atsi-batsi art

Project George - November 2009

2009-11-25T21:27:00.000-08:00

Due to a sheer lack of time, I got to try out my "modeling skills" for a
Project George artwork! That's genuine emotion right there. Hehe

Sorry I posted this so late! TIME Magazine ran an issue on "The real cost of cheap food" so we thought it would be a good idea to focus on the industrialization of agriculture in countries like the US.

Well...actually, that's just my "formal" way of looking at it. My brother simply called this an artwork on "POISON TOMATOES". Haha! :)

This is also our last Project George artwork for 2009. Being back in school has been terrible in terms of finding time to draw so we decided to take a break for a while. But we're definitely looking forward to doing a few isolated projects during the Christmas vacation. Will post more art soon!

Growing Up with Philippine Art

2009-11-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

Finally, children’s books about Philippine art!

Robot monsters, mystery laughter and a path marked with bronze heroes. The Crucible Workshop presents a whole new look at Philippine art with the release of three unique story books for children. Written by members of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING), the Philippines’ premiere organization of Filipino professional writers for children, the stories show how a work of art can lead to quite a few interesting adventures.

Book Launch Details:
When: November 17, 2009
Where: Filipinas Heritage Library

Time: 3:00-5:00pm

Project George - September 2009

2009-09-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Project George, 2009

We wanted to do an artwork on beach trash but could never seem to make it come together. After a few so-so attempts and a very kind rejection from our editor (he did say "Back to the drawing board?" instead of "FAIL!"), Misha saved us by tweaking our message to be about the extinction of sea turtles instead. Who knew that the plastic we throw away could wipe out an entire species? :P

Goodbye for now

2009-08-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Towards the end of 2008, I found myself in a "gap". I had just left my research position in Singapore and was waiting for my doctorate program to begin. Yet, I didn't have enough time to actually take on a full-time job.

Given that pursuing a PhD has often been likened to entering a convent (and inflicting head damage on yourself), I decided to take a former professor's advice and use my time to do something I've always wanted to do: be a freelance illustrator. As a kid, I've always loved to draw but never felt that I was good enough to make it a career. So, thanks to the internet, encouraging clients, a supportive family, and an extremely loving husband, I was able to draw, draw and draw. And yes, I loved it.

Of course, a number of well-meaning friends have told me to do more "useful" things but I have no regrets about how I spent the last few months of my life. Because as I look ahead at the next five years of academic research, I am glad that I took the time to focus on something other than my work.

Blank Slate, 2009
I can vouch for each one of these methods.
Working on the kitchen table can do wonders for your creativity (...and your waistline, unfortunately).

Unfortunately, as school officially begins, I have to take a break from blogging for a while. But do check back for news! I have a children's book in the works and a few other projects that will be ongoing till the end of the year. In the meantime, I thought that this cartoon for What's Up seemed like an appropriate way to say goodbye...for now :)

If I were a monster

2009-08-27T19:08:00.001-07:00

Blank Slate, 2009

This cartoon was inspired by Alex Noriega's hilarious If I was a robot series. And I have to admit - the panel on being at "two places at the same time" was taken from the movie, A Walk to Remember. Although my version is considerably less romantic. Haha!

Illustration Friday - WRAPPED

2009-08-20T08:52:00.001-07:00

Blank Slate Cartoon, 2009

Wilson peeped in to find the entire faculty wrapped up in their morning exercises.

--

It's been a while since I've sent in something for Illustration Friday. Am not sure if this cartoon really fits the theme but I wanted to submit a drawing before summer ends! :)

Big bite

2009-07-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Project George, 2009

This month's artwork was about animal abuse - and the true cost of our growing demand for food. Apparently, KFC breeds their chickens to be so top-heavy, their legs break :(

Thanks to this month's model for being so game :D

Another collection

2009-07-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

Photo by Kara

In spite my relentless drive to let go of stuff, these bunch of creatures will probably stay with me a little while longer :) But first - one long bath before being put into storage.

My sister saw them hanging out to dry and made them her first models for her film photography class this semester.

They don't look to happy about it though.

More pictures here.

Letting go (almost)

2009-07-01T03:42:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I had this obsessive tendency to collect things. Whether it were erasers, pens or rocks, I accumulated these objects like they were the most valuable things I could ever own. It came to the point that my sisters would actually devise ways to sneak into my room and "peek" at my stationery box. It. Was. A. Big. Deal.

