http://askcjdesilva.tumblr.com/

Hello!! Meron po ba kayong mabibigay na tips sa pagdesign ng maximum 4 color na tshirt? Sana mabasa niyo agad. Mejo nahihirapan po kasi ako at malapit na ang due :<

cjdesilva — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:43:41 +0800

Hello! I think 4 colors is already a lot to work with! :) Actually, 2 would be the best setup. Hmm, maybe make your design minimalist na lang. Executional suggestion would be line art tapos may accent color. Here are some examples: http://www.claremallison.com/filter/drawings/drawings-3

http://www.claremallison.com/filter/drawings/Olwen-trying-on-her-wig

But always remember that as a designer, try not to see “limitations” as, err, limitations. But more like the materials you could work with. :) Gets ba? Basta hindi sila limitations, sila ay creativity enhancers.

In HK, is it okay to bring DSLR at concerts?

cjdesilva — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:14:37 +0800

Hi! Well, I don’t know if there’s a standard rule but when we watched Blur, the concert organizers provided some do’s and don’ts. And in our case, dSLRs were not allowed. :)

So what hair products do you use to prevent your hair from being "buhaghag" since it's wavy and straight? ;)

cjdesilva — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:22:20 +0800

I just use Dove Intense Repair Shampoo (the blue one) and the new Dove Anti-Hair-fall (green) conditioner. :D

P.S. I’m not plugging Dove or anything, I just really use it. Haha.

omg! Kayo po pala ang mind behind Blitz and Lily? Love it!

cjdesilva — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:22:00 +0800

Thanks! But I’m just part of the TEAM who made it.

Hi! I am just wondering where did you get the pretty floral wallpaper for the background of "the queen bee" painting? Thank you so much! Ps: you are my favorite art director forever ☺☺

cjdesilva — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:05:58 +0800

Hi! This will be a bit embarrassing but I just Googled romantic floral wallpaper. And I overlapped two of them, adjusted the colours a bit. ;-)

Please note that what I just did shouldn’t be done when the artwork you’re making is intended to be sold. I just used the images (found online) conveniently because the artwork was for my blog and I don’t intend to sell it. But if ever someone’s interested for a print of the “queen bee” artwork, most likely, I’ll paint a version of the wallpaper. :)

Thank you! Hope you left your name!

Hello ate Cj! Tanong ko lang. Lately po kasi may mga commisions ako. Yung isa doon, tinatanong ako magkano daw. Simple watercolor tiger painting. Since first time ko to. Diko po alam pano magcharge? Taga ibang bansa po so may shipping churva ek ek pa na magaganap. haha. and Student palang po ako. Any tips? Yun lang Thank you!

cjdesilva — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:49:47 +0800

Hi! First of all, congratulations! Napakaswerte mo’t may raket ka! ;-)

Pero tricky nga ang pagprepresyo. Marami kasing factors yan:

Size of artwork
How long will it take you to finish it?
How long have you been painting?
How many clients have you painted for?
And lastly and most important of all, what is your client’s budget?

I usually price my works P 100 to P300/square inch. Ibig sabihin (price) x (width) x (height) = final price. But of course, iisipin mo rin if sobra or sapat ba yung result ng math based on the other factors. Pero if you really don’t have an idea where to start, I think it’s okay to ask your clients budget and tell him/her you can work out something based on that. Pag nagbigay naman ng presyo ang client, mafi-feel mo kung swak or binabarat ka nya.

Here’s a link I’ve always gone back to when I feel puzzled about pricing: Jessica Hische on About Pricing. Very helpful, especially kapag illustration raket. :)

Hope I helped! And good luck!

P.S. Student or not a student, doesn’t matter. It’s the quality of work. :)

What hair products do you use to keep your curls and prevent your hair from being wavy since it's curly? Thanks ;)

cjdesilva — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:08:59 +0800

Ola! Actually, right now, my hair is straight already because my hair grew longer and I had to cut the damaged ends. 1 inch na lang yata yung wavy! And another thing, my hair wasn’t that curly talaga. It was more of wavy. :) One officemate told me before na I should comb it when it’s wet so haha, for two years, I rarely combed my hair! :D And regular shampoo and conditioner lang. :) Sometimes, I skip the conditioner even.

