lefty's turn

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

My family Christmas card.

Hurrrrr....due daaaates....

2011-10-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Me after another all-nighter trying to make deadline. Not sure how I got that ear bite though. Probably should have that checked.

I'm hungry.

Back into the drink.

2011-10-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Yup. Here we go again.

safe, non-partisan editorial piece for my portfolio.

Gifts.

2011-09-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm that weird dude who actually enjoys gift wrapping. That means I spend too much time working on something that will inevitably be torn to shreds the next day.

Working on a 4 year old boy's birthday gift.

SKETCHBOOK: Because I couldn't sleep.

2011-08-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

I screwed up my body clock chasing deadlines. Again.

Clean up was done after I got my rest. Doing a dinosaur book and seeing a lot of fun dragon illustrations on G+ most likely led me to this idea.

Maybe the CCP will like this

2011-08-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

My tribute to Philippine archbishop Oscar Cruz, scourge of the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) & hero to detractors of a certain bowler hat wearing, Rizal quoting tour guide.

I drew him kneeling in deep prayer to show my ~~contempt~~ admiration for his ~~misguided~~ sincere beliefs about family & faith. I even added inverted hearts on the bottom half to represent his ~~disrespect~~ compassion for the common Filipino mothers. In defending them from the scourge of ~~responsible family planning~~ evil, Western propaganda and cancer inducing condoms, the man is a ~~joke~~ hero.

Ribbit

2011-06-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

A glimpse of what's to come in the future (sort of).

Dad,

2011-06-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

I drew this at the Heart Center that first week after your 16 hour surgery. It was done on a wooden bench that I would soon get acquainted to for the next 3 weeks. I even drew a few details on the type of surgery you had.

"Papi" (or pappy) was how you wanted Ali to call you. "Lolo" (grandfather) sounded ancient and belied your outlook on seeing life through youthful exuberant eyes. I admit that my thoughts were on wanting to see you enjoying Ali's company as you watch her grow up.

I don't think I gave you the best eulogy. I'm not one to be shy to speak in front an audience, but like always, my worries about doing you proud got the better of me.

Yesterday, on Father's Day, I visited your grave alone for the first time since the funeral. What I will remember that day is how hard it was to walk back to the car at the end of the visit. I turned back twice because walking away reminded me of the last day I saw you.

It was a Friday morning. I was finally flying back to Davao after 4 weeks in Manila doing hospital night shifts for the family. I remember getting up from that now familiar wood bench & opening the door to say goodbye to you. From that small crack of the door, I saw that your eyes were closed, as they normally were the past few weeks. There was a nurse in the room, her back to me (and you).

At that moment, I convinced myself two things: One, that you were asleep and you needed the rest and Two, that saying my goodbyes would symbolize more than what it normally meant. I closed the door, walked away and told myself that there was no need to bid you farewell. You needed the rest and I will see you again rested & recovered.

You passed away 3 days later. It never dawned on me until yesterday how much walking away that Friday morning affected me. I'm not one to dwell on regrets, but to be honest, I think about taking those extra four to five steps into your room and speaking to you.

It would be tempting to end with some cute line about maybe I didn't have to say goodbye that day because, in some way, you already knew and that I will still see you again in some form of higher plane, but that wouldn't be honest of me.

Yesterday, at the cemetery, turning my back to you reminded me about failing to speak to you when I had the chance.

I wish I spoke to you. Told you I'd be back, to stay strong & that everything will be ok. In hindsight, I'd thank you for everything you've given me and, even if I didn't admit it, how much your approval meant to me. I may have tried to be different, but I wanted to emulate you in more ways than you can imagine.

Last year was the only time we shared Father Day together. I just wish Ali will see me as highly as I saw you. I have big shoes to fill, but you've prepared me for it. Thank you.

Rondooooo!

2011-06-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

During the recent playoff run by my beloved Celtics, I did this sketch of Rajon Rondo. Initially, I only meant to do a two page spread with some dynamic figures in mind.

After a few exasperating minutes wrestling with roughs of men in awkward jumping poses that did not make any sense, I settled on the easier route of doing a basketball sketch. I used to do a lot sketches of my NBA heroes back in high school, but I had not done one in years. I was due.

Unfortunately, the team was eliminated from the playoffs two days after drawing this. Sorry, guys. There's always next season.

Update: Rajon Rondo himself shared my sketch on his Facebook & Twitter account. That's purty damn cool.

The plan in Angkor

2011-06-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

My master plan in Cambodia was to spend a good deal of the day sitting on ancient stones or large tree roots as I sketched the ruins of Angkor.

So much for that idea.

I ended up spending most my days walking from one ancient site to another. There was so much to see. By the end of the day, after taking a beating from the sun, the rocky trails & finding myself wandering the intricate temple hallways, I was defeated.

I did make sure to do at least one (though admittedly stylized) sketch of Bayon.

Pickle, the hotel's perpetually sleeping dog was also nice enough to pose for me.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

2011-06-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

Last March, I took a much needed break and travelled to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat & nearby sites.

The ancient sites & ruins definitely did not disappoint.

Of course, Stanley came along for the ride.

Gave my tuk-tuk driver (and architecture enthusiast) a one-on-one sketch tutorial.

Visited the floating village in the massive Tonle Sap Lake.

And did a 45 minute hike up a mountain to see the fascinating Kbal Spean ruins.

Siem Reap's a great tourist town with friendly people in a country rich in history. All in all, a worthwhile trip to take. If you plan a visit, I recommend staying at Rosy Guesthouse, an affordable, clean guesthouse with a wonderful staff who will make you feel at home.

It's been busy couple of months

2011-03-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

Three months into the year, and this is my first post. Work deadlines from multiple books & publishers are coming in fast & feisty, hence the lack of updates.

March will probably have a similar hectic sked, but so will a long awaited out of country vacation. Expect to read something about that here. More to come.

a few of the sketches I did for various titles in 2011.

Season's greetings (or ambush)

2010-12-25T10:30:00.001-08:00

Every late December, my email inbox starts filling up with holiday greetings of various holiday illustrations done by artists from MB Artists (who also represent me). I'm usually a bystander in all this since I never send in my own artwork/art greeting card (I vaguely recall doing it just once).

This year, I barely make it. Here's a quick black &white Christmas sketch that I sent just minutes ago. It may be a little rushed & I admittedly struggled with a new sketchbook paper texture, but I like the concept (one of many that I had in mind, but I had only enough time to do one pencil sketch. Maybe next year).

Battle of Mactan

2010-12-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I decided to play a little bit. In the past months, I've assumed that, when I finally get to relax, I'll be jumping at the chance to do something along the lines of a figure painting or a plein air sketch by the beach.

Nope.

When the time came, I went with some low-brow fun on my sketchbook. The subject I stumbled upon was Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino icon before there was even a Philippines. He is best known for defeating the Spanish in the shores of Mactan as well as slaying Ferdinand Magellan, a revered historical figure to the world but a foreign usurper to Filipinos.

Idealized statues & paintings of the man can be found all over the country. He's been printed on money, has a city named after him (as well as a local fish), yet not much else is known about him. He, however, stands alone in the annals of Philippine history as the one Filipino hero known for successfully defeating a foreign invading power. Much of the figures in Philippine history are revered for martyrdom & bravery ... in the face of defeat. Being under colonial rule for 381 out of the past 445 years can do that to a country.

With the help of my new friend, the Mongol #2 pencil, and the best craft store quality colored pencils Davao City can offer (sigh), here are three sketches that I made with Lapu Lapu & the Battle of Mactan in mind. As you can see, historical accuracy was an utmost importance to me.

actual historical quote from the battle.

spanish robots on the beach. yes, those 3 words in one sentence.

seeing these strange otherworldly invaders must have been an imposing sight to the natives.

Joining the facebook game

2010-12-05T01:48:00.001-08:00

Currently, many of my friends on facebook have been changing their profile picture to cartoon characters. This is supposed to promote awareness against child abuse. Like other facebook crazes that have preceded this, it's become quite popular and yet I couldn't wrap my mind on how changing your picture to a Thundercat would help.

As well intentioned as it may be (and, may I add, a lot of fun), I refused to play along.

Then the wife changed her profile picture.

Her choice was the princess in a late 70's Japanese animated film Hakucho no Mizumi. A film that was essential viewing in her childhood as Hugo the Hippo was to mine.

She also was now curious on which character I would choose to put up on my own profile. At first, I said I wouldn't do it. I was just too cool for that... but I did start thinking about it.

DC comic characters were easy choices. A few of the old Warner Bros. animation cast would be a good one too. I could easily have gone for 80's tv favorites like Mask, He-Man or G.I. Joe. And of course, there's my old friend Hugo the Hippo.

In the end, I decided to join in, but only on my terms. I would create my own picture. No cutting & pasting for me. I drew my 10 month old daughter, Alison, as Supergirl. It was fast, easy and, as it turned out, quite relaxing. It's been some time since I've drawn without the thought of a paycheck or deadline in mind. Just drawing for the love of it.

Lastly, here's the video that, according to a friend, supposedly inspired this facebook campaign. Changing a profile picture is one thing but getting involved with your time or money is another.

Heeey batta batta batta swing batta!

