In which I get reacquainted with a Prince and a Swallow

Detail and Full View

I recently read an interview with comic book artist Adam Hughes on his previously announced but never released All-Star Wonder Woman series a couple of years back. And here’s what he had to say about it:

“I would work on it, and then get sidetracked by single-illustration assignments, covers and such, because they pay faster. I’m really slow, and doing interior work that doesn’t pay until you get lots of pages in the drawer isn’t conducive to paying the bills.”

And that pretty much sums up why my book “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde is very much delayed. With only 3 illustrations left to do you’d think it would be easy going. But you’d be wrong. I’ve been working on it since last year and aside from a day job plus various projects (I worked on 3 other books last year that left me ragged),  I also got sidelined by a computer crash and a minor surgery.

But at least I’m trying to get cracking on it again and I managed to finish this page today. I’ll have to celebrate when I finish this book.

Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan applications for 2012!

Reblogged from No Bees No Honey:

 Ang Ilustrador Ng Kabataan is now open for new members! Requirements: 1. Accomplished application form HERE 2. 1 illustration based on the story “Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon” 3. 5 sample illustrations from your portfolio Deadline on February 29, 2012, 5pm email at hello@ang-ink.org Click to view the poster for more important info! Like artwork dimensions!  Wuhoo!!! Tara na! Happy dancing and drawing! poster by James Abalos : )

Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) is now accepting applicants!

Lingua Comica Reloaded: In which a long-delayed book finally arrives

Last week, I got a notice from the Quezon City post office to pick up a package. I had an idea what it was. Although it was only late by almost 2 years. Our anthology book, Lingua Comica Reloaded had arrived.

Book design by Plastic Soldier Factory.

What I did.

What Amelie did.

Amelie and I collaborated on a game board based on the Game of the Goose.

The book also has a poster/comic insert entitled “Numbers” made by another team.

The book was a collaboration by artists from Europe and Asia and funded by the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF). Several groups pitched their story ideas before ASEF finally chose the line up for the project. I teamed up with French Belgian Amelie Clement when we realized we were on the save wavelength after a couple of emails.

When we got the grant from ASEF, we decided to spend it by going to Angouleme and conducting a mini-residency. Angouleme is a sleepy town in southwestern France and known for festivals such as the Circuits des Remparts and the Festival International de la Bande Dessinee (wiki here) - or the International Comics Festival. Too bad we couldn’t visit Angouleme on a January when the Comics Festival is held. Although we were on hand for the Circuits des Remparts, when fancy cars from all over Europe came roaring into town. I, unfortunately, am not a car geek. So the festival was wasted on me.

So in September of 2009, I flew into Paris and met up with Amelie at the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Dragons!

At the start of the year, I took on a project through Harrison Communications to illustrate several dragons for Globe Telecom‘s “What Kind of Dragon Are You?” Microsite.

So while fireworks were exploding all around me (as usual New Year in Manila feels like a war zone), I was finishing up several dragons for the coming dragon year.

This is the agency designed microsite

Black Water Dragon

White Metal Dragon

Red Fire Dragon

Brown Earth Dragon

Green Wood Dragon

Pulp Fiction

First exhibition of the year! I’ll be participating in a group show at Art Informal. The show opens on January 19, 2011. Art Informal is located at 277 Connecticut Street, Greenhills East,Mandaluyong City, Philippines

 

 

From the press release:

Pulp Fiction is a group exhibition featuring works on or with paper by various visual artists. This exhibition aims to bring together a diverse selection of works by giving the artists free range of concepts that focus on paper and paper-made objects as medium or as source of inspiration or innovation.

The show will open on January 19 (Thursday) at 6PM. The exhibit will be up until February 4, 2012.

Featuring Works by:

Pergy Acuña, Isabel Afable, Aldy Aguirre, Fran Alvarez, Zeus Bascon, Anjo Bolarda, Raf Banzuela, Peewee Bisnon, Vermont Coronel, Celina de Guzman, Yas Doctor, Nina Garcia, Ramona Gaston, Clarissa Gonzalez, Rommel Joson, Gigi Lapid, Veronica Laurel, Jacob Lindo, Hannah Liongoren, Quiccs Maiquez, Kat Medina, Isa Natividad, Maki Navarrete, Ak Ocol, Carina Santos, Bru Sim, Gabriel Tiongson, Brian Vallesteros, Chalk Zaldivar and Tof Zapanta