The Bathala Project

Monday, October 11, 2010

Farewell, blogger.

It's been a fun ride, blogger.
But it's time to move on to bigger and better-designed things.
Follow along at The Bathala Project

cyph

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

War of Words

So I was in Chicago last weekend for about, 12 hours. Had the opportunity to meet up with Ms. Abet Speaks, who I met last year at the UIC MAFA Conference, to collaborate on a special spoken word video. Here's a sneak peak of something awesome:



Full piece coming soon. Stay up,

cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Redesigning

Blogger's a tough customer to style with CSS. I really want to give you guys something fun and entertaining to look at, and though the content I generate will tide you over every now and then, the shell of this blog isn't the most welcoming thing...

tbp comp4 copy

But don't worry, it's coming...

Stay up,

cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Translation Tuesday - The J- Sound

Edit 5/5/2010:



CRAP! Actually put out some faulty info in this video, so I'll be busy re-recording. Big ups to @animevenus93, she'll be getting a Baybayin print in the mail for the look out!

What can I say? Vacation took its toll on me... like these sunburns. Hahaha.. heh.. err.. eh.

stay up,

cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Friday, April 30, 2010

Profile shot

mugshotSB2010-copy_300px



What is SB1070? Here's the fact sheet, and here's the commentary...

Stay up,

cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Putula v Futura

2010 workshop attendees will already have received a copy of this, but now the rest of the world may download it for free. My new Baybayin character chart, showcasing my own designed Baybayin font, "Putula":

Click image to download


I designed the font so that it compliments the sans-serif font, Futura:
Baybayin Vs. Futura

web-teaser


I'll soon render the font into a usable TrueType (or maybe Openfont?) Font for all to use soon. If you look at modern Asian magazines, specifically Chinese and Japanese magazines, you'll notice that if they use a serifed roman font, then the accompanying Chinese/Japanese character font will have tail ends as well. Vice versa, if the magazine article is using a sans-serifed roman font, the accompanying character font will have no tail ends. In an effort to modernize Baybayin and proliferate it through graphic design, I feel that it is necessary to design as many contemporary, complimentary fonts as possible, more so than descriptive, fancy fonts. In this way, a designer may be more inclined to use a complimentary Baybayin font in more publicly viewed print/web articles for further visual communication...

Translation Tuesday will be back next week.

Stay up,

cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Bahama Mama


Translation tuesdays are coming back as soon as I get settled over here in L.A. and handle some business.

Stay up!

cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Skillz





Rest In Power, Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal (GURU)


Share/Save/Bookmark

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Goin in

P1100537

The brothas Deep Foundation and Hydroponikz go IN:


Share/Save/Bookmark

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Warriors came out to play

What's your definition of a modern day warrior? There are ways to fight and fend for one's own loved ones, community, and own survival in many different ways than just brute force. I highlighted many individuals that I thought had a warrior spirit in one way or another, be it their dedication to the community, how they approach their careers, or their overall attitude in life.



The Mandirigma (Warrior) piece is a set of three renders: a poster, a desktop wallpaper and a shirt design. Modeled by Stacey Ceylon:


Wallpapers are nice, but I'm a sucker for posters. So I also rendered a 22"x34" poster, which is also available as an 11"x17" poster as well. I'm not sure how I'm going to distribute this... so catch me at FPAC? Or just email me.

Warrior-POSTER-black-frame-WEB600

But why stop at wallpapers and posters? I think it was one of my Estevan Oriol tshirts that really inspired this whole project. So, for the third render, I made a halftone-dot shirt piece too:


Details:

Mock up (no, it wasn't actually printed...):

It's been a while since I posted a piece that I thoroughly worked on, as well as a video piece, so I really wanted to come back with a BANG. And to say "my bad", I put up the Desktop wallpapers for free.99 to download!

Video BG Music - House of Flying Daggers by Raekwon feat. the Wu-Tang Clan

Appearances by: DJ Stimey, L. Scatter Brain, Manila Ryce, Deep Foundation, USC Troy Phi, Shining Sons, Sama-Sama Carson, LUV MC, Bambu, Power Struggle, Stacey Ceylon, and Kyrkland

Stay up,

cyph

Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Virman Commands



I thought you knew...

