#SiningBayanihan: Quintessence

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, #TheLittlePrince 👑👦🌹🦊🌠

Childhood is one of the best memories I have. When life gets hard, reminiscing childhood things is one of my escape such as watching cartoons, animated movies, singing along Disney musicals, playing UNO cards, and even catching up with childhood friends. Last year, my big sister had a baby, my first niece. She's such a bundle of joy, and just lightens up everyone's mood. As a certified tito, I learned new nursery rhymes which we play in the TV when she's playing. Having a child around reminds us how it's like to be feel young again.

Remembering my childhood days here at the same house we still live in, so many things have changed but deep inside I still feel like a boy at home. I'm very childish and even in my art, if you notice, is very much inspired by kid's illustrated books. I don't have proper art studies so my anatomy is out of proportions. I love to draw things that makes me happy, colorful, and exciting. And that's basically how I define my style.


In my last year in high school, our English teacher introduced us to this wonderful piece of literature, and has become my all time favorite book, the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It's about a child prince who lives in a little planet and travels different planets until he reaches earth. He meets different grown-ups and important characters like the pilot (the narrator), and a fox, whom he tames and teaches him a very valuable lesson:

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

So for today's challenge, with the theme "Kabataan" or Youth, I created a fan art of the book and film. The animated digital illustration is entitled "Quintessence." Check out the timelapse of the creation process here:



"Quintessence", Animated Digital Illustration
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Music: "Somewhere Only We Know by Keane" (Lily Allen Version)
Violin Cover by Alison Sparrow / Piano cover by Piano Nest
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRJh5l8xZ7Q
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#SiningBayanihan: Episteme

"Education is only a ladder to gather fruit from the tree of knowledge, not the fruit itself" - Albert Einstein

April 26, 2020. It's a Sunday, and the streets are so quiet. It's the first week of the implementation of the Quarantine Pass which allows one person per household to go out and do essential chores every other day except Sundays. This is the first time ever that the city was on a stand still, and everyone is in their home with their family. Our business operations are also put into halt, and there's not much to do.

Being a workaholic, I just can't stand a day without doing something productive. And so, I decided to continue one of the previous days of the #SiningBayanihan Art Challenge which I didn't finish because I was busy that day and simply unmotivated. The theme was "Fuerza" or Power. I thought of a concept revolving around "Knowledge" which is one of the most powerful things a person could have.


"Episteme", an Animated Digital Illustration

I represented knowledge with an open book and from it a huge tree grew, branching upwards, full of flowers and fruit. The tree of knowledge is one of the key symbols in the bible which unlocked our consciousness on things good and evil. Indeed, there is power in knowing. I entitled the artwork as "Episteme" from the Latin translation of the word knowledge. It is the root word of "Epistemology", the study of knowledge. I created it using Illustrator for tracing and coloring, Photoshop for texturing and AfterEffects for animation.

Here's the timelapse of the creation process:




#SiningBayanihan Week 3, Day 2: Power
#CreateIsolate @stayhomestaypositive
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Music: "Big Skies" by Really Slow Motion (Youtube)
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#SiningBayanihan: Mapulon

"Di laging may sinag, pagsibol at sagana

kung minsan din ay salat, tuyo't walang ani

darating din ang pag-ambon ng biyaya

pupukaw, magbibigay buhay, at magniningning"

For the last art challenge of the week, the theme is "Pagbabago" or change. My first instinct is to create an artwork of a butterfly, or something about metamorphosis which I already created before (see here). I also wanted to incorporate the concept of the different seasons which represents the change in time and the cycle of natural phenomenon. Finally, I decided to create this animated digital illustration where the butterfly flaps its wings and revealing the quick change of its patterns representing the seasons and time.

Instead of the western four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall) which we don't have, I chose 5 sceneries familiar to us here in the Philippines: Tag-ulan (rainy season), Tag-araw (summer/sunny season), Tag-sibol (spring/planting season), Tag-tuyot (drought/dry season), and Takipsilim (nightfall). Just like the fluttering wings, seasons come and go so quickly, and time seems fleeting.