2010-10-29T23:19:00.000-07:00

As a young boy vacationing in San Francisco, I became a fan of the Will Clark/ Kevin Mitchell Giants team. But, to be honest, I didn't really know the game that much.

When I moved to San Francisco for college in 1997, things got serious. This latest version of the Giants were definitely my team. I'd listen to games on the radio and watch live games at the "Stick" (and later Pac Bell Park). "Pitch to Barry!" that's what we'd all say. Those years were great years to be a Giants fan.

Then, I graduated from college. Barry & the gang faded away. The losses piled up. I left for San Diego and then later to Mexico. I remained a fan & wore my trusty, worn out Giants hat whenever I could, but the team roster were no longer familiar to me.

Along the way, I made picture books (here & here) & illustrations with hints of my fan loyalty to the team. artwork with Giants colors & Pac Bell park quietly slipped into the pages. I just had to. Too easy.

Now, the Giants are in the World Series and I'm reveling in their success just like the old days.

Go Giants!

* artwork from my recent picture book: Baseball From A to Z

I have become what I --

2010-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed by the very capable Nikki G. Tan for the Philippine publication, Zee Lifestyle. Those who know me may get a good laugh or two after reading that last sentence. I'm not sure I want to know what they did after seeing these posted pictures.

Yes, there was a photo shoot. Shoot me now.

leaning against wall? gotta go with the bent knee.

I'm in a lifestyle magazine.

The Annual Men's Issue.

In the Philippines.

Where I don't really have a market for my books.

And I follow a puff piece on (quote) the glamorous (unquote) Imelda Marcos.

There's also an article on skin whitening tips for men.

Did I mention it was the Men's Issue?

On the plus side, it was nice to see published pictures of me & my daughter, Alison (around 2 months old then). My mom gets a kick out of this (and thereby boosting Zee mag's sales all by herself). It does feel good getting a bit of notice from the motherland especially since my work is mostly based in the US. And the writing was fun & well done.

'shop.

2010-08-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

For me, painting on photoshop means work. And because of that, it can get tedious & monotonous.

On one of those dreary moments, I took a quick break & decided to play with some of my personal photos. And yes, I did watch that new tron trailer before doing this.

Here, I decided to add a blue visor on the helmet:

This took only a few minutes & may seem odd to some because the highlights on the helmet do not match any existing ambient light. Still managed to fool a few friends though.

On this shot, I took the opportunity to go tron on the suit. Those white lines on dark fabric were screaming for it:

I painted the details on the face & hands a well as the highlights on the figure. Like the first image, this one was also done rather quickly.

(warning: photoshop jargon ahead). Aside from using a blue multiply tint, I duplicated the original photo and placed it as a top layer. Then, I simply lowered the opacity & erased any necessary detail just to get some that original warm skin tone.

Then, just like that, break time was over and I promptly went back to work.

34 years.

2010-08-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

... and still petrified of a sketchbook's first page.

End of the road.

2010-06-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before in this blog about my love for all things celtics, so it should come as no surprise that I am still reeling from last week's game 7 finals loss to the Lakers.

The damn Lakers.

Maybe I should be happy that this team even went this far. Just last March, I was silently expecting a first round flameout by the celtics.

Then they started moving up each round, taking down Wade, Lebron & Dwight Howard. We made it to the finals. It was celtics v. lakers. A series for all the marbles. We had to get this.

You know the rest of the story.

Still, it was great to root for a scrappy, feisty team that still had a puncher's chance at the title even until the final minute of the season's last game. I must admit, however, that this playoff run has left me exhausted & deflated.

I really shouldn't complain. They made the finals & I've seen much worse.

In the 90's, I was that awkward teen with a celtic hat, rooting for a 15 win team. Earlier that decade, I collected newspaper clippings about Reggie Lewis, the team's young star, collapsing on the court then dying of a heart condition.

There was coach M.L. Carr (gag!), coach Rick Pitino (blech!), a season's worth of tanking for a shot at the Tim Duncan lottery (and ending up with Ron Mercer), team captain & mr. celtic: Rick Fox, uncle Dominique Wilkins & his #12 celtic jersey, John freaking Bagley & then future savior, Vin Baker.

whew, I'm tired.

But come november, you can bet I'll be at it again. Rooting for the team in green.

I'll be ready.

Welcome to life as a celtic fan, kid.

Hey, neighbor.

2010-06-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

the past weeks have been all about daily diapers & deadlines, so it was a nice to see a fresh new twist one morning. it looks like a tiny new neighbor is moving in and has been quietly building his new home in my bathroom window. seems like a nice spot for a new feathered family.

the little builder is at the top right of the photo, nervously watching me while perched on an outside wire.

one drawback is that i've now been consciously watching my time in the bathroom because it frightens away our little friend (let's call him larry joe bird.). au revoir, long showers.

hopefully, larry joe & his growing family sticks around & realizes we're not a threat. there's enough room for another new set of parents and their little baby in our house.

poll dance

2010-05-08T08:21:00.000-07:00

in two days, the whole country will be voting in a big chunk of the next administration. from the executive to legislative branches, from national to the local government. from president to senator to mayor to even city councilor.

in davao city, where i live, we are asked to choose 24 candidates whittled down from a list of hundreds. a little too much to ask of the common tao, no?. wouldn't it be easier to separate these elections? sure, but this is the philippines we're talking about. we don't do easy in this country.

the streets, lightposts, trees, every visible wall (you name it) have been stapled, glued & tied with electoral banners & posters. trucks with speakers blaring out indecipherable campaign jingles roam the streets all day (and night). the songs are guaranteed to remain embedded in your head for weeks, even months, whether you like it or not. just imagine the bombardment of radio & tv ads. these days, i am glad i do not own a tv.

amid the heated partisanship and campaigning (as well as the occasional election related violence), there remains a distinctly festive atmosphere. it's as if a semi-permanent fiesta has enveloped the whole country. personally, i find the vibe somewhat fun, energizing & bewildering.

this election has been like no other. modern technology has seeped into party campaigning. twitter, facebook and the like have opened a new front. this will also be the first fully automated elections. yes, the first time. yikes.

campaign tactics have slowly morphed too. though there are the ever present campaign songs, slogans and colors (yes, here, a candidate's chosen color matters), logo designs and indirect advertising are also slowly working their way in.

this billboard doesn't mention the candidate's name or national position he is seeking, just his logo (a stylized V from his name) and his party's color (orange). a white background behind a collection of campaign stickers that form the V logo. I would call it sharp subtle messaging except for the blatant ripoff of the nike logo (again, this is the philippines. check your trademarks & copyrights at the door).

on the local front, the change slogan has been effectively adopted by the city's opposition party. i can't say i am surprised by this. it was easy to see that the US elections two years ago would influence many election campaigns globally (we all know how that change candidate in the US fared).

hollywood style billboards proclaiming "change is coming" like a summer film teaser surround the cityscape. for good measure, a bisaya version (the local dialect) is placed below this larger billboard.

not to be outdone, the incumbent party retaliates. it may be an effective rebuttal, but i could do without the extra exclamation points (should i mention the red & green all caps letters on white? i think i just did. merry christmas).

i will now leave the last word to sean connery. upon seeing this ad & knowing that the candidate is a long time james bond fan, this gave me good chuckle. whether mr. connery is aware of his endorsement or not (my bet's on not), i had to admire the playfulness of this billboard.

interesting note: it seems like wherever we go, there seems to be an election going on. 2 years ago, we were living in US witnessing the obama/mccain duel. when we moved to mexico the following year, another election was happening. now, it's the philippines' turn. each time, the incumbent party was beaten soundly by the opposition. it's looking like the same thing will happen here.

alison in wonderland.

2010-03-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

ok, so i've plunged into this rabbit hole called parenting.

with this little girl as my guide.

it's been a full month now.

i'll be back when i rediscover this thing i call sleep.

catching up

2010-01-17T06:09:00.000-08:00

since i've done a superb job in neglecting this blog in the month of november (and december!), here's a quick rundown on what i've been up to in this most recent move to the philippines.

just as i had planned, i'm beginning to branch out with respect to my art. art has, in recent years, mutated into a job and that can get tedious. it's time to return to the days when drawing was fun and not a means to a paycheck.

i always delighted in the idea of doing body painting, but this was not what i had in mind. so much for dreaming of swimsuit edition models. next please.

i do not usually accept side projects from friends. mostly because these type of requests create complications with my already jampacked work schedule (among other reasons).

but sometime in november, the clouds miraculously parted and a friend asked if i could design a quickie logo for a new fitness gym she was starting.

one major plus with the move to the philippines was freeing myself up and getting back in shape. over the years, the freelance illustrator lifestyle has wrought major damages to my lower back. now was the time to fix this thing & get back in shape.

i spend a great deal of time in the gym fixing myself. but there are also times i find myself venturing outdoors. like, for example, this one cloudy morning jogging the streets of davao.

and then there is the day job. the two chapter book series from competing publishers have kept me busy. also, after temporarily swearing off picture books so i could enjoy some free time, i've recently signed on to a halloween themed hidden picture book (i am so predictable).

i've also finished a few more flat stanley illustrations. the most recent of which was a mexico themed book which gave me a wonderful excuse to browse through my san miguel de allende pictures for photo references. i miss that town.

and there is also this thing about a new arrival coming in very soon.

if erap starred in a zombie flick...

