Cramming Art

A dead angel – wings crimson with blood; you can see the darkness beyond; the jealous angel descending after the murder; all in charcoal except the blood; a reference for the dead angel’s face; and 12 by 18 paper.

Hours before the 10 pm deadline I was still conceptualizing the images I would draw. My body was still exhausted from the trip from Quiapo – hands trembling. I can feel the pencil in my hand but I can’t seem to start what I thought about. My friend, who is also joining the contest, started his painting days ago. I was just cramming it all up. But winning is not really my intention. I just want my work to be posted as one of the art works inspired by the work of Neil Gaiman.

Neil was introduced to me by a friend through his book, Smokes and Mirrors. I was thrown away by how he altered my usual notions of angels in his short story Murder Mysteries. I was inspired by the work. When a classmate gave me a flier of the Neil Gaiman Art competition I was certain to join. Alas! I had no time to do the artwork. When at last I withdrew the hope that I was to finish a drawing in time, my friend persuaded me to draw something just for the fun of it.

We both finished in time for the deadline with much running, phone calls to Fully booked and sweat.