My Massimo Dutti 2011 Wishy Wishy

Massimo Dutti, being pretty new in the Philippines, has definitely gotten my attention. Especially their accessories. There's something about it that I can't explain which draws me to them

Here are a few of my favorites which I plan (and hope) to get when I can set aside for them:

Aged Leather Bracelet
Goodness gracious. I want this. I have several braided bracelets from Carbon and AD but this one is calling my name.

Leather Wallet
The nice thing about wallets with zippers is the fact that your notes/receipts/wallet trash wouldn't be too messy














Visit their shops or online. Definitely a new favorite of mine!

Narrative Autumn/Winter 2011

I got my second wind and decided to add a few more winks than my usual 40 after finishing a note, I stumbled upon a nice set of shoes and boots from Narrative. Here are a few favorites of mine from their Autumn/Winter 2011 collection:







I have a fascination with brogue shoes. This got my attention because of the soles. they look sturdy enough for everyday use.









Ahhh.. Boots. The manliest of shoes. I love how clean and simple they look. I'd probably get some combat boots (not that I don't have a pair... they're just broken)










Here's another version of it.











You can find more images (which I grabbed from) here

Jay, the Door Knob, and WWJD

Rain continues to stretch the whole night with the bell of the dog ringing around the house as I faced a figurative wall: the Door Knob. 

Then I thought to myself and snickered: “what would Jesus do?” He'd probably send an angel or two to get it fixed or He'd touch it then voila! But seriously, instead of thinking what would He do, how would he act? With my door knob experience, I acted more brute than man.

It’s been a pretty busy week: painting, doing some errands, varnishing some paintings, clearing things up for my transfer, forecasting activities, more painting, more painting, more painting, and... the sort. I was hoping tonight would be a night where I can end it without having to feel uneasy (I feel this way when there are so many things happening).

exhibit a. retouching paintings doesn't take a few minutes...

Revisiting Some Old Works of a Show that was to happen

On my last year in Silliman University (2003), there was a plan that I would have a small exhibit in the College of Business Administration building (which was pretty new then). But because of several other activities and having to finish school projects, I backed out since there was too much at stake. I had several feasibility studies lined up and exams. I finished only half of the set I was planning. Here's a short glimpse of what those works were:

Carousel
Oil on Canvas
48x36 inches (4x3 feet)

My God is There

A few days back my at the Halili residence (close family friends at the church my family and I used to attend) we talked about the past which involved church concerts, hang outs, and other activities since my mom was active with the church (she was the choir director then). Then my sister hummed a song I wasn't familiar with. I asked what song was that and she said it was "My God is there" and that mum wrote it.

Today as I was working on concepts of what piece to make next, I thought of the song and asked my sister to send me the lyrics. After reading it, I said to myself: I can't paint this. Not now. The words were too strong for me no matter how simple it was.

My mom was a brilliant musician. She could play several instruments (10+ if I'm not mistaken). She wrote a numerous number of songs. She was God fearing. She read the Bible several times from Geneseis to Revelations. And she died because of cancer when I was 10. If I'm not mistaken, this was the song she wrote when she didn't want to go thru a second round of chemotherapy.

Be Still (Art Exhibit)

Lovers and Friends, it would be our pleasure to have you visit. :)

Be Still (Art Exhibit)

Schedule:
Opening Cocktails November 9 (Wednesday) 4:00pm-8:00pm
Exhibit runs from November 9-18, 2011


Venue:
The Enterprise Center
Arthall, Level 3, Tower 2
Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo de Roxas

Artists:
Jet Bernal
Buhay Mendoza
Tamange Escano
Eduardo Busmente
Egay Cornito
Eddie Santillan
Louie Fernando
Recci Bacolor
Noel Pocot
Bianca Marquez
Daryl Garza
Jay Valente
Niel Marcelino
Nino Hernandez
Xander Calceta

Hope you guys drop by!

Philippine Folklore Exhibit Silliman University 2003

During this time of my venture in painting on my college days, I approached the subjects more simpler and did a lot of etching.

The exhibit focused on lower Philippine Mythology since it was one of our favorite topics to talk about with my fellow artists. I had two pieces displayed. Below are the details.

The Absence of Raja Indarapatra

90x90cm

Acrylic on Canvas

This piece talks about the creation of the world. One of the creation stories of Raja Indarapatra involved a giant bird called the Mela and two fish, the sea, clouds, and nothing more. The fish were taunting the Mela and the Mela trying to get even with the fish threw rocks at them. Where did the Mela get the rocks? I have no idea. Hopefully it didn’t crap rocks. Maybe it did. Hehe.

