented. I haven't replied to everyone and I doubt my capability to do so.. but truly, your faves and words are much appreciated.

With that, I will leave this account in its limbo. Updating polished pieces from time to time, using this account to fave and comment.

Kat's Art and Photography on Tumblr ♥
If you happen to have tumblrs, do feel free to exchange links with me.My tumblr is regularly updated and it is my most cherished network. It's filled with 95% original stuff (the rest are reblogged quotes, event posters, or music I feel like sharing). Feel free to browse, comment, follow, reblog, note.. anything I am alive and kicking there. And if you don't have a tumblr account, that's okay too! But if you have the time, why not give it a shot?. I instantly fell in love with mine and it's extremely flexible for updating and customizing. The things you find there and the community is also a whole new universe compared to DA.

That's all for now! Now to commence cleaning

I just had a concussion from too much mind fuck over how AMAZING Reala Film is. I used to be giggling like a mad fangirl, right now I'm just.. AT A COMPLETE LOSS at how gorgeous this film makes my shots look! The white balance is LOVE- that and the fact that I get more control with my shots with a film slr.

I've been gone for two weeks mostly because of internet trouble and my brother is finally back from the states. My family has been spending a lot of time together and I couldn't get any work done.

So on our final vacation to Montemar, I brought my SLR and started to shoot for practice. A lot of generic sunsets and seascapes but the colors I got were kind of otherworldly. I mean, all these shots... you just CAN'T touch them. They're perfectly contrasted and balanced. My mind is reeeeeling.

At this point, I'm sounding like a complete photog spaz and I haven't been submitting art because there's nothing huge to update on my gallery. That said, I have moved my drawing activities to my tumblr~

GO CHECK IT OUT PLEASE

I'll be posting most of my sketches and drawings there. But my dev will still be updated with photos and drawings that I feel are very very special

Thanks for watching guys! And THANK YOU once again to everyone who loved "Across the Universe". I've been gone so long so I haven't been able to properly thank you guys. Thank you for the warm reception.

My sister is a new born scrapbooking addict. Since she knows I love touching and playing with artsy things, she brought me over to a most excellent supplier. I bought tons of patterned card stock at 50% off their original price. It's money well spent! I've started doing acrylic paintings on them for experiment's sake. I'll be moving on with poster paints later.

Also bought a new watercolor pad, also playing with poster paints on that. I'm going to start on a few pieces based on the "Unrequited Love" series I've been meaning to do with poster paints as well. I've been getting a hang of it now and this gets me plenty excited. It's a new style that can open new doors for me I think.

Hope I get to posting soon.

I just finished a lot of things for UP IRIS. And in retrospect, everything IS going smoothly and in the end magagawan ng paraan lahat ng bagay.

But all of the sudden I was asked to do this gorgeous commission. I said yes. I was in love. The concept was just... perfect. If it were noueveau it would have been a 100% fit but it's close enough. And I'm screaming deep inside.

Downside is that studies are due on friday. and they have to be painted. I really need to get this done and I have my other org obligations that I MUST follow through with. I LIKE IT THAT MUCH. HUHUHUHUHU.

ATLANTICA ONLINE GEEKERY. NO NEED TO READ
I just HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. I'm so sorry. You're probably not going to understand 90% of what I'm saying but I really need to vent. DevArt is my geekery solace.

And then there's Atlantica Online. I love it. When I have free time or I'm stressed or I'm poised to kill someone- I go online and KILL SOMETHING. And its a beautiful liberating game. I loved the community and I leveled up to 52. I NEVER EVER GOT THAT FAR in any game. (Private servers for other MMOs I reach 100+ but that's different).

And THEN I go online to find out a major bombshell. MY GUILDEES QUIT. They moved to a different server. And I was not around to know about the details. I weep bitterly deep inside. I do miss Rock, Monsta, Zuerst, and Pheles. Oh those guys. And even Anti and his elephant. I've never seen a real elephant mount on game until Anti came along. And Inverse was such a godlike guy. He was going to own the free leagues. He was one of the highest players. And they were sweet and gave free info and surplus from all the crafting they did. I AM SO DEPRESSED. GUYS TAKE ME WITH YOU! HUHUHUHUHUHUHU! I PRAY TO GOD that they get my mail so I can change server. I was getting tired of my character's job class anyway.

OH PRESTIGE. WHY HAVE YOU FAILED ME SOOOO!! I DID SO MUCH FOR YOU! ALL THE LEVELING I SACRIFICED TO DO UR TOWN QUESTS. WHY DID U LEAVE MEEE WHYYYY. Just when Rock finally realized I was a girl! Just when Monsta was going to level on shoes! Just when Sea and Apple started getting close with me. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN NOW? WHY PRESTIGE WHY?!?!?

No one can know the depth of my disappointment. UGH. I never had friends who played with me. I made friends on that game. I AM SO IRRATIONALLY DEPRESSED that this just happened.

On the other hand I've made non guildee friends who wish to pirate me. It won't be the same. I am still sad inside. But I'll think about it.


Gonna party like its your birthday
Yehey! One week to go! My birthday gift to myself. DRAW MY OC. I haven't gone around drawing character art for myself for a long time now. I mean... reeeaally drawing detailed character art as reference, guide sheets and costumes and such. But I'm going to do it by golly I will. I don't want college to end with my childhood babies buried in a mountain of adulthood agency work. I cannot allow it.