Pastel 20110112

And comes one of those days when I look at my shelf of old art materials and wonder what I should do with them... The box of Saintograph soft pastels caught my eye. It was bought a few years ago for foundation drawing class, when we were told to get some cheap pastels for a couple of lessons. I got myself this simple box of it, but used only certain colors throughout the semester then. Most of it were still in good condition, so I thought maybe it's time I did something about them.

The thing about pastels (dry medium) is that the colors are fixed and one just simply have to apply it without messy mixing like watery paints. Due to the lack of color and tonal variations (and knowledge of the medium...), my palette was somewhat limited to certain colors. This also opened new possibilities of color choices and application to me... so maybe I'll be playing with it a while. And yea, it's some messy, dirty business too, hahaa~



Have been thinking of painting this picture in a different way, so tried pastels with it this time. Tried it on pastel paper, which created this rough, line texture all over the painting. Wonder what next?

Random again

Started a new sketchbook with this picture... Haha. Simplify simplify. Aiming to draw more environments in this one.

Kawaranai Mono

Process Log. Haven't done this in a long time.

Expansion on the previous sketch in my sketchbook. Tried to make it look worn out but think tea still does it better. Tried out the watercolor pencil on damp paper combi for this one, and the texture quite gave the overall 'old times' look. Well... there goes another week. Recess week coming soon!! Eager maybe, time to start on those things that have been left in the dark.

Sketchbook Pages Dumping Time

Bored during Modern Art history lecture... Tried to do some random sketch-n-patch by taking the more striking features of the artworks screened during lecture and mixing them up along the way. Churned out some wierd stuff.



Random Creed and Sera sketch with a pencil Huiying gave me. It acts like some watercolor pencil, but it's graphite and dissolves better than the derwent watercolor pencils I've gotten earlier on.



Playing with the pencil... Just wanted to do some lines.



3 minute portrait of a schoolmate. She saw me trying to caricature the others and asked me to draw her. Think the portrait sessions at red dot does help thicken my skin to draw in public... haha. Then again... none of my schoolmates could identify the person drawn here so.... lalala.



Brainstorming about the front part of the 'Canvas' video. Still not there yet.



Right behind is this picture of the primos... Feels like the entire KHR story now is being kept alive by these two. Ah well... Watercolored on messy pencil lines, and inked later and erased.... haiz. Just didn't know what to do about it.



Animation work in school was starting to drain my brain. This one started with just paints. I was challenging myself to paint a face without any guiding pencil lines, but the paper was starting to tear off with too much water. Stopped painting, and seeing the graphite pencil sticking out of my bag, took it and drew a face on the wet paper. It produced a subtley blurred line, which retained that soft feel of the watercoloring. Maybe I can work on that combo...



Inspired by fellow schoolmate's animation idea about a girl in a cafe thinking of her broken relationships. Took the cafe setup and insert the angel-observer character (who has yet to be named) in there.

This weekend is like the calm before a war... gulp. At least there's a short break in between. Hahaha....

Canvas and Impressions

Supposed to do my homework, but spent yesterday on this thing. It's an idea that has been bugging me for a week or so, and I just can't focus with that in my mind, so decided to get it down. Used Flash, since I have to get used to this software, why not start with something that I'm interested to do? Crappy drawings, but at least one thing off my head.

Went to Fance's mosaic shop opening ceremony(the one that I helped design the logo for) on Sunday. It was a simple celebration in a small shop at a rather secluded area in Bt Timah Plaza, one that is not super happening to gather crowds. While I was standing around looking at the little things in the shop, I chanced upon the guestbook and was shocked at a particular name in it.

3. Ms Amy Soon. (Yes, lightning effect plus thunder sfx and Symphony No. 5.)

I thought I connected the name to the wrong person (she's the tutor who intro-ed and taught me graphic designing), but after seeing the email and a chat with Fance, it was really her. She told me that Ms Amy and her son were her first customers who did a mosaic in the shop. They came by about two hours before I got there. Not sure why they were there, probably her son had some tuition nearby? Or they were shopping in BT? On top of everything, I was really curious if she said anything about the logo. And nope, she didn't. Quite sad-ed, but maybe that's a good thing; she might end up shooting me for not doing enough before releasing the design to the client. Haha... or I'm thinking too far... Happy coincidences really, I'm glad to know she saw my work even though she didn't know about it.

