Create & Life Illustrated

27/09/2026

My 2026 BRAVE MOVE and asked my daughter to join me and she said yes! I was not ready emotionally and all, but I was already working on my lino prints, sketches and watercolor when my good "Ate" (😁🫣) church artist-friend May Palacpac invited me to submit an entry to another exhibit but was not accepted, but thank God for ArtSphere Gallery , super grateful for "adopting" us 🥰😌 to your group art exhibit! I haven't met them in person yet (soon!) but we already felt the warmest welcome to their artists family, thanks to Ms Juvy & Ser Rey.
I am currently working on 2 projects and please pray with me that I get to finish them on time before the submission deadline. Thank you for staying with me in this journey of creativity! I am thankful to fellow artists, esp seasoned artists who generously shared their knowledge and experience with mid-level entry artist like me.
Artists' REFLECTION Art Group Exhibit of the Artsphere Gallery runs until October 28. Come visit us! An art piece or two might be waiting for you to bring them home and add beauty to your space.

23/09/2026

FINN.
Last week's practice/art play with mixed media. Brought out every art materials I have, get to know them again, use it well, experiment and have fun!

19/09/2026

Stop. Look. Listen.
I've been living in the city of Metro Manila since I was born. Our daughter is being raised in the urban jungle too. Thanks to my dad, we were intentionally brought up loving the outdoors, and appreciate what we have-- the simple joys in life such as the beauty of nature God has created. Passing down to our one and only homeschooled daughter, she learned to see birds in the community we live in Acacia Taguig where the abundance of narra and mahogany trees can be found. We are amazed by the beauty of birds. She's familiar with bird sounds, was able to capture and observe in our binoculars on her own too such as the egret and kingfisher. For 13 years of living here, I was able to identify about 15 birds, has been visited by male & female sunbirds in our balcony clothes hanger, chestnut munias perched on my curry plant.. and this morning was a treat! I knew from the sound mapping i hear a different one, its the first close encounter with a JAVA SPARROW! Such a bEauty! And I was reminded how I love sketching and painting birds. I was trying to think and explore other subjects to paint but look no further, I still love sketching & painting birds!
This was done in a total of 40-min including a 15-min quick study sketch. My usual go-to medium is watercolor but now I am becoming friends with acrylic paints!
Ahh.. what a beautiful feeling. Thank you Lord for this!

Super handy A FIELD GUIDE TO FLIGHT, local published book in Indentifying Birds on Three School Grounds (Ateneo de Manila University Press)

Photo reference from the Birdwatch Philippines Community, by Mr Bo Apostol.

31/08/2026

I've been meaning to make ink block printing again. I need to diversify, just like physical training (I find it boring sticking to just watercolor.. if I am not running, I swim.. or go to the gym, i'd like to do wall climbing again too.. if only have time for sports I would play badminton again (do I hear pickle ball enthusiasts say "TRY PICKLEBALL!" 😅) Why am I not so physically active these days!? 😅 These days I am always 🥱🫩💤😴 (blame it on the hormones 😅)

13/08/2026

And we're back!

Grabe August na, Kaaral! 🎨 How is your life schooling going so far?

Some things are better around a table, together. Art is one of them.

This term, we're opening our first Online Art Feast — four live Saturday afternoons where your whole family gathers with our art teachers, Jia and Lauren, to look closely, play, and make something with your own hands. Art appreciation, art games, and a guided art lesson, every session.

Come live if you can. And if a Saturday slips away, as Saturdays do, every session is recorded and saved to your library so nothing is ever lost. 🌿

🗓 Sept 12, 26, Oct 10, 24
🕒 3:00–4:00 PM · online via Zoom
👨‍👩‍👧 One enrollment covers your whole family
✋ Only 5–20 families, so every learner is seen

No experience needed. Just your children, your paper, and your willingness to try.

Enroll through the link in our bio. ➡️ https://buhayaralan.co/b/aefonline2026

Kaaral subscribers, check your Discord, Members portal, or Learning Circle chat for your member rate. 😘

04/08/2026

YORI

13/06/2026

JR the Poodle
Thank you teacher-doc for sending in your pet's photo for me to paint! Quite challenging, but its a good start! I enjoyed it!

13/06/2026

PURING.

Ang aming 'bida' at active mag participate sa online class 🤭😄
Salamat teacher Abbie!
watercolor & ink