In the process of cleaning out my room, I’ve discovered a lot of my old collections. All immaculate and carefully stored. Yet, instead of feeling nostalgic, I found myself confused - wondering why I had put so much value on these little things. Suddenly, it seemed so strange to keep things that were either meant to be used (like pens and stationery) or quite useless in the first place (like rocks and clay houses).

These were things which my younger self had saved for the future. But now that it was the future (from the perspective of 1986), I simply did not find these things important. So, slowly (and quite ruthlessly) I started giving them away.

my notebook collection...

my pencil toppers collection...

Remember when trolls were so "in"? ;)

...and my stationery collection

All of these were acquired through a sophisticated barter system developed by
other preteen girls with collections.

My siblings were horrified – stating that I had grown up to become a cold, pragmatic, heartless soul who lost the magic or wonder associated with childhood. I retorted that it was time to let go. That when you start working, moving from one rented apartment to the next, and budgeting your pay check, keeping a stationery collection would just be a waste of time.

But then I saw this:

And I just couldn’t give it away.

Perhaps there's still some heart in me after all.

PS. Thanks Mama for patiently accompanying your daughter to the sticker store where she would browse for hours...deciding which one was worth her 10 peso budget for that day. I think that that's what made this collection a lot more special :)

Brand new!

2009-06-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Project George, 2009

After a short break last month, Project George is up and rolling again. This time, we decided to tackle the issue of E-waste and how the quest for the shiniest, newest model always leaves behind a heap of toxic trash.

Kara said the drawing reminded her of Where's Waldo? while Sel asked if I've ever seen Wall-E. I said that all I did was go online and look at depressing photos of electronic dumpsites! :P Thanks for the great work, guys!

Things I love

2009-06-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

I've been following a blogger who likes to post a list of the things she loves every week . It was such an amazing way to define oneself as an artist - I could almost see how the stuff that she liked were translated to her work.

I also realized that I never really thought about the things that I love! :P So I've decided to go ahead and build a list of my own:

1. Patterns

Art by Sandra Javera

Photo by Marvin

2. Hand sewn plushies made from felt
I am obsessed with Redmag's Marvin Minsky Robots.
Sock monkeys are so yesterday.
Made by redmag

3. Doodles

When I doodle, I either draw cake or feet (no bodies). I'm sure there's a psychological reason for all of that but I don't think I want to know.
Art by Fred Blunt

4. KozynDan

A husband and wife team who create the most amazing illustrations.
I still can't believe they color everything in photoshop! Those details are crazy.

5. Miniature Food

I used to collect plastic groceries as a kid.

I carried them in a big bag and spent hours "arranging them".
My brother thought I was nuts.
Photo by PetitPlat

How about you? I think everyone should take a half hour break and make a list of their own :)

More museum work

2009-06-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

I think that The Peranakan Museum will always be one of my favourite clients. There are so many intricacies in Peranakan culture, my only complaint is that they rarely ask me to draw in color! :)

Souvenir for preschool program, 2008

Postcard, 2009

Here's one of the few where I actually got to open my paint box. A series of "flat puppets" (they were laminated and printed in A3 paper) which were used to tell young museum visitors about how Peranakan culture started in Malaysia and Singapore.

Peranakan Puppets, 2008
For this series, I actually tried to look for photos of "18th century Chinese and Indian merchants"! Never understimate the power of Google.

If you happen to be passing by Singapore in the future, try to check out The Peranakan Museum. It's worth the trip :)

Illustration Friday - ADAPT

2009-06-04T02:27:00.001-07:00

Getaway, 2005

It's hard to adapt to a world that is getting way too crowded :P

Thought that this was an appropriate way to mark the end of summer :)

Winding down

2009-05-30T07:03:00.001-07:00

Self portrait, 2009

Summer is ending here in Manila - and so is my brief stint as a full-time writer and illustrator. In two months, I go back to building my "real" career as an academic researcher and will be leaving home for another round of studies in the US.

I remember starting this blog with a resolution to spend more time drawing and finally getting some ideas down to paper. With the weeks winding down and work building up, I wonder if I've been able to do enough?

Be my guest

2009-05-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning out my hard drive the other day and found a number of wedding illustrations that friends have requested over the past two years. People say you know you're growing old when you start receiving wedding invites in the mail. I wonder if there's a saying about the number of invites you draw?

One couple wanted to show themselves crossing a rough ocean to represent the challenges they faced in their relationship. I liked the idea but was terrified of drawing waves!