Cafe Vongole

Process Log
Wakakakakakka..... this was fun to draw, started with the ice cream trip in Esplanade's Haagan Daz with Wush, Nic and boyfriend and Tristan. We were catching a few shows at the esplanade, and the lovey dovey couple decided to for some ice cream. The waiter that took our orders wore a black vest with white stripes, that kind of reminded me of Giotto... and that's how this picture came about. I was grinning while thinking about the reactions of the guardians and the taglines. Wahahhahaa... feel evil....

Anyways, trying out a new way of approaching cg with this picture. Disciplined myself and had as few layers of painting as possible. This totally stopped me from 'ruminating over' my painting, but the downside is that I had to think ahead for my palette. I was lost over the color choosing, so the characters were painted in their original colors and later, using the blending modes, I did some lighting, as though I'm doing some compositing work to a dull video footage. Seems like one nice way out, but I'm hoping achieve a more painterly way without outlines. Aiming too high maybe, haha.

On the life side... It's been a long while since I played badminton, even more with the kids. Realised that Ann had improved a lot. Yang is still hitting air though, he has too much actions. What the teachers say about Ann was damn true... that kid has too much energy to burn. I was getting tired and she's still fine, though she was pretty quiet towards the end, maybe conserving her energy? Or too focused on the game? Haha, maybe this holiday, I'll be exercising this way, hahahaha...

Red Sky (progress 2 n done!)

A few more hours put into this picture... Still trying to find a way suitable for myself. This time, managed to settle on one brush that kind of gives me some nice strokes. Other than that.... haha, slow.

Just got news about Indonesia's magnitude 6 earthquake (south of Jakarta). Whether it had anything to do with those clouds two days earlier is another thing. I thought it would take a week or two to see any results if it was for real. Anyways, a lifetime worth of observation, haha...

[19th May 2010]



5 hours more...



Another 5 more hours....

[22nd May 2010]



Dunno how many more hours... altogether more than 15 hours in there, I think. Although I can work on it more, it seems like I better stop and do my homework.... >_< Ngaaahhhhh..........

Full Process Log

Red Sky

Printer's out of ink.... can't trace out the picture without it... and I wanted to start coloring this one (the sketch has been left aside for a few days...). After the gouache painting, I wonder if I try putting that gouache painting idea to cg-ing, how would it look like? I would like a certain degree of realistic rendering, but keeping in mind that I'm still doing a piece of manga art... Hopefully that would bring me to another level in cg-ing.

Enma, from khr again, for the red sky. Thought of Xanxus, but after some thoughts about it, too common.... Cosfest is in early july... guess i'll be missing that out this year.

Decimo

Process log

Tsuna again. Lotsa fanarts these days, hahaha~

Trying to depict him in a clamp style there, something I haven't done in quite a long while... Come to think about, it felt pretty 'free and easy' there, graphical elements with painting... something for me to think about in the works to come.



Used gouache this time. The the black was dried up... even though I've put them all in an air-tight container. Thank goodness I have another tube. Starting to love that permanant white.... but while dealing with all these paints, I began to wonder if my lifespan will be cut short.... -_- Saw those warning labels on the tubes, and even the watercolors from W&N... they seem to have some chemical smell when I mix them up. Maybe I should go study some chemistry to ease my mind...

Saturday already. I wonder why am I counting the days...

Blue Sky

Uploading it here, cos I dun think it's gonna go to DA.

Process Log

The first picture of the sky series that I thought about, though the initial idea was her in a white dress taking Gamma's hand... (probably a much more interesting idea eh). Head looks off, other than that, yea, did all I can to make it a bit more interesting. It got me thinking about how those clouds would look like with wind blowing them... But nah, nothing comes out good when I start thinking the science of art.... -_- Two more pictures in my head, two other characters in consideration... but none so satisfied... why why why............