2009-10-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

it's alive!

last week, joseph estrada, the philippine's former jeuteng lord -in-chief, formally announced his bid to run in 2010's presidential elections. that means i get to draw him one more time! so many ways to draw him, so little time. the guy is practically god's gift to filipino editorial artists.

estrada, the mustachoid former b-movie action star, has been ousted from his presidency, convicted of plunder for taking bribes from gambling lords and linked to unsolved murders. oh, there's more., but i'll spare you the details.

and yet, estrada is convinced that he still has a shot at winning back the presidency -- even if his eligibility (by way of a presidential pardon by the current president. ugh.) is currently in question.

for his campaign, he has voiced his support for an all-out war in mindanao (good luck with that) and for the legalization of jueteng, an illegal numbers game that is directly linked to his conviction for corruption. nice.

even for a nation that is notorious for reveling in candidates who show off their folksy inarticulateness as a matter of pride -- that lack of an intelligent grasp of the sophisticated intricacies of government & disguising it as a populist everyman stance that discards facts & knowledge as mere facets of the disconnected elites, estrada is pushing his luck. (hm, sounds familiar - apparently, this national trait is not exclusive in these modern times).

ah, yes, he's back. and i drew him. it's halloween. i like zombies. so, he's a zombie. in a zombie flick.

can you see him hunched down & limping his way to malacañang palace, mumbling incoherently with empty bloodshot eyes, hungry to seize what he thinks is his? my god, it's already happening.

*** feel free to use my artwork above. just make sure to credit me if you choose to do so.

** to the pinoy northerners: "kawatan" means "thief/magnanakaw" in bisaya.

a little visit.

2009-10-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

my rep's nephew had a school flat stanley project & my rep thought it would be nice to have the book illustrator help out (yep, that would be me). i agreed that this was a great idea and a nice way to show a flat stanley photo tour of davao.

plus, any opportunity i get to look cool in a classroom, even if it's 20+ years too late, was well worth the effort.

then the typhoon swept in.

so much for the outdoor shots. though davao doesn't get hit typhoons (unlike the northern philippines), the city still get it's share of heavy rains & gusty wind...

...which almost rips stanley's arms off. maybe taking a 10th floor rooftop picture wasn't a good idea after all. sorry, stan.

so we settled on the next best idea. fruit shots!

and more fruits.

and of course, the durian. this is davao after all.

this week in asia...

2009-09-19T01:53:00.001-07:00

oh, the perils of moving to a new continent through 4 cities & 3 countries in 2 weeks AND catching 3 book deadlines.

a quick sketch after witnessing my lightbox explode (so much for flying it from the states. curse you, 220v watts!):

but when a sunday picnic entails this -> a 20 minute boat ride to crystal clear waters on an island blanketed by coconut trees, it's easy to forget why i "doodle raged" the other day:

a big fat mexican history book, my flat stanley bookmark & THAT VIEW. really, mac? were the horns even necessary?:

for curious minds, this is what i'm reading. all 832 pages. it looks like i may never get mexico out of my head:

hasta luego, san miguel

2009-08-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

gracias por las memorias.

the little things

2009-08-20T02:09:00.000-07:00

with a bay area baby shower coming in a little over a week, i thought it would be a good idea to play with some fun designs in my cafepress.com account. here are a few of the designs i've ordered for the mom & our new arrival:

kuya means older brother in filipino (and winter is our westie). my wife chipped in this idea & i like it. the image on the right is the organic baby bodysuit that will go with this design. mom will also have a maternity shirt with just the westie art & the "winter" text on it.

this will also be printed on the organic baby bodysuit.

this one's *ahem* self-explanatory.

(because i'm also chasing work deadlines, i didn't have much time to tinker with the texts & decided to use photoshop default fonts instead. i would have preferred drawing the letters too (because it feels like cheating), but i think these designs worked out well in the end.

for the stainless steel travel mug.

same westie illustration as the one above. i added his favorite teddy bear/girlfriend (those are indentations on the bear's cheeks). this will allow the art to wrap around the mug.

maternity shirt (black).

this one's a last minute idea. i noticed that on the website's maternity dress template, you could place the design on the belly. so late one night, after a quick thumbnail doodle, i came upon the idea of illustrating a sleeping baby in the womb practicing his or her follow through.

the celtics outfit was a no-brainer, but the moon was a late, albeit suitable, addition. i needed something to frame the design and my wife has a thing for moons, so merging the two concepts felt like a personal 3am stroke of genius.

----

i've actually had thoughts of designing my own clothing for years now. i prefer not wearing shirts with logos & enjoy a well done print on them. so, this might be the shove i need to learn to print my own stuff. i already have plans to learn the printing craft on our next destination. we'll see. check back with me in a year.

sneak peek: my next picture book

2009-07-19T01:17:00.000-07:00

i mentioned earlier about finding a preview of the book cover for my next picture book. it's still a long wait until the release (spring 2010) and i've written a few times about this book already (here & here), but i can now show you a peek into one of the interior spreads.

the above image is a low res preview of the page spread with type on it. below is a clearer look at the spread. this is a baseball themed alphabet book and this particular spread is an illustration for the letters S ("shortstop") and T (i honestly can't remember).

a dog's day

2009-07-18T00:27:00.000-07:00

i'm not exactly sure if west highland white terriers like to swim, but mine sure does. winter went straight to the water at the first sight of the parque landeta lake here in san miguel de allende. he's predictable this way. even during our stay in san diego, he would run to the surf as soon as we unlatch his leash. otters & jestskis be damned.

this always worries my wife, fearing he's never going to swim his way back. i love it.

ok, so maybe i got a wee bit worried watching him figure out his way back to the rocks. can those little paws paddle their way to dry land? sure can. that's my boy.

just as i started looking into the bag for the brand new rubber balls i brought for a game of fetch, back he went into the water. again. and again. and again. good thing it was the shallow part this time. i didn't even notice that he still had his harness on.

finally, with the swim portion done, i get to toss a few balls. around this time, winter transforms into a racing west highland ~~white~~ brown terrier.

i'm not sure who enjoys this more, me or the dog. i once said to my wife that i may have found the place i am happiest. the dog park. when my time's up, i wonder if i can ask st. pete for a spot on dog heaven instead. someone's got to throw those balls.

mira! mira!

2009-07-09T18:16:00.001-07:00

well, lookee here.

on a recent visit to a favorite bookstore here in san miguel de allende, i found two of my picture books, "bedtime at the swamp" & "i saw an ant on the railroad track", on the display shelves.

the two books (top shelf).

it's always fun to discover any of my books in their natural habitat. whenever i would visit a borders or barnes & noble store, i usually first go to the children's book section to see if they have my books in display.

you know, i've been in the illustration biz for quite a few years now, but it's still always a treat seeing my books in store -- & i don't think i'll ever get used to it.

still, i now kind of expect my books in those popular bookstores.

but a privately owned bookstore in our quaint little mexican town? not really.

the bookstore. libros el tecolote.

a few years back i remember seeing one of my chapter books in a mall in my hometown davao, philippines. i must confess to thinking about grabbing the nearest saleslady or security guard to show them. look! my book! in davao!

nope, i'm never going to get used to this. and that's certainly a good thing.

spring (abc) training

2009-07-07T17:41:00.000-07:00

above is an early look at the cover of my next picture book "baseball from a to z". i recently found this image on the author's website .

it's a book using baseball as a enjoyable introduction to learning the alphabet. lots of fun illustrations in here (ok, maybe i'm a bit biased, but i liked them).

i've written about working on this particular picture book in the past (here & here) & i've been looking forward to seeing what the final product will look like.

spring 2010 can't come soon enough.

dia de los locos

2009-07-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

last may, the locos came out to party in what seemed to be a cross between halloween & a carnival. yet another festival in san miguel. this one's to commemorate both the spring harvest & san antonio de padua.

one of my favorite locos. a pre-spanish god with cup relishing the crowd.

while other kids waited for candy giveaways, this boy had prime seating on dad's shoulders.

hal & family. little green lantern doing some stretching.

umbrellas for the sun.

shoes.

a fitting end to the parade. catrinas resting by a casa.

keep iran in mind.

2009-06-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

coming this january...

2009-06-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

about that post i wrote last december... well, she was right. i was wrong.

above is the picture i slipped into my dad's surprise father's day card. i also had the word "grand" inserted between "happy" and "father's day".

and yes, mom did cry a little.

finally.

2009-06-19T02:33:00.000-07:00

finally, finally, finally.

my latest picture book a.k.a the "book that could never be finished" is, well, finished. it won't be released until probably mid-2010, but i am quite pleased with the illustrations. it is by far, the most detailed picture book that i have done. i also painted this book while juggling multiple projects at the same time. mul-ti-ple.

harpercollins was more than gracious in accommodating my schedule. they had so much patience in me & my unbelievably slow painting hand.

one interesting thing about this 32 page book is that i drew inspiration from san miguel de allende, the mexican town that i live in. the town's colors, stones & the texture are quite visible in the book, in my opinion.

as usual, i had a ball hiding personal mementos in the pages. a few of them celtic related, of course. i cannot wait to see this book out in print.

