I had worked with over 100 artists in my job as creative director in a multi-national ad agency.
They were a strange lot—and I mean that in a most endearing way. Their talents and the excellent work we produced together more than made up for their mood swings, temper, and reticence to communicate with words.
To this day, I hold advertising artists in high esteem (that was before digital art took over and now every Tom, Dick, and Harry can do some kind of "art").
I was and will always be in awe of their gift. When I left advertising, I thought I'd never see the likes of them again.
Till I took up writing children's book.
One of my first published books, "The Boy who Had Five Lolas” (a Palanca award-winning piece) was going to be illustrated by May Tobias, according to Bookmark, the publisher. So I set out to meet May. I was delighted to find out she was also an ad gal!
Her initial sketches breathed life into the characters in ways I never imagined. I turned into a fan since that first meet-up in a coffee shop.
Through the years, we'd “see” each other on FB, where I read about her writing activities and art adventures. One day she messages me, asking for a testimonial for her soon-to-be-launched art book, "Doodles and Daydreams."
It's a how-to book for hobbyists and crafters, who wish they could draw but think they can’t. "I want to prove them wrong . . . they can learn to draw in as little as 30 days with my exercises and practical, easy-to-follow tips," May writes.
Months later, she sends me a copy of the newly launched book via courier and once again, May wows me.
Scanning the pages, I want to shout out loud to fellow art lovers who have been struggling to draw: This book is guaranteed to turn you into a drawing diva in 30 days!
That should include me.
No comments:
Post a Comment