the pastel hands

Joy Martir. Here's a bit of what I do. — [email protected]

[thepastelhands]

ESL One Frankfurt wrapped up a week ago. It’s one of the premier Dota 2 tournaments held every year, and if things had gone okay I should have been there.

I’ll make the story quick: ESL One hosted an art competition prior to the event, with the prize including a premium tournament ticket and paid-for hotel and flight expenses to Frankfurt. I painted something, submitted at 11pm on the night of the due date (we’re actually 6 hours ahead of Germany but whatever), and, almost two weeks later, received an email informing me of my win!

But of course I had to be born Filipino and so being a Philippine passport holder I was one Schengen visa away from the free trip to the German tournament. Even with the help of an e-sports-supporting senator’s office, the German Embassy had to decline our application twice. It was a good decision on my end to ship the painting ahead. Because you know, paintings don’t need visas.

It’s funny, I knew from the moment I read the competition guidelines that, if I were to win, I wouldn’t get the visa on time. Two weeks is too much of a short notice. I just didn’t anticipate I would win, lol, and go through an emotional see-saw, hoping the best yet expecting the worst. What a corny way to phrase it, but that’s just the way it was.

I was definitely bummed, I sulked for days, but it’s a really good thing that emotionally I’m more positive these days, so I handled it better than I thought. *Happy dance* It helps that both friends and family keep telling me they’re proud and happy for me. Haha. I mean, one day you’re starting out with watercolor, and then a day comes when your work can actually take you places? Whew! I got inspired to draw more Dota 2, more of what I want to draw. Nan.

PS. Although... I have no idea where exactly they hung the damn thing, because I didn’t catch it on the streams, lol. What if they didn’t display it?! Hahaha. I’m not even worried anymore. Update 1: I have just been informed that because of rain and humidity things didn’t go as planned at the Artists’ Alley. Oh well.

PPS. The concept comes from the idea that in every game we go into battle by becoming a Hero, and that a Hero is only as good as the player who plays it. As always the ideal painting looks more awesome in my mind XD

[thepastelhands]

I made a splurge last month: my first artist-grade watercolor (tubes!) at last, and some great papers to try like Canson Moulin du Roy and Holbein Albireo (sadly it’s not 100% cotton). I don’t think I’m that fussy about brands, but I really wanted to try the ones of better quality so I know the difference. So far so good, and I’m having fun!

[thepastelhands]

Watercolors on 8.5 x 11″ hot pressed paper.

March’s last commissioned painting (with a deadline), for a couple’s wedding. 

I had fun re-painting her hair. I have no idea why I make things complicated for myself by doing a blue gray layer first before the brown. I mailed this yesterday to the client, so I hope she receives it by today! 

[thepastelhands]

Robi, Sam, & Chuck. Commissioned / Watercolors on 8.5 x 11″ hot presssed paper.

I’m saying goodbye to these babies today. :(

I began accepting a few commissions early this year, and one of them happens to be a former teacher/fellow artist, who has also previously encouraged me to do more art. He let me have creative freedom over the portraits of his son, niece, and nephew (or as he puts it, carte blanche). 

I painted Robi, his son, first (the lion boy), and like I posted before, I painted him twice because the first one didn’t really look like him. Not his eyes, not even just his nose. The final one, I’m still partly nervous about actually, because I may have drawn his eyes a little bigger. Nervous, but still happy and not regretful about having to redo everything.

That I had to make sure their eyes were not crooked, when flipped in photos, is the hardest thing about these portraits, especially since I don’t usually use grid lines (lol) because I’m too lazy to erase them. I think I did okay after so many tries and checking the mirror ( xD ).

Anyway, I’ll miss these three. 💙

[thepastelhands]

Philippe and Kat, the travelling couple.

A watercolor commission, on 8.5 x 11″ hot pressed paper.

[thepastelhands]

Today’s project: Progress shots of a commissioned portrait, over the course of 8 hours. 

Obviously I consumed a lot of Coke and Hershey’s to keep myself going after nearly breaking down during the lineart part.