*as always, i am showing only cropped images until the book begins it's ad campaign. i am also skipping the book title until then (it may be a tentative title at the moment).

i'm now in my 20's.

2009-06-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

when i first started working on this series, i had no idea that i would still be at it 3 years later (or was it 4? it seems so long ago). it's amazing to think that i accepted this project when i was just about to leave for an extended european vacation. the first book, in fact, was sketched flying over the atlantic & painted in a US air force base in rural England using a dinky 13" laptop.

time surely flies. i am now working on book 24 & 25 and quickly nearing the end of the run. it is safe to say that i have learned much about my craft, the publishing biz ... and pre-teen fashion. it's still early, but i am humbled & grateful for this.

*update: it was 4 years ago! wow.

a wall into a bridge.

2009-06-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

recently, i read an article on time about graffiti artists of the israeli/palestinian wall. for a fee, these artists will spray a message on the wall from anyone across the globe (via their website. an email & photo will be sent as proof). the only restriction would be that the words not be of hate or anti-semitic.

a few of the words sprayed on the wall range from political opinions to romantic declarations:

"artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity", "make love not wall", "m.l. loves her funky d".

they are currently working an essay by farid esack, a south african scholar on his thoughts about his experience of apartheid in his homeland and the comparison to the divide in israel/palestine. when done, the work will cover 2,625 meters long (1.6 miles). you can view the work on their website.

interestingly, this is my second blog post about this wall. a while back, i wrote about the british guerilla artist, banksy, painting a message on this very wall.

in an internet age that is allowing our world to shrink ever smaller (think iran), i find it enlightening that art is using technology to shine a spotlight on divisive issues around the world. they are also doing it in a way that is both positive & inspiring.

i am thinking about my wall post.

flat stanley books website

2009-06-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

hoping not to flood the blog with flat stanley news, i've held off posting about the new flat stanley website set up by harpercollins. it's a fun little website.

no, really.

there are downloadable games & activities for kids. you can also print out your own flat stanley for vacations or mail him out around the globe, which he's kinda used to by now (he's been around since '64). there's also more. so, feel free to check it out.

of course, since it is flat stanley, there has to be a picture gallery so readers can post their stanley pics.

* i just found this while writing this post. how often does a book illustrator see their own characters made into a video game? yay.

scenes from my mexican hometown

2009-05-30T17:37:00.001-07:00

it's easy for a photography hobbyist to fall in love with san miguel de allende. aside from the colonial architecture & the plethora of color, the city always seems awash in sunlight & fiestas.

i'm no camera expert. far from it. my cameras are basic & i kinda like it that way. it's a nice personal challenge to go against tech tide. i do feel that what i have learned from my day job is a nice plus too. arbus, avedon, adams, lange & the other giants made more with less & simply trusted their eye.

and no, i am not comparing myself to them -- just in case that ridiculous notion was clumsily implied here.

maybe someday i'll find an old film camera & learn to develop film myself. i took a summer class once, but that was long ago & i don't remember much of it except for being perennially late for class. i was not who i am now.

easter sunday 2009. blowing up of hanging judases. life sized paper mache replicas of hated figures (some replicas of real politicians or ex-presidents and even a witch etc. i think i saw g. bush last year).

lots of dogs in this town. i find them quite friendly. i see more than a few dogs perched on the rooftops of houses. always looking down, guarding the fort.

wednesdays in sma

2009-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

a few weeks back, i decided to join a figure drawing workshop here in san miguel de allende. though i've attended hundreds of these types of workshops before, i haven't actually done one in about 4 years. the rust was clearly showing & i ended the first session a little bit frustrated with myself.

the f.g. workshop i joined is the ana julia aguado gallery right in jardin. the poses were about 30 minutes and i was quite impressed by the variety of trained models. there is also a short gesture workshop on tuesdays, but i've been skipping those.

2-3 sessions later, i saw a bit of improvement. still not yet close the level i wanted but it definitely calm me down some. those close to me know that i can be a bit harsh on myself when it comes to my illustrations (which i actually think is a good thing).

but my main excuse for writing this post is the view from the gallery window:

wine & cheese is also served. AND i also just noticed yesterday that the artwork hanging on the walls are actually original work from mexican art legends diego rivera, david alvaro siqueros & francisco toledo... and it took me 2 months to notice this.

*i have not posted anything new here in weeks. i chalk that up for being the americas slowest book illustrator. i'm currently busy working on a few books (not sure how many but at least four titles). by next month, things should get back to normal.

stanley repackages

2009-03-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

more flat stanley tidbits.

i'm also also working on repackaged titles of the flat stanley series, which was first published in 1964 and now on it's 45th year.

my new version

i'm basically re-imagining the character from previously published stories. shown here is an example of my version of the 2nd book "flat stanley: flat again!" as well as the previous adaptation of the same story.

previous adaptation (2003)

*aside from the worldwide adventure series (mentioned below) and these repackages, i am also working on yet another flat stanley series geared for the beginning readers. more on that in the future.

a flat new world

2009-02-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

presenting two cover illustrations for the new flat stanley chapter book series. i can now show them since the they are now available on amazon.com.

i've been working on this new updated version of the flat stanley character since last year & hopefully i can show more once i am able to. as always, i'll wait till after the artwork is shown on book sites like amazon or on the publisher's (harper-collins) website.

these 2 books are from the "flat stanley's worldwide adventure" series. as you can gather from the series title, it has an international theme. i have already completed the third book (a fun japan adventure) and currently working on the fourth book of this series.

i am also illustrating repackages for previously published stanley stories as well as an "i can read" series for beginning readers. inside each book are numerous pencil illustrations that help follow the story.

this is a fun series to work on. i get to design some interesting characters including the series lead who is well, flat (and even becomes invisible). i get to bend & play with the character and even transform him into different objects (i.e. a sail, kite, snowboard and even a ninja!). i'm essentially drawing a kid that technically has superpowers!

the inauguration in san miguel

2009-01-25T22:55:00.000-08:00

san miguel de allende was abuzz with regards to barack obama's presidential inauguration. i've noticed that a large number of the town's american expat population seem to be quite socially progressive. suffice to say, i'm ok with that.

so on the morning of january 20, 2009, restaurants & bars opened early and had their large tv screens set to the inauguration. all of them choosing cnn as their channel of choice.

i saw retired expats walking in blue obama/biden shirts and some women in red,white & blue scarves. around 10am, an hour before the swearing in, there were a few of them frantically walking by the jardin looking for a place that was not yet crowded & maybe hoping to score an empty seat or two.

personally, the expat population in san miguel has been a nice surprise addition to my people watching tendencies. i thought my move here would be to enjoy the culture & lifestyle of the mexican people but i also find the expats to be a fascinating unique & separate subculture themselves.

a sports bar advertising the inauguration & the superbowl.

i took a peak at the more prominent "Democrats Abroad" hosted event in this restaurant. soon, people will be turned away as i saw others standing on chairs.

i finally found a cafe that wasn't too crowded. seems like the owner was busy decorating the place for that day. obama buttons were even being sold inside.

the small dinky tv with the spanish telecast (for the latecomers).

applause after the swearing in. the large tv for the american cnn telecast. afterwards, the cafe played the boss' "born in the USA" & jimi hendrix's "star spangled banner", most likely unaware that these were protest songs. but hey, still good stuff.

safe!

2009-01-25T21:43:00.000-08:00

it's official. final. done. terminado. after much revisions, a childbirth (not mine), holiday breaks (sadly, not mine either) & a careful lesson in baseball science (looong story). i can now safely say that my 7th picture book is officially completed.

it is an alphabet book with a baseball theme (my second book with the sport). i find it interesting that i've accumulated a number of baseball related projects -- i also did a baseball themed greeting card & a "sing-a-long" baseball picture book a few years back. i'm guessing it was all because of one early baseball image from my portfolio soon after art school.

maybe someday i get to do a basketball book. then again, i may have to write that one.

** a small note: the two images in this post are cropped from that book. i hesitate showing any full images until the book is officially advertised by the publisher, so please don't share the image. just to be careful, i've also decided not to mention the book title.

boy

2008-12-31T15:57:00.000-08:00

soon after last month's virgin of guadalupe festivities, a young boy in an aztec costume kept coming up to my wife. we joked that he may be a an aztec fertility god. a sign of what may come. now, she can't get little boys out of her mind.

here's hoping he was just a normal kid in a parade costume.

feliz navidad

2008-12-25T00:42:00.001-08:00

border crossing

2008-11-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

i just moved to mexico. san miguel de allende, mexico to be exact. which would partly explain my lack of new posts (another reason: usually late in the year the publishers throw everything at me. i suspect the holidays & year-ender deadlines are the main culprits).

i hope to get back on track soon & update this blog. at the moment, i've got a new found fascination for mexican culture & history. san miguel is perfect for that. it's quite an artist town too & i've already met a few of them.

i'm guessing my current picture book will be heavily influenced by the bright colors & architecture that surround me ( it's called "alfred zector: book collector" - about a boy who loves collecting books & in the course, practically drains a whole town of them. more on that later).

last note. in the last 2 months, i've visited both of the US' neighbors, canada & mexico (the hat & the pants, ha). and even though i i've always been aware of this, it's still fascinates me how little we (as in, US residents) know about our neighbors. there is this never-ending caricature of mexico & canada that now seem so lazy & outdated. i get the humor, in fact i find them funny, but i wish a few more americans could see what they are missing out on.

anyway, i'm now excited to explore my new home. there are pyramids, colonial ruins & an exotic rich history to be discovered. plus, andy & red's beach (ehrm, shawshank redemption) is only an extended bus ride away! (publishing gods please be kind, heh).

working on the train...

