The reality of being unemployed

I'm back and I am now officially entitled as 'unemployed' individual. I have graduated Cum Laude of my Bachelor's Degree last March 22, 2014. I really wasn't expecting to graduate with flying colors but to receive such award was astounding and overwhelming though my last year in college was way pretty tough. It's tough because practically in our batch I am thoroughly grateful that I am blessed with talents of creativity, arts, and graphics so I'm always picked up by our organisation president to compete with contests inside our university. Sometimes, these contest intrudes my class schedule and I am to write an excuse letter to be excused but sadly there are some teachers who don't give in to student's excuse letters instead they marked them absent. But I don't regret having joined contests in fact i'm thankful because somehow I managed to bag some awards and that makes my resume look awesome.

I was also held as Creative Director in an Advertising Agency inside our school. It was part of our on-the-job training requirements. The heck it was an On-The-Job (OJT) work! We were like real employees in an advertising agency doing a lot heavy works. I doubt if it's true that we were handling 2 millions peso account but how I wish we were receiving any allowance or any decrease of our tuition fee as they had promised(the employers) when we are made to choose where to apply for OJT. So I took a bite on the significant job offer that in turn unknowingly would make my 4th year life more stressful and strenuous than it ever was other than those who decided to had OJT outside the school. What makes it worst  at that time was we also had our thesis which in fact became more difficult because of certain teacher-administration issues that makes the development of our thesis prolonged and not to forget the 'test of friendship' because our thesis is by partner, thus, inevitably, we have to be cooperative together in reaching the expected results and sometimes our needs and wants are not that 'exactly' met.There were so many pressures topped with deadlines and long duty hours in order to finish work in the advertising agency. It's a huge responsibility being a creative director because you get to manage your subordinates and most of the time, work with heads and with valuable clients inside the university like directors, teachers, college deans and chairperson. Indeed, it was stressful, strenuous, mind-draining, emotionally-challenging, and patience-killing experience. By far, it was was the greatest pressure I've ever experienced in the history of my student life. 

These might have crumbled me but thanks to God almighty and to my parents for making me an optimistic, hardworking, dedicated, creative individual that made me get through all of this and has me become what I am now. I'm very thankful to the people behind my success.  My friends, batchmates, colleagues and my boyfriend.

Now, that I have graduated. What's next? Yes, a job! A job where I can be happy and satisfied and can make me a better professional on my field of expertise. Though my course major is communication and marketing, I am very hopeful to land a job on advertising field hopefully as a fresher I want  to start with being a "Graphic Artist/Designer". Almost 2 months of applying for such but a call never came instead there were calls from the applications of marketing officer and the like but I am a  fresher, what experience do I have to  be so picky on job positions. So, I took response to applications that are none of my interest and put in mind that these is all just for experience.

I thought pressure only came from  teachers and heads who demands school works/OJT works and no matter what, parents are there to support you on your difficult times. Just as I was waiting for any response for my applications, I didn't thought I would have any trouble waiting through days, weeks, and months having known that my mom is already pressuring me to get into job. The sad part was that she became more desperate that she always makes me feel bad every time I wake up in the morning saying that I have no future or stuff that makes me feel unworthy and passive. I did everything I could from getting into job fairs to walking-in in different companies. I even take freelance on being a graphic artist that offers unstable income. But there were no support nor comfort that I received from my mom from not having to receive calls each day. Instead, she compared me to any school mates or classmates I have that already had a work which I know probably did not suit their preferences but then I feel really bad about it. I've shed tears couple of days early in the morning knowing that my mom never truly understands me even when I had graduated with the course that she had chosen for me. I gave in to her want and I neglected what I want but then pressure was all I get and pressure is one of the few things that gets me motivated to work my best through life. In the end, I don't hold grudges to my Mom neither to other people. I understand that what she did was for a good cause although manner of approach was not appealing most of the time.

All of these I will endure. All of these I will take a great deal of patience because now I will face the reality. The reality of being unemployed.