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Switch up

A change of pace. New piece coming SOON (forreal this time)


Share/Save/Bookmark

Monday, March 29, 2010

Called Out


Share/Save/Bookmark

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Departure

Rest In Peace, Nujabes.

I was never a fan of Michael Jackson, DJ AM, or even James Brown. I don't doubt their legacies, their contribution to music or to their respective cultures, however I simply was never a fan of theirs. Jun Seba, aka Nujabes, was a man I was indeed a fan of. A producer of some of the finest hip-hop inspired instrumentals, most often I found his beats so beautiful that to lace them with lyrics would seem to be an injustice.



Often times as I toil away on the computer on graphic design or Baybayin works, it would usually be the soulful sounds of Nujabes that would keep both my mind and spirit awake and inspired. A native of Japan, his music transcended cultural and language barriers... he was indeed an inspiration.



So, to pay tribute to this man's great works, I wanted to do a couple of renders of my favorite albums of his. The first would be Modal Soul. In this piece, I kept the general color scheme and look of the actual CD album art, and wrote his name, Nujabes, in the center of the piece in Baybayin (Nu-Di-A-Be-S). Click for full size

ModalSoul-copy

Modal Soul was quite dear to me because it was the first album of his I got my hands on. But it was the second album, Departure, that ultimately became my favorite. Nordenx's Baybayin Modern Block font used in this piece to spell out his name. Click for full size

Departure-copy

And the side-by-side comparisons:

Total-compare-copy

I'm not looking to print these out to sell for a buck. Click on them for full resolution and print em out if you're compelled to do so. Just be sure to look up his music if you haven't done so already. Rest In Paradise, Nujabes. Jun Seba is now among the stars he once counted.

~cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Mama said knock you out

Before Manny Pacquiao became a national treasure of the Philippines, another Pilipino pugilist sensationalized the flyweight boxing division all across America. Before the Pac Man’s rise through the weight class championships, there was one undisputed boxer who was known as the greatest fighter of all time that heralded from the Philippines; his name was Francisco “Pancho Villa” Guilledo.

Francisco "Pancho Villa" Guilledo

These days, many Filipinos are proud to feel that they’re being represented by such world class fighters outside of the esoteric Filipino martial arts. Our people are honored as Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria and Brandon Vera enter the ring/octagon, proudly representing their Philippine heritage. However, many new-comers to subscribe to the fighting sport may never have heard of Francisco Guilledo, much like how many Filipinos may never have heard of Baybayin writing either. Francisco Guilledo, born in 1901, blazed the boxing world all across Asia before travelling to the states to compete and dominate. Having died at the age of 23, he left an incredible record of 109 fights, winning 92, and 24 of them by K.O. This short lived star resonates throughout boxing history and is a name highly regarded by boxing aficionados. I wanted to pay tribute to this Filipino fighter for this month’s Mixed Martial Arts theme to not only remember Francisco Guilledo, but to also echo my own sentiments about Baybayin; the Philippine culture is rich in history, and though some may have forgotten certain aspects of it, it’s never too late to look back and find strength through our own culture.

This piece is featured at the Baybayin Online Art Gallery, so be sure to check out the other pieces featured this month. 8x10 prints are available for $40 with frame. Email Bathala1@gmail.com to inquire.

Stay up,

Cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

In case you ever wondered...

Here's the design exploration for this year's MAFA 2010 logo/shirt design. CLICK IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE

Exploration round:
MAFA comps

A double-sided shirt exploration:
MAFA comps

Refinement round. I was really feelin the bamboo idea replacing the laurels...
MAFA Shirt refine1

Final:
MAFA Shirt refine1

Actual:
P1100440

Stay up,

Cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Picture = 1000 Words (estimated)

But first, a video overview:


And now the pictorials. My first taste of Indiana in years...
P1100381

P1100383

P1100385

P1100393

P1100397

P1100409

P1100450

P1100419

P1100485

P1100510

P1100523



P1100529

P1100546

P1100557

P1100565

P1100577

P1100580

P1100601

P1100609

P1100621

Words can't express... so much to say, but I think I'll leave that within the memories of those that were with me.

