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Planting the Seed of Bookarts in the Philippines

This is a good beginning for bookarts in the Philippines where there are now a few practitioners with the craft surfacing. I know aside from me, there are a few others from the North and South of Luzon. 

I am very much looking forward to meeting a few of them as well.

Here's news from inewswire about my solo show this coming September 25 at the Big Room of Art informal.

A Bold New Genre: First Bookarts Solo Show Opens in the Philippines

Aside from my solo show, I was also included at the Met Open where there were 200 artworks exhibited for the benefit of the Met's art program. 5 curators were the one who chose the artworks submitted and what I liked about the application process was that they don't need your resume or cv, they just need to see your work. The reception is on the 20th but will open to the public on the 21st. I have submitted a bookart piece enclosed in wood and glass, protecting 3 hanging bound books and one at the bottom for a total of 4 bound books within. Sadly, I do not have a photo of the artwork but I will surely take a photo of it when it is at the Met Museum, the lighting will definitely give it a different feel.

And I also joined an art fair on the 25th at the National Art Fair in the Megamall Megatrade Halls. It seems that this month is truly a busy and spectacular month. I'm hoping to keep this up but working as a full time artist can take its toll since the financial income is not stable. The only way I could get by is to be very frugal and really spend on things that are necessary, I am not capable of appeasing my luxuries very much but I know I must tighten my belt.
I am happy for the support that I get from family and friends as I tread this path.

Audaces Fortuna Iuvat

Veronica Laurel with Kasibulan at the National Art Fair

Ornamental Study 2
6.5x4.5x1.25"
Hand bound book with carved wooden cover
2014

Ornamental Study 2 in Tanguili
6.5x4.5x1.25"
Hand bound book with carved wooden cover
2014

Endless Knot
6.5x4.5x1.25"
Hand bound book with carved wooden cover
2014

Mahogany Blank
6.5x4.5x1.25"
Hand bound book with carved wooden cover
2014

Mahogany Blank
6.5x4.5x1.25"
Hand bound book with carved wooden cover
2014

Mahogany Blank
6.5x4.5x1.25"
Hand bound book with carved wooden cover
2014

Veronica Laurel's blank book collection with carved wooden covers is one of the unique works among hundreds of artworks available at the National Art Fair held at the SM Megamall Megatrade halls 1 & 2 on September 26 to 28.
Her  wooden carved book collection for this event has eclectic designs that were created during the period of her stay in Buddhist temples in the Philippines and Taiwan. Other designs include the portrait of a serene Buddha on the cover and lotus flowers. The paper she used is very smooth and has  a velvety surface that is also friendly with fountain pens.

Her works can be found in the Kasibulan Booth, a group of women's artists that also has different artworks on sale such as paintings, sculpture, literary works like books, and others.
Kasibulan will also be relaunching Baidy Mendoza's book "Labrador" at the center stage on the 27th of September, hosted by writer Bebang Sy.

A Bold New Genre: First Book Arts Solo Exhibition Opens in the Philippines

Mandaluyong City - Book artist Veronica Laurel opens her debut solo exhibition titled "Beautifully Damned" on September 25 at the Big Room in Art Informal Gallery. An exhibition depicting the fragile human condition through a fusion of book arts and wooden sculptures.

Veronica Laurel presents bookarts as a new genre in the Philippine Contemporary Art with her show. Her first exhibition is a brave introduction and promising beginning for bookarts as a vital genre in the Philippine art scene.

Laurel's work delves into the complicated state of the human condition in its chaotic frustrations and fragile undertakings. Under the discipline of bookarts, it opens up new possibilities in the local contemporary art scene as it is a new and an exciting genre that has flourished in North America and Europe.

Beautifully Damned as a solo show is a portraiture of human emotions and conditions through sculptural bookart forms, the raw and genuine spirit covered up by society's demanded pretensions.

In her artworks are the three main elements that play a huge role in its construction such as paper, wood, and glass. She uses book arts to carry out the essence of the artwork then wood and glass as the vessel, similar to have a body and a soul. The Philippine art industry has many talented artists often falling under traditional disciplines. Veronica Laurel as an artist dares to add a new genre in Philippine contemporary art that can compete internationally.

Book arts has been a growing movement globally with more and more practitioners each year and a wide audience but has yet to be grasped in South East Asia.