Techie side of me

Aside from doing art on paper or canvass or clay. I also find myself enjoying and observing art on internet. It plays a big part in me as an aspiring artist because I can explore wide varieties of art online. Also, it gives me an opportunity to expose my outputs in different websites particularly Deviantart.com. It is a site where artists post their art with the guarantee of having it licensed. They have patents there to protect your art too.  I don’t know what I’m saying but that is how it is for me. In there, you can post your art in any mediums, you can buy art stuffs there that you like, be an observer, or just be a critique . There are all sorts of crazy, amazing and bizzare artist out there that it makes me want to stop being an artist and just observe their art.  Yet, their works inspired me a lot to do my own too. First, I was hesitant on putting my art online. The risks could be many. It could be copied by other people or even claim it as their own and so on . For years, I have been surfing on different sites I figured out ways on preventing it to happen. Well, I’ll just post my art but with low quality or put my signature on it that way it’s hard for them to do anything with it.

There is this amazing stuff that serves as an fuel on my creativity engine whenever  I don’t feel like working on paper or canvass. It depends on the inspiration.. This  stuffs has opened many doors for me in the art world. I considered it as my techie buddy, its called the Photoshop. I can do anything with it by making posters, banners or do manipulation or making adjustments on my art back to its own original state after having it scanned or shot by a camera.  I admit, I don’t have the luxury of equipments on making a digital art but I’ll use on whatever there is that  is with me. I even used my mouse as a tool on making anime in photoshop! What a brag. haha! Yes but that’s a hardwork disciplining my hand not to be shaky just get my desired figure.

I’d love to put here a few things of being a fruitful photoshop user.

LOGO:

POSTER:

 

TICKET:

Animation

Here is my first PHOTOSHOP animation! Actually this is not my first time doing animations before but I've done other ones with some simple and different programs.  The Photoshop version here in our computer laboratory is cs5. There is a quite differentiation with the ones I used in my laptop which is Cs4 extended. All in all, it is still in the same function and I'm learning to love the animation thing.

Here is what I've done in computer laboratory in just one hour.

Art kinda heart header:

And here is what I have made with the other simple animation programs:

Its not hard to make an animation from scratch as long as you have the concept to begin with. Like for example the moving Panda and Kitten. It all started with just a sketch then I make readjustments in Photoshop and then make a couple of photos with their different movements.. and then put them into a flash gif animation.  The Feel animation  was the one I've made last summer. If your were wondering what is that made of? well, that's just bars of clay rearrange into letters and then I put them on top of a bondpaper. After which, I take a shot and upload it to my Photoshop and make a couple of copies of it with different colors and make a flash animation out from those copies. Vhoala! All done.

The Real Stuff

I guess I am a bit obsessed with studying and observing art but the sad part is I don't enough time to apply all that I've learned. Even with school homeworks or a book I love to read is set aside because of responsibilities at home like laundry, tending our garden, cleaning the whole house, washing dishes, cooking, sorting out clothes, etc.,. It's kinda boring but I kinda make it fun by thinking of design ideas while doing household works. Sometimes, while I do stuffs, I create a story on my head and of course, the main character is no other than me. Stories like I was sharing my dreams with someone, get successful in life, growing old with the one I truly love, having brilliant and loving kids, fostering poor animals, and getting rich and sharing my money to the homeless. Well, that's the minor part. The major part is doing the real stuff that I love to do. Creating stories in my head doesn't give much benefits but it'll only inspire me in doing my best to achieve my dream. My dream to reach my full potential as artist. And I'd like to share to you that at this state, I haven't think much on whether what line of art i'll be settling on. The idea of creating beautiful and creative out from the experiences and emotions that I felt is just enough to make me happy and satisfied.

Here's the real stuffs I'd love to do in the future, something like this:

Manipulations like this. I also do Photoshop, and I kinda like to work on something magical but not too fake. I want it to be like this photo where in the red dragon looks real and not too obvious that it is just effects. I love fantasy as much as I love the real thing. A balance of each will do great work of art on manipulation.

Simple yet creative in a sense that it'll make you want it. This kind of art is really ideal for Tees/T-shirts/Sleeves. The strokes of the lines are strong and edgy and it gives you the feeling of bravery and confidence. The splatters and faders gives you the range of shape in this woman .

Dark and bluish sceneries. Seeing this art gives me a feeling mystery and excitement. The good thing also in this, is that it only requires less colors and less cost in traditional art. I'd love to do another version in this where in a group of friends are lost in the middle of the night and they had come to a city where no one had ever heard of.

