Painting is relaxation

It has been years (2004 to be exact) since when I first held a brush and painted. Actually the last was in college, a requirement for graduation. Painting then for me is not an art but a piece of obstacle that I need to accomplish in order to finish my studies (if you read my blog earlier you would have known I was enrolled as a Fine Arts Student). fast forward to October 2009, I had this urge to hold a brush once again, but was adamant of what I could produce... So I re-tested my skills with the brush.

I bought my first canvass, the first time since when, and started painting. This was the first piece:

artwork size is 14"x 18".

I was happy I could still nail it and kind of re-learned new techniques, and I felt learning should not stop there so I bought another clean canvass and painted a day later I was able to come up with this:

"youthnovoice" 12" x 18" detail


I was thinking of the upcoming elections when I painted this, and I thought I make to remind the adults to go out and vote, since their children can't speak for themselves and for certain issues, Their parents should address this incapacity and let themselves be the voice of the youth. Let the elections not be of popularity but of true service and genuine concern for our country. That is the message I wanted to convey.

I was becoming enthusiastic with the results that I tried another piece which I titled "under pressure":

Size is 12"x 16"


My concept for this artwork is easy. Remembering my office days, there was often time you really feel intense pressure to perform and perform well, what better way to represent it on paint than under water? So I painted a man contemplating and picturing himself under the intense pressure of under water diving... There very simple. :D

Painting for me nowadays has been a source of self-expression (very much blogging) through paint I hope to convey some of my messages and thoughts, plus it's very relaxing (despite the strong smell of linseed oil). I know I still have a long way to go to perfect this craft but as the old saying go practice makes perfect.

I wish to share more artworks in the future and I know I won't be running out of idea... Until then I'll be keeping you posted!

In defense of Pacquiao

I was watching ESPN last night, and on a certain segment Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s face flashed, and he was complaining, like how his victories wasn't recognized that if ever he and Manny stepped inside the ring and he beats Manny people would say "oh somebody else has done that in his career" and he has been talking about all that gibberish all the time he was on screen.

Yet when analyzes everything wasn't it the same thing happening to Pacquiao himself?

First David Diaz, when Pacquiao knocked the guy out nobody praised him they said it was an easy win... but looking back at it Pacquiao have been fighting all his life at the smallest of divisions. He just stepped in at Lightweight and demolished a champion he gets no credit for it. Maybe only here in the Philippines but the so called "scribes" not even one.

Then Oscar Dela Hoya came, many predicted it would be a walk in the park for Oscar... Even the Mexicans were blowing their top for Dela Hoya's choice of opponent. Pacquiao made Oscar quit his stool in eight. Stunning in fashion. Yet again everybody brushed their shoulder saying Oscar had seen better days and is at the end of the rope. Again no appreciation.

Ricky Hatton came, younger and hungrier, Pacquiao stunned him in two. The same geniuses called the guy overrated and damaged. Whoops Pacquiao's achievement again goes to waste.

Then came Miguel Cotto, a pure welterweight, younger than Pacquiao, presumably stronger... Pacquiao takes him head on and after the fight everybody was cheering yet some still tags Cotto damaged goods.

Even with all the un-appreciation Pacquiao never cried foul. And here is a guy who wouldn't relinquish his claim to the pound for pound title barking at the wrong tree, He and Pacquiao shares the same fate (of under appreciation).

The difference lies with their choice of opponent. Mayweather seemed to take on lesser or beatable adversaries and passed on the greater ones. The real risk he has taken was that match against Dela Hoya... Pacquaio took on odds and proximity in choosing his opponents. Like a ladder he went up one step at a time. Mayweather seem to be posturing tough on TV, but the real battle is not fought by words in boxing but by fists.

Let the ring be the judge.

Money vs. Manny in 2010 a NEAR reality?

Less than two days in the aftermath of Pacquiao's brilliant demolition job of Cotto there has been an insatiable clamor for the much awaited mega-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather. There are already reports of Golden Boy promotions, through Richard Schaefer, trying to reach Bob Arum, Pacquiao's own promoter, to discuss details of an inevitable showdown. The talks could be dirty, as both fighters wants all the greens for himself and this talk could be longer than expected.

