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Drawing & Illustration
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Drawing & Illustration
Arts & Crafts
Faith & Spirituality
Travel
- Travel journal
- Philippines
- Japan
- Taiwan
- Singapore
- USA
Odds & Ends
- Books
- Musings

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I wouldn’t mind being quarantined with these guys!
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(Old illustration from 2016; a personal favorite and one of the last I made for my agent/Surtex (a big annual design and illustration trade show in New York. It’s usually held around May. As I’m no longer in the loop with my art circles, I wonder how Surtex will run this year. Via Zoom?!)
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It’s week 3 into the lockdown here in Manila and while the first two weeks made me an unproductive potato (art-wise), I think I’m stabilizing and getting my creative bearings back. I think. I’m taking it day by day— not promising anybody anything, and taking it easy when I don’t feel productive or in the mood. As someone constantly being told that I inspire people (🤢🤮🤣), I’m not always going to be inspired myself so I don’t want to hold myself to that standard/expectation. Not every creator needs to “maximize” this time to come out with an ecourse or a vlog (though I do have one in the works even before the quarantine started) or an Instagram Live or an ebook (admittedly I was feeling the pressure, initially)— you do you, and don’t apologize for how you’re coping with the pandemic.
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While my initial feeling was “nobody is going to buy art in a recession!”, I also had to remind myself that situations like this don’t last. We always recover. While a non-essential, art will always be there. I can sell paintings much, much later. I also had to remind myself that I don’t even do art solely for money (I used to!) but mainly for my enjoyment, sanity, and well-being. So back to art I go! We can’t all be depressed all at the same time 🤣🤣🤣💖
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Stay sane and stay healthy!

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Reminder: you don’t have to entertain every thought that comes into your head. As soon as you recognize you’re thinking of and spiraling into unpleasantness and it’s affecting your mood, S W I T C H! Actively switch your thoughts and focus on more pleasant or neutral things. Stay in the present. A gentle reminder coming from me........... kasi graduate na ko diyan. Cum laude pa 🙊 Hahahaha. 💖

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

P.S. Available as a phone wallpaper on my IG story/highlights. See my bio 💖

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Forced myself to make something even if I wasn’t really feeling it. I had a lot of orange paint so that’s what I used and a tiger came out. This turned out loose and raw and I kind of like it. Happy Palm Sunday!

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This is seriously the only new art I’ve been able to do since the lockdown started (2 weeks now here in Manila) 🤣 Thought I’d be super productive with my art at first coz I’m soooo used to isolation (hihi) and working from home. But isolation due to personal choice and isolation due to a pandemic is different and has an effect on my ability to produce work. Also, my paints are running low so I’m holding off on painting for now, or will use other media instead :)
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But otherwise, I’m ok! I’ve been on so much of an emotional and spiritual rollercoaster in the months prior to this pandemic so I’m all steady now and taking things as they come, and in stride. Personally, perhaps nauna na akong niyanig ni Lord bago tayong lahat (my stories of faith— or the lack of it— will come out of me eventually, and little by little). I’ve learned I can entrust myself to God no matter what happens, no matter how bad or how bleak things look, and that if you’re with Him, He can and will use everything— E V E R Y T H I N G, even the bad things— and turn it all towards good.
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This drawing of a sun on a Post-It reminds me of these lines, supposedly found written on the walls of a Jewish concentration camp during WWII: “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love, even when there’s no one there. And I believe in God, even when he is silent.”
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Hihi I never plan out my social media posts and captions. I just write whatever and this is what came out :) Anyway. Hold tight, everyone :) there is a lot of good to be found in this world 💖☀️

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Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
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As believers, we are not spared from the trials and hardships of life. They come down on both believers and non-believers alike. The difference is how our faith carries us through. Lean in closer to God today— ask Him to show you how to trust Him 🤗💖🙏🏼
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(Postcard produced from a page from my sketchbook. Padre Pio is one of my favorite saints! He is soooo sassy and bad-ass and awesome 😎)

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It’s exactly 12 midnight here in Manila; an odd for me time to post on my IG. But this old artwork of mine came to mind— reposting for those having trouble sleeping. I used this verse over myself during a time my sleep was troubled. May it be of help to you as well 💖🙏🏼

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#MarchMeetTheMaker - LEARNING CURVE
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I’ve had inquiries about whether I accept custom commissioned work (paintings). I would say that at this point, I don’t. Not yet, and I’m not sure if I will. It’s only been less than a year since I took formal acrylic painting lessons and I’m still learning the medium. Actually, just the other day I unintentionally ruined one of my Mama Mary plates when I over-varnished the painting :/
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I’m also doing small paintings at this point to build up my skills until I work up the courage, confidence, and skill to paint bigger and more expensive hahaha (which is something I have on my career vision board btw). But yeah, at this point I’m not open to commissions ✌🏼😅 Painting is something I do because it’s immensely enjoyable for me and to be commissioned for a custom painting feels like work tbh— clients, demands, revisions, expectations, chasing payments, ughhh— something Ive had enough of for the past 15 years (!!!) in my graphic design/illustration career (sidenote: it’s funny, my artist peers who are around the same age as I am are all sick of custom work [haha] and have taken steps to ensure they get their income from other means— selling merch or premade art or courses and workshops, for example). So that’s where it stands currently, still subject to change haha but for now, let me keep my happy vibes with my paintings and I’ll just sell off whatever I have available :))
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Current work-in-progress painting in photo is an 8x8 in. acrylic painting on a deep edge canvas :)

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Some good vibes for you from my sketchbook 💖 in the midst of all the things happening around us, remember to check yourself— take a deep breath and remember that you’re in control of your own inner disposition.
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And when things are going haywire internally and emotionally, let me share what I do then: I pray for the Holy Spirit for a dose of peace, joy, whatever I need— to “grant me the grace of the right disposition” for whatever situation I’m facing 💖🙏🏼🤗

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#MarchMeetTheMaker - AUTHENTIC SPACE
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I took these photos of my studio way before I knew what the prompt was for Meet the Maker, so that’s as authentic it gets :)) my studio is in my parents’ house in Paranaque, where I live. They had our house constructed in 2012 and there was provision for a studio for me (because my parents reasoned I can turn it into a nursery for my future child, if ever. Hahahahahaha 🙅🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️). I picked blue, red, and white as my studio’s colors when it was time to paint the interiors. Although if you ask me now, I would probably have it repainted to a light gray and white (tumatanda na talaga ako, nagma-mature na) so it’s more neutral and shows off artwork better.
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Anyway, I love it and I love spending time creating in this space 💖

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Latest posts

Feb 03, 2020 Illustrated travel journal: Taiwan
Nov 30, 2019 I spent my Halloween at the adorable Rilakkuma Cafe in Taipei
Nov 07, 2019 Spending my birthday in Taipei

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© 2020 Regina F. Silva