Another couple wanted to focus on the "details" of their relationship. Every little thing in this drawing was special to the couple. My personal favorite is the stuffed lion named DiCaprio.

This bride was so inspired, she actually wrote a children's book about their relationship! It would have been ideal for the groom to do the illustrations but they decided to "outsource" it to me instead :) The entire story is told in his handwriting though :)

I think the fun part of doing these illustrations was the challenge of helping the couple "implement" their vision of how they wanted their invites to look. Relationships are defined in so many ways, it was fun to look back and see how each invite turned out so different from the other.

Illustration Friday - PARADE

2009-05-10T00:34:00.001-07:00

I was quite pleased to know that the theme for this week was a perfect fit for a big book I did last month.

The Drummer in the Band, 2009

The little puppy didn't mean to disrupt the parade. It was just that the drums were disturbing his afternoon nap!

The Adventures of Zombo

2009-05-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

People associate summer with a lot of things like refreshing halo-halo, ripe mangoes and trips to the beach. But what I love the most about this two-month break is how it inspires the funniest "family projects".

This year, my brother started things off by deciding to document our trip to Phuket through the experiences of Zombo - a plushie doll of a corporate man turned into the terrifying undead.

My brother made Zombo by painting his body on some cheese cloth and stuffing him with random scraps of cloth.

Yet, while Zombo was technically a "doll", he couldn't seem to fit in with the others.

So he spent most of the trip on his own while we took turns babysitting him.

In the end, Zombo didn't really scare anyone - but he did attract a lot of long stares and a few muffled giggles.
I guess we'll see how it goes in his next trip :)

More photos of Zombo's adventures here.

Not Wallpaper

2009-04-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

My dad had to give a talk at the Manila Contemporary yesterday so my sisters and I tagged along to give him some moral support (and make sure his powerpoint actually works).

Photo by Kara

The place was full of huge paintings which were meant to represent the exhibit theme of parameter, play and repetition. We had so much fun taking pictures, we didn't realize that our photos had unintentionally reduced the artwork to background wallpaper. Expensive wallpaper.

Check out the rest of the exhibit here.

Illustration Friday - IMPOSSIBILITY

2009-04-21T08:39:00.001-07:00

Night Creature, 2009

I always enjoy jazzing up a regular everyday scene with a touch of impossibility :)

Perhaps this is the best thing about being a researcher by profession and an illustrator on the side?

Take My Breath Away

2009-04-19T06:51:00.001-07:00

Project George, 2009

This month's Project George artwork was inspired by Matte Stephens, one of my favorite flickr artists. Although I'm not sure if he would be pleased to know that his whimsical drawing has been turned into a commentary on air pollution. :P

PS. Thanks to our model and his supportive mommy for being so patient during the shoot!

Papa and the Little Red Horse

2009-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

When Papa was a little boy, his parents had a tradition of bringing the whole family to a church in Antipolo during the month of May. Papa loved these annual visits because the nearby market always had the coolest things.

There was a wooden machine gun that went rat-ta-ta-tat as you turned its little knob

a green toy snake that could twist and coil when held by its tail

and a tin bird that bobbed its head when pulled by a string.

Yet - while his parents gamely bought him the gun, the snake and the tin bird, there was one toy he wanted but could never have: a little red papier mache horse. For some reason, his parents always said NO. And everytime Papa would ask why, they would simply respond:

What would you do with a papier mache horse?

Eventually, time passed and the family stopped visiting the Antipolo church. Papa grew up and went on to wanting other things. But he never got his little red horse.

So imagine Papa's delight when, more than forty years later, he finds himself on a road trip to Paete, a city known for its wood carvers and craftsmen. THE PLACE WHERE PAPIER MACHE HORSES COME FROM.

All the way from the South Luzon Expressway, Papa told his kids about his important mission.

We travelled to three churches (Mama reminded us that the whole point of the trip was the Visita Iglesia and not a search for paper animals).

Weaved our way through a a whole lot of people

And just when we were about to give up

Papa finally got his red papier mache horse.
Except that this time it wasn't so little anymore because neither was he.

More pictures on the search for Papa's little red horse here.

Tito Arturo Makes Robot Monsters

2009-04-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Just a peek at what's been happening the past few days:

Anito, 2009

Paper Monsters, 2009

Do you guys remember the legend of the monster snake
who lived in the basement of Robinsons?
Noguchi, 2009

Drawing a series of illustrations can be fun but also a little nerve-wracking for someone as impatient as me. I am looking forward to seeing the finished product and moving on...even if it will take a few more months.

