Eric Cachero is a visual artist whose body of work consists of paintings, sketches, graphics and other commercial design works.

My initial encounter of Eric’s work wasn’t through an art gallery.  On the contrary, it was via the wall photos/profile pics of a couple of mutual friends in Facebook.  And those led me to his album full of line art like the ones below.

(click the image to see more)

To me, the images looked like the headshots seen along the bylines of newspaper columnists. So impressed that I sent Eric a private message to ask if he’d be willing to do the same for soon-to-weds who may be interested to have their portraits done by him.  I figured some couples may want to have their line drawings printed on their wedding invite or in their souvenir mug or something.

For a simple sketch such as those above, it cost P1,500/person (plus P500/additional person). Aside from a soft copy/digital output, he’ll also hand a 12 x 15 hard copy in Giclee prints.  All he needs is a clear and high resolution photograph of the subject. He can produce the artwork in a matter of days after client’s approval.

By the way, in the course of our correspondence, Eric told he’ll draw me. That got me excited! We haven’t met, and simply based the sketch in one of my photo is FB.  I must say, he did a pretty amazing job with accurate facial hair and all.  Now, my FB profile proudly displays one of his artworks. 

Checkout Eric Cachero’s FB profile to see some of the linear artworks he has done. You can send him a private message from there or you can contact is mobile number: 0918.916.2895.

• Oliver Tolentino

(via inquirer.net) BEVERLY HILLS —“I’m still awestruck. I feel like I’m in a dream,” Oliver Tolentino admitted after he and eight other designers were about to be introduced to the fashion and entertainment press as the finalists in the Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.

The Filipino designer said, “I, a province boy who grew up in little Orani, Bataan, am at the Academy headquarters before the international press for the presentation of my gown that might be worn on the stage of the Oscars? Someone should pinch me!” Oliver stood beside his gown entry, draped on a hanger, which is an ivory piña (pineapple fabric) and abaca fiber mermaid gown with freshwater pearl detail.

Reporters and photographers admired Oliver’s exquisite creation. We heard Oliver extol the beauty and quality of our piña and abaca fabrics to every journalist who interviewed him. TV star, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s Carson Kressley (host of Oscar’s exclusive web series, ‘Behind the Dress’ which premieres March 3rd) couldn’t help but admire the black abaca blazer that Oliver wore (his own creation). “I want one!” said Carson.

The winning gown, to be determined by online voting, will be worn by one of the awards escorts onstage at the Academy Awards on March 7, while its designer and his guest will get to attend the prestigious show. [READ MORE…]

*Click the image above to vote for Oliver’s gown. One vote per person per day.  Voting open until March 1st.

• Mich Dulce

(via philstar.com) LONDON – From a tropical country where few people wear hats, a Filipino fashion designer and milliner, actress and musician has won the British Council’s Young Fashion Entrepreneur (YFE) Award for 2010.

Mich Dulce bested 10 competitors from Bangladesh, India, Libya, Lithuania, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria and Turkey to become the first Filipino to be honored with the prize.

Judges and the public raved not only about her designs, but about her use of indigenous materials, including sinamay and abaca, the latter a material the British associate with rope, said Leslie Stokes, chairman of the British Council Philippines, which sponsored the local search for the YFE.

Dulce’s fashion business, which started out on eccentric frocks and dresses, has now expanded to hats, headpieces, corsetry and bridal wear. Her unique style has been featured on “Young Asian Fashion Designers” published by Daab Publishing in Germany.

Along with her title, Mich gets a £5,000 grant for a collaborative project with the British Council. [READ MORE…]

Been seeing bling-bling hoodies like the one above in wedding photos and onsite videos of some W@Wies for quite some time now.  But it’s only now that I learned that it’s from Ade Sy-Singson, herself a former W@Wie and now runs Runway Brides which sells these hoodies that has literally become a bride’s new ’status’ symbol.

“Suprise your husband-to-be and your guests as you proudly carry your new surname!” — that’s how Ade puts it.

And reading the brides’ testimonials in Runway Bride’s fanpage, the grooms seem pleased. The new in-laws should be, too!

Meet Feliz Diestro — an engagement stylist. A what?! Well, it’s kinda like an image consultant cum personal shopper for soon-to-weds planning a prenup pictorial.

(Feliz at work with W@Wie, Lon (ni Rey) | photo by Jayjay Lucas)

Aside from Feliz, we don’t know if there are anybody out there who does the same professionally.  But there seems to be a market for this new career.  She started last year by tagging along with her boyfriend who happens to be wedding photographer (that’s Jayjay Lucas of ImagineNation Photography) helping him with his client’s clothing for the shoot. She enjoyed doing it, so he encouraged her to do it professionally.  Nowadays, she works with other photographers as well.

Although, we urge soon-to-weds to conceptualize their prenup session themselves in consultation with their chosen photographers and make do without this additional expense, there simply are couples who do not have the time nor network to scour for props and backdrops for a concept shoot.  Some doesn’t even have a concept to begin with. This is where help comes in.

Feliz says, most of her clients so far are “fly-ins”– overseas Pinoy brides/couples who been away from the Manila for some time who needs assistance styling their engagement sessions.  She has already put together concepts for prenup shoots with a 20s era feel to rockstars theme.

Her rates are posted in this page.

In last weekend’s edition of the Inquirer, wedding photographer Patrick Uy was featured in an article which retold his experience when he was invited to photograph the coronation of the king of Bhutan in words and pictures. 

Here’s an excerpt:

Patrick Uy is a name synonymous with weddings. Since the early ’90s when Patrick began a photography career, his services have been in high demand.

He has photographed many celebrity weddings, including those of Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales, Jackie Ejercito and Beaver Lopez, and those of Mikey and Dato Arroyo, sons President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In November 2008, Patrick added yet another feather to his cap when he was invited to photograph the Bhutan king’s coronation. With wife Evelyn and colleagues John Tronco and Philip Santos, he went to Bhutan to document the festivities.

Patrick said that the journey to Bhutan actually began in a wedding in Boracay. Fellow photographer John Tronco shot photographs for the Vietnamese groom who, it turned out, was a good friend of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. In time came the invitation to “shoot” the enthronement ceremony.

“It was part of our karma that our weekend was free – that same weekend of the coronation. So off we went, for the shoot of a lifetime!” said Patrick. [READ MORE…]