Yosemite Sketches

from a ways back, finally got them scanned in. I can't wait to go back again.

updates!

2007 just began and already so many changes and things going on. It's been nerve-wracking but exciting. I just started a new job about 2 weeks ago, after over 2 years at my previous one. It was time for me to make a change and move onto something new. Funny thing is, it seems I got closest with my now ex-coworkers as I was leaving. It made it all the more difficult to leave. One of my friends there (who I'll refer to as Bean) made me this sweet lil going away card I had to share. So cute!! It was in perfect timing with Chinese New Year too.
In other news, I was in two group shows back to back earlier this month. One was "After These Messages" at Nucleus Gallery. The show was an opportunity to reinvent and explore some of the saturday morning cartoons we grew up with. So much material on that subject. I chose to do the Smurfs, and here are my pieces: Schtrumpt Village, and Deep in the Forest. The show is up until Mar 6 if you want to check it out in person, or you can view it online at the Nucleus website.





The Untitled Love Project organized by ISM Community., is a project where each artist explores a heartbreak from their past. I stepped out of the box on this one by not doing a 'lovers' relationship piece, but focused on a different kind of heartbreak. This was super difficult and super different from what I normally do, and I feel soooo nervous and exposed by putting it out there, but nonetheless here is my piece entitled "Losing my Mother."



There will be more phases to the Untitled Love Project, including a website and I believe a book to be published later in the year or in '08, so I'm sure I'll be posting more about that later on. This show is still up at J Flynn Gallery in Costa Mesa until next weekend. I highly recommend checking it out if you can, the works are really beautiful.

Ok, and lastly for today! Late notice, but my friend Heather Chavez is a part of this show happening tonight in Silverlake. The concept for it sounds really cool:


Wow that was a long post. I need a nap now.

Gin Walla the man servant

I got a couple sketches in at the drawing club this past week. His expressions were great. I like yellow these days.

French Fashion

San Francisco Sketches

These are from a couple of months ago. I lub that city.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I just wanted to thank everyone for visiting my Advent Calendar, and for all the nice emails I received about it, I truly appreciate it. (I finally just finished it up, phew!). You can still check it out here, and I will most likely leave it as a permanent feature on my site (at least until next year) because it was quite an undertaking for me. :)
As a lil New Year's gift, here are links to my 2007 calendar. Feel free to download, print and color as you wish. Hope you enjoy. Happy New Year!

Click here for PDF

Click here for ZIP

Illustration Friday: "Mask"

I think this works for the theme? I imagine all the grumpy faces I pass in the day to have elf ears and Santa hats.

Worldwide Sketchcrawl #12

Here are my sketches from this past Sat. A group of us rode the metro train to Union Station in L.A.

We walked across the street to Olvero street where we met up with around 30 other sketchcrawlers. Of course the first drawing I had to do was of the fake (or stuffed?) donkey. And then of the gigantimous tree with other sketchcrawlers underneath drawing away.

This is a little juice/smoothie stand with some Christmas decorations (digital color added later).

These old men were part of a pack of guitarists on a break outside one of the crowded restaurants.

I couldn't not draw these 2.

And these are miscellaneous people I tried to capture as they walked around.

All in all it was a fun time. There was a lot going on there, with a lot of people and even performers in the park. The food (AND CHURROS) were soooo good. I just wish I went out of my shell and talked to more crawlers. -Always my problem. Anyway, thanks again to Alina for organizing once again.

Avila Beach

This was done in the car as it lightly rained and I was freezing cold, on a drive back to LA from Monterey last year. The scenery was so dramatic and grey. I remember as we pulled out of our parking space and started to drive again the sun started to peak out creating the most beautiful rays and rainbows over the water.

Worldwide Sketchcrawl #11

Originally started by Enrico Casarosa, it's a day for artists to get together and basically tour their city and do nothing but draw. (Check out the sketchcrawl website & forums). It happened yesterday, and we had a turn-out of almost 40 people here in Pasadena. It was fun; a beautiful hot day and got to meet some cool new people.
We all met up outside of Johnny Rockets in Old Town. I began the day by doodling birds. Why? I don't know.

Then we walked over to city hall.

And many of us ended the day in the afternoon at the Paseo.

These were all done in my teensy lil 4x4" sketchbook. Lotso fun; can't wait for the next one.

The Hobo

I tried something different with this week's drawing club sketches; Since John Tucker is SO great at storytelling through his poses, I decided to make a little movie of my sketches. It's done in Flash, so you may need a player if you don't have one; and apologies if it takes long to load (it really shouldn't). It's a silly little thing, but I hope you enjoy. Click HERE!

80's New Wave

These are from last night's drawing club, with model Daniella Traub -such a great model. This excercise was really fun for me; i tried to be more loose and spontaneous than I normally am. Not sure how successful these are, but it was fun nonetheless. Gotta love the 80s.

Head Drawings

Most of these are coworkers (teehee), that i secretly drew in various meetings. If they ever see these I hope no one takes offense, it's all in fun. They are all done in pen line colored lightly with colored pencil in a tiny pocket sketchbook. I was inspired by Rich Tuzon's awesome head drawings he did for a zine.

Illustration Friday: "Play"

This is a character I came up with years ago for a story series, and haven't really touched or done anything with until recently. Her name is Babyblue.

Quick Lunch Sketch

Illustration Friday: "Capture"

2nd entry to 'IF'! Now, I just need to work on getting these up sooner in the week! This basically reflects my love/hate relationship with zoos in general. I've always loved going to zoos, and love watching/drawing the animals. I know the animals are there for their own protection and they are usually well cared for. But if it weren't for us, there would be no reason to have to lock them up in the first place. Anyway, that's what came to mind for this week's theme. It's pen and gouache with some color pencil. In case the detail doesnt read well, the giraffe has a little butterfly sitting on it's nose. (PS: sorry for the double link on IF, I didn't mean to do that!)

Denny's Sketches

These are a little old but I still think they're funny. Diners are one of the best places to sketch people.

New Pin-ups

This was another fun night at the drawing club with model Jennifer Fabos a few weeks back.

I liked the poses so much I took one of them further and created this character from it. Ain't she cute! It's pencil drawing, colored in photoshop.

Trinity of Matrix

Long time no post! Been so caught up with projects, and life in general, just haven't had the time to post until now. These are from last week's drawing club. More on the way soon!

Carmen Miranda

My red and yellow dancing ladies with bananas on their heads! The drawings on top were 5's and the rest I believe were 10's, from this past drawing club session.