Veronica Laurel is a book artist based in Sta Rosa city. She studied book binding on her own and learned wood carving in Paete, Laguna. Growing up in a family of carpenters, she developed skills in working with wood.
She has exhibited across manila in group exhibitions at venues such as the Ayala Museum, The Tower Club, Blot Art Studio, among others.

Find out more about her in her website: www.veronicalaurel.com

Address to Art Informal
277 Connecticut St. Mandaluyong City. Near Greenhills.
Click here for the Map

New Veronica Laurel Website Up!

Finally took my site out of Wix.com, I found a better and easier way of getting an artist site that is simple and fast, that also has a functional mobile site.

www.veronicalaurel.com

I'm still yet to update the Solo Exhibition page because I don't have the official invite photo from the gallery and I'm a bit lazy to come up of my own. Though I am pretty excited about the show.

Happy to be updating the new site in an easier and faster way than the old one. Goodbye Flash and goodbye wix!

I Don't See Dead People

There is certain difficulty in organizing oneself to see another person at a specific location nowadays. 

Recently, friends I haven't seen in years, let alone heard from suddenly dropped lines and dared to say hello. Though the friendship is not dead, it just didn't occur to me to message them about anything. Life for each of us have separated, leading to different places.

These people have asked to meet or see each other over tea or  alcohol. I obliged, like the good friend I was. The thing is, these people would set the date and initiative to meet yet cancel on the day itself or the day before. Some ask to meet for some reason but would never really set the time to. How come friends don't even know how to keep their words anymore. Maybe that's why I don't see them anymore.

There was a friend of mine who contacted me out of the blue to borrow  money. She said that bills are piling up and that their electricity will get the cut, that they got short of cash because their grandma was taken to the hospital. 

This is a person who live with her girlfriend and both have work. I on the other hand, is an artist living as frugal as possible but I'm not squandering to get money to pay my bills. I have to thank our ancestral house for that. 

I have long decided to carefully select the friends to see. I realized I don't need a lot of friends but a few good quality ones are enough. 

I have also been picky with messages to respond to. I think I am too articulate that I couldn't find the words to respond to "Hey" or "Howdy". I think responding with how my week went is an overwhelming response. I decided to just leave messages like that alone and lonely. 

Also because these one word messages come from people who would respond to "Hello" after four days of sending the message. Maybe after a year we would have conversed a full sentence. It just defeats the convenience of instant messengers when responses aren't instant. Words become food left out to rot.

These people have died to me, they die when I no longer hear their voices or see even their shadows. And I too perhaps die to them. I should be summoned with a Ouija board if they wish to communicate.

I'm glad to have friends who are easy to talk to. Who fulfill their words, or calls to cancel a meeting. I'm glad to have those few friends who have kept their common decency. I love those friends who are never too busy to see me, or let me crash in their place. Who make time to just hang out despite busy schedules.

How to Register as an Artist with BIR

Artists who are serious and are climbing up their careers need to provide receipts for every artwork that is sold or services provided. Those who are no longer "Just Dabbling" in art and is taking a more professional approach should register. Here are instructions on how to register yourself and become a legitimate artist in the RP. I'm cutting the sweet talk on why you need this as an artist, these are the things that an artist should know already. Yes, if we earn through our art, we need to pay taxes as good citizens. Otherwise if we become famous, the BIR will be on our asses.

What you need:
* A registered tin number. If you don't have one, click the link.
* P500 Registration fee. (To be quick, don't wait til you're at your BIR branch to pay. See below)
* Copy of Birth Certificate (NSO)
* BIR 1901 Form (2 Copies, Fill them up.) Download them here Part I and Part II.
* 605 Payment Form (Bring the original (1) and photo copy them, twice (2)) Download here.
* Proof of address (Ex: Meralco Bill, Internet Bill, etc.)
* Photocopy of a valid ID with signature and date of birth. (Ex: SSS card, Postal ID, Driver's License,            Passport)
*** Printer's I906 form (Application for Authority to Print Receipts and Invoices)
       Provided by your printer. See below for more info on this one.
       * Sample Receipt ( Just one is enough )
* 2 Columnar Books, 1 Ledger, 1 Linear Journal (Depends on your RDO, but at least buy one                 Columnar book in school supply stores upon coming to the BIR office, they normally sell them there but buying before hand saves you time.) I was only required the Columnar book, nothing more.

