Happy Halloween

I know this is late, but I want to post this super quick doodle and wish everybody a safe and happy Halloween!! Have fun out there and keep warm! (I might turn the Pumpkin Lady into something later for Thanksgiving...)

Also, check out my good friend Bob Kolar's blog "whoop dee do". Bob is an illustrator and children's book author. I am very fortunate to be able to work and learn from him everyday. You can also find his latest book "AlphaOops!: The Day Z Went First" at Amazon.

IF: Trick or Treat

Even though I've done enough of trick of treat images at work already, it's nice to do something saucier that I can never do at work... So here is my conjoined twins monster, heehee! I am also gonna submit this one to Penelope's Monster Mash contest, too.

Wood Squares: Grow

I did some wood squares using my IF illustration. I was as gentle as could be but it is not easy to get a really clean image (most of the time there will be some rubbed-off spots here and there, as you can see on the blue one). I got lucky with the red one; it looks pretty clean. I am gonna make some more during the weekend!

IF: Grow

I have been so busy, but finally I could make some time tonight to do a little drawing for this week's IF. So here it is! I might use the rectangle versions to make some little wood plates later...

I have questions!

I've spent my whole weekend experimenting how to transfer images onto a wood surface. I used to do collage artworks and the methods I've done include using pure acetone, gel medium, heat tool, and contact papers. But I have never tried to use iron-on inkjet transfer papers onto wood directly, so I tried, and as you can see in the photo, it sort of worked... but it's very very difficult for me to control the result. (I don't know if the problem is me or the transfer paper?) Plus the ones I've tried here are all pretty small images; I would love to do a much bigger piece if I know how.

I searched high and low on the internet and saw two products that caught my eyes: Lazertran (a water-slide decal) and Sheer Heaven. My problem is, I want the transfered image to look like it blends in with the material, instead of sitting on it like a decal. The information I got from Lazertran's website says to use real turpentine and the image will actually melt into the wood. That sounds pretty good to me. As for Sheer Heaven, it just looks like this incredible product that allows you to do everything you can imagine, but its website doesn't really provide enough information about transferring images to wood. So I am still confused...

Has anyone tried to transfer images onto wood and got really good result? (I really want to get a clean and crisp transferred image, and I'd like to paint the wood first, and then transfer images on top of it.) And if you have used either Lazertran or Sheer Heaven, could you tell me if they are worth trying? (They are not that cheap...) I will be so thankful for any pointer from you!

After note for the girl scouts gig

The girl scouts gig went super well... What a great experience! We sang and we signed posters, books, backpacks, cups, and eventually: their hands, until our arms came off. This is one of the photos our friend took for us during the performance... Look how happy and excited they were! Isn't it the cutest thing ever?

IF: Extremes

I did this poster for my band for our extreme, ultimate gig that's gonna happen tomorrow. We will be playing in front of at least 650 girl scouts and we've never played for so many people all at once!!! The simple thought of playing in front of so many girls makes me want to puke (in a good, excited way)! We have 4 girls in the band and we all did our own version of posters for this event; I play cello so I make it the focus on my poster. Wish us luck tomorrow... it's gonna be fun, fun, fun!!!!
(I might do another illustration for this topic later, but for now this is it.)

Clink the image to see all 4 posters together and names of designers.

Moving office

My whole team at work is relocating to another building. I totally forget how much work it involves when it comes to moving because it has been 5 years since my last move. And BOY, 5 years means accumulation of a lot of junks. I just can't believe how much clutter I have in my tiny space... I discovered (just a tiny bit of example here, on top of all my toys and books): 2 pairs of shoes (one pair still in the box) from my drawer, 2 sets of stereos, 2 pairs of big broken wireless headphones, 2 jackets, 5 flower vases... I even have a steamer (just in case I want to steamed up some frozen dumplings); what was I thinking? I am surprised I didn't find a rice cooker and a wok! Anyway, I have to throw away a lot of junks and I am bringing 3 boxes of stuff home for donations later. I have to keep telling myself: if I don't even remember I have something, then I can do without it. Actually, it feels great to clean up and start fresh! I am just hoping I don't clutter up my space again... at least not so fast.

After note:
One week later, my move is finally done! Look how clean my office is (for now)... I even have a little Latin corner going on, and I display my plastic luchador figures along the wall!! The last picture is the view right behind me... I got a whole row of floor to ceiling window! Isn't that nice?

IF: Open

The first flower bud has opened after the rain!

I am entering this one to be included in the first Illustration Friday gallery show voting. Click here to learn how to vote!

Funny Hat Friends-Swapping/Giveaway

I first did this illustration as part of my paper experiment (as mentioned in my previous post). Then, last night I did bunch of oil pastel backgrounds for future usage, and I popped some of them into the illustration to see how the textures look like.

Also I printed out some little note cards using this image, but since they were printed before I did the oil pastel, they have flat colors instead of textures; the background is actually a muted greenish grey instead of light taupe, and the red has a little orange tone in it. I only have 10 of them; if you would like me to mail you one for a little swapping, just let me know in your comment and also email me your address. Or if you really want one but have nothing to swap with, it would be ok, too! I will post a notice as soon as I run out of them! (The actual card size is 5 1/8" by 3 3/4", and the image is about 2 5/8" by 4".)

Note: 10.18.07, all my little cards are now on their way to new homes all over the world! I am so flattered! :D

Piggie Love

I kept having this image in my head after I did the last post "The Blues." I just wanted to make Little Piggie feel better and since I happened to be experimenting drawing on different papers with different pens, I drew this...