2008-11-24T22:09:00.000-08:00

montreal to quebec. sketching on rails: so much easier than on a plane.
plus points on the view: canada's pretty fall colors.

tv adds 10 pounds to the ears

2008-11-06T03:10:00.000-08:00

here's an interview i did last october for a US based filipino tv show that is televised globally. it was also their halloween special so i agreed to throw in a few monster sketches for them.

i planned to show 2 books, "bedtime at the swamp" & "the twelve days of christmas". unfortunately, like always, i probably talked too much & the show had to cut the segment for the christmas book (and a huge chunk of my answer to the last question).

by the way, it was about 4pm and i hadn't yet had a meal that day. not a great idea for a tv show rookie. i think i may have worried the staff a bit with my low key demeanor/hunger. someone behind the camera yelled out "remember macky, ENERGY!" complete with a fist pump. uh, yeah, that helped perk me up.

on the flip side, my mom called & said i looked great!

but really, i certainly appreciate the opportunity to be on the show. it was a rare treat for a book illustrator like me. it was a lot of fun too & i wouldn't mind doing it again.

my brother, chris, wrote it best in an email:
"they left out the best parts: the bisaya slip (macky doesn't know what's bisaya and what's tagalog) and the 'yeah, maybe lapu lapu. he's the only filipino hero that didn't lose'."

*by the way, chris told everyone he was my manager & everyone believed it. even demanding more make up for me. so i get serious cake on my face... right before the cameras rolled. sweet.

happy days

2008-11-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

couldn't help taking this pic. the "twelve hidden days of christmas" hidden picture book on the barnes & noble's christmas display.

i'm never going to get tired of seeing my books in stores.

warm up sketch gone overboard

2008-11-01T03:45:00.001-07:00

my original plan for this blog was to focus on editorial art, something i really enjoy. but it's been a busy few years for me & that plan went out the window.

here's a sketch i did last week that i thought would be fairly easy. a warm up sketch to start the work day. it turned out to be a lot of fun & worked on it for a few more days, a few minutes at a time (obviously, i'm not that great at sticking to the initial ideas).

too bad. it would have been fun doing weekly sketches of the current election cycle. it's been nuts on both ends of the spectrum. oh well, maybe next time.

*i'm pretty clear on where i stand on this election. i already voted last week & it was for hope & change.

homegrown monsters

2008-10-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

last week, i did an interview for a tv show on the filipino channel. they asked if i could do some quick sketches of filipino mythical creatures (it's shows on halloween weekend). i was hesitant at first since i normally get paid for these type of things, but it sounded like fun & a nice break from work.

(side note: if i faithfully stuck with that illustrator's mantra of declining pro-bono work, i would not have had a career right now. it's always good to use common sense & remember that what i do is supposed to be fun).

i was offered 4 characters to do & we settled on 3. i drew them the night before the interview. quick fun sketches all.

manananggal

kapre

tikbalang

what makes it all worth it

2008-09-20T01:45:00.001-07:00

i had 3 surprise packages in one week. copies of the "bedtime at the swamp" picture book, greeting cards of my latest pkpress illustration ( rock guitarist theme) & the most surprising of all ... copies of "the 12 hidden days of christmas".

"12 days" is not yet even available in stores (oct 7). i usually get my copies way after the release date.

normally, i become very critical of my artwork when i finally see it in print. but with "12 days" i found myself enjoying the finished product, which surprised me because the book was easily one of my more difficult projects (painting hidden picture book + suspect math skills = crossed-eyes & a lot of re-dos).

the next day, i read the book to my nephew at his younger brother's birthday party.

the reason i'm writing about this is because i have never, in my 5 years as a book illustrator, read any of my books to any kid. it dawned onto me, while sitting with him, that i've never witnessed any proof that my target readers actually approve of my work - that my artwork, well, works!

i've been painting blind & just expecting children to "get" the stories.

well, now i know. the books work splendidly. nathan would not get off my lap, alternating between the 2 books & either looking for santa or making those wonderful monster noises that kids do so well.

going postal

2008-09-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

just found out today that the "take me out to the ballgame" book was being sold at the nearby post office (2 blocks away). my wife was in line waiting for her turn & noticed that familiar cover hanging on the store wall. credit goes to her for the discovery. i would not have noticed it.

it's on sale to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the baseball song. USPS is also issuing a 42 cent commemorative stamp designed by artist Richard Sheaff.

I had no idea that this book would have this much staying power when I was working on it 3 years ago. It is also being sold in Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame).

more info here.

north park urban art

2008-09-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

some interesting urban art where we live. most of the pix are not mine. i'd credit the photographers but i lost the link sources. unfortunately, most of the artwork have been painted over (i think by new building owners). this is why i had to go find the pics on the net instead. the paint rollers where just too quick for my slow-poke rodriguez camera trigger. most, if not all of them, seem to be business sponsored art. there are more than a few taggers in our neighborhood, but i hate that shit. these ones definitely stood out & made the north park area more appealing to me.

university ave. inbetween 30th & ohio

now painted over. an early favorite.

undisputed gym wall (ohio street)

also painted over. too bad, i enjoyed looking at this while walking the dog.

also on the undisputed gym wall.

linkery restaurant wall (30th street)

solid artwork by acamonchi.

Flat Stanley

2008-09-09T01:50:00.000-07:00

I've signed with HarperCollins to do a relaunch/redesign of the Flat Stanley books. This is another long term series that I will be working on for the next 4 years.

As with every start of the new project, there is that "getting to know you" phase that the illustrator & art director/editor gets to do. Right from the start, the FS editors have been a joy to work with.

I always hear about horror stories from other artists about dealing with art directors, but I've been lucky so far to have not experienced any of that.

I've already finished a few book covers & I hope to show some of them soon. There will be different sets of books that would target different reading levels (a first for me).

At the moment, amazon is showing the previous designs but crediting them to me. Hopefully, this will be corrected because I'd like to see the previous illustrator properly recognized for his work.

nerdtopia

2008-08-04T01:07:00.000-07:00

i finally got to go to the sd comic-con to see what all the fuss is about. even though i live in sd, my work sked prevented me to check it out in the past.

the hollywood & gaming industry's presence was definitely felt, but i was there to see the interesting people & the artwork.

it's hard not to feel the energy at the con. it's like walking in a huge (*star wars ref alert*) mos eisley cantina or (*more geek ref alert*) hellboy's troll market.

just a few of the pics i took:

imperial officer shoots hellboy.

tired jedis (too many storm troopers at the con)

80's heroines, villains & that weird kid who watched too many cartoons.

i wanted to buy these "artists" figurines. too bad, they would have looked great beside the da vinci action figure & the larry bird bobble head ... (i should stop typing).

just missed.

watchmen's owlship. great book. hope the movie does it justice.

a family outing - speedy & the green arrow. this just spells comic-con.

another ad spot

2008-07-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

since i just wrote about spots for promotion, here's one that i did last year for PLAY!

i wanted to get away from the type of look that i've been doing & try something more fun & less time consuming.

promo spots

2008-07-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

once every 2 yrs, mb artists holds a fall party that is attended by the artists & clients. i look forward to this event since this is probably the only time i get to meet the people i work with & the mb artists illustrators who live all over the world.

as always, each illustrator was asked to do a quick b/w spot art with a specific theme. the 1" x 1" spots will be for the invites & promotional giveaway ( a nice booklet with samples of each illustrators' artwork).

this is my spot for the 2006 party:

since the size for the spot art is very small, it only takes a few minutes to do. the tricky part is to keep it simple without much detail so that it can be understood. still, fun stuff.

i got carried away & ended up doing four:

this week in san diego: bridging both worlds

2008-07-25T00:12:00.000-07:00

the pride celebration was last weekend while the comic-con just started today. so, it's been quite festive in the city.

we've got 2 groups of partygoers in town. one that party like the best of them & the other that, well, needs to ask mom's permission first.

either way, sd is drowning in costumes & spandex for the whole week.

first review

2008-07-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

the kirkus review has written the first review for Bedtime At The Swamp:

"Sitting in the moonlit swamp with his West Highland white terrier, a boy hears, "Splish splash / rumba-rumba / bim bam BOOM!" and knows it's a swamp monster. He high-tails it up a willow, but his sister comes to tell him Ma wants him home for bedtime. When they hear the monster again, she joins him up the tree. Each time a relative arrives to fetch him home, they end up in the tree. Even the monster is frightened into joining them by the strange sound-and then Ma herself appears to march her brood off to bed. They all go "splish splash" in the bath, "rumba-rumba" with their toothbrushes, "bim bam" up the stairs and "BOOM!" into bed. Crow's rhythmic chant and rhymed text are nicely brought to life by Pamintuan's bright, swampy, expressive art, the clean lines and colors making the most of the absurd situation. Bedtime and monsters haven't gone together so well in years. Worth a second copy to have on hand for storytimes on either topic." (Picture book. 3-6)

Thanks to the author, krystin crow, for the heads up.

it's been 2 years since i started on this book, but i'll soon be splish splashing my way to the bookstore's kids section in less than 2 weeks.

heaven reeks of cigar smoke tonight.