The Meeting

90x90cm

Acrylic on Canvas

Some blogs/sites I frequent

During the wee hours of the night as everything slows down, there are several sites and blogs that I check out before my 40 winks to sleep (which are outside the youtube/google/facebook  juggernauts).

Here's a list of some of my favorite blogs/sites

www.curatedmag.com - here I get to see some art works which help me get ideas and the like.
www.theawesomer.com - it pretty much has everything I'm interested in: fashion, art, funnies, gadgets
www.highsnobiety.com - if I weren't an artist, I'd be designing clothes or things. I love how they showcase new things also.
http://theonemonsyndicate.blogspot.com/ - a good friend of mine, Ramon Taguchi, writer, artist extraordinaire. I keep telling him he can start a renaissance. Music, art, comics, gadgets, and angry cats.
http://voidandprofound.blogspot.com/ - another good friend of mine. Very jolly and outgoing. One of the closest friends I have where you're sure you won't get bored when he's around.
http://godspotted.com/ - a close high school friend of mine who also invited me to the church I attend now, who is a wonderful writer, Stef Juan. This is her blog on where she logs in her experiences with our creator.
http://yvettetan.com/ - a new found friend, she masters in writing horror stories... and food. If I had the resources, I'd go to every place she features.
http://eatingthesun.blogspot.com/ - a teacher friend of mine, Ian Casocot. Palanca award winner. Well, visit his blog you'll be surprised with the content you'll find.

http://www.westgallery.org - the gallery I wish to have a show in...I love the works they showcase here

http://blanc.ph/home/ - another gallery I wish to showcase my work in. I love how strategic their galleries are in since I live near them!

Well, that's my list which will most likely grow but until then, I'll finish some articles I missed out.

Separation Anxiety (Breadwinner+Dating Hari ng Daan)

I have that problem. I have a hard time letting go of things and the sort. Who doesn't? I do know of a friend who can easily let go of things as he mentioned that from a trip back from college to home he had two large luggage and went home with just one as he passed things around. But if I'm not mistaken, even the luggage he brought home had half the contents.

It is easier to let go of something when you know it's already gone. I have let go some of my paintings and things I left in Dumaguete and Tacloban and I doubt to ever see them again but I've embraced the fact that they are gone (and if they do appear then very good). I lost my parents when I was young and it took me 9 months to get (sort of) over it where every night I would cry (it's worse to lose loved ones than things).

This time, I’m letting go of two paintings. Well, it’s a good thing that I’m earning from it. If I were rich I wouldn't let go of them. I'd have a museum made for them.

Today, I varnished two120x90cm paintings. Breadwinner and Dating Hari ng Daan (Former King of the Road). I made these paintings in the early part of the year on my transition of style in the sense.

Here are some pictures before I varnished them.

Sneak peek of works for "Be Still", a group exhibit

Before my trip to Davao on Oct 19.2011 for a close friend's wedding, I got messaged by Rachel (a high school batch mate and good friend) who hooked me up with two of her artist friends in the city who were setting up an exhibit. I was told by Xander (a resident artist for Gallery Big who is setting it up) that previous small works can be exhibited since the theme is open. However I didn't have small works (and my smaller works wouldn't sink in well with my thoughts of it being displayed on this show which may not be aligned with the title of the exhibit) so in Davao I started to build concepts for the three pieces I'll have in the show and started to work on them the week I got back. Here are some pictures of them unfinished.

February 2003 Exhibit

For heart's month of 2003, the art organization I was part of in my school, Silliman University, we decided to go with the basic theme of love. I had two pieces exhibited. The venue held was at the Arts and Sciences building.

Trouble
Acrylic on Canvas
90x90cm

My *ahem* Wish list

Here's a post that I made in FB... with some edits:)

 my birthday gift to myself 2010


Everyone loves receiving gifts. Nice gifts of course. Now since my birthday is coming up (well it did pass for 2011, so 2012 and beyond!), below is a wish list (some realistic, and most of them extreme) of the gift ideas you may send. Money of course is always welcome. And if you do miss the opportunity to send on my birthday, Christmas would work. Hey, even any day of the year will work. And since I’m dreaming, might as well dream big (and this is a pretty conservative list haha)!;-)

Joseph Valente Portfolio 2011

Hello everyone! Here's my portfolio! If you know anyone interested you can contact me thru the details on the file. Have a good one!

Click here 

How I joined OGPA + 0203 Exhibit

In 1998, I transferred from a metropolis to a small (but growing) city for college. I honestly wanted to take a Fine Arts course but it wasn't available (then). However, there was an art organization in the university called the Order of the Golden Palette where I was invited to join.