Developing Spiritual Intelligence with Artistic Creativity

My art is a freestyle journey of spirit and color. As a self-taught artist, I let intuition guide my brush—each piece reflecting a blend of imagination, mindfulness, and deeper meaning.

"Na ka ‘uhane e alaka‘i i ka penikala pena."
(It is the spirit that guides the paintbrush.)

Being an artist at heart and a designer by trade, there is a clear distinction between the two roles. Artistic creation involves making aesthetically pleasing pieces while working as a designer, which consists of producing drawings that effectively communicate specific messages to the viewer. The difference between art and design is evident in the realm of engineering graphics, where creating engineering documents as a CAD specialist is a scientific process. Engineering design is about precise communication, whereas art is a personal expression.

 I'm always exploring new ideas in my art, drawing inspiration from abstract painting, pop culture, and contemporary art. Abstract painting lets me be creative and think deeply, while pop art adds a fun and playful element to my work. I aim to bring these qualities and influences to the people who see my art and have fun with them. I'm always looking to create something fresh, unique, and thought-provoking and to share it with everyone. When I finish a piece, it's a unique mix utterly different from where I began. 

So how can you create art that inspires out-of-box thinking yet be your style? What kind of message do you want to project to the viewer? I think the answer is too abstract subjectivity in your art. It may sound oxymoronic, but I believe capturing your raw expression means conjuring up your subject matter in a metaphysical way. Transcend your creativity to another level and design what feels right in your heart. Create art that mirrors your personality of you as the artist. A plan that stimulates the imagination and promotes the critical thought process. 

Raw expression, just like Star Trek, is to go where no one has gone before, hahaha. And have fun, of course, doing it.

I often say that Design is not artistic. What I mean by that is that Design is responsible for the building structure of the Artwork. Design is the construction tool that shapes an artist's unique style and technique. This comes from a guy who has worked as a Technical Designer for 40 years in Silicon Valley. 

As a noun, Design is the building structure of art development. 

As a verb, Design is the construction of styles and techniques. 

Design is the innovative system that defines an artist. It's what ties everything together. For instance, the Design of the painting shows the structure with blocks of images. The artist then uses techniques to add colors and shapes within these blocks, creating a unique style of Art. Throughout, it's the Design that guides and shapes the process.

The initiation phase is the most exhilarating and challenging part of the design process. It is where the artist's vision starts taking shape, and the canvas comes alive with the initial strokes of Design, ultimately leading to the creation of Art.

Throughout elementary school, I had a habit of doodling on various surfaces, which often got me into trouble. However, this habit inadvertently improved my hand-eye coordination and sparked my interest in realistic drawing. After high school, I pursued a career in the US Navy as a jet mechanic, but I quickly realized it wasn't the right fit. Despite excelling on advancement tests and reaching the rank of E5 within three years, I knew I needed to find a different career path.

I came across a jet engine assembly book in the Navy filled with illustrated parts breakdowns. I became fascinated by the drawings, knowing I could draw them. I enrolled in drafting classes at the community college and eventually secured a job as a drafter in Silicon Valley in the early 1980s. In my experience, integrating artistic elements into mechanical engineering drawings was impractical. Consequently, I had to shift my focus to engineering graphics communications and set aside my artistic ambitions to keep my job. 

. "So with every manufactured thing I see, I imagine drawings morphically emerging from them." I was conditioned to look at design as an engineering communication structure. There was nothing aesthetically artistic about it. 

Haley Joel Osment from the movie "The Sixth Sense" (1999) when he mentions "I see dead people."

I've been proficient in computer literacy for over four decades. It never occurred to me that my extensive experience with programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and various engineering CAD software could be used for creating personal artwork. My familiarity with these programs allowed me to experiment and explore new design styles and techniques beyond my regular work.

Exploring digital art after years of professional work is like a musician retiring from performing and discovering a newfound passion for composing their own music. Both scenarios represent a beautiful transition from professional expertise to personal creativity and self-expression.

The potential for where this passion could lead me knows no bounds, and I'm thrilled to discover just how far I can go.

 Go to my Pinterest page to view samples of my work.   

In the layer column example, each individual piece of artwork is assigned its own layer. This approach enables you to adjust the position of each piece of artwork relative to others, move them forward or backward, and customize them to achieve the exact results you want.

As I gazed out at the vast open fields of Silicon Valley's Golden Triangle, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The wild mustard plants that once flourished in these fields grew rampant, swaying in the gentle breeze like a joyful dance. It was here, amidst this breathtaking scenery, that I spent my childhood days running and playing with my friends. But now, the landscape has transformed beyond recognition, with towering tech companies and luxurious hotels replacing the once-peaceful fields. The area, nestled between highways 101, 880, and Interstate 237, has become a bustling hub of commercial activity, a far cry from the idyllic playground of my childhood.

Ah, the early 60s - a time when the world was different and full of life. It was a time when these plants grew everywhere before the towering tech companies took over. I still remember seeing Italian people picking these plants, and it reminded me of a similar plant that grew wildly back in my home countryside. The Italians were the first to teach us the intricate techniques of harvesting these delectable mustard greens, with their vibrant green leaves and crisp texture. Over time, the Asians quickly caught on and learned to expertly pluck and prepare these greens, unlocking their full potential and creating dishes that are a true delight for the senses.

As you venture through Silicon Valley, keep an eye out for the mustard plants scattered throughout the area. These hardy plants can flourish in unexpected places, like the pavement crevices or the unattended spaces between buildings. What's truly remarkable is that these mustard plants are native to this region and have been thriving here for many years, even before the tech industry arrived and transformed the landscape.

At our home in Silicon Valley, my dad used to grow vegetables in the backyard. I believe he must have loved to grow vegetables and fruit trees from working as a farmhand in Hawaii and California. He would grow bitter melon, string beans, eggplants, tomatoes, tabungaw and upo squash, and other varieties every year. Back then, they didn’t have Asian supermarkets. Many vegetables for Filipino dishes were unavailable, so they grew their own and traded with other friends and relatives.
 

The Tomato Monster
I have fond memories of these tomato hornworms. They were the baddest creatures in the backyard garden; no one messed with them. I would collect them and save them in a jar for caterpillar gladiator fights. I would put a black hairy caterpillar in the pot, and the hornworm would always win. These tomato monsters can grow to a massive four inches long before they turn into a dull giant brown moth.