2008-06-18T00:17:00.001-07:00

because coach red is lighting one up.

the celtics won the championship (after 2 decades, i can actually say this).

there was no way i'd have predicted this season to end this way. a title in boston against the lakers. amazing.

the wife & i saw one nba game this season. it was the celtics in LA in december. i was watching the two teams that would make the finals later that year. how about that?

i stuck with this team since i was a kid, never wavering during the jordan years, the shaq/kobe era & today's lebron generation. i didn't care. as far as i was concerned, my heroes wore green & white. as a basketball fan the past 2 decades, i stuck out like a sore thumb.

my motivation was that for every bad year, it would make it even more special when the c's finally win one. that, in a sense, i went along the journey with them -- it actually sounded like crazy talk at that time, but, wow, it makes sense now. it was definitely worth it.

to think, last season, the celtics ranked 29th out of 30 teams. this year they're nba champions.

the smiles etched on kg, ray & pierce's faces said it all. i can honestly say i was truly happy for them. 3 classy individuals who deserve their rings. same goes with doc rivers. a gorilla off their backs.

to me, the post game celebrations were as equally enjoyable as the game. as if i was there celebrating with them, but with a dry shirt. danny boy, you did good.

all-star trios aside, this is still a team game & the celts showed they were the better team. rondo, pose, perk, eddie, the show, pj, big baby and the rest. they deserved this one.

ubuntu.

how not to be poor

2008-06-11T21:43:00.001-07:00

i read an interesting bit of news recently.

according to the philippine government, the minimum amount that a family of five should earn to stay out poverty in 2007 is... 10,000 pesos a month ($225).

for a family of five.

2,000 pesos a month each.

and you are not in poverty.

by the way, this is for a family living in the national capital region. the numbers are likely lower in mindanao.

how they do the numbers is beyond me. i'm no good at math, but i'm guessing these figures don't match reality.

good thing our president is an economist. she'll fix things. she's awesome at fixing things (see: elections, 2004)

good times.

photo refs

2008-06-04T16:52:00.000-07:00

i'm still not sure if this is a good idea. no really, turn back now. rest those eyes. it's probably for the best.

here are a few examples of how i use photo references for my illustrations. a few years ago, it was a major part of my approach to painting. i have now found a happy medium & don't depend on them as much, but i still consider it an important step to illustrating.

my last picture book "bedtime at the swamp" did not have as many photo refs. but the one I am currently doing "abc baseball" has a ton of them, mostly to keep my art consistent with the sport.

so here goes. aw geez...

birthday greeting card (peaceable kingdom press)

it's hard to tell, but i was actually upset when this pic was shot. why? because the photographer (aymone) couldn't stop laughing & kept ruining the shot. i made a lot of angry goofy faces that day (now that's a pro!).

nancy drew & the clue crew #12 (simon & schuster)

my mvp did some great poses here. and when i mean mvp, i don't mean the teddy. this was a nice photo "backbone" to rest my illustration upon. i still think this is the best cover from the series so far.

i saw an ant on the railroad track (sterling)

speaking of great poses. this supermodel did an awesome job for the whole book & i'm not joking! all it took was payment in the form of a ham & cheese sandwich. best investment on deli meat i've ever had. hands down.

since dexter did such an excellent job, why not show another one? they guy really worked hard for that sandwich.

2002(?) student work (academy of art)

and the coup de grace. told ya i used to work hard for my photo refs. obviously, this was done before i got my 6 pack abs. chris was also stellar doing impromptu clutch work as the boxing manager.

so there, kids. a look inside an illustrator's disturbed mind. obviously, there's more, but why prolong the pain?

davao '02

2008-06-04T02:47:00.000-07:00

found some old photos of my home city, davao, in a forgotten envelope. i took these when i was on vacation. still a struggling art student. no career. not sure of the future. just full of ideas.

i liked how these photos came out. the color & that authentic grainy look. no edits. just some awkward crops to show what i was really looking at.

made me wish i took these on old polaroids scratched up by time. because that's how i see these now. a time machine on pulp. they may only be 6 years old, but so much has happened since then. to me, they might as well be decades old.

mother's day

2008-05-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

it really is. it's her birthday too.

panes? even back then i couldn't spell.

first round musings

2008-05-07T00:37:00.000-07:00

things i learned from the first round of the nba playoffs:

- though i am a long time sportsnut, i have ZERO experience rooting for a title contender. all the teams i have rooted for (except this year) were never expected to win it all (i.e. past celts teams, every philippine olympic team, barry bonds' sf giants, myself in video game matchups).

- i truly, truly suck at rooting for a winner. it's like swimming for the first time.

- lebron is a monster but the cavs are boring. there is no passing or set plays. just.give.ball.to.lebron - get.out.of.way - watch.him.score. boring.

- i will forever hate the lakers.

- work productivity will take a dive as long as the celts are in the hunt. potential catch 22.

- i miss the warriors. i do not miss dallas.

- the tv does not shout back even when you shout at it during games. my tv has good manners.

- the wife will slowly get more stressed out as the celtics go deeper because she has caught the celtic bug. even as she's trying to avoid it.

- kg needs to shoot more. ray allen should not guard the other team's best player.

- when i change the channel, the celtics will lose the lead.

- when i change the channel, the celtics will take the lead.

- i need to come up with a reply when people say "go celtics" when i (or aymone) is wearing my celtic hat. lame replies so far.

- spurs will win it all (current 0-2 hole in 2nd round is a problem though).

the brits do it the right way

2008-04-30T23:48:00.000-07:00

now this is how official portraits of heads of states should be done. i just found out that tony blair's official portrait was painted by phil hale. i own a copy of hale's book & his works have been a favorite of mine since art college.

what stunned me was that britain selected an artist who's style is known to push the envelope.

the blair piece is a departure from hale's signature look. it will, after all, be hung at westminster.

no tie, the look away gaze, the palette. exhausted & contemplative. i like that it humanizes him.

the guy who did this

also did these

one can only dream to do the philippine prez official portrait. oh, i'd like to do that one.

recordar

2008-04-26T04:01:00.001-07:00

nothing much to write about here.

i just like this unfinished tree sketch from mexico. the simplicity of it.

i intended a more elaborate sketch.

with leaves & the roofs of the adjoining casa luna building

circling the

tree.

mexican tiles

the pool maybe

some dramatic shadows from the late afternoon sun.

but then a private party was about to start where i was sitting. itstartedgettingcrowded. a person politely asked me to leave.

i'm glad i did.

art school relic

2008-04-23T02:34:00.001-07:00

found an old college assignment illustration, dusted off from the depth of the multi--folders of my computer. it's been years since i've seen this one.

i think it was for the intro to photoshop class in the early years (i may have even used a mouse!).

the assignment was to choose from existing objects & turn them into an illustration - no made up stuff. the only objects i remember was a toothpaste, typewriter & veggies (watermelon, carrots etc).

i now get a good laugh at some of the techniques used, but i'm still pretty happy with the over all effect - unusual since i'm usually my worst critic, especially stuff from art school.

i don't remember much about this one, except that the dog was a proud moment for me.

changes & advertising

2008-04-14T19:46:00.001-07:00

late last year, i did a concept illustration for a book project that was being negotiated. in the end, i decided that i could not take the project. though it had potential to become a series & already had a built-in buyer base, something else came up (more on that soon).

my rep & i decided to use the existing art for advertising. she recommended some changes (more color!) and i shifted things to the right size format. it's now the artwork for my page in an illustration annual (last year's art was from the second ant book).

here is the original piece:

a long time ago...

2008-04-09T03:24:00.000-07:00

i had no idea this book existed until a friend ( i call her boss -- my orig art editor & the reason for my ongoing fascination with pen & ink) asked me about it.

thanks for discovering the book for me!

in my last year in college, i was paid to do a series of acrylic paintings for a proposed poetry book. i remember just getting excited about being paid to illustrate.

i think there were 10 paintings. i had my then fiance (now my wife), a few classmates, cousins & myself as models. i also took photos of some homeless scenes in sf. i remember being inspired by the serious tone of the poetry, which i think is evident in the final work.

i'd like to create paintings with somber themes again. i have some ideas, but that's for my show. someday.

not really concerned about being published, i soon forgot about the book after i graduated. it was for a small publisher after all, and the chances for it going to print may have been remote at that time.

the book's amazon link.

earth (two) hour(s) and the (electric) power of music

2008-03-31T21:22:00.001-07:00

last saturday at 8pm, we did the earth hour thing. we shut off all our lights and lit the candles for an hour -- because nothing is more important than having some one look up at our huge condo building and noticing our dark tiny 5th floor window and getting inspired by such compassion for the earth ... and maybe just maybe shed a tear & turn vegan.

earth hour wasn't a big thing here in SD. non-existent really. maybe it was in the bay area.

since i didn't want to go jose rizal & read a book by candle light, i decided to take a short nap. maybe it was the silence, the peace, that snoring dog or maybe i'm just not a fan of, how you say, "waking up" -- i woke up 2 hours later. that's an extra earth hour! such an earth lover, i am.

amidst the soothing candle light and the energy saving, i could hear the electric guitars & music from outside. our neighborhood annually hosts the san diego indie music festival. the event was about 2 blocks away with multiple stages in closed streets. indie bands rocking out in north park. sweet. add the indie fest to my growing list of san diego events i plan to go to "next time".

my point is? i thought it was funny that while we were doing our earth hour thing in darkness, a block away power generators & bright lights were blasting away in what was probably a rocking party.

switching off our lights for an hour probably didn't amount to anything in the grand scheme of things, but we felt it was important to be a part of.