Hello po! Salamat po sa pag-answer ng unang questions ko po! SUPER APPRECIATED PO. :""""> Magtatanong po sana uli ako kung okay lang? :> Meron po ba kayong mga tutorials on paintings and digital arts? San din po kayo kumukuha ng mga inspirations?

cjdesilva — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:38:21 +0800

Hi! Ako, if may tutorials? Naku, wala. Actually, hirap akong magturo, which I have to improve on! ;-) But my dad teaches painting. :) Digital art naman - if you notice, i’m not into digital painting or anything, mas typography lang at layout digitally. :)

Saan ako kumukuha ng inspirations:

Normal Rockwell
50s illustration
Retro comics
Retro movie posters
Jessica Hische
Alfred Hitchcock movies
Wes Anderson movies

;)

Any picture of yours that you would like to be used as a peg ate. Put a link na lang po. Hehehe! :) Thanks! :)

cjdesilva — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:38:17 +0800

Haha, alright!

Here you go:

Hello. Meron ka bang pinagkokopyahan like photos pag gumagawa ka ng sketch ng tao? Like Saab's portrait? Or you draw them from memory? Kasi I do sketches pero hirap ako tandaan ang details ng mukha ng tao so I resort to a photo's details. :(

cjdesilva — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:35:53 +0800

Sometimes I have references, sometimes I don’t. But most of the time, I use different reference photos for one artwork. But with Saab’s portrait’s case, she gave me a preferred photo reference and I just tweaked it. When I sketch people’s portraits, I try not to just “copy” their faces, but at least replicate their energy or their aura, or at least show how I know them. :)

And hey, art is not just about skills, nor is it about memorizing details! Even James Jean or Audrey Kawasaki would have references, maybe from photos or quick sketches.

Have you heard about Alex Ross or Norman Rockwell? Both are great great great artists and they’re both known for always using photographic references. But that doesn’t make them less creative!

What materials did you use here? Thanks. post/27261951962/i-sketched-for-a-bit-to-calm-my-mind-but-i-got

cjdesilva — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:30:32 +0800

Rotring 0.5 mechanical pencil with 2B lead
Canson sketchbook
Eraser
Scanner
Adobe Photoshop
Wacom Tablet

Thanks.

Hello. I was brought here by the keywords 'Promil gifted kids'. I can still remember you from the commercials. My sister and I took Promil too. Mukhang may naitulong nman siya, so now, my mom is making me buy Promil Kid for my son. Lol. I'm so glad I found your blog. You are an inspiration to me. I was also into arts but life happened so I failed to really work on my 'skills'. Anyway, whether you are or you're not the Promil Kid, you are gifted in so many ways. I so want to meet you in person :)

cjdesilva — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:28:59 +0800

Hi nostalgicallyjaded! It’s nice to hear from you! :) First of all, thank you! Second, I think Promil helped me (and other kids) in many ways, I think it’s more of the combination of my parents’ patience and support, a bit of research (on how to motivate kids) and my environment. :) I’m sure your son will turn out great if you love him, support him and just give him the best that you can. :)

Hi Ate CJ! Sino po yung mga influence nyo pag dating sa art? :D

cjdesilva — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:37:02 +0800

Naku, marami! Pero siguro ang pinaka nag-iinfluence sa akin ay sina:

Normal Rockwell
Gustave Klimt
Botong Francisco

Hello! Can I use your picture as a peg? I really like your hair and I wanted to have the same curls as you have. Hehe! Thanks!

cjdesilva — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:26:38 +0800

Haha, which photo?:P

Hello po Ate. :) Advertising Arts student po ako ngayon and I'm really having a hard time making my paintings look fine. Lagi pong comment sakin ng mga prof ay "walang buhay" daw po. May ipapayo po ba kayo kung pano ko lalagyan ng "buhay" at mapapaganda yung mga gawa ko po? Ay tsaka po last question. San po kayo bumibili ng mga art materials bukod sa NBS? =))) Salamat po Ate. :>

cjdesilva — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:26:26 +0800

Wala raw buhay? Hmm. Sa tingin ko, dapat makahanap ng mas constructive at definitive na comment ang mga prof mo. Kasi imbes na nabigyan ka ng creative direction, na-confuse ka pa! Miski ata ako, sabihan na “Walang buhay” ang painting ko, baka itanong ko, “Ano gusto mo, lagyan ko sya ng oxygen? Or heartbeat?” Joke lang. :)

