Hello, fellow Hivers!

What have you been up to this weekend? Well here, it has rained heavily. No wonder, according to the news, a tropical depression outside PAR (<em>Philippine Area of Responsibility</em>) is triggering this <em>"bed"</em> weather in the Luzon area. Oh, I mean bad weather. The chilly wind blows together with the pitter-patter sound of raindrops falling on the rooftop were dragging my feet to the bed. I was torn between having a lazy afternoon nap or picking up my paintbrush to paint. I'm glad I chose the latter. 



![IMG_20220731_155856.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EpA2XPTJUc6DciBzddzmXBF1NgymB6mtUKfensfWjQYeMjyvZWLnHSTLahN4R1vLS4w.jpg)

I guess the <em>Bob Ross</em>-inspired artistic part in me shouts louder so I was kinda motivated to make some piece of art today because I always find comfort in painting. I have always been into traditional art, I mean painting on the physical canvas, and getting into digital arts or trying even one is something that would be the least I imagine myself doing. Maybe it's because I am not that type of techy person, I guess it comes with age 😅, so I don't find it interested. I mean the process of making art, from clicking this command to this command, is giving me hard time to figure out. Well maybe because of my lack of interest, that's why it is not my thing. But when it comes to the finished product, I am amazed by those fabulous talents all put upon the digital screen.

So here we go, it would be my pleasure to show you what has been keeping me busy today. My hand-painted canvas bags, and my colorful messy hands as well.

And since I'm not into digital arts, so I am always excited about preparing my physical art materials.


<b>My favorite medium - acrylic paints.</b>


![IMG_20220731_180101.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EoAcDTSXR69bjmWS1tjynfuDSpWkoDUZG6dqE2fEUTWiFvNA5e7gRDysLaLGyiYs6oy.jpg)
<sub> I almost run out of tube acrylic paints bought from the art store and I am now switching to acrylic paints I bought from the hardware. They are way cheaper.😁 </sub>



<b>My paint brushes and spatulas palette.</b>

![IMG_20220731_180029.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EpT5EmAPXhmkxkah4C3cJDp3yfRe6XkvbLnNinWwEokSBJeeBNAkmTY3mQmpDuUHuJ9.jpg)
<sub> And of course my PLATE, I mean my PALETTE. 😅 </sub>



<b>The plain tote canvas bags.</b>


![IMG_20220731_180432.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EoChhv7PJpQpBzjZQAMhrEdoyUy14QjgBS6ax2nBQ4hDzpu8ckpiWui5i6syW7Bj4SZ.jpg)
<sub> Staring at them makes me excited to add aesthetics to their looks. ☺️ </sub>

It has been 9 months since I last painted because I got myself busy as a first-time mom, so I realized, as I started mixing the color paints, how I missed painting. 


![IMG_20220731_200627.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EoK7FTMN8NUVisdNnDECuB1oAAhbyhUWfyEPPKb7CC2cXwB1tp6uQvhbpyKDfmKUPXj.jpg)

I found myself smiling as I started to sketch the figure to be painted. I have imagined already what it would look like. I cannot wait to see it done.


![IMG_20220731_200734.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EoEq77Wc2w6xeMgsyCY76nC1y4Hy2iWUCy9aaJ5R9BoHmtdf1KJYZB2ohKFVZxprFww.jpg)


![IMG_20220731_200750.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EoptNtcXEpCR2acrjeVA1VaySkXATvL38WxFSE9jmjm9kXSazfXkbYnvuUvMTkvfMNu.jpg)

My favorite part of the painting is highlighting the color, which I think is the one that gives life to the painting. Either darkening or lighting up some portions, would make a big impact on its looks. From being a boring plain-colored image, it is a mixed-colored art subject now, my very own version of "masterpiece".


![IMG_20220731_204543.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/23vi21JzeDUfsT8pNjLFxEe1sR1hCEW2rSjbm9fPH2JBCRG2LAPxMCrdde6qJJVRUwbzK.jpg)

My heart was cheering as I look at what I have just finished but wait...I guess something is still missing. So I added some shadow and water droplets to the leaves to make it more realistic. Hmmm...does it looks like one?


![IMG_20220731_200852.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/23wqfx9J6bphLNN32xF4KSnXNBQFYjF2aryApcpjZ9tXgJn9kn4GHhz5BJ9mMHqbH5g4g.jpg)

I added a pink background to it to make it more girly. I hope it perfectly matches with the <em>monstera</em> leaves and let's call it done.

But I am not yet done with painting another bag. I guess this weekend's rain has fueled up my hands to paint more bags. So I got another plain canvas bag and I thought to paint some flowers with leaves this time. As always, the flower is my favorite subject to paint. And I will never get tired of doing it.


![IMG20220731105306.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/EoeFr6D11rJDgEh9PiRPhA5hdC1XaEsA3fWbVUfz7bkEfeYzxrD6WN6GkhuDDghoUoX.jpg)

This one is more colorful so I was even happier. 

![IMG20220731155813.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/Eo8RTrjtVDekzKGXJC7TtnRub2eQtjgwgXrdGjapS5y8X7fsUCu2RLBU7Pso1yzEYB1.jpg)

And I thought of adding a black background to it, so to highlight the image more. And when I added some touch of light and dark highlights to it, their you go, it's also done. I was very happy. 

For this weekend, I did two bag paintings which made my "me time" a colorful one and made me feel like I was never alone. I have found my happy trigger in getting my hands messed up with the paints and I love how it stained my fingers. This is a beautiful mess.


![IMG_20220731_212254.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/23xL2zsMkQm97g2ixQgxiHP1VDxatjmh1oiuefehpEXDifLuab6zNLnyvV7uT2tWSHy4t.jpg)

<sub> I guess they would look better on someone else's shoulder.😊 </sub>

Getting my hands messy today means creating something beautiful and I always look forward to the weekend because it's my rest day after a 6-day stressful work week. And rest-day to me means reconnecting with my artistic soul within, as my way to recharge. I want to make good use of it so I don't usually let weekend idly pass by. I always make sure to make something productive on weekdays <em>(if I am not traveling)</em> and it is by indulging myself in painting. 


![IMG_20220731_212613.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/labanez/23vsGJK3UGoHeJNY4utrdtWxomyxGDnDQHRbrhR1Jf3TSHQAc1SfAZhr3nHRuKtfvcsvG.jpg)
<sub> A mandatory artist-selfie. 😅 </sub>

Thank you Hivers for spending a pinch of your time in taking a glimpse at what I have done earlier today. I'll be painting more for the many more weekends to come. Have a great and colorful week ahead everyone!