*illustration for pk press

cover's out

2008-03-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

tis a good day when i find a finished book cover on the net. this one i saw on amazon.

here's a summary from the publisher's website:

"Kids love searching for Christmas gifts, and they can get a head start on the holiday with this joyful twist on the popular carol. You’ll recognize most of the words from “On the Twelve Days of Christmas,” but instead of “my true love” giving the presents, jolly Santa’s leaving them all around the house. Sharp-eyed children can accompany a curious little bear to look for St. Nick’s cheerful handiwork—as well as some festive extras that artist Macky Pamintuan has playfully added to the art, including jingle bells, a candy cane in the toothbrush cup, and bright snowflakes floating over the bathtub. As the items accumulate, the delight heightens, with ten frog lords a-leaping and sliding; nine pretty pink pig ladies dancing a ballet; and cow maids ready to do their milking.

The best is saved for last in a big ending: a huge double gatefold that’s actually four pages long, containing all the items delivered during the twelve days."

christmas is FINALLY over & i can now shave

2008-02-16T01:49:00.000-08:00

last week, after 13 months, 3 cities, 2 continents & a severely worn out back, i finally finished painting a christmas hidden picture book. this one took so long to get done.

on the final month, i swore not to shave until it was completed. i take pride in not missing a deadline. i've always wanted to be that illustrator who got things done on time. well, in this one, we were months behind. the first time i ever missed a deadline. i think.

sketches were revised, schedules changed, babies born (congrats to my art director) & not to mention me practically going cross-eyed trying to keep tabs with the ever growing characters i tried to hide each page.

the book is based on the 12 days of christmas & was designed as a hidden picture book. i was excited to do a hidden picture book & a holiday theme at that.

all i had to do was illustrate & place every character mentioned on the song. by the time i got to 8 maids-a-milking, things got really confusing. by 10 lords-a-leaping, i was the one who wanted to do some leaping.

it wasn't the hardest book to paint, but the number of characters i had to "hide" was tough to do. i was also running out of space for the characters as well as maintaining extra space for the ever growing text.

i regularly worked till dawn, on christmas day, new years day & right after watching that nba game on our anniversary.

well, it's done now. i'm glad, refreshed & clean-shaven.

the book should be out by, well, the christmas season (not sure what year - no date released yet).

it's time

2008-02-15T04:52:00.001-08:00

even nixon resigned for lesser charges.

écoute répéter

2008-01-30T10:13:00.001-08:00

revisions, revisions, revisions. the schedule killer. many a weekends have been crushed by these demands.

exhibit A (top image): my current picture book. i submit a month's work of 26 sketches and 98% are in need of changes.

revisions are normal. in fact, they are expected. and much as I hate re-doing them, well-done art direction usually improves the book. when i look back at some of my initial sketches from previous projects, i shudder to think how unacceptable (to me) the final product would have looked without the requested changes.

exhibit B (bottom image): my sketch of a baseball pitcher in windup. loved that sketch! love the perspective. i loved how everything was bendy and fun.

i did not love the comment for the first sketch -- "make more dynamic and interesting". turns out the art director was right. the second sketch was a marked improvement.

but they sure mess up my free time.

ps: that 2nd sketch hasn't been approved yet...

UPDATE 9/2010: Here is the final art from the above sketches (w/ margins & in full bleed):

* Baseball from A to Z is now available in stores & online.

idiot of the week award

2008-01-23T21:03:00.000-08:00

god knows how to make punishments also, so our country is what it is now because the head of the church went against god’s will. our country is not moving forward.”
-- former philippine president joseph estrada, claiming vindication. also added the country was now suffering because the late jaime cardinal sin did not heed “god’s voice” but instead backed the EDSA II people power revolt, despite a vatican order to stay away.

"lightning bolt ready, sir"
-- st michael

baby steps

2008-01-16T01:08:00.000-08:00

i go through different stages before ending up with the final art.

of course, each project is different. jobs like picture books, chapter books or editorial art are more challenging and take more time. there are other types of work too, but let's stick with this one to keep things simple.

here is one example of a greeting card project for a bay area based client that i regularly work with (pkpress):

1. client samples - not mine. an art director may send sample art to give me a sense of how she wants the project to look like.
2. first sketch: i also use a lot of photo references and do different thumbnail sketches before finishing a tight sketch.

3. revised sketch w/ color sample: i don't usually do this. but if i have time to spare (not often), i like to do color samples and some problem solving -- in this case, the colors are too muted and in need of warm/cool color adjustments.

it also makes it easier for me when i finally do the finish.

4. art director's comments: an example of the client's comments. note the text placement on top. i always have to consider that.

5. final art with revisions: sometimes, there will be more revisions after final art. sometimes, not always.

6. flames spot art: this client requested flame spot art to be placed on the text -- some artists do text art too. i choose not to be one of them.

7. client's 2008 catalog: this product is advertised in the client's catalog and website. my art is on the upper right corner. note that the intitial text "take off" has now been replaced with "rev up!". good move.

bedtime at the swamp

2008-01-14T23:57:00.000-08:00

another new discovery on the interweb. amazon.com & harpercollins.com just posted the cover art for "bedtime at the swamp", a picture book I finished february 2007. that's 11 months ago for those who are counting.

this means i can finally show the cover art. finally.

the book won't be out until july 2008, so these are just pre-sale announcements. i like that it's a summer release. might be a good thing.

mb artists

2008-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

hmm, maybe i should be visiting the site more. turns out my art rep's agency has now been officially renamed -- from hk portfolio to mb artists ( www.mbartists.com ).

me thinks i should try to pay more attention to these things.

celtics v. lakers

2008-01-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

me & 19,000 losers

ray allen free throw. notice the score. bliss.

me, magic & me lucky charm.

the wife & i spent our 3rd anniversary in the belly of the beast (aka staples center). with celtic hat, wristband, converse weapons and a larry jersey, i saw my boys demolish the lakers 110-91.

the teams were sporting throwback jerseys and the lakers even wore short shorts in the first half. jerry west & kareem were in the arena too. good times.

it's going to be hard to top this one.

%#@*&!

2007-12-19T23:14:00.000-08:00

DET 87 - BOS 85.
- should have worn that 33 jersey instead.
- shouldn't have left in the 3rd quarter to pick up pizza
- shouldn't have stood up in the last 1 minute. The team was looking good while i was on my back.

next time, i should know better.

rashweed!

big game alert

2007-12-19T06:14:00.001-08:00

my boys in green (20-2) will be battling THE east finals contender today, the detroit pistons (17-7). a certified litmus test for the celtics in this young season. so you can be rest assured that for 3 hours this afternoon, i will be glued to the tv and blowing off any responsibilites or duties i should be doing.

and if you're wondering, that is an nba fantasy league trophy (a what?!) beside my bird bobblehead. -- awkward silence -- maybe i shouldn't have shared that. i know, it's sad and i need help.... but not until the end of the season!

bring on the bad boys. now, do i wear the #33 or the #34 jersey for good luck? i feel that these are important questions.

a swamp thing

2007-12-06T05:12:00.000-08:00

so much for that one post a week idea.

since I'm pretty busy with work right now, I've decided to post some artwork for a book that will be released in summer 2008. it's called "bedtime at the swamp" (harpercollins; written by kristyn crow). my art rep has already posted an image from the book, so i'm assuming it is ok to post two here. note: no text placements yet.

i've noticed that it normally takes a year (or in this case 18 months) after painting is done when the books get published. after working on a book for 6 months, you can forgive me if i can be a little antsy waiting that long to finally see my work in print.

this book i'm especially proud of. so far, i've heard nothing but good things about it from the publishers, clients and the writer. it's actually opened new opportunities too. it's a fun story (it involves swamps, monsters & mud). the cover looks really, really good (too bad i can't show it).

i'm currently working on a hidden picture book with a christmas theme and it's currently kicking my pwet. if you ever see me do another hidden picture book, you have my permission to shoot me.

oh yeah, that's my dog, winter, in the painting (still a puppy). my bro, chris, is on the left looking up and that's the back of my head in the foreground (in a red cape, of course). a larry bird jersey, a celtic bobblehead and a superman figurine shows up too -- hey, i get bored working on the same thing for 6 months.

ant meets bug

2007-11-06T03:12:00.000-08:00

i've totally forgotten about this and only remembered when i was googling my name last night (i know, i know. hey its fun).

my book "I Saw An Ant On The Railroad Track" is a 2007 ladybug picture book nominee. an award given out by the new hampshire state library (go celtics! sorry, couldn't resist). i have no clue if this is a big thing. but i know one thing, i can actually say these words "i am just happy to be nominated". haha.

i dont expect to win by the way. i'm like a giddy laurence fishburne in 1993, nominated for "whats love got to do with it", fully expecting tom hanks to bag the oscar for "philadelphia".

ooh, i just remembered this one while writing this -- man, my memory's bad. another book of mine, Take Me Out to The Ballgame" was also nominated for another award. the 2007 ben franklin nominee for the children's book and audio book category (independent book publishers association). quick search aaand...ok, i lost that one last may. damn you "A Frog Thing"!

being nominated for anything is nice and unexpected but i really just want to draw and be paid for it. avoiding the 9-5er anyway i can.

still, coming from a career C student who's won three awards his whole life:
cleanest tent - boy scouts in grade 6 (the makeshift garden was awesome)
postermaking award -- grade 1 ("mery christmas" -- still cant spell to this day)
NY society of illustrators student award -- now, this was cool.

just being recognized by the publishers is good enough for me.

