Community in Wonderland: Celebrating abilities

This is the painting I donated to Guma Mami for their annual Creative Spirits art auction.  It is acrylic and ink on canvas and titled, The Cliffs of Insanity.  I believe it sold for $50 and the buyers told me that it reminded them of the movie, Inception.  I haven't watched it so I can't really say how I feel about that.  What do you think?

I like working with ink on paint.  I enjoyed painting this and like how it turned out.  I'm thinking about doing more paintings in this style.  I might even try to do a series if I can get my hands on enough canvas. 

Here are some pictures I took before the show:

Art work by Ms. Gina, one of my favorite local artists

my favorite piece of the night

the bottom one is a collaboration by Luke and Nella

my dad's piece   :)

Community in Wonderland: Miss World Guahan!

About a month or so ago, my mom told me that there was a call put out to local artists asking for design ideas for Miss World Guam's 2012 native costume.  She told me about it a couple days before the deadline.  So I spent a day thinking up ideas and then I broke out some fashion form templates I printed out a few years ago.  I wish I remember where I got it so I could add a link, but I can't. I had a lot of fun sketching and painting this out. 

Every element of the dress has meaning.  The guafak bodice pay tribute to the weaving skills of our island's women.  The gradient blue skirt represents the ocean, all it gives to us, and our people's navigational skills.  The net and spondylus is a tribute to the women who save Guahan and the women who continue to protect the interests of our island and her people.  The greenery is a reminder that we are protectors of the land and the coconut shell buttons down the spine are a tribute to the legend of the coconut tree.  Every part of this dress could be made locally and showcase our island's talented artisans.

My design was not chosen to be worn by Miss World Guam 2012, but I still feel great about it.  I put a lot of thought in to this design and I'm really proud of it.  Plus, it got a bunch of likes on facebook and people are still telling me how beautiful it is.  I do realize this may not have been the best dress for the competition.  It is more symbolic than obvious.  In order to really appreciate it fully, I think you'd need to know a bit more about our island than how many brown tree snakes we have.  :P



photo credit: JR Manuel Imagery

While my design didn't win the Native Costume competition at the Miss World Guam pageant, my god sister Jeneva Bosko did take home the crown!  She isn't just beauty either.  She is a whole lot of heart.  Jeneva raised over $6,000 for Erica's House.  Erica's House is a family visitation center where a parent can visit with their child or the child can be exchanged from one parent to another, in a safe and friendly environment.  They also offer parenting classes.  We're all very proud and excited for her.  I don't know if I have ever seen my nina that happy.  :D  I'm sure Jeneva will represent our island exceptionally well and she just might even take home the Miss World title.  My fingers are crossed for her. 

life in wonderland: a personal art project

Stuck with him - The remix

I'm reworking old paintings I've done.   I'm not sure if this one is finished yet.  The flower still seems like it is laid on the piece rather than being completely apart of it.  I might work on that a little more.

Community in Wonderland: mural preview

Here is a sneak peek at the mural Kannai has been helping with.  

This mural is on the Guam National Wildlife Refuge building.  

life in wonderland: I've been busy . . .

painting and stuff.  :)

I finished this one a couple nights ago.

Vintage shopping in Wonderland

My friend, Michele, and I share a love for vintage fashion.  Guam doesn't have too much to offer as far as thrift store or vintage shopping, but it just makes it that much more special when you find something amazing.  A week ago we decided to check out Peace, Love, and Charity.  I've mentioned PL&C before.  It's a cute little family run thrift store.  All the money you spend in the store goes to the Calvo Cancer Foundation.  I know a family that has been helped by this foundation so I it makes me feel pretty good to know my money is going to help actual families on Guam.

Another thing I love about PL&C is that the store is not dusty.  It's hard to shop when you're sneezing up a storm.  Although I have found some great books and even my favorite jacket at The Salvation Army.

Look what I found at PL&C.  Isn't this dress awesome!!!  It was very reasonably priced and in such amazing condition.  No holes, and all the buttons!  And it fits like it was made for me.  I know it's more 30s than 20s,which I was hoping for, but I still adore it.  I'm thinking about removing the satin sleeves though, or at least the shoulder pads.  Michele found one too.  Hopefully we'll have a party where it will be appropriate to wear these dresses.  I'll be sure to post pics.

A new year in wonderland

The holiday season is over and I've finally found some calm to blog.  I hope everyone had an amazing New Year!   While mine wasn't crazy eventful, it was a time for thought.  I'm not very big on resolutions, but I have made a mental list of what I want to focus my spirit on for this year.  Among other things my art is high on that list.  While last year was a good year for creative energy, I really want to ensure that this year is even better.

