UPDATES PART 3

Sketchbook Updates Part 2

UPDATES!!!

Its been awhile since I update this space. Here's a sneek peek at what goes on in my sketch book.

New Doodles

Doodles from recently.. I wanted to achieve a whimsical and all so simple look to my illustration away from complicated vectors. Its quite fun to do these actually, once the kick starts ideas begin to surface very quickly. How do they look?

The Cement Garden

For readers into black comedy and coming of age novels, The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan could probably satisfy your tastebuds. Published in 1978 by award winning writer of books such as Amsterdam, which won the Booker Prize in 1998, The Comfort of Strangers, The Daydreamer, Saturday, amongst the many. The Cement Garden was also made into a movie, which premiered in 1993 directed by Andrew Birkin. Revolving around the events of four children whose parents died unexpectedly one summer, they were thrown into a world of isolation and darkness to fend for themselves. The decision to keep mum about their mother's death from the outside world so as to keep the family together leads to a chain of events, narrated through the thoughts of Jack, second of four children. It depicts the yearn for adulthood which they now finally have as well as the bittersweet longing for what they can't have. It's easy to finish the book in a single sitting, leaving you with a longing for more.

Random

To vectorise or not vectorise? That was the thought that was going through my mind whenever I create a piece of work. To vectorize meant having crisp and clean lines but all the raw touches in the sketches will be lost. What gives?

Pontiki Fun!

Who would have thought these little humble plastic toy could provide hours of fun on a boring day off from work. Just mindless combinations of silly parts was so much fun. Pontikis are plastics of geometrical shapes with various mini parts that serve as features that one can express creativity that does not even need to make sense. Trading your pontiki parts with friends brings more crazy possibilities! Fun!

My Family & Other Animals

Before we knew it, we had our family extended to more two and four legged members. Waking up to barks, meows, chirps are noises we have accustomed ourselves to recently. Strangely these animals seem to tolerate each other's existence with some even becoming the best of friends. It's strange world.

Hong Kong!

It was off to a gloomy start when we arrived in Hong Kong. With the heavy mist and rain that shrouded the entire surroundings, making our first ever purchase on the pearl of the orient an indispensible brolly. We were almost never leaving the hotel for the next three days without it, and I must say I was almost annoyed by the constant transition from wet to dry and dry to wet again. Photo opportunities were scarce due to constant rainfall, shopping areas were limited to indoors only. Food wasn't fantastic, not forgetting to mention the fact that were cheated right under our noses. People were always rushing constantly there was hardly any "laid backness" anywhere. Streets were filled with citizens walking in every direction possible, oblivious to the crowds they had to squeeze through. Overall though, shopping was a winner, with tons of things to rumage through in buildings that hardly had a tinge of glamour on the exterior. The most interesting places to shop probably look the least interesting. I wouldn't mind having another go in Hong Kong but not with the rain again.

Just For Fun

Accomplished nothing other than this image created for fun's sake today. Who's up for a plushie?

Attempt numero 1

They never said its was easy, creating graphics in vector. Now I do know how hard and brain draining it sure was. Back breaking, eyes straining and a few hours totally devoted to the screen trying not to be side tracked by the internet and TV has paid off slightly. Not the best yet, but I did, I did not try.

Most Recommended- Tohato Harvest

For biscuit fans, I present to you -Tohato Harvest Sesame Biscuits! Recommended recently by Pelican, a walking tidbit storage colleague of mine, these tasty and addictive biscuit wonderland comes in both Sesame and Cacao flavoured. Each biscuit boasts a thickness of only 3mm each and is lightly dusted with adequate amounts of sugar and sesame. Most suitable for cravings during tea time (yes, only tea compliments) and late night hungers. Individually wrapped in thin biscuits of five, they are light and not too rich for a fussy tastebud. If all fails, theres always Cacao flavoured ones on standby. And last I checked, they have come up with a green tea version of these most excellent biscuits. Plus, with packaging that promotes smiles and peace, its no wonder it has won over hearts of the japanese. To check other products go to http://tohato.jp/products/harvest/