Stay up,

Cyph

Share/Save/Bookmark

Monday, March 1, 2010

One second...

Thank you to all the MAFA delegates, facilitators, friends and loved ones that came together at IU for the weekend! PICTURES AND VIDEO soon, I promise... and maybe a new Tutorial and project reveal for this week too? Whoa... hah!

Stay up,

Cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Friday, February 26, 2010

Still Alive!



Been RIDICULOUSLY busy this month! Haven't even had the time to post up the pics from SCPASA yet, and in a couple of hours I'll be flying out to Indiana for the MAFA conference! But I PROMISE you all, I'll have some sweet eye candy and that Baybayin stylin' you all know and love for you all soon.

Stay up!

cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Friday, February 19, 2010

Futura Friday

Finally finished a draft version of my first Baybayin font last night/early morning. I'm quite excited to reveal it to you all soon, after I get some critique and polish it up a bit! Here's a sneak peak:

web-teaser

The font was modeled to compliment the capital characters of the font, Futura Book, following the angles, line weights, and counter spacing. The FIRST people to see this will be all workshop attendees at tomorrow's (Saturday) SCPASA workshop! I'll be facilitating a Baybayin workshop/lecture sessions 2 and 3 at USC. Click on the flyer for full details:



Stay up!

Cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Next Level Sh*t

Baybayin Vs. Futura

Baybayin Vs. Futura

Stay up,

Cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Westside Writings

Apologies for not having updated in a while; this month has been RIDICULOUSLY busy, and unfortunately I can't even tell you some of the reasons why... yet... but just know that everything is moving.

Now for the main point. IF YOU'RE IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA or plan to be this weekend, you can catch me live at the SCPASA conference at USC, facilitating my classic Baybayin Writer's workshop! Click here for more info


Stay up,

Cyph

Share/Save/Bookmark

Monday, January 25, 2010

In other news...

Print

mahal1

Untitled-1

Stay up,

Cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Monday, January 18, 2010

On freedom and such things...

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day! A year or two back, the illest hiphop vlogger on the planet, JSmooth the Illdoctrine, chimed in on a couple of MLK's knowledge droppings. Check:



Stay up,

~cyph
Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Translation "Tuesday": 2010

A late Translation Tuesday due to Youtube hating on a brotha... but anyways, happy new year! In this week's special first-of-the-year episode, I bring to you another translation and art-making episode! Today we translate "2010", which in Tagalog reads, "Dalawang Libo't Sampu"; the word "Taon" (Years) is added after to denote years. The reason why 2010 gets translated is because Christian Cabuay, who runs many of the google-popular Baybayin websites, opened the first Baybayin online art gallery, featuring many of your favorite Baybayin artists that you know and love:


As you can see from the flyer, the theme for the very first online gallery is "2010"; how one interprets 2010, and what one expects of it. So, taking a step back from design-communication, I thought I'd take a crack at fine art interpretation...



Essentially, I've experienced a rapid growth of the Baybayin community within the last year; Baybayin writers coming together, acknowledging each other, collaborating, and the word is spreading quickly. Sure, it's still (for lack of a better term) "underground" for now, but we're quickly expanding. I think that in this new decade, the Baybayin community will only grow faster, and essentially begin to blossom:

A Decade's Blossom

The Baybayin characters, which spell out "2010" (Dalawang Libo't Sampu) are spread out like roots and vines; extensions are drawn out of them, like leaves and branches extending and reaching out. I illustrated Sampaguita flowers (the national flower of the Philippines) to express my idea of the Baybayin community "blossoming" all about. Also, I wanted this printed piece to resemble a vintage print poster. I'm thinking, a Victorian-era retro Asian poster print. The reason why is because I always thought of Baybayin art as immediately becoming anachronistic once someone brings it into any time frame context outside of it's own, since it is an ancient writing system. Asia has been of the early adapters of poster printing, and I wanted to resonate that look in it's modern-day message; a play on the times, a decade's blossom.

Stay up,

Cyph

P.S. As seen in the end of the video, this piece was made for print. 11x14 prints WILL BE AVAILABLE only at the upcoming Baybayin Art gallery exhibition in February...
Share/Save/Bookmark