[thepastelhands]

So we got ourselves a stormtrooper so BB-8 can have someone to run away from. Sort of. <3

[thepastelhands]

Of art and soul

Lately I have received a few commissions from friends, and friends of friends. Just small portrait types. As of this moment, I have finished three, two of them still undelivered. I’ve had commissions before, but they’re mostly digital work: logos, poster designs, vector illustrations. 

I told myself I won’t be actively accepting watercolor commissions for a long time, not until I get comfortable with my technique (because I really don’t know what I’m doing with my brush 80% of the time) and figure out my style (because I believe I’m still heavily inspired by artists I admire, but more on that later). But then one thing led to another, and now I’m actually writing down a couple of deadlines in a planner. It’s just a few things. But -- A PLANNER. I have a fvcking planner, as early as February. Haha.

I get so nervous each time someone asks. Even more so when I pick up my brush and smooth out the paper. It’s a completely different experience to draw something for someone, for a fee, even if they give me complete creative freedom. For a long time, art has been a solitary experience for me. It doesn’t matter that much if you don’t like my work, I don’t care if you think they lack the local fvcking touch, as long as I’m happy with it. But now, I have to share the experience. I have to like my work first, then make sure the other person likes it as much, and only then do I become happy. I can’t explain it well, I’m typing too fast to stop and think deeper.

I noticed a difference lately. It always used to make me feel sad when I have to give away an artwork, but now, not so much. I feel like I’m emotionally distancing myself a bit from my commissioned works. It’s crazy. It doesn’t mean I’m putting less effort in them. Maybe it’s just I don’t think too hard. I don’t get lost in thought that much when painting something that’s personal (or a gift).

A few commissions are a big deal for me, lol. It reminds me of what my uncle in Cebu said: that if I make money off doing something I love, then I’d love doing it more. While it’s great to do what I love AND earn money, I want to disagree with it so badly. How do I put this? Lol. It’s not like any big projects are coming soon, but still. If that does happen at one point, well, it would be living a dream. But I really wouldn’t want art to feel like work. I don’t want the one thing that keeps my soul sane become a burden, you know? It’s my first love, and I hope money or business does not end up ruining it.

[thepastelhands]

A peaceful afternoon spent at the Hilltop Bar <3

[thepastelhands]

My first completed watercolor commission! It really is a different experience to draw and paint something for someone who's paying lol.

[thepastelhands]

Bolinao, Pangasinan — For a place called Rock View Sunset, there was no hint of a sunset to view while we stayed there last Sunday, no thanks to the weather. It did give us a beautiful, slightly wistful, scene, however, of a stubbornly gray horizon and really huge waves. They crashed so loudly against the boulders (or fossil reefs, I think) below, I could barely hear myself think... It’s just the sound of fierce water, an occasional salty spray to my face, the howl of the afternoon wind, and my hair flying everywhere, and when the skies turned from gray to black I was glad the clouds hid away the sun the entire time.

[thepastelhands]

omg i'm so glad i found you here on tumblr ^^ your art is amaaaazing!! what brushes and watercolor do you use? :)

Thank you! (-:

I just use Prang. I buy brushes at a local bookstore but I don’t know much about brands (I have Berkeley and Leonardo but Sakura is the best I tried so far). Hope that helps!

[thepastelhands]

Rey on Jakku 2.0 Watercolor on 8 x 11″ paper. I painted it again sans the background crap and now I’m finally at peace. <3

[thepastelhands]

Rey on Jakku. Watercolor on 8 x 11″ paper.

Yep, in typical Joy fashion I managed to ruin the whole thing by adding the stupid brown background thing. The more I looked at it, the more I wanted to re-do everything...

So I am redoing it. Hopefully the new one’s gonna make me feel at peace.

[thepastelhands]

Brewing up something new, while streaming the Starladder Dota2 match between Na`Vi and Alliance (who got rekt, I should say; worth the stream).

[thepastelhands]

Two versions of Celine and Jesse. Sunrise and Sunset, painted in Sept 2014 and Jan 2016 respectively. I see some progress! <3

[thepastelhands]

Celine & Jesse, before sunset. Watercolor on 8 x 11″ paper.

I think this is probably my best watercolor piece yet (lol) although I may or may have some tiny regrets about adding green-y embellishments. 😄I hope to do better with the Before Midnight version!