The butterfly is sitting upon a beautiful rose, which represents the spinning earth and ticking time. I animated it in a 360 rotation in the entire duration of the animation to give it a seamless loop, which seems to go on forever. The rose is also inspired by my favorite book, The Little Prince, who takes care of a rose, leaves her, goes on an adventure and realizes the importance of his rose. Here's a quote from the book:

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important."
"It is the time I have wasted for my rose--"
said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember."

I entitled it "Mapulon" after the Tagalog God of the Seasons. He is described as kind and is married to the transgender Goddess of Fertility and Agriculture, Lakapati, who is considered to be one of the most beautiful deity. Known as a god of health, Mapulon manipulates the weather to grow medicinal plants to give to the sick. According to the stories, Mapulon had long been courting Lakapati before he got her love. He was the reason why the ancient Filipinos courted their beloved since ancient times. I just love their story! I love how ancient Tagalogs believe in an LGBT couple who hold great importance in their lives. The butterfly in my piece is Mapulon, while the beautiful rose is Lakapati. Read more about the deities of Philippine Mythology here.

Watch the timelapse of the process of creating "Mapulon":


"Mapulon", an Animated Digital Illustration
#SiningBayanihan Week 3, Day 5: Pagbabago (Change)
#InspiringCreativity #ElevatingArtistry

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Music: "Clockworks" by JazzFem
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#SiningBayanihan: Kayod

"Masdan ang kalabaw

Habang nakasingkaw

Sa gitna ng linang

Sa init ng araw

Laging kaibigan."

Today's theme is "Kabuhayan" which means living or livelihood. In my previous artworks, I dedicated them to the fronliners, to my friends, to believers, to Jesus Christ, to the community, to our mind, to Mother Earth and to artists. Today, I want to pay tribute to our unsung heroes, the farmers, whom without we wont be eating nutritious food. I represented them as a Carabao in this artwork, a gentle creature who is the partner of rice farmers in cultivating their land. The carabao are very resilient, hardworking and humble. Above its head depicts a scenery of the process of farming, from planting the seedlings until they grow into golden grains. The mountains are shaped like the rice terraces of the Cordilleras, an ancient heritage which shows the greatness and beauty of agriculture in our country.

I titled the piece "Kayod" from the Filipino idiom "Kayod Kalabaw" which means diligent or hardworking. Even though they are essential in our country, it is a sad reality that farmers are one of the poorest and neglected sectors in the society. Now, in this pandemic, we realize their importance more than ever. Institutions, offices, and establishments may be closed during the community quarantine but farms will never cease, because we depend very much to them. So I want to give my praises to each hand that cultivates the soil, plants the seeds, reap the harvest, and feed our mouths. Let's pray for them and hope that they will be blessed more in their lives.

"Kayod", a Digital Illustration
#SiningBayanihan Week 3, Day 4: Kabuhayan (Living)

Alay ko para sa magigiting na bayani,
ang mga magsasaka 👨‍🌾👩‍🌾🐃🌾
Salamat sa inyong sipag at tiyaga!
Dahil sa inyong kabuhayan, kami ay nabubuhay.

#SiningBayanihan
Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts

#WeHealAsOne
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingAristry

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#SiningBayanihan: Imagino

"I imagine, therefore I belong and am free."
- Lawrence Durrell

It's been weeks since the crisis started and many of us feels so trapped inside our homes, not being able to go to school or work, travel, jog, shop, meet friends, or unwind in our favorite hangouts. We don't have the freedom and it seems like we're hostages by this pandemic. However, we should feel lucky that this crisis is not a natural calamity (like typhoon or earthquake), or a terroristic attack. There is a silver lining in every situation. We are only asked to stay inside our homes, not in evacuation centers or underground bunkers. This is our chance to spend time with our family, reconnect with friends, reflect with our spirituality, while others are asked to serve in the frontline.

I, myself, work as a frontliner, giving essential information to the public in the city's Task Force COVID-19 Risk Communication Team. But I am lucky that my work doesn't require me to leave my home everyday. I am very busy with my work, but I am just as anxious and stressed as everyone. We deal with people asking sorts of questions, demanding so much from the government, and served as shock-absorbers both from the public and the administrators.

For me, the #SiningBayanihan Art Challenge is a need for me, that's why I do my best to come up with an artwork when I get the time. As an artist, art creation is a therapy, a process of healing from the pressures of the real world. Here inside my mind, I have access to a world that is free. A world that has so many stories to tell, and the only limit is my imagination. This is my temporary distraction from the harsh reality, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I am able to translate a figment of a thought into art. It is a cathartic feeling to put it out there, without expectations of what it should look like because this is my own creation.

