Write it down and do it beautifully

Two of my favorite pastimes have got to be doodling and collecting. Mini sketches and letterings can be found at the back of my notebooks, pad papers, and scratches from over the years. Some were crafted for hours while most were created on a whim or out of boredom. Meanwhile, I also love collecting lines and quotes that strike me at my most vulnerable. Whether it's a line from a movie or a song, an advice from a friend, or a vandalized phrase on a public comfort room - as long as it's relevant and I relate, I record it on my phone, on my idea notebook, or any working pen and paper at hand. As the collection grew, I started to realize that simply writing them down doesn't seem to be enough anymore. I felt the need to make something of it. So instead of just writing/typing them all down, why not do it beautifully (i.e. artistically)? Since then I've been trying to merge both hobbies.

(Quote from Jack Kerouac; hand painted, acrylic on canvas)

I don't claim them to be any good. Besides, that's not the end goal every time I start working on a new piece. I want them to be felt and to just not be on a boring series of type. Like for this famous Jack Kerouac quote - I actually liked how crude it ended up looking like. I remember making it digitally at first, which was too perfect for my liking (also, I didn't have the money to get it printed then and I really wanted to put it up on my wall haha) so I used what I had at home: an unused 9"x12" canvas and excess acrylic paint from school. Gotta love the imperfections. Never be sorry.

(Quote found on Pinterest; Pen on paper)

I remember reading another quote saying, "If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind goes when it wanders." Basically, daydreaming, which makes this all the more relevant. Found this saying on Pinterest during a very challenging phase of my life and I just had to write it down and make something. So I grabbed my 5"x7" sketchpad and drew dots all over a sheet and connected them. Some dots didn't make it but hey, it all worked out just fine.

I also letter lyrics when I'm in the mood.

(Am I Alive by Team*; Pen and water color on paper)

I love subliminal messages, especially in songs. How artists let us inside their heads through their lyrics and melodies and how freely we could interpret them. In this case, I was merely fascinated and I just wanted to be able to see and hold Caleb's words as if to suggest that I get what he's trying to say, even though he'll never know. However, this is one of my lazier works after merely smearing a mixture of water color over the lettered lyric, hehe.

All works made circa 2013.

Check out Team's music via Spotify here. See their Am I Alive music video here.

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