Written by My name is Silver Marie C. Brodit and I’m from the Philippines (follow me on Instagram!). I was born into a family of multi-tasking artists so I was always surrounded by people making stuff from paintings, to toys, to buildings, to the details of human anatomy. Naturally, it’s a cause of great sadness when I compare my work to those older than me. Something all artists need to learn: NEVER COMPARE yourself to another… I’ve read once that the only person you must be better than was the ‘you’ from yesterday. They speak the truth.
Currently, I am a BS Biology graduate and now I have a very peculiar job. I’m a lyrics proofreader… yes, I get paid to listen to songs and check if the lyrics for the karaoke machine are correct.
For my materials, I use anything and everything. In an old series called “Are you afraid of the dark?” there was an art episode where the villain said something like: “Inspiration comes from the artist, not the tools.” and forces the artists to use only ONE brush per painting.
I kind of believed then that if you’re an artist, you can and MUST adjust to anything you’ve been given. As you can see from the pics: the butterfly, I used ten-year old left over DONG-A watercolor paint (I remember saving money to buy the 24 tube set when I was in high school. I never finished them and still use them today.) I also like doodling on receipts… sometimes I leave it at the restaurant or cafe with a ‘thank you’ on it. It’s only recently that I’ve learned about the ‘proper’ materials depending on your chosen medium, but as long as I’ve got a pencil and a piece of paper, (and the villain saying her line from that episode) I’m good!
As for my creative process, I made a doodlewash of this especially for this feature:
Mainly my policy is from lightest to darkest. So pencil first, then ink, then paint. Sometimes it’s ink before paint. Sometimes I stop at pencil or at ink. Sometimes just paint and be done with it. The combinations are endless. But yeah, lighter paints first then darker paints over it. That’s how I usually layer my colors.
When I sketch things, it doesn’t matter where I start. But when it comes to portraits (including animals) I always start with the eyes… if I can get the eyes as close to the actual person’s eyes, then it seems as I’ve captured the soul and even if you mess up the other features, people will say it looks like that person (true story!)
My inspiration comes from everything and everyone. I like drawing family, friends, pets, nature. My goal would be to draw the world inside my head where all the characters of my stories live.
About “Be-YOU-tiful”… I’m a bit of an anti-social, and I approach this feature with caution. I’m very eccentric, melancholic and mildly depressed (maybe even schizophrenic)… or I just have a very WILD imagination. I like all kinds of books, all kinds of music and all kinds of art.
I have multiple personalities. I’m a writer in all forms: news, essays, poetry, novels and even chords and lyrics. That being said, I have a problem with coherence; and “themes” freak me out since I’m being pulled a hundred different ways and won’t be able to stick to them as much as I’d like. But it’s not a bad thing, either. I’m crazy, weird, multi-faceted me.
And it shows in my works. I’m never sure if I want to paint an anime/cartoon piece (see receipt picture) or a realistic piece (the butterfly); if I should use the actual colors I’m seeing or colors I think would be better (my cousin and his girlfriend); do I use one medium in different ways or a lot of media in the same way?… and I so, end up with a combination of all this push-and-pull.
It doesn’t always work, visually, but it always works emotionally/mentally as I embrace ALL of who I am. So, to all the artists who have taken the time to read my “attempt at order” introduction of myself, I’d like to say: just be YOU, best or worst, just make sure your works are YOU; because you are beautiful!
Silver Marie C. Brodit
Instagram – @smbrodit
Dear Silver Marie, it looks to me like you are having so much fun with your art. I like your attitude and love for art.
Thank you Charlie!
Thanks so much Sharon!! 💕😃
Dear Sharon, I am having fun 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to read this!
Love that butterfly! So neat to leave doodles on receipts 🙂
Glad you liked the feature Nicole! Thanks so much for commenting! 😃
The greek word for butterfly and soul is the same: Psyche… They are such inspiring creatures! Thank you for reading. And thank you for liking the receipt! I’m happy a lot of the comments are about them 🙂
Was going to pick the butterfly as my “favorite” but took another look at the couple. And then the receipt! Incredible.
So glad you liked these Marcus! 😃
Thank you so much!
My favorite is the receipt! What a thoughtful gesture! It’s difficult not to compare with others, but you are right, every time I draw I see a small improvement and that’s what should matter’ will look in IG!
Yay!! Thanks Kari!! 😉💕
Wow! A lot are commenting on the receipt 🙂 thank you so much!
Loved to “meet” you Silver Marie !
Thank you Charlie 🙂
You’re so welcome!! Glad you liked Silver’s feature! 😃
Thank you for taking the time to read this! 🙂 I’d be honored to meet another artist 🙂
I always start with the eyes too. Love the portrait, and the variety. (K)
Thanks Kerfe!! Happy you liked Silver’s work!
Thank you! Yes, I realized how true the saying “the eyes are the windows of the soul” was since I began portraits.
I love that – only compare yourself to you from yesterday. So easy to compare ourselves to everyone else. Love this reminder! Love your butterflies!
Thanks so much for commenting, Eileen! Glad you liked Silver’s feature!😃
Thank you so much! As for comparisons, I do take small doses of them 🙂 when I was a child I’d copy whatever my older cousins/uncles were drawing. I’d have this small table next to their big ones. Learning thru imitation was something I did a lot of and enjoyed until I thought theirs would be better… That’s when I knew I had to stop comparing
Beautiful images and wonderful philosophy/attitude about life and art. Adore the the “receipt art”… what a great idea and such a lovely way to say ‘thank you’…Fantastic feature post, thank you for introducing us to such a talented artist.
Yay! So happy you liked Silver’s feature!
Thank you so much for reading my story! And for liking the receipt art. I spend a lot of time in cafes and restaurants (I’m always hungry XP) and I appreciate all those in this field of work for their patience and tolerance. Aside from always smiling at them, I like leaving these pieces of art for whatever they may be worth to them.
It is a lovely thing to do and your art on the receipt is great.
Thank you so much, everyone! Special thanks to Charlie for inviting me to be a guest of doodlewash! It has been such an honor!