It's Easter in a few days!

Color inspiration

2009-03-29T03:41:00.001-07:00

I was working on extending my tea series but wanted to differentiate the new watercolors from my earlier work. After a few days of brainstorming, I realized that the solution was a simple case of working backwards.

Instead of starting with a sketch, I decided to let a color theme determine the subject of my work. Luckily, Snippet and Ink's wedding inspiration boards provided the perfect inspiration for this experiment.

For the first work, an inspiration board called Licorice and Lemon Drops made me think of salabat and how our grandparents always recommended it as the best way to get rid of a cold.

Lemon Ginger, 2009

Meanwhile, an inspiration board entitled Hot Air Balloons and Polka Dots led to a drawing of daydreams and travel. For some reason, the orange and blue palette made me imagine a sunny kitchen on a Saturday morning.

Wanderlust, 2009

What do you guys think?
More to come soon!

Illustration Friday - Subtract

2009-03-24T04:01:00.001-07:00

It takes a lot of work not to subtract too much from our savings!

The Pirate or the Robber?

2009-03-22T19:34:00.001-07:00

Deciding on how to present the concept of "music piracy" led to our family's first case of "conflict due to artistic differences".

I wanted to use the image of a robber to convey the message of how piracy is a form of stealing:

Project George V1, April 2009

While my siblings preferred a quirky / witty take on the concept by having a "pirate" committing piracy:

Project George V2, April 2009

The argument had come to the point of "Fine! Do what you want!" "Fine!" "Whatever!" - so I decided to just provide two versions for our editors to choose from.

In the end, they liked both versions very much but decided that while the pirate had more visual impact, the robber set the right tone.

It was a nice way to settle the argument and in a way, an important lesson for me as well. I tend to get worked up when faced with something I strongly oppose and this experience was a good reminder to try ideas out first before shutting them down.

I have to admit, that pirate is quite cute. Arr!

Then and Now

2009-03-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've celebrated my birthday at home. I dragged a friend out for a pancake breakfast, completed a new drawing, and had a nice family dinner. In between, friends from high school and college texted their greetings (this doesn't happen when you live in another country). Coming back to Manila has been like one overdrawn process of nostalgia. I think that's why this birthday was extra special.

In tribute to the joys of getting older, I thought it would be nice to look back at how things have changed throughout the years.

THEN

Untitled, 2003

NOWMuse(s), 2009

So what happens when we get older? Do we grow more mature, more restrained and more confident with ourselves? Or do we simply lose the energy to finish coloring a page? ;)

Message in a Bottle

2009-03-15T03:48:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through my online portfolio when I came upon this painting I did for my husband a few days before I left the US.

Letter Sent, 2008

I thought it would be fun to create something to complete the drawing's message. After all, every letter sent is eventually received.

Letter Received, 2009

While it would have been more accurate to draw myself in a bottle of buildings and billboards, I wasn't sure if there was such a thing as an "urban-themed" terrarium ;) Still, my husband's snow globe is pretty spot on (See the reason why here).

It's amazing how something as simple as writing letters can continue to connect two people living in such different environments.

Thank you Eraserheads, Farewell Francis M.

2009-03-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

Picture by mousepotatoph

One day in 1992, Papa brought home a cassette tape of Ultraelectromagneticpop, an album by a young band called The Eraserheads. He had heard about these four students who were starting to make waves in the rock scene and wanted to see what the fuss was about.

Unfortunately, I was still in my “Take That” phase and didn’t really appreciate the fact that I was actually being introduced to one of Philippines’ most influential bands. By the time I got to university, rumors of their break up were already spreading. I only saw them live once before they finally disbanded in 2002.

Horrified at my ignorance, my then boyfriend (now husband) made it a personal mission to “educate” me on Eheads music. After listening to only one album (with running commentary for background reference), I was hooked.

For the next six years, their songs became a wonderful source of comfort. I sang out loud in my dorm room in Boston, hummed quietly in between work in the office, and provided “back-up vocals” for my husband when we wanted to chase away homesick blues.

We didn't bring a camera but ended up in a stranger's photo!
The benefit of being at the venue 3 hours before the show?
Photo by Gerass

So at their final reunion concert last Saturday, I screamed, jumped, and sang along with thousands of other fans who were grateful for one more chance to see the band together again. Even the bouncers were singing along to the songs and I promptly teared up when the band paid tribute to Francis M., a Filipino musician who succumbed to Leukemia at age 44.

