Goodbye for now

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

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

Blank Slate Cartoon, 2009

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

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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

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!