Blok Magnaye

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there! A big shout-out...

Sun, 12 May 2013 12:39:00 +0800

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there! A big shout-out to my mom! I wouldn’t be half amazing if it weren’t for her genes and, guidance and care! Good job, mom!

Porque? You may ask why porcupines. I found the inspiration for this while browsing through my 8-year old cousin’s sketchpad. This is just one of the many amazing drawings in his sketchpad. I see an artist in the making! Also, I just read, mother porcupines are just like Human mothers. They care for their youngs until they are capable enough to care for themselves. Good job, mother porcupines!

I went on a quick trip to the beach over the weekend with some...

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:39:00 +0800

I went on a quick trip to the beach over the weekend with some friends. I had a wonderful time and the island was so idyllic I thought I’d share some pictures. I’m so toasted right now. I may have too much of the Sun but I’m sure not to much of the sea!

Summer is for adventures and orange twin popsies!

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:21:00 +0800

Summer is for adventures and orange twin popsies!

Summer is for blowing bubbles and wide-brimmed hats!

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:46:00 +0800

Summer is for blowing bubbles and wide-brimmed hats!

Careful, Girl. Digital. 13 x 19” __ My piece for the...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:34:00 +0800

Careful, Girl. Digital. 13 x 19”

My piece for the Macro+Micro: A Celebration of The Natural World group show happening at the Light Grey Art Lab’s gallery. If you are in or around Minneapolis (lucky you!) I urge you to come visit the show on its opening day this coming Friday, 19th of April. Over 90 awesome artworks (all inspired by the natural world) by equally awesome artists will be on display so please drop by! Details here.

Also, This is available as a print here. This is the first time I’m selling prints of my work and I would really appreciate if you guys purchase it for your wall or your lover’s wall or…

Anyway, cacti are amazing plants but they are metaphors here. I leave you with your interpretations.

My favorite pages from a children’s story I...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:25:00 +0800

My favorite pages from a children’s story I illustrated for Farfaria a couple of months back. The story is about this kid named Josh as he learns the important value of always being fair. Someone says I look like Josh or Josh looks like me, hmm?

I went to the sea the other day. I saw a purple narwhal whale.

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:48:00 +0800

I went to the sea the other day. I saw a purple narwhal whale.

Had a little fun with cut outs today. Happy Easter!

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:57:00 +0800

Had a little fun with cut outs today. Happy Easter!

You have such a beautiful style. I love your illustrations. You have a new fan. - Karo ♥

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:11:00 +0800

Hello there Karo, You are so sweet! Thank you!

I’ve been very busy lately working in between projects so...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:35:00 +0800

I’ve been very busy lately working in between projects so here’s some hedgehog doodles for you. When I came home for the weekend last week my mom told me she found a hedgehog in our garage. It was flabbergasting because Hedgehogs are not native in the Philippines and only a few people keep them as exotic pets here. It would have been cool if it was alive though (RIP mr. Hedgehog.). It is still a mystery where it came from and how it made its way into our house. (Alien in disguise?)

Here’s a rough idea sketch for Light Grey Art...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:11:00 +0800

Here’s a rough idea sketch for Light Grey Art Lab’s Macro & Micro show this coming April. I’m too excited for this! Let’s get it done!

Some of the illustrations I made for a children’s story...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:14:00 +0800

Some of the illustrations I made for a children’s story about how Ireland got its name published in Farfaria. I’ve been itching to share this, and finally it’s out now in time for St. Patrick’s Day. You can read this and other fancy stories by downloading the Farfaria app on your ipad. If you’re a lover of children’s stories you’ll surely love Farfaria. They have over 300 stories (all illustrated) in their library!

My find from the latest thrift bookstore raid. Alice in...

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:09:00 +0800

My find from the latest thrift bookstore raid. Alice in Wonderland with pictures by Mary Blair! Bought this for less than half its original price. This is why I love and regularly visit thrift bookstores.

Your illustrations make me smile. Thank you for your work, Blok.

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 09:13:00 +0800

Hi, I’m glad my illustrations can make people smile! This makes my heart smile. Thank you!

So I tried joining Ang INK this year. Ang INK or Illustrador ng...

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:04:00 +0800

So I tried joining Ang INK this year. Ang INK or Illustrador ng Kabataan is the Philippines’ first and only organization of illustrators for children. Sadly, I didn’t make it. I just discovered, when it’s already too late, that I actually never sent my application. It was just in my drafts folder the whole time! What a total fail. It was very frustrating but there’s no use in crying over spilled milk, right? I just learned my lesson: always ~~double~~ quadruple-check your sent emails especially when they are for submissions, applications or anything equally important.

So anyway here’s my entry. We were all required to make an illustration based on Eugene Evasco’s poem entitled Sino Ako? (who am I?). They never get to see this but at least you guys do.

Upside Down—I don’t know if any of you guys have...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:14:00 +0800

Upside Down
—
I don’t know if any of you guys have seen the movie Upside Down but here’s a little something inspired by it. I was watching it earlier. Though the movie was not really great I liked the concept of having two opposite worlds divided by gravity and two people from each world falling in love with each other, defying gravity and the odds. Ah my feels. Anyway, Happy Valentine’s again!

“My Deer, you are one of fawn kind.”—I...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:02:00 +0800

“My Deer, you are one of fawn kind.”
—
I don’t know if I am witty or just plain corny. Anyway, here’s my early Valentines greeting to all of you, inspired by this photo.

This is my entry for Illustration Friday’s challenge this week. The theme is...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:01:00 +0800

This is my entry for Illustration Friday’s challenge this week. The theme is ‘Myth’. Since I love tales, myths and legends and the Philippines is brimming with them, I decided to take the challenge. This is about the tale of Maria Makiling.

Maria Makiling was a young maiden that lived somewhere on the Mountain of Makiling in the Philippines. She was said to be the guardian spirit of that mountain. People who saw her describe her as enchantingly beautiful and never aging. She had long flowing hair and luminous tan skin. Her eyes were big and black and her hands and feet were small and delicate. She walked as if she was gliding with the wind. She had a compassionate heart, helping those who were in need who had come to her mountain.

Once there was a young farmer who often visited Maria’s mountain. The farmer has a kind heart and a simple spirit. Maria fell in love with him and he to her. Maria blessed him. His fields were never touched by calamity and his livestock were always healthy.

But there came a terrible time for him. A war had come over the land, the army officers came recruiting fit unmarried men. To save him her mother arranged him a wedding with a girl from his town. It broke his heart. He became sullen more than ever.

For the last time he visited Maria Makiling the night before his wedding. He explained everything to Maria. Maria gave him jewels as a gift for their wedding and said sadly, “I would that you were consecrated to me but you need an earthly love and you do not have enough faith in me besides. I could have protected you and your family.”

After that night Maria Makiling was never seen again. Some people say that she still resides in the mountain watching over it.

My illustration of Thranduil from The Hobbit requested by my...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:28:00 +0800

My illustration of Thranduil from The Hobbit requested by my officemate, Illustrator extraordinaire, Tasha. Hope she likes it.

Gouache on Kraft paper. I missed doing this it’s been a...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:42:00 +0800

Gouache on Kraft paper. I missed doing this it’s been a while since I gone traditional. Finally had a chance to use the gouache paints I bought for myself last Christmas. It’s my first time using them and I think they are fun to use. Looking forward to spending more lazy weekends with my brushes and paints.