Big bite

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

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)

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!

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

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

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

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 :)