It's the time of year again!

2016 Summer Art Workshop Exhibit!

Hello everyone!

Here are some of the photos we took from our exhibit last 21 May 2016. See how proud the kids were for their accomplishment! These artworks in pencil rendering and watercolor were first for them, and they came out wonderfully. Although these workshops were open to any age group, the participants for this summer were children aged 6 to 15 years old.

We had ribbon cutting ceremony and a bit of mocktails going on, and the kids and their parents were very happy with what their children accomplished.

Thank you so much to my friends who own this gallery cafe with no name yet (Calle Sining is one of those names they're still mulling over), and has yet to open sometime in 2016, for offering the space for the exhibit to take place.

Perspective Drawing Workshop Happened!

Hello everyone!

It was an intense Perspective Drawing Workshop last Saturday, 14th of May, mainly because four of the participants were there because they just wanted to know what it was about. A quarter of the time into the Workshop, I shifted gears, because I doubted that they'd appreciate the technical ramblings that came with the original lecture. It was extremely fun, though! Those ladies were something else.

I asked one of the participants, a drafting student, to come back another day so I can give her a more relevant version of the lecture. I'm glad she did.

Someone wasn't able to make it that day, so we agreed that we'd reschedule his workshop for another Saturday. I really don't mind rescheduling for just one person.

Next time, I'll post about the summer art exhibit that happened yesterday!

Summer Workshop Ongoing!

Hello everyone! Just updating everyone on what's going on with our little Arts and Crafts Workshop. We're on our sixth week! And so far, it's going great.

Here's my Watercolor Painting Workshop in the morning. We were doing a lesson on color schemes, this one, it's about a Triadic color combination with Primary Colors as applied to a simple still life.

This Pencil Drawing Workshop is in the afternoon (we move to the patio after lunch, because it's cooler there in the afternoon). Here, the kids are doing separate projects because they finish each of their drawings at their own pace. The youngest was doing lines because she started just today. The oldest was doing a pencil rendering of the clay jar on her right side. The two on the left were doing their simple bowl, trying to apply shades and shadows on their drawings. The one on the foreground was finishing up with her set of line drawings of objects based on basic forms like cylinder, sphere, cone, and cuboid.

Last Saturday, we had someone who signed up for a Paper Cutting Workshop. Since it's her first time to do anything related to this craft, we chose to make a simple monogram for her which she also designed. We mounted her finish product after we cleaned up her project.

Next up on our schedule!

April 30 (Saturday) - Mini-Scrapbooking Class
May 7 (Saturday) - Mini-Scrapbooking Class
May 14 (Saturday) - Perspective Drawing Class
May 21 (Saturday) - Exhibit!

Weekend Arts and Crafts Workshop 2015

Hola!

Wow. My goodness. How long has it been?

So much personal things happened and still are happening, but I think I've adjusted enough to do this.

This year, soon, hopefully, I'll start my Weekend Arts and Crafts Workshop here in San Pablo City, Laguna, that will run all year through with few breaks in between. It'll be open to everyone from 6 to 106 years old. Heh! Not a joke, though. The Arts part will include drawing, painting and mixed media art classes. On the other hand, the Crafts part will focus mostly on papercrafts, because that's what I love the most.

I'm still thinking if I'd like to offer calligraphy class but I'm mostly a fan of really pretty handwriting for everyday use, and not the artistic kind that which could be framed afterwards. If there are people who are interested in improving their handwriting, then I'd probably offer that... even if I'd only have a couple of students.

Each class will have 10 sessions of 2-4 hours each. If you want to stay beyond that, it's up to you. Bring your lunch and snacks, though. I'll provide water. Arts classes will be in the morning. Crafts classes in the afternoon. Lessons will be age appropriate, so it's going to be, more or less, one-on-one instruction even if we're going to be in a big group.

Even if you think you don't know how to draw and you still want to take classes, please come! You will surprise yourself. I promise. So, if you're around my area, please check us out after I've hashed out and posted the details.

Fees will be on a per session basis. There will be an official announcement later on.

See you later, guys!

Summer Art Workshop for San Pablo Residents

Teaching

I never set out to be a teacher that's why I'm a licensed professional who never ever thought of becoming one. Dealing with children wasn't really a gift I had then as far as I know. But somewhere along the way, the urge to share was too strong that I had to let go and embrace the change though quite frankly, I don't think I have it in me to this day this instinct about being with children. I don't think I'll ever learn how to, to be honest.

The first time I taught, they were 16-year-old high school seniors and they're boys... mostly. I accepted the position because they were nearer my age and it would be easier for me to relate. They're getting into college as I got out of it. Besides, I was teaching introduction to architectural drafting and painting. How difficult can it really get? I enjoyed those four years immensely, and hopefully inspired some of them, at least.

Now, I'm teaching primary schoolers. Big leap, huh? I couldn't tell you how I'm coping because I really don't know. My personality doesn't really suit being with small children. I'm not exactly gentle nor am I sweet. All I know is that they have impressionable minds and their foundation is of utmost importance, and that's where I take off. I treat them as I would my teenage students but slower and with more foundational inputs because well, that's what they need. I don't know if it's the right approach because I didn't study to be a teacher and be licensed for it.

Yesterday, as I was slouching on a sofa at the reception area waiting for my Crafts Class to start, one of my students, a six-year-old who I learned later isn't affectionate at all, came to me, climbed and sprawled herself on top of me. She gave me the tightest hugs and a kiss on my right cheek and said, "I like you. I like making things." It gave me a start because she's very close and my personal bubble was suddenly agitated. I was overwhelmed, to be honest, but I relaxed after awhile especially when she climbed down and started to inspect the goodies I bought. I guess, I must be doing something right. And I have to get used to their spontaneity.