living the dream

there is a tragedy in this world today.  most people are not living their dreams, and the reason is simple:  fear.  they are scared to be who they are.

my feet are on the ground as i reach for my stars

that is quite understandable.  i underwent the same scary process.  when i endeavoured to find my life's work, i faced a lot of risks: i could fail.  i could lose the respect of my friends.  i could go broke.
there was this possibility that i could mess up in a hundred different ways.  but - and this is crucial -   i could also succeed!!!  and until i started living my calling, i was robbing the world of a gift.

path to my open air studio

i spent years procrastinating, until, i finally pursued my dream:  i decided to farm and make art.  to my surprise, my success found me more quickly than expected.  i built la huerta de rosario, established F.A.R.M. by bidibidi enterprise, opened a gallery - Cafe des Artes, founded burikbutikan artists collective, and just recently, mounted my first solo exhibit as an artist - un reve de boheme.  all these within a span of four years.

un reve de boheme - 1 april 2012

how did this happen?  simple.  i believed in the dream before it happened.  i did not wait for fear to go away (it never does, anyway).  i started living into the reality i was longing for.

i still sew my patchwork quilts from recycled fabrics - 60 to make in 10 years

i remember being asked several times on what my dream was, and i knew early on what they were (i had more than one.  bwahahaha!).  so, i declared them openly - amidst jeers and sneers.  i was bent to make them happen.
i also recall one affirmation i said to myself:  i do not have to want to be an artist, i am.  i just need to make art.  

and i did, after i got tutored.  bwahahaha!  thank you!

these words resonated in my soul.  i realized that before i could expect others to believe something about me, first i would have to believe it myself.

got this on my 48th, and i i got a san miguel on my 49th.  thank you!

and i believed it!  and there is a word for this:  it is called faith.  i trusted in the gift.  and this has brought me through fire and high waters, into my destiny.
two things i realized, too:  
real failure is not as bad as i imagine it.
when i pursue my passion, the universe makes room for my dream.

artworks done my students adorn my wall

i never stopped believing in my dreams.  and until i started living them, they were only my dreams.  now, i live the life i have dreamed of living and am loving it!
  
 
 

colour and grace

my soul breathes

my soul has been busy taking some deep breaths.  it has been a nice week.  

chealsea puts on the colours

the turugbasi arts camp kids 2012

chelsea musters more confidence

on one day, i see young hands busy on the colours at their palettes, 

atty luzviminda maristela

belen v llamas

cecil pardo

and on another, some tired old hands, playing with their colours on their palettes, too.  

fr. eric bobis looks on while OsacnaB does final touches on my piece

any age is a good age to start painting

what a sweet and encouraging time and experience!  exhilarating even!

7th

1st

2nd & 3rd

6th

for this weekend, i am grateful for the days filled with colours and grace.  i know deep down into my bones how dearly i am loved.

thank you!  and ilysm!  ♥ ♥ ♥

the garden of my childhood

james, ethan, hannah, moira, monica, patricia, bimboy, chelsea, lance, lui, paul, johann, angelo

there is a garden in my childhood, 

the turugbasi kids busy on their acrylic piece

an enchanted place where colours are brighter, 

johann

bimboy

the air softer, clearer, fresher,

chelsea

lui

the grass greener 

monica

moira

patricia

and the morning more fragrant. 

lance

ethan

 and this will never be again. . . 

paul aventhur

angelo

james

life is good!

OsacnaB on the values and joys of art

your signature on your master piece

and ilysm!  ♥ ♥ ♥

wonderful wednesday

i know it is not the weekend, when i am deep in gratitude.  but i just cannot let today pass, without being thankful for:
51.  my friends in real life

johnny escandor, frank penones jr., alvon yapan, kristian cordero, christine bellen, bidibidi

christine bellen, OsacnaB

johnny escandor, kristian cordero, alvin yapan

christine bellen, frank penones jr.

52.  touchable conversation

bidibidi, jazmin badong llana, kristian cordero, christine bellen

johnny escandor, frank penones jr.

kristian cordero, christine bellen

jazz, christine, bidibidi

53.  small moments filled up with huge impact.

kristian's "obscure" by bidibidi

alvin's "umbrage" by bidibidi

 i embrace the lovely unexpected as well as the exquisite plan.  i remember the small gifts in quiet places, and i dare to lift my eyes up from where i stand and see.

ilysm! ♥ ♥ ♥

why teach art? why not?

am asking myself the question, so, spare yourself the trouble of figuring out.  bwahahaha!  just have the (he)art to listen.  these are but my thoughts, recently, as we (burikbutikan artists collective) are in our fourth session of teaching art this summer, here in baao, camarines sur.  (turugbasi arts camp @ la huerta de rosario).

art is really an essential part of my life.  i need it.  i enjoy it.

but countless individuals will not be exposed to it properly without being taught, or without parents believing it should be taught.

i find art in sports, in music, in painting, sculpting, writing and other disciplines.

it surrounds me in the natural world.  in a beautiful sunset, the song of a bird, my chicks at play.  

every moment, i experience art, i just have to be able to see, hear and feel it.

any child who is not taught art, will have no opportunity to explore it.  perhaps the child is a young mozart or bach, but if he is not exposed to any musical instrument, the child may never know he has the ability to learn to play as chopin or beethoven did.  the child who is not taught to read music or to play the scales may never answer the yearning inside.

for many children, a box of crayons is the only instrument of colour they will ever possess.  without being taught art, they will never find out if they have talent or even a desire to learn to paint.  

without being taught, they may desire to cover a canvas with a masterpiece, but will not be able.  they must be taught how to hold a brush, load the paint and put their vision down for the generations to come.

i have heard of several stories over the last years about children who could sit down on the piano stool before they could walk and play beautifully.  

or they have painted masterpieces to rival van gogh, monet or rembrandt and they have only just begun to shine.

the one reason these have succeeded where others have not is because they were given the opportunity.  their parents helped them achieve greatness through art.  

other children are being denied opportunities, not only because their parents lack the means, but also the personal knowledge of what talents and abilities there could be if nurtured.

why teach art?

because we all need art, we all need artists to fill our lives with beauty of mind and heart.  without teaching art, there will be many great artists who will never develop their natural talent.  and there will be many others who would enjoy art if taught art appreciation.

why teach art?  again, why not?

ps.  thank you for the colours!  ilysm!  ♥ ♥ ♥