Incognito

This was a challenge accepted.

Didn't win though, but it proved I could still get through with my own stories. This was actually fun since I have so little time  and with a shortage of funds, I pushed hard just to see if I could produce something worth while.

The idea is to stick to my guns and do what I want readers to see. getting this out means I could use some of my old illustrations (what's left of them) and still draw new ones. This is a one-off and mainly to claim them as my own.

Writing was harder.

But  as they say, if you are having fun doing it, it's not work at all.

Gato Loco G.I.G.O. Character Design

Gato Loco

[nondescript]

G.I.G.O. Character Design

Komiks

Toyang G.I.G.O. Character Design

Toyang

[nondescript]

G.I.G.O. Character Design

Komiks

Paragon G.I.G.O. Character Design

Paragon

[villain]

G.I.G.O. Komiks

Story and illustration by me,

Coming very soon.

Ang Tagailog at si Mapolan Dian Masalanta

Ang Tagailog at si Mapolan Dian Masalanta

Pen, Brush & Ink

Vellum Board

297mm x 420mm

[29.7cm x 42cm]

Ang Pagkagapi ni Dagulang Ba-It at ang Tagailog

Ang Pagkagapi ni Dagulang Ba-It at ang Tagailog

Pen, Brush & Ink

Vellum Board

297mm x 420mm

[29.7cm x 42cm]

In Color

I was never into coloring my work. I mean, I have no faith in coloring my art. Sure I could pencil stuff, I could ink. But when it comes to adding color, I felt like I'm still doing anime in-betweens and I pretty much spent several years avoiding that way of drawing.

Thor-Ta 

But a friend, someone I have worked with at TV5 asked me to collaborate with this project. I am in the middle of writing and illustrating my books, so I needed the extra income so why the hell not right?

I got scared. because back when we were doing simulation drawings for the news, those were really quick penciled drawings and haphazardly colored to fit the motion graphics and those were the days we worked fast, really fast to make the on-air time.

But I like komiks, yes comics spelled with a K, because I love them, the rough and limited colors of every printed serials I read when I was young. 

And I think my inking is getting better all the time, so I agreed.

Paloma

And I just did what I know would fit the way I draw, whcich is very old school, even if I do process them through Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. With Illustrator, I enhance the scanned inked drawing and it comes out like woodcuts. Then layering in Photoshop gives me ampkle space to paint colors.

Also, I do digital doodles in my spare time and lo and behold, they fit right in with this tv show, these backgrounds are also from my stash.

Ahh-Darna

These drawings can be seen at the start of every Madramarama Presents Ahh-Darna on GMA7's Sunday Pinasaya. I rarely watch tv nowadays, because I don't feel the need for it anymore. but this particular segment has Valeen Montenegro in it which I could say is cool, because I loved her when I was with TV5. No She doesn't know me.

Mike does one hell of a job with the motion graphics and editing for the show and I was pleased to see he got the komiks feel right down pat.

I still have several episodes to do before this gig is through. So I'm improving as I go along.

New Project. Kinda.

It has been too long sinceI posted anything substantial. Probably because I got sidelined by life itself. But there's always some itch you cannot scratch fully. So, I sat down one day and let the itch take me someplace .

This is a new project. Something that could be the restart of a once shelved storyline I've had for ages. This will be the conduit for everything that could explain the Daluiong Story Arc. This series may or may not make it to Mang Jun Dayo's venture, so I'll just continue in this line of comics until the proper funds could be pooled to actually self-publish the whole caboodle before I die, ha ha ha!

Re-Vision

This came out of that immersion.

Will post the nitty-gritty soon. There is a process I seem to follow for my own style, if there is one.

November is fast approaching, more quicker than you might think. The last quarter of 2013 is important for me as well as my coleagues whi are vying to publish their own brand of komiks [comics], and I for one, am anxious and nervous about it.

If you are following this blog, you might have noticed that my posts have been studies of what I would like my illustration to be. And that is true.

This past weekend, I barricaded myself inside my matchbox apartment, took out my copies of Marshall Law, Wasted, Conan The Barbarian, and various Trident comics titles. And I do have a copy of The Philippine Comic Artists Portfolio, by Pyramid Publishing, plates from greats like Redondo, Malgapo, Infante among others.

Such heavy weights to carry, such beautiful artwork to emulate.

And I have no I dea what my artwork would be like. So I looked at how these artists did their work - the shadows, facial nuances,  composition.

It was total immersion. I even played The Lord of the Rings Audiobook for ambience.

Summer Komikon 2013 - A Tale of Awe

It was an experience that awed me.

I have been in a couple of events but never as an exhibitor nor a participant. This time was different. It was a test of nerves. Because I have been reluctant to take part in an industry I love since I sneaking out as a kid and paying nickels and dimes to read Funny komiks, Aliwan, Pilipino and other titles we followed then.