What we should be happy about is the realization of both fighters that this fight can't be set aside. It's a validation of who the best pound for pound kingpin really is. For Mayweather even more, since he defeated a percieved weaker opponent (in Marquez, a guy older, smaller and slower than him) and has been inactive for more than a year in such time Pacquiao rose to prominence beating opponents that Mayweather himself fought to a much brutal ending.

Mayweather beat Oscar in a unanimous decision, Paquiao made Dela Hoya quit his stool in round 8.

Mayweather knocked out Hatton in round 10, Pacquiao made Hatton kiss the canvass in 2 rounds only.

Mayweather retired after hearing clamors of him matching up with Miguel Cotto, Paquiao won over Cotto via TKO 55 seconds into the 12th round.

It would be a great match one a brilliant defender, the other a war machine ready for battle with loads of firepower. “The world is talking about this fight. Everyone wants to see it. I’ve never seen anything like it.” said Schaefer.

It is a fight 20 or more years in the making. A fight that could be comparable to Hagler vs. Sugar Ray. We're very lucky living in this generation if the fight pushes through.

This early Mayweather is fully advertising his brags: "The world is much more intrigued by the thought of someone fighting me who can beat me,” he said. “That is what everyone wants to see and the boxing world is trying to find that guy. Manny Pacquaio's people have done a good job of creating an image of him to be this unbelievable fighter and now the so-called guy to beat me. But like all the rest, he's not the one. There is boxing and then there is me. The rest are just falling in line behind me or are trying to get in line to fight me. And that includes Manny Pacquiao, too.”

But it is undeniable that Pacquiao has closed the gap, or even surpassed him looking at the results of his recent fights, devastating in fashion. Boxers can yelp all they want but the decision really is fought in the ring.

And that is what the world is waiting.

The best is yet to come.


* Picture used is an image circulating in the web, no copyright infringement intended. Quotes used are from ringtv.com

My Blog

This is my third attempt to configure the look of my blog. Fortunately I am loving it's new look. I am no computer geek, and I couldn't have done the revision without getting HTML help from fellow netizens (I have no such patience as some of the guys here, will do painting instead). So I searched some free blogger template available in the net fortunately I stumbled with a very good one in this site: http://madebymadeline.blogspot.com/. I think the user's handle goes by the name of Madeline. Thank you very much.

As for those who have unfortunately viewed my blog recently you may have noticed this uninspired work as my header:



Well this certainly is not a work I'm very proud of, a product of some uninspired and unintelligent rush to put something in place of my previous header. It was then that I had this bright idea and used my ordinary skills in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to achieve the concept I had in mind, the result was this:



So incorporating it with my Blog title you see the end results (scroll up please). So, it would be my header for now until I think of another better concept and I hope I do get another idea. And yeah that's me on the picture... Tee Hee Hee.

Manny Pacquiao undoubtedly is pound for pound best

After brutalizing Cotto, a fighter most experts think was the reason Mayweather Jr. retired in the first place, Pacquiao secured his claim to the pound for pound title.

Pacquiao seemed to start slow in the first round, maybe getting the feel of the fight and wondering how brutal Cotto's famed body shots were before risking his own shots... then the barrage became relentless, flooring Cotto in the third and in the fourth most die hards knew it was a matter of time before the end. It came 55 seconds coming into the 12th that Referee Bayless put a halt on the battery Cotto had to accept.

Now you have to wonder how good Mayweather is compared to Pacquiao, Floyd was coming off a smooth victory over a man older than him, smaller than him, lighter than him and yet he only floored Marquez once. Pacquiao on the other hand floored a naturally bigger, younger and supposed to be stronger fighter of the two and pummeled him into submission.

After this bout I believe Pacquiao have secured his level above Mayweather and if Floyd wants another piece of that claim then he must outdo Pacquiao or get a piece of the man to settle the dispute once and for all.

Question is after Cotto got into submission does Floyd have the balls to follow suit?

* Picture used is circulated in the web, no copyright infringement intended.