For today's theme, "Libertad" or Freedom, I want to show that process of creation. Titled "Imagino" which translates as "I Imagine", it represents how I feel when I'm in the zone in making art pieces like this one. It's a moment of being immersed with my own mind, the single most important tool as an artist. With it, we pour our soul to breathe life into a concept or idea. At first, I don't know how to start the art challenge, but just like our muscles, the brain should be constantly challenged and exercised to keep the creative juices flowing. I somehow kept a momentum in creating my illustrations and, somehow, I feel that my mental state is getting better each day I get to do this activity. I can't express more how important making art is for me.



"Imagino", Digital Illustration
Week 3, Day 3: "Libertad (Freedom)"

It's also my first time to record my digital process for this one. Watch the timelapse video here:


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#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingArtistry

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#SiningBayanihan: Bayanihan

Perhaps the best trait of Filipinos that shows compassion for his fellowmen is "Bayanihan". It is a community effort to help an individual or a family, by literally carrying their house which will be relocated to another place safer or more convenient. Now, Bayanihan is a Filipino value which means coming together to achieve a common goal. Yesterday, Easter Sunday, we celebrated not only the Resurrection of Christ, but also the recovery of the city's first COVID patient, ZP-01. The entire community felt the victory over this disease even just for a day. Sadly, just hours ago, the city recorded another positive case. The battle continues but our spirit will never lose hope. Let's do our duty, frontliners or not, and help the community in this crisis. As much as possible, stay home, stay safe and stay healthy!



"Bayanihan", Digital Illustration
Week 3, Day 1: "Kapwa (Fellowmen)"

Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingArtistry

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#SiningBayanihan: Sacrum Cor

Good Friday 2020. The Sacred Heart is often depicted in Christian art as a flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by the lance-wound, encircled by the crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross, and bleeding. The wounds and crown of thorns allude to the manner of Jesus' death, while the fire represents the transformative power of divine love. The devotion is especially concerned with what the Church deems to be the long-suffering love and compassion of the heart of Christ towards humanity.



"Sacrum Cor", Digital Illustration
Week 2, Day 5: "Corazon (Heart)"❤️

"Jesus, meek and humble of Heart,
Make our hearts like unto Thine."

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#SiningBayanihan
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingArtistry

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#SiningBayanihan: Vizier

One of my favorite Bible stories since I was small has been the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. His story has always inspired me to be good and be hopeful. As the story goes, his father, Jacob, gave him a colorful robe which made his brothers envious. Joseph has a talent of interpreting dreams, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. They sold Joseph to slavery in Egypt and he was even imprisoned. God used this seemingly hopeless situation to change the course of history. God used Joseph not only to save his family and the nation, but also to teach the world important lessons.
Joseph taught us that even in our worst situation, even if you find yourself in “prison,” we should not lose hope in God’s promises. God’s ability to transform sorrow into joy and to breathe life into a seemingly dead situation. Joseph showed compassion, forgiveness, love, faithfulness and hope because God is always with him. God is always with us.

"Vizier", Digital Illustration
Week 2, Day 4: "Sueño (Dream)"
...

PS. This is my interpretation (aka fan art) of Thomas Blackshear III's artwork "Coat of Many Colors". I included symbols that are narrated in Joseph's story. When Joseph was seventeen years old he had two dreams that made his brothers plot his demise. In the first dream, Joseph and his brothers gathered bundles of grain, of which those his brothers gathered, bowed to his own. In the second dream, the sun (father), the moon (mother), and eleven stars (brothers) bowed to Joseph himself. These dreams, implying his supremacy, angered his brothers. (Genesis 37:1-11)

During his imprisonment, the warden put Joseph in charge of the other prisoners, and soon afterward Pharaoh's chief cup-bearer and chief baker, who had offended the Pharaoh, were thrown into the prison.[14] Both men had dreams, and Joseph, being able to interpret dreams asked to hear. The cup-bearer's dream was about a vine with three branches that was budding. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out and they produced grapes. The cup-bearer took those grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. Joseph interpreted this dream as the cup-bearer being restored as cup-bearer to the Pharaoh within three days. The baker's dream was about three baskets full of bread for the Pharaoh, and birds were eating the bread out of those baskets. Joseph interpreted this dream as the baker being hanged within three days and having his flesh eaten by birds.