Photo by htcola

Thank you Eraserheads. Your songs represented two things I love about being Filipino: 1) the creative ability to make do with what we have and 2) the shared understanding that we must NEVER EVER take ourselves too seriously. While I’ve tried to do the same in my own art, I don’t think I’ll ever be as successful as you were.

Illustration Friday - Intricate

2009-03-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

SingTeach cartoon, 2006

I looked up the dictionary definition of "Intricate" and read that it is often used to describe "something solvable only with painstaking effort"

What else would be more appropriate for this week's theme than a cartoon on teaching in the "modern" classroom?

Whew

2009-03-08T01:24:00.000-08:00

Considering that I’ve been working from home lately (often dressed in pajamas with wild “house hair”), the past few days have felt oddly like going back to the office. It's been a crazy rush to beat deadlines, please clients and get work done!

The Drummer in the Band, 2009

First, I had to draw illustrations for two “big books” to be used in a school in Malaysia. One story was called “The Drummer in the Band” and I had a lot of fun drawing the uniforms and instruments. However, I was also relieved that the lead character was a drummer. I didn’t want to be drawing 12 pages of trombones!

The next project was an emergency request from the Asian Civilizations Museum. They wanted to develop an activity booklet for their upcoming exhibit on Emperor KangXi. And unfortunately, the artist they hired was unable to continue the project. This left me with 7 activities, 4 pages and 4 days to finish everything (although revisions stretched out to an entire week!). I contracted my brother to help me with the layout and we invaded the kitchen table with our laptops and sketchbooks, forcing the family to have meals somewhere else.

ACM Booklet Cover, 2009

The original artist had a very digital anime style and part of the challenge was blending his “Emperor KangXi” with my own hand-drawn art. I think the result was not bad at all! Quite impressive for someone who just learned how to use the gradient tool two days ago ;)

While it's great to be so busy with new projects, I’ve hardly had time for other creative work. I’m starting to crave for some “fun art” before another wave of deadlines arrives.

Peranakan Kites

2009-02-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

The Peranakan Museum in Singapore asked me to draw a pair of kites depicting everyday scenes in Peranakan life.

The museum wanted their young visitors to color the kites themselves so I had mistakenly assumed that inking the drawing would be quick and easy.

I now realize that drawing the Peranakan lifestyle is never simple. A mix of Malay and Chinese culture, Peranakans are known for their elaborate clothing, intricate porcelain and complicated beadwork. I hope the kids don't have too hard a time with this coloring task!

Illustration Friday - Instinct

2009-02-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

Planet of the Robots, 2009

Her mother's instinct told her that another toy was not a good idea.

The latest cartoon for the March issue of What's Up.

Project George 2

2009-02-22T17:09:00.000-08:00

Project George, 2009
Photo by Kara. Photoshop by Selena.

A continuation of the Bigger Picture series for What's Up. After drawing so many "cute" illustrations, I was eager to see if I could do something a little more serious. Good job to my siblings for bringing everything together!

Another way to celebrate

2009-02-17T18:09:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year, 2005

While sifting through my old works for this week's Illustration Friday, I came upon another drawing that seemed perfect for the theme.

I used to hate family events. Red was the color that represented good fortune and was therefore the required theme for birthdays and new years. For some reason, my adolescent-self thought it "made me look ugly" and proceeded to give my mom a hard time well into early adulthood.

Now, I realize that such events were not about dress codes and food but the fun of being with family. Drawing this art work was also process of looking back at childhood memories - from watching the cooks catch shrimp in the restaurant's aquariums to lining up to receive am pao from Kong Kong.

So while I still don't think that red is "my color", I now have a few shirts tucked away in my closet for special occasions ;)

Illustration Friday - Celebrate

2009-02-17T18:01:00.001-08:00

Live, 2006

This week's theme reminded me of an old drawing inspired by the annual concerts at the University of the Philippines Fair.

Music, food and fun with friends. What better way to celebrate life?

Tea series

2009-02-13T15:49:00.000-08:00

Oo-long

Teh

Teh-a-Teh

A continuation of a series inspired by the different kinds of tea. I don't know if it's noticeable - but all works in this series come in pairs (Oo-long's partner is found here). I guess, for some reason, it was hard for me to imagine someone drinking tea alone. ;)

Back home

2009-02-11T23:57:00.000-08:00

Photo by Marvin

Unfortunately, this is not where I live (although it's only a short plane ride away in the beautiful province of Bohol). But it's a good mental picture to have as I sort, pack, and navigate my way through stuff which have been gathering dust since I left home 4 years ago.