This is one of my favorite pieces of mine.  It's not that I think it is beautiful.  When I look at this piece I remember the ease and release I felt painting it.  There was no hesitation in choosing color or strokes or technique.  It just flowed like energy.   My friend, who was there while I was painting, was concerned that it looked like falling in a downward spiral.  That makes sense since I was having an emotional meltdown.  Art is amazing like that though.  The ability to take something so complicated and hard to deal with and turn it in to something more accessible, and sometimes even beautiful, is amazing.

So, let go, let go - Jump in - Oh well, what you waiting for? - It's all right 'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown - Frou Frou "Let Go"

I'm craving another purely inspired moment.  When I did the painting of the women who saved Guahan I was inspired, but it didn't come easy.  The actual creation process was controlled by my self consciousness.  I studied and sketched and erased and outlined and calculated each stroke.  I'm proud of it, but sometimes when I look at it now I wish I had just let go.  Hopefully this will be a year of finding that ability to release the control my self has on my work, so that I can grow and find my way.

Speaking of inspiration, I've been wanting to blog about another local artist, Simeon Palomo.  Simeon is a family friend and an amazing artist.  He creates the most beautiful floral arrangements using locally grown plants and things we all might have lying around our homes and yards.  He also recently released a beautiful book filled with pictures of some of his arrangements and our beautiful island.  Scattered through out the book are quotes and stories from his friends and family, including one from me.  If you're interested in his work you can check out his website or the Facebook page for the book, Tropical Art, Guam.  If you're interested in purchasing the book, you can check those links for a list of stores selling it, or you can purchase it online through Guampedia.  You won't be disappointed.

Simeon isn't the only local artist inspiring me this new year.  I spent last Friday wrapped in the wonderful energy of Kannai, the art group I'm apart of.  Why explain the art and artists in words when I can show you in pictures?  :)

 

collaboration.  isn't it beautiful?

a round table art activity

This is my piece from that night.

Blue skies in Wonderland: a beach day with my cousins

InnerVoices by Uncle Tote

Marianas Homegrown

What a beautiful song for a beautiful day!

Penaflor cousins - Me, Rie, and Jake

The day started out really rainy, but look at that beautiful sky!

with our mer-jake

Yay for beach days!

Occupied in Wonderland: Students occupy the university

"GUAM'S BEEN OCCUPIED SINCE EVER SINCE! 

GUÅHAN'S THE PLACE A NEW DAY BEGINS!"

Celebrate in Wonderland: Biba Pagat!

BREAKING NEWS: DOD agrees to re-think Route 15 firing range; More studies, scoping planned

sketching in Wonderland

I've been a bit busy lately.  I have a few great projects going on and of course I'm also working to pay the bills, but I've been sketching a lot lately.  I just thought I'd share some stuff.

I'm working on something for a legend.

sketching at a forum

I edited this a bit.  You can see the sketch on the next page just faintly.  

Life in Wonderland: The Maidens Who Saved Guahan

*color reproductions available - $10*

 I just want to share one of my latest paintings and the story behind it.  I've copied the story from Guampedia to post here.  If you're interested in reading more of our island's legends or just want to learn more about Guahan in general, Guampedia is a great site to visit.

In the story “Maidens Who Saved Guam,” a monster parrot fish is chewing his way through the island of Guam, determined to destroy the island. Night after night the men of Guam went out in search of the huge destructive fish but could not find it.

The young women would talk about the monster whenever they gathered to wash their hair and rinse it with orange peels. Their favorite spot to gather was at the Agana Springs. When they finished, the pool would be covered with orange peels. One day a girl noticed the peels floating in Pago Bay. She was puzzled by their appearance. After some thought, she surmised that the monster must have eaten a hole all the way under the island from Pago Bay to Agana Springs and that was where it was hiding.

The next day when the girls gathered at the Agana Springs they wove a net with their long black hair and then sat around the pool and began to sing. The monster fish, enchanted by the music, swam up from the bottom of the spring to listen to the singing girls. Suddenly the girls spread their net over the spring and dived into the pool. The monster fish was caught and the island of Guam was saved.

Sketchy in Wonderland: More pages from my sketchbook

I've been working on my illustration skills.  I've  found out that I don't really have any. lol

my Sirena

I did this last year.  

I was bored and bit off more than I could chew.  I shouldn't have added the color.