***oh wait, four awards. judge's choice for a postermaking thing i did in high school. it was crap, but i did win 500 pesos for it. sweet.

banksy

2007-11-05T01:09:00.000-08:00

if i could do this art and make bank, it'd be perfect for me. smart, challenging, opinionated and unpretentious.

he's been on the news recently because someone finally caught a picture of him. that part sounds too gimmicky for me. but his work is solid. link

my vote

2007-10-31T01:10:00.000-07:00

'm a sucker for world events and the news. That's pretty obvious to people who know me well. So, on cue, I have kept up with the current US presidential race within the democratic and Republican parties. Only recently have I realized that this time this race may matter more to me because I may be casting a vote come election time.

So here is my current evaluation of the field:

MY CURRENT PICKS:
1. Barack Obama D- My choice from the start. I seem to agree with everything he says. Sweet jumpshot.
2. John Edwards D - Has recently jumped up my list. Has made excellent points. If only the country would pay more attention to him.
3. Joe Biden D - Extremely qualified. Says the right things and is not boring (important nowadays).
4. Hillary Clinton D- Not a favorite but always looks solid. sometimes looks too much of a pol, but cannot deny her skills. Big plus: brings Bill back.

KEEPING MY EYE ON:
1. Bill Richardson D - Strong UN record. Effective Governor. Horatio Sanz would be perfect to play him on SNL.
2. John McCain R - I don't agree with some things he's said but I like him. Authentic, Talks frankly, non-partisan and a reformer (Immigration, Campaign reform). I'd trust him as a leader.
3. Chris Dodd D - Another Dem who keeps saying the right things.

NO! NO! NO! NO!:
1. Mitt Romney R - Shallow minds think he being a Mormon is a problem. It shouldn't be. The problem is that he's a devout Moron. Has said he would double Guantanamo Bay Prison. Switched on numerous issues to suit his political ambitions.
2. Rudy Guliani R- Joe Biden said it best: "Rudy Giuliani, probably the most underqualified man since George Bush to seek the presidency....I mean, think about it! Rudy Giuliani. There's only three things he mentions in a sentence -- a noun, a verb, and 9/11. There's nothing else!"
3. Fred Thompson R - Still believes Iraq had WMDs. Should stay with fictional law & order.
4. Mike Hukabee R - A creationist as president? Hell no.

FUN FACTOR:
1. Dennis Kucinich D - Authentic and opinionated. Hot wife. Claims to have seen a UFO.
2. Ron Paul R - Never thought I'd listen to a Republican congressman from Texas. Solid anti Iraq war, severely criticizes Bush and is not beholden to his party. A Republican? Texas? Extra points for having the best name.

IF ONLY THEY'D RUN:
1. Al Gore D- My ultimate pick. But he's too busy saving the rest of the world (and collecting Grammys, Oscars and the Nobel Peace Prize). No tony or Source award yet. slacker.
2. Bill Clinton D- Because he's Bill.
3. Abe Lincoln R- Hey it's my blog. Who else can bring the left and right together but the one who handled the North v. South war? A real Republican.
4. Stewart/Colbert - much better than the current duo. and funnier. Carrell for Secretary of State.
5. Lex Luthor/Darth Vader- We already have evil villains in the White House, why not one that is actually smart and with real battlefield experience? ... with a light sabre. cool.

DISCLAIMER:
I've also rooted for the following:
- Al Gore in 2000 (won. then lost)
- John Kerry in 2004 (lost badly)
- George H.W. Bush in 1992 (surprise)
- Roco in 2004 (lost badly...then died)
- Boston Celtics the last 2 decades (i'm mentally scarred by them)
- my teenage self against my younger, shorter, rounder bro during one-on-one basketball (lost)
- The Philippine Olympic Team (never won gold. ever.)
- Optimus Prime in the animated movie (he dies. i weep)
- Springfield over Springsteen (hey, I was a kid)
- Cindy Lauper over Madonna (cindy looked cooler)
- every team against Jordan's Bulls (i still hate mj)

**See a pattern here? Obama's in trouble.

banner 17

2007-10-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

basketball season. finally.
the celtics are finally on the map! kg and ray allen in celtic green. i don't expect a ring (yet), but now we have a chance. the suns are in disarray, dallas will still choke and its a toss up in the east. the spurs are still the favorite, but they only win in odd-numbered years (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007).

* about the pic.. yeah, i know. i was surprised that paul didn't wear a suit too. i've also been hearing talk about this being the next big 3. i think it's unfair to leave ray allen out.

sneak peek

2007-10-01T03:19:00.000-07:00

my quest to do artwork for the older market (i'd say adult market but that would be wrong) is once again on hold. seems like my clients' target readers keep getting younger & younger. i'm also doing an ABC book and a christmas hidden picture book. my guess is that my most loyal readers .... um, can't read yet.

*i normally don't post artwork that have not been published yet (contracts, rights, blah), but this one is a test image so what the heck. i'll hold off on what it's about but if i do go ahead on this book, it would be on a topic that is new & strange territory for me.

walk on

2007-09-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

i've been wanting to do an op-ed illustration about burma, but time's not on my side.

right now, there is a brutal crackdown on the peacful protests led by buddhist monks, the spiritual and moral backbone of the country. an undisclosed number have been killed, detained or disappeared.

this is not like the philippines were a there is a sympathetic military faction to support a peaceful civilian protest like in EDSA I and II. it truly is guns v. prayer beads.

currently, things look bleak in burma, but i can only hope that someday, human rights and democracy return to the country.

for more info: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk./

jailhouse 'rap

2007-09-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

this crook got caught.

while the rest of them remain free.
i won't name names but here's one hint:
rhymes with shmelda barcos.

day off

2007-08-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

for the first time in months, i got to enjoy a work free weekend. consecutive days without thinking of deadlines! i thought it would be the perfect time to sketch for fun again. i haven't done that in years.

so what did i want to draw? for my first stress-free drawing in a long time, there sure was a lot of pressure. i had a small window of time.

i really expected myself to come up with some editorial illustration. that's always been fun -- thinking, making a point and drawing. it's so easy to point my loaded pencil at karl rove, raul gonzalez and their ilk.

and then i had a "caddyshack/hotfuzz" moment. why not just put no reason to it. just draw. it's something that will never be on my portfolio ... and i sure hope i can make some more.

announcement: no brain cells were hurt in the making of this sketch.

updated site

2007-06-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

it took a while but i finally updated my www.mackyart.com website. work, travelling, procrastination and the nba playoffs conspired to delay this. maybe it was a good thing the warriors didn't get past the jazz.

I built the site in 2003, during my senior year in art school. i'm not that tech-savvy so i had to build one that i could easily handle and update. i also didn't have a career then and needed a site to introduce myself to the art world > also known as "anyone-willing-to-pay-me-for-my-art" world.

a few books, a real live art career and two cities later ...okay, 1.5 cities later, the site needed to be updated to fit the times.

unfortunately, most of my newer illustrations won't be added until they get published (it's a contract thing). so a lot of the illustrations shown on the site have been on the net for some time now. but i'm looking forward to late next year, when a lot of my favorite new illustrations will be published.

the site is no way near done but it now looks clean and less busy. one link is still down and i plan to add more illustrations and icons. for now, it's a step above the previous design. i'll probably be done with the whole thing when the celtics make the playoffs (hah). i'm glad it's only a secondary portfolio site -- most of my clients go directly to my agent's website.

aristide

2006-01-20T00:44:00.000-08:00

aristide

this is an old sketch. i was hoping for a new version by dec 04 with a different head (and country) this time (hint: his name rhymes with "push"). sigh.

philippine presidential elections 2004

2006-01-20T00:33:00.000-08:00

i actually wanted the "liberty bell" to win. who knew he'd lose so badly.

sidenote A: no debate? no debate?!! A presidential election that favors the intellectually challenged.

sidenote B: ok ping, you made your point. how convenient for you to have a senate seat waiting for you after the elections.