Wala tayong magagawa ngayon kundi ang manghula sa ibig nilang sabihin ng “walang buhay”. :P So ito ang aking mga tips:

Unang una, magpinta ka kapag ikaw ay nasa mood. Baka wag ka na munang magpinta kungnapipilitan or malungkot. Dapat everytime may gagawin ka, inspired ka. Kasi nahahalata yun. Kung may deadline, well, makinig ka ng music na paborito mo or manood ka ng movie na favorite mo, para mapa-mood ka. :)
Kung tao ang pinipinta mo, siguro makakatulong kung gagandahan mo yung mga mata nila. Andun kasi daw ang tinatawag nilang “buhay”. Hindi mo naman kailangan pagmukaing anime or si Puss in Boots yung painting, gandahan mo lang ang mga mata. Example nyan ay ang mga paintings ni Caloy Gabuco: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5pjukcPUM1qc0x4go1_500.jpg
Siguro rin, maiging may focal point ang painting. Dapat maganda parin ang layout mo. Si James Jean, napakagaling dyan. :)

San ako bumibili? Usually sa National Bookstore. Or sa art shop na St. Patrick, malapit sa Waltermart Makati. :)

hi! this might be a little late, but yeah congrats to your wedding! i wish you and sir Wincy the best. you 2 are so cute. PS your new paintings in your site are beautiful! do you use pen for the outlines?

cjdesilva — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:20:37 +0800

Hey! Thank you. :)

Yup, sometimes I use ballpen. :)

Ate ako yung nag ask kanina. Maraming slamat sa pag sagot! haha kinikilig ako. Ingat po, godbleeeeess! :3 <3

cjdesilva — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:20:12 +0800

Salamat! :)

Hi Ate CJ! I'm an art student and I am really inspired with your works. Bata palang ako napanood na kita sa tv sa commercial ata ng Promil, Dun ako nagkahilig sa art when I saw your commercial. XD. uhm, ask ko lang po pala. Kasi i'm planning to buy a laptop pero diko sure on what brand and model ang bibilhin.Dirin po kasi ako marunong tumingin ng specs. lol. Budget ko is around 20-23k siguro. Any suggestions po? Salamat ateeeeeeee. <3 Ingats! Sana ma-meet kita in person >.<

cjdesilva — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:11:51 +0800

Hello! :)

Unang una, maraming salamat! Ang sagot ko naman sa tanong mo ay: if ikaw ay isang art student, pinaka-okay siguro ang isang macbook pro (hindi kailangan na retina display) kasi ang Adobe Creative Suite ay native for Mac systems, so mas mabilis at smooth talaga ang trabaho sa Mac (based on experience). Pero may kamahalan nga lang. But I suggest, if may credit card ang parents mo, baka pwedeng pay 23k in cash and yung remaining balance, bayaran mo na lang sa kanila installment. :)

But if you really on a tight budget, I think Asus, HP and Samsung are okay. :) http://www.samsung.com/ph/consumer/monitor-peripherals-printer/notebook-pc/ultra-portable

Did you really drink Promil?

cjdesilva — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:52:15 +0800

Yes, I think so. But only my parents could confirm, of coure.

http://cjdesilva.com/about/

Click FAQ. Thanks!

Hi ate, what brand and gram of watercolor paper do you use? kasi yung Berkeley na nabili ko at NBS, the paper is kind of scraped everytime I blend and make layers. And at times, the scraped paper blends with the watercolor. Thanks ate! :)

cjdesilva — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:47:39 +0800

Hello! Sorry I answered very late! :( Naku, I have the same experience with Berkeley. :(

Syempre, the best parin ang Arches Watercolour Paper. 300 gsm

Pero since mahal yan, ang gamit ko ngayon ay Canson Watercolor Pad. Meron rin sa NBS nito! 200 GSM. Para sakin, super okay ito. Around P 500 ata for 24 sheets na 12” x 18” :)