Joseph requested that the cup-bearer mention him to Pharaoh to secure his release from prison, but the cup-bearer, reinstalled in office, forgot Joseph. After two more years, the Pharaoh dreamt of seven lean cows which devoured seven fat cows; and of seven withered ears of grain which devoured seven fat ears. When the Pharaoh's advisers failed to interpret these dreams, the cup-bearer remembered Joseph. Joseph was then summoned. He interpreted the dream as seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, and advised the Pharaoh to store a surplus grain.

Following the prediction, Joseph became Vizier, under the name of Zaphnath-Paaneah, and was given Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, to be his wife. A silver cup was also used by Joseph to deceive his brothers. He ordered it to be planted in the sack of their youngest sibling. The following morning the brothers began their journey back to Canaan. Joseph ordered the steward to go after the brothers and question them about the "missing" silver cup. When the steward caught up with the brothers, he seized them and searched their sacks. The steward found the cup in Benjamin's sack just as he had planted it the night before. This caused a stir amongst the brothers. However, they agreed to be escorted back to Egypt. When the Vizier (Joseph) confronted them about the silver cup, he demanded that the one who possessed the cup in his bag become his slave. In response, Judah pleaded with the Vizier that Benjamin be allowed to return to his father, and he himself be kept in Benjamin's place as a slave.

Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts
#SiningBayanihan
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingArtistry

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#SiningBayanihan: Frontera

This crisis is a war against an invisible enemy. People are helping each other to address the crisis while our local heroes, the frontliners, face risks everyday to combat this deadly virus. The soldiers in this war are the health workers such as doctors, nurses and hospital staff, as well as the security sector, the public and the private sectors who provides the community's daily necessities. These people risk facing different kinds of people who might already be carrying the virus. Sadly, they also become the victims of this war. A total of 21 Filipino doctors have died due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to data from the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) 🔗.

April 2, 2020. Week 1, Day 4's #SiningBayanihan Art Challege is "Unidad" or Unity. I created a digital illustration which i entitled "Frontera". I dedicate this to all frontliners who are risking their lives to save others'. To the health workers, security forces, the government, and workers and suppliers of our daily needs, we salute you! We are one with you, muchas gracias!




This piece is inspired by previous work which I created during another crisis faced by the city. It was 7 years ago when our city was attacked by rogue militants. The crisis also known as the Zamboanga Siege. The digital artwork is entitled "Love Heals", which I created as an art challenge which will be printed as cards for a fund-raiser. I re-interpreted the digital artwork in a mixed media sculpture which I made for a group exhibit which is an art therapy for the faculty and staff of ADZU. I called it "Love Heals 2.0". You can see them in this blog post.

Going back to "Frontera," I just want to give out some fun facts about this piece. This style of art is called Cubism popularized by Picasso. He deconstructs the form of a person or object to show its various dimensions, breaking realism and showing a reality that meets the eye. In my work, I encapsulated a group of people in one circle, representing the theme "unity." The roundness also symbolize the world which is also facing the crisis, and which we see nations helping each other through relief or other assistance.

The sphere has 5 faces, four of which has open eyes but the nose and mouth are covered by a face mask. They are the frontliners who look out for the people, giving them care and protecting them from this dangerous virus. At the center, surrounded by the masked heroes, is a person, with his/her eyes closed but with the nose and mouth exposed, breathing fresh air. He/she is us, the common people who are not in the frontlines. We are the people who are being kept safe and healthy by those who sacrifice their lives in this pandemic. Whether you're a frontliner or not, we should all do our part in this crisis. Stay at home, save lives. As the government says, We Heal As One.

Check out more of my works in my Facebook Page: CSZ Doodles, in my Twitter account @cedzabala, Instagram account @cedzabala and here in my blog. For more works on #SiningBayanihan, like the page of ACCA here. #WeHealAsOnePH #InspiringCreativity #ElevatingArtistry #COVID19PH #COVIDreadyZambo

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Like my work? You appreciation is much appreciated!
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