Fun fact: Although I’m not a morning person, I love this time of day when the sun is about to rise. It also happens just after sunset, which I adore. And I just found out that it’s called blue hour!
When we find the specific word for our favorite things, our feelings, and our situations, it grounds us to a deeper level of understanding, awe, and relief. It’s like being able to associate a face with a name we know, or a patient finally hearing the diagnosis after a series of tests. Words provide concreteness and clarity.
Let me ask you. What do you see in this drawing?
What if I told you that this was the house where my mother, and eventually my sister and I, grew up?
As a typical Filipino family, our home consists of an extended family— our family of four, my aunt’s family of three, my other aunt and uncle; and the most important of all, my beautiful lola (grandmother).
Lola Naty owns and runs the sari-sari store on the ground floor. Located at the corner of the street, it has earned a lot of patrons from our area.
“Sari-sari” means “variety” in English, and it’s a store that has everything the community needs — from essentials like food to non-essentials like toys.
Every day, except Sundays, Lola Naty would wake up before sunrise to prepare for opening. Clang, clang, she would take out the metal rods used to secure the big doors. All the while, the radio newscaster’s deep voice can be heard from the kitchen.
Soon, blue hour ends and people start calling from outside to buy — Pabili po!
Lola Naty (together with my aunt) becomes busy attending to their patrons. And I go to school.
✨ A core memory of this wonderful house. ✨
Did it make a difference knowing what’s behind the art?
As an artist, I’m learning the significant — if not vital — role of storytelling in words when it comes to showing our creations. Explaining the art, or rather sharing our inspiration behind it, invites people to join us in our intimate space in hopes that our works resonate with them.
Words give our viewers a new perspective on how to look at our art. The backstories allow for better appreciation and value. Because, in truth, we leave a piece of ourselves in everything we do. And it can be missed unless told.
🌻 Join me on my first drawing prompt:
Hello @Claire Venus - As you said, I thought of a person when I wrote my last three newsletters. One I know offline and one I know online. I’ll get the hang of it. 😁 Thank you for the tip! 🫶