Pearl Choco Paints The Town in Colors with ‘Life on Canvas’

Life can sometimes feel so devoid of color. When inspiration pales white and motivation dims gray, it can be challenging to reignite your joy and its vivid hues. But Pearl Choco saw this as an opportunity to help others to paint their way back into happiness, one reflection at a time, with Life on Canvas: Thoughts and Musings of An Eccentric Millennial

To delve deeper, 8Letters had an exclusive chat with the author to discuss the book’s creation and inspirations.

How It All Began

“Time,” the very word that essentially describes how Life On Canvas came into fruition. “It all started during the first or second week of the pandemic lockdown in Manila. While I was typing away on my blog (snapperdoodles.wordpress.com), it suddenly hit me — why not compile my posts and turn them into a book? It made sense, so I dove right in.” As she gradually added visuals, side notes, and reflections, the pages became a culmination of her thoughts stacked up in a thicker pile than expected. It’s an organized chaos, as she likes to call it—which also pays homage to the scrapbooking practice her mother taught her.

And much like her mother, several authors have also inspired Choco. Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic helped her realize that inspiration doesn’t simply land on your shoulder,  “Every day is a process of creating, experimenting, discovering and allowing one’s curiosity [to] lead the way.” Meanwhile, Meera Lee’s My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown inspired her to step out of her comfort zone and embrace the uncertainty. “What once triggered a defense mechanism of fight or flight, slowly evolved to become a pause-breathe-decide mindset. They reminded me that growth often comes from stepping into the unknown — and sometimes, that’s exactly where the magic happens.” And with Life on Canvas being a leap of faith after leaving the corporate world, art and literature became her companion, “It helped me cope with the complexities of high-functioning ADHD and brought me comfort when the world felt uncertain.”

Memories of Home Pasted with Love

As an introvert, it’s a struggle for her to find safe spaces to ground herself against stress. During high school, it was empty staircases and girl’s bathrooms. But lately, it’s beyond concrete places. “During the time I was writing Life on Canvas, I found my ‘home’ in the presence of my then-boyfriend (now my ever-supportive husband). Today, I find comfort in quiet mornings, a steady routine, my husband, my dogs, and ultimately in the freedom to explore, create, and to just be the multi-faceted, curious Gemini that I am.” 

Moreover, as someone with “goldfish memory,” her journals also helped her capture the nostalgia of treasured moments,  “That way, when I flip through the pages someday, it’ll all come rushing back—like a vivid, 3D illustration of those moments.” Bottle caps, gift cards, colorful tags, illustrated wrappers, and funny-shaped leaves—long as it fits, it’s getting glued to the pages. The bulkier mementos, on the other hand, are stored in her memory box. With this practice comes the embrace of imperfections, “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach because your journal is your home — a space for your thoughts, feelings, and the stories that light you up.”

A Collage of Gratitude

The book also offers self-help activities. During Choco’s life-coaching, she’d keep a bedside journal and write three things she was grateful for every day.  “Today, I am grateful [that] (1) I was able to get out of bed to feed my dogs, to cook some lunch and reply to some emails, (2) I went on the treadmill for 12 minutes while updating my Instagram feed, (3) I hugged my parents.” For her, gratitude isn’t always about the grand; it’s more about the ordinary. 

But more than a habit, creating has become her coping mechanism.  “There is something soothing about being able to put your thoughts out there, without saying a single word.” It kept her heart soothed and her mind steady, “Art has become my anchor in turbulent times, and sometimes that’s all we need – something we love, we hold on to that. We keep doing what makes us happy.”

*****

Like many people, Pearl’s been there—lost, dreams adrift, looking for a safe haven. She dedicates this book to you all, “This is for the dreamers who once believed that a creative life could wait. For those who carry stories untold, artworks unseen, and hearts burning with the passion to change the world. The time is no longer ‘someday’ — your time is now.” 

And if you’re seeking words to revive the passion in you, Pearl Choco couldn’t have put it better, “There is a reason you’re still hoping. There is a reason the melody lingers — like a thirst that won’t be quenched or a fire that refuses to be put out. You are meant to make it happen. No one else in the world but you.”

You can follow Pearl Choco on:
Blog link: https://snapperdoodles.wordpress.com/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snapperdoodles
Portfolio: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/5b5b9e7073.htmlFacebook: facebook.com/SnapperDoodlesPH

Grab your copy now!
https://www.8lettersbooks.com/shop/life-on-canvas-snapperdoodles-graphic-journal-in-grayscale/