Letter Better
I first took up calligraphy and lettering to reconnect with words. It did more than that. It taught me to be brave, to focus, to let go when need be. More than the practice of lettering, I wanted it to help people from the inside. That’s how the Letter Better inspiration sessions began, and in time for the new year.
The first session was partially inspired by Patti Dubrowlski’s Tedx talk on visualizing your future. The first part involved the power of words, how to change one’s use of language to turn one’s hopes, dreams, and wishes into something that can be done. The second part helped participants visualize this with the use of lettering basics. Depending on the group, it can be more than that. For one group, it was about reconnecting with their creativity and cementing their goals. For another group, it strengthened their sense of community and sharing.
I am always in awe of how much art and crafts, from the very time a skill is applied, reveals. Wouldn’t you want to find out?
If you would like to hold a Letter Better inspiration session for you, your friends, and/or your organization in the Philippines, contact me at myachi at gmail dot com. Rates and packages can be customized to your needs.
The ‘Feels’ after Red Turnip Theater’s ‘Closer’
I first watched Closer the movie some years back, mere days after a college-era heartbreak. I left the theater weeping, and declared for the time, that Patrick Marber was my favorite playwright. Marber got that bizarre push and pull of love at its worst, and just who we really are when the crave and need to commit becomes an obligation. In the end of it all, perhaps we aren’t even who we say or think we are.
As if the movie wasn’t grueling enough, the stage play is even more heart wrenching. Do catch Red Turnip Theater’s final run this weekend and prepare to feel.
You can still catch Red Turnip Theater’s production of ‘Closer’ on October 26 and 27, 2013 at Whitespace, Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati, Metro Manila. Visit their facebook page for show schedule and ticketing information: Red Turnip Theater.
The 'Feels' after Red Turnip Theater's 'Closer'
I first watched Closer the movie some years back, mere days after a college-era heartbreak. I left the theater weeping, and declared for the time, that Patrick Marber was my favorite playwright. Marber got that bizarre push and pull of love at its worst, and just who we really are when the crave and need to commit becomes an obligation. In the end of it all, perhaps we aren’t even who we say or think we are.
As if the movie wasn’t grueling enough, the stage play is even more heart wrenching. Do catch Red Turnip Theater’s final run this weekend and prepare to feel.
You can still catch Red Turnip Theater’s production of ‘Closer’ on October 26 and 27, 2013 at Whitespace, Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati, Metro Manila. Visit their facebook page for show schedule and ticketing information: Red Turnip Theater.
Akashiya Sai versus Pentel Aquash
I took a leap of faith and ordered Akashiya Sai watercolor brushpens from Artmedia Trading, Philippines. While I learned the hard way that Multiply marketplace has yet to catch up with the times (they don’t have a ‘saved orders’ page the way ebay does), thankfully Artmedia got the order and processed it quickly. Within 24 hours of payment posted, my Akashiya Sai Summer Colors were in the mail and on the way from General Santos City, where Artmedia is based.
If you’re put off by multiply, Artmedia also processes orders and messages via facebook. They also sell copic products and deleter supplies, and a number of others materials you won’t find in your neighborhood arts and school supply stores.
I initially had high hopes for the Akashiya Sai, but was easily tempered upon reading Nattosoup’s review. In a nutshell, some colors work well with that dreamy wash look, some don’t. It boasts to be a watercolor, but it’s marker based. It didn’t blend as well as I’d like.
In the summer color set, I found the Sky Blue color most resistant to wash –
While it’s apples to oranges, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Pentel Aquash, which works like the Sai except that they’re watercolor crayons. They blend well, and are very cooperative with wash.
I haven’t spotted the Pentel Aquash set at the bookstores, but I spotted a few for sale on ebay or sulit. OfficeFab ships it to the Philippines for P299.75.
If having a set of colors is too big of a commitment, you can also buy individual Koi waterbrushes from Artmedia Trading, and use them with your choice of watercolor.
I highly recommend these materials for people who are just too big a control freak for watercolors. These wooed me back to them after years of sticking to acrylics, pastels, and oils.
Let me see how we can put these babies to work.
Pen Love
Good writing is part craft, part distraction that isn’t facebook. I thought the distraction would be photography, then I discovered that the local bookstores carried brush pens for as low as PHP28.
It started innocently enough. Doodle. “Oooh” and “aaah” at the brush strokes. Write a quote in script (and face the horror of finding out several years of cursive drills in primary school are GONE).