The Accidental - Ali Smith

Another book review this time, very much in a different genre from the books I usually pick up. Who could resist the bizzare cover photograph by William Eggleston of a woman with a brownie camera? Her latest full length novel, Ali Smith is also the critically acclaimed author of Like (1997), Hotel World (2001) and The Whole Story and Other Stories (2003) amongst the many. A Family in Norfolk has their world upturned when a total stranger named Amber appears at their doorstep. A closet dysfunctional family, each of them is affected by this uninvited guest in strange ways. Amber crosses personal borders, while each member of the family unties the knot that they have been struggling to juggle with. A tale spurned in sequence, Ali Smith's sharp and humourous style of writing keeps one glued to the pages. Satire is her style of writing, engaging the reader page after page. Long after the book is finished, it still casts a magical spell on the reader.

Yebypawka- Plea for information

Not a big fan of soft toys, I wasn't sure initially when I received this Yebypawka toy. I must say its big doe eyes won me over. With its enormous ears and tiny bob tail, Yebypawka began as a stop-motion created by E.N Uspenskiy under the animation studio named Soyumultifilm. I did a search on the internet, unfortunately there wasn't alot of information on how this little fella came about. There seems to be a craze in Japan over it, but most websites do not offer much there is to know. Please forgive me if the information provided is incorrect. Do enlighten me if anyone has information on him. Thanx!

Illustration Friday - Under the Sea

Character design also cross posted in www.mojizu.com. Its a really fun character design community that lets others rate and even adopt your characters. Please do vote for me there as well! Cheers!

Gumball Madness

Fresh out of its protective gumball is our hero of the gaming world, Link from The Legend of Zelda! Here's a very well made animated version of our favourite hero from Hyrule. I had fun posing him amongst the moss growing in the backyard. Check out the latest version of him in GBA: The Legend of Zelda - the Minish Cap.

Series 2

Character 2 of a series of girls I'm currently doing. I do admit I'm still not very productive enough. Juggling work and doing this at the same time has been kinda tiring. But no complains... @_@

The Highest Tide

Miles O'Malley is a thirteen year old boy living in Puget Sound. He has the knowledge of the sea and its creatures like the back of his hand. By collecting marine specimens in exchange for cash Miles life was thrown into the spotlight one day when he discovered a giant squid. Instantly, he becomes a local celebrity with the media hot on his heels for his two cents worth of the phenomenon. Everyone seems to be interested all of a sudden of the wonders of the sea as well as anything mildly associated. As the ocean continues to churn out mysteries, Miles's once pyschic and elderly friend Florence predicts of more unexpected changes in the bay, like the highest tide in 50 years.

As Miles continued to try make sense of the sudden phenomenon, fears of Florence being sent to a home and his love for his teenage problematic babysitter Angie will go unanswered. Meanwhile, more problems surface as his parents are at the verge of divorce. This story of humour and obsession is definitely worth a read. This is a first novel by Jim Lynch.

Kittens For Adoption

It's been raining cats out there in my neighbourhood recently. Cat lovers out there, if you are interested in providing these lovely kittens with a loving home, or if you know someone who can provide one please do not hesitate to drop me an e-mail. They are estimated to be 2 weeks old ,domestic short hair cats. I'm not sure of their gender as they are a little hard to tell at the moment. 3 of them are tabby coloured, 1 black. Mummy cat is a lovely sugar coated character, loves to have company. Very tolerant and very suitable for a lap cat.. She loves you right back. Please help to spread the love..Thanks a bunch.

New Furniture

Been putting away the errand of getting a new table for far too long and finally mission is completed when I finally bothered to drag myself down to get one. It wasn't too hard, it was an instant decision and we were out of the shop in 40 minutes wheeling my spanking new furniture toward the taxi stand. Surprising how they never "looked" so heavy in the showroom until you had to drag it home. Off with the old, useless and awful hand-me-down cabinet and up with goes the new! Look who can't wait to try out......*Meow*