Perfect combination of faded colors looks good and it looks so swag. Swag design is one of my target art to do this year. I'd like to make another girl version of this and the girl would have in her body the tattoos that serves as a scar cover of all the heartaches and pains that she had experienced before.

My favorite past time. Doodling. 

Alhough I always do doodles on my notebooks whenever the teacher or the class is boring. I rarely do authentic doodles. Authentic, means having a one particular concept or story.

(Note: None of this art is mine. Click the photo to see the image source. )

Vector Wallpapers for all

There are moments that we are inspired by someone or something. There are moments when we inspire others by our works.

So here's a little gift for everyone who needs vibrant, colorful, playful wallpapers. Made up of Vectors and brushes(which I do not own). This is just a pure play of vectors and colors using Adobe Photoshop CS4. I made it and it's free! It can be used as a wallpaper, background, or anything you like but just don't redistribute or claim it as your own because it's copyrighted.

Thanks for using it!

Tough life at Colon Street in Cebu City

This was a very inspirational drawing of mine since I was in college. Somewhere in Colon streets in Cebu City, Philippines. I saw a poor woman carrying her baby in the street walking with no direction. Her dress had a lot of dirt as was her face and her little baby. Her face was sort of swollen yet I can tell by her expression that she was suffering from something. She walk limply like she hadn't eaten for days and I was so afraid she could out carry her baby in any second. I can't tell what age her baby was since it was covered with thick fabric and was asleep soundly.

Imagine, walking with her baby in those busy and dangerous streets of colon? There a lot of people from all sorts out there. There were students, employees, vendors, and a few are snatchers. Snatchers were very famous through this streets. Most of them were male teenagers, few are street children and even female teens.  I had heard a lot of stories from my classmates on their experiences with and their struggles with the snatchers regarding the loss of their valuable materials.

But this woman, showed no fear of any nor even cared. She just walked without being aware of the cars and jeeps passing by but at least she stayed at side of the road. You can see in her the lack of hopelessness, the hunger, the sadness, and the deep desire of belonging. I really stared at her the moment she came over and passed at me. I can't help but analyze her situation, thinking what she have been through. When she was finally out of sight, I soon realized that there is something that hits me right in my consciousness that I should do something for her but I guess it was awkward for me at that time since I was alone waiting for a jeep to ride on my way home. I wish I could give her any help somehow.

As I reached safely in my home, I went straight to my bedroom and did a rough sketch with that woman i just saw. The moment my pencil touches the surface of the paper, I started thinking of my goals in the future. My goal in wanting to serve through foundations and charities to help and share my blessings to those people who needs it the most.

Dreams to capture

I can't believe when other saw my drawings and think of me as a one lucky talented person. I looked at them  in a bewildered expression and said "We all are lucky and talented person" but they just replied "We just can't draw like you." Most of them envy artist because they have broad, vivid, and open imagination but we all have so why worry.

One shouldn't be envy of others gifts hence, God says that we are all created equal. It doesn't really mean that when one has this gift, other will think of himself as inferior. We all had talents but yet it is up to us if we nurture it and make it as our source of happiness and inspiration to reach our goals.

With regards of my drawing skills, I admit that I'm not as good as the famous artist out there and I'm not willing to be famous because of it, but the idea of seeing yourself happy of what you do and becoming a better person with every stroke of your hands on the canvass or on paper makes you feel that you live your life as God had wanted. He wants us to be happy right? Then do what makes you happy. When you think cooking, writing, singing, etc., makes you happy then do it.

 Most cases there are people who are deprived of their happiness because of the needs of others. For example, your parents perhaps, they wanted you to be a doctor because being a doctor will raise your status in life, or they enrolled you into a course which is readily available because your parents don't have that much income to afford you in a highly paid tuition courses. That's what my situation I am in right now. But you don't have to lose hope, think of these cases as a challenge for you to take. Don't settle for what is there because that's all there is. Think of what will you became when you do what makes you happy. That is where dreams starts.

These are few people who in amidst of their situation have found their way to happiness. Their stories had inspire me too.

The story of Farhan in Three Idiots. Being an engineer to a photographer.

The story Paolo Coelho from being a music writer to a famous writer.

The story of Daniel Craig from a boy sleeping on a park bench while struggling to be an actor to a famous actor.

Want more inspiring stories? here