I came in with these sample titles I have been meaning to put out, and it was John Nano and Conde Amor who opened the rabbit hole.

Si Ching, Si Ana at Si Badong will be a
komiks series for children,
and it will be someting that engages
the child to make up their own stories
 on a "blank" copy.

At 10:30am, John was antsy, feeling a bit peeved that no one seems to notice us. I elbowed him into thinking it's still early. True enough, a few stopped by and looked and perused the pages of Kuatrokanto, which is John's own story and artwork being launched that day. And a pretty young lady accompanied by her boyfriend, whom I noticed was the same girl I took a jeepney ride with going to UP. It's where I had my Komiks Sampler printed. John switched into his ususal charm and gab, and soon enough we had our first buyer!

Chicken Wings is taking flight!

We had breakfast as early as 7:45am, but we weren't prepared for the deluge. It was wave after wave of people passing, stopping, looking asking. Conde had a grand time looking over titles everywhere he could find, and there was a lot. Clark navarro, our new friend who's into cosplay really did have some visitors who are asking about the services.

Sambuig is an old pet project finally
getting written and illustrated.

Meanwhile, even if If I wanted, I was really geeking it out, eyes wide at the known artists just an amrs reach. Earlier, I did buy a Wasted reprint from Gerry Alanguilan, and I was blown away by the man's quiet demeanor and welcoming smile.

The flagship.
Diverse Augmentation Infused Operative
will be published at the next Komikon this
year.

And it was only our brownies, baked and prepared by Akel who took us through a no-break lunchtime, because it was really THAT busy. Even the other guys close to us got a taste of it. The brownies. I mean.

The short stories are now in continuance. Finally.

From hereon in, it was a steady flow of people, and before we know it it was past 5pm, and we really did sell some copies, in fact it was beyond what we expected. Although it could be the brownies, we offered them as free with every purchase, or the free Pussy Trail and Komiks Sampler included in the sale.

It doesn't matter. What we wanted is to let people know we were there. And my titles get it's proper exposure - the komiks reading crowd - and we did have a fun time. Though, I fear John's voice might be a bit hoarse today, he did all the talking. I did most of the shooting.

I was also taken by the sheer dedication and love by artists, writers and readers alike for  Komiks. Maybe thiese are what really convinced me to finally get to writing and illustrating

The Haraya Crew

You can view the rest of the 5th Summer Komikon 2013 HERE

Gearing up!

I decided to participate in Summer Komikon 2013  and while I was resurrecting my old short stories and sketches, it came to my attention I have neglected to finish some work I promised to friends. here's one I did for a friend's daughter.

I'm really nervous about joining the Komikon and being among seasoned, talented comics artists but nothing ventured, nothing gained, or so the saying goes. . . .

And now my small apartment has become a battleground. More papers are strewn here and there, and it's a good thing my music is well stocked, even the audiobooks accompany me each night I draw.

Good to be drawing again. But with a higher purpose.

Sketch A Day - SketchUp

I started doodling with SketchUp 8 the other day, and it dawned on me that, whoa this tool is pretty amazing! So Now I, thinking of incorporating this 3D graphic tool

Sketch A Day - November 5, 2012

I was wondering why I keep sketching in a manner most fit for character designers in animation. Truth is, I'm putting on paper my own take on some of our colorful, mysterious cryptids and monsters.

The Tianakk is, by far one of the most feared, most familiar creature of the dark almost every child    whose nanay or yaya uses to frighten with, when the kid becomes unruly. Often times, the Tianakk has varying origins, the most popular is the aborted fetus, thrown away to hide an unwanted pregnancy. 

But I doubt, it's the only story behind this small, dark demon.

Of course I'm getting ahead of myself. All these sketches and drawings have a certain direction, and it won't be too long till all of these come together.

Rediscover: Phantomanok - Concepts

Phantomanok Sketch A Day 001

Don't mind the old paper look. I'm just stressing a point, ha ha!

This was my early idea of resurrecting Phantomanok even before I tried looking for info on the author and artist. My Final Fantasy gaming days made me think a GF (Guardian Force) treatment maybe feasible for my beloved rooster-themed hero.

This is the sketch for size comparison only. The Rooster (or Cock, if you will) is still lacking some of the mystic look.

Rediscover: Phantomanok

Phantomanok Sketch A Day 000

Phantomanok is an almost forgotten comics (komiks) series of my childhood. Published on Liwayway Magazine in the early 70s, written by Rodie Marte Metin and illustrated by Arem Cunanan  who, I fervently hope, to get in touch with to pay homage and maybe ask permission to base my character on, even the story.

I meant to do the studies on paper, like I always do. But since I do have this graphics tablet lying around, might as well use it and see what could turn up from scratch.

Gratitudes, for pointing me to the right direction, to Mr.Gerry Alanguilan  and  Mr. Randy Valiente  both distinguished artists whom I badgered for information. Visit their sites and be blown away!