Moving back for an extended stay can be quite complicated. My bedroom is a bodega, my old Nissan Sentra has been "handed down" to my sisters and I don't have the CDs to install the scanner or the printer.

However, I get to share the newspaper with my dad in the morning, have lunch with my brother before he leaves for work, chat with my sisters as I finish up my drawing for the day, and help my mom do the grocery.

It's nice to be home :)

Illustration Friday - TIME

2009-02-07T20:38:00.001-08:00

This week's theme made me think about the things I would do if I had "time".

The first thing that came to mind was enjoying a cup of Japanese green tea and a piece of cake at the local coffee shop.

The second thing was being able to spend an extra month with my husband without worrying about stupid things like paychecks and future plans :(

Introducing Project George

2009-02-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

The Bigger Picture by Project George

My siblings and I were hired to do a series of artwork for What's Up. Entitled "The Bigger Picture", each work aims to show the "invisible" effects of things we tend to take for granted.

In a society so used to associating value with money, it's amazing how something as cheap and available as bottled water could actually be a big waste of resources.

We've nicknamed these collaborations as "Project George" - in tribute to "George", a name our dad used when he got our names mixed up and forgot who among his four kids he wanted to talk to. My sister posted some of our first works in her blog. Check it out ;)

Thank you Maurice Sendak

2009-02-03T11:30:00.000-08:00

I was chatting with my cousin the other day and she brought up the topic of how hard it is for illustrators to develop a personal style. I was quite surprised because unlike me, she had majored in Fine Arts and is currently a full-time graphic designer in Singapore. She does art everyday! Why would it be so hard to develop a personal style?

Her answer was simple. Unlike the fine arts, people tend to treat illustration and graphic design as a “visual solution”. And while there is nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t give the artist much time to think about her work and develop a style that is truly unique.

After this conversation, I started to think of artists who have heavily influenced my own work. The first person that came to mind was Maurice Sendak.

I will always admire Maurice Sendak for creating the most wonderful and unique monsters at a time when children’s books only had characters like baby ducks and Peter Rabbit.

Where the Wild Things Are

So every time I try to draw my own whimsical take on everyday life, I always feel like a Sendak-wannabe.

SingTeach notebook design

Mixed media collaboration with my siblings

Photo by Kara. Photoshop by Marco and Sel.

See what I mean? :) Imagination is harder than people think.

Illustration Friday - FLAWED

2009-02-01T08:35:00.001-08:00

While the invaders had the element of surprise, their plan had one fatal flaw. They had launched their attack at the exact moment that Bernie, alone in the office, was wondering if his job had a higher purpose.

View it bigger here

Happy CNY!

2009-01-30T11:38:00.001-08:00

The Evolution of the Chinese Dragon

Just wanted to share my latest cartoon for What's Up, a monthly newspaper for students published in Singapore.

Cartoons are tricky because you'll never really know if people will find you funny, corny or downright insulting. One of my editors is also the former Art Editor for the Straits Times so I always feel a little intimidated everytime I submit a sketch for a new issue. So far, I've only been vetoed once (Phew!). The rejected cartoon featured a Valentine's Day theme on teen dating. Haha! Perhaps I should finish inking it and post it here one day.

Random (and I do mean random) thoughts

2009-01-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

The great thing about being able to draw is that when an idea comes to you, you can actually go home and try to recreate it on paper. Of course, there are limits. But whether your thought was whimsical, ironic or surreal, you would still be able to (somehow) get it out of your head and show (not tell) your friends your thought of the day.

Anyway, the point of that whole paragraph is this: I have made it my new year's resolution to draw EVERYTHING I ever thought of. Everything. This includes all the ideas I thought of while waiting for the bus, commuting to work, taking a dump, trying to sleep and toasting bread. Here's the first of this series:

The Revenge of the Lost Socks

Time can be a dangerous thing to have.

Moving in, moving on

2009-01-27T14:26:00.000-08:00

Soon, I will be moving to my third country in 5 years.

In the spirit of change, I’ve decided to take things a step further by starting my first blog! (Thanks Kara for the cyber-nudge forward)

In a way, the timing couldn't be more appropriate. After a year of grad school and four years of research, I am finding myself suddenly free to do everything I wanted to but couldn’t because of work. Let's see what this means for the coming year ;)