* If married (Marriage Certificate copy and birth certificates of dependents if any)

X No need for DTI. If they asked then tell them you are registering as an individual, self-employed, professional.


***The 1906 form is nothing to worry about, but it should be something you already have before heading out to the BIR office. If you submit everything above, then it's possible to finish registering within the day in one sitting with the BIR officer. This is how you save time and seize the day, and perhaps have the good part of the afternoon to celebrate with a snack.
By that, I mean before scheduling to go to the BIR office in your area, you should have downloaded the 1901 form, filled them up and visited a printer's office or shop. They would need your 1901 form so it's important you already have it by then.

Sample Receipt
If you have a logo, it would be best to bring it and give the file to the printer. Since you are already there at the Printer's office, ask whether you need Vat or Non-Vat, OR or SI. Explain your situation clearly.
There are templates and sizes of receipts to choose from and an option to place your logo wherever on the receipt. Make it look cool.

Going to a printer before hand saves you time and money because if you fail to go to one and went ahead to the office, they will refer a printer that will charge you twice the amount you'd have paid for. Printers are called IMPRENTA for locals.

Once everything is settled, the printer will give you the 1906 form with your 1901 attached and of course, the Sample receipt. Printing for the receipts will depend on how many you want to be printed. Mine was 10 books and it took three days from date of registration. I gave a down payment but it's not necessary. I was just allocating my budget that way. The printer owner was also a good friend of my dad, they were childhood friends so I got a huge discount.

PAYING FOR THE REGISTRATION FEE
Can be done on the same day you visited the printer, before or afterwards. Either way is your choice.

BANK
It's very simple and hassle free when paying with banks. That's the easiest right now. I paid with Land Bank but there are other banks where you can also pay for your P500 registration fee. Ask the bank to be sure.
When paying, don't forget to bring the 605 Payment Form you downloaded and printed. It is a requirement when paying with banks.

GCASH
GCASH is also available, I used it to pay for my DTI before but you should have a GCASH account. I chose the bank payment instead even if I have a GCASH account simply because I would have to go to a GCASH center to deposit P500 then send a text message to pay. It's pretty much the same as paying in the bank and the bank was nearer my house. Here's the link to GCASH payments.

BIR eFPS or Electronic Filing Payment System
Here's the link. I found it slow and painful. Never got past the enrollment process but worth a try because you can also pay taxes through here.

After this, you will get your payment receipt. Don't lose it. It's good to be organized with all these papers.
You are pretty much good to go to your BIR office.

At the BIR Office
You will be paying for the following in the office:
Document Stamp P15 (For the COR)
Columnar Book, Ledger, Linear Journal. From P45 to P150. Depends on what will be required to be purchased but the Columnar Book is a good bet.

*You may also apply for a Tin Card which is free. It takes three days to be completed, I've applied but haven't retrieved it.

Arrive early, as early as 8:30am or at least before 9am when the office opens. Being at the beginning of the line helps. Get a number if necessary and wait for your turn, if you think it's going to take a while, bring a book, comic, sketch pad, and kill time until your turn.

While waiting, you can go ahead and pay for the document stamp which is P15. The officer will require you to buy the books, normally it's them selling it so you don't have to go anywhere.

Registering as an individual, means you are a self-employed professional and they have categories for that, for artists, the category would be under ART GALLERIES or something similar to it. You will be asked by the officer and will lead you to a closer and appropriate category depending on what kind of artist you are. Don't be afraid to ask and explain your situation.

Pretty much, that's it. Just wait for the whole process to end and you will be given your COR (Certificate of Registration Whoohoo!!) and you will be lead to the boss where he or she has to sign the released COR. That's it.

It's not that hard now is it?
Don't let intimidation get ahead of you. It's not intimidating. It's very simple and only exerts a little bit of effort. Don't waste time. I just did it on my own and I think it took me about 3-4 hours, because I made a mistake with the receipt and had to take another sample back from the printer.
If there are seminars about tax filing at the BIR, take it, it's free. It's like workshop on tax paying.

Congratulations you are now legit! Go put your COR in a frame and hang it in your studio!
Now that you have a COR then having your own website is next.
You can check out my website at www.veronicalaurel.com
It is a simple and easy to update site which I will be posting up instructions very soon. So subscribe if you want to learn more about it. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list.

After registering, one should also know about income tax and how to file them.
Here's a useful link.
I found out how to register through this link. Very helpful indeed. I'm grateful for resources online like these.