Sans Computers

I can't believe that I spent almost 20 years dealing with computers (6 years in undergrad, grad and work). I now can't stand them, even Apples--I used to worship and collect them. I started in the late 80's using Apples for graphic design. Then I ventured in multimedia (still using primarily Mac's) and special effects (mostly Silicon Graphics machines for this stage). And then of course the web. I thought that I enjoyed myself in the design/animation/web computer world. But looking back at it now... It was more of a love/hate relationship. Love because I really liked the instant gratification aspect of computer generated work. Just think of the wonders of Photoshop. It's relatively easy to use and you get to see your creations instantly. The hate part is the fixing. I found myself troubleshooting half of the time. I find that dealing with the quirks of the computer or the learning curve of software just take away from creativity. I know that some people actually savor this aspect of the trade (God bless their souls because we need them), but not me...

You might ask what does this have to do with Filipino design aesthetics? I say a lot. I began re-examining my relationship with computers the same time as I started my research on Filipino design aesthetics. The more I realize that most of our culture's art and design work are still hands-on, the more I became less computer dependent when it came to my creative projects. I started to draw and paint more by hand as I study Filipino crafts work (textiles, pottery, etc.). I also began to crave real textures vs. virtually creating them via the computer screen. Hence I began to paint bolder and thicker strokes with my acrylic paints. One of the things that finally made me abandon the computer is the fact that I never mastered drawing with the mouse or tablet. I can't even begin to tell you how liberating it is to illustrate by hand again. I feel like I have been freed from a very long prison sentence. This may seem so basic but after almost two decades of being convinced that most creative solutions come from computers... Well, one might just stay in cyberspace.

So thanks to my research in Filipino design aesthetics, I am now spending less time creating art via computer. And because of this, I am enjoying my work more. It goes beyond that... I love what I am doing now! I use to say this when I was in computer graphics but I think that I was just trying to convince myself--spending seven years in college will make you do this (just think about the student loans). Yep, I am being true to what I am saying. A year ago, I had seven Mac's in my studio. Now I only have two. I had to make more space for me to paint. Bye computers...