Almost a week into the holiday (soon), but it feels as though it's gonna end soon.... Ngaaaahhhhhh! Why why why again.........

Orange Sky - Sunset

Process Log

A series of pictures are bugging me. Must have been that cloud book... Super anatomy problem, slightly covered up by the colors, but still a problem. Tried something new here, using ballpoint pen to outline instead of the technical ink pen. The ballpoint pen is kind of like in between the pencil and the technical pen, capable of producing bold black lines and at the same time, able to create a different tone with the amount of pressure applied to it (something which the technical pen is not really capable of doing). I wasn't sure if it could pull through the watercoloring part... but turns out pretty fine there. Anyways... the backlighting challenge... He looks creepy here, lol. New discovery: Hey, I can mix masking fluid with water for a thinner fluid!!! Maybe I'm slow... but it yea, having fun with that now, nyak nyak nyak~~~~

On the other side of life.... The architecture module so far has been pretty interesting, and tiring. Having to sit for 5 hours of lecture, my brain can't take over 3 hours there... Start getting sleepy even though he's talking some interesting stuff. There has been some crossover to graphic design studies as well as the industry design parts. Homework... ugh. But it's drawing, so nevermind. It's the measurements for the bustop that would be a slight headache in the sun...

And mum came back with Ann with a rather black face this evening... Apparently, the kid's form teacher had a serious chat with mum regarding Ann's grades. She failed her maths and english tests (and I thought there weren't any more tests... turns out it's just no major exams.) and the teacher hoped mum could arrange some tuition for her. Makes me wonder what school teachers are for these days... or maybe my sis is really too 'li hai' le? Considering she's having trouble identifying with the 'he, she, they' words.... haiz.... Really wonder what one can really do about it... the worst thing is, even the tuition centres these days are choosing students. We were pretty fed up with that tuition centre when the administrators were just giving that 'no chance' look at the kid upon seeing her grades. Mum even had to bring Yang's straight As report book to convince them to take the girl. There's no such thing as 'tuition' anymore....

Diving Again to World

Told myself to redo it and here it is again... Didn't feel so restless painting this one, in fact, had to work fast on it. Took on the initial idea of no lines. Changed the paper to SCM Waterford instead of the Bockingford series. Somehow, I was quite surprised at the original yellow color of the paper showing up in the photo.



Placed both side by side and took another photo. The first one which used Bockingford paper didn't give that yellowish problem. The paper itself appeared white like the white gouache, but the white gouache was obvious on the waterford paper. Maybe the white paints were too concentrated this time round...? Or maybe the paper was tinted with the watercolor paints that made the white so obvious... Anyways... won't say this attempt was a good one. I'm still bad at detailing when it comes to no outlines. Everything appears vague and blur... Somehow, contrast not there yet, things are jumbled in a sense. Managed to capture Tsuna as the focus this round, with Hibari fading to the back and Lambo's hair kind of disappearing in the motion. Tried to do something about the sharpness with color pencils, but it didn't do the job. Although the colors and treatment of the picture was near what I intended, the main focus was not handled well.... Could have been more lively with more color changes and mixing. Looking back at it all, somehow felt my skills were just not there yet to paint the picture the way I wanted. Could be the lack of experience for that kind of painting. Ah well... next time.

Dive to World!

Process Log details

New picture, but not a very satisfying one. Didn't like it, despite putting in more plans for it. Things didn't work out very well perhaps, spilled my container of water again, kena my astro notes and book tho I don't give much damn about it now. (It's been a nice night-time read though, haha). The salt didn't work well too, wonder if it has to do with the paints? Halfway through the painting process, it started to feel more of a color-filling practice than painting. Something was amiss, might have been the usual spontaneity that arise whenever I do something without plans... or could it be that my brain seeks that randomness? Or maybe just too much bad accidents... Whatever it is, this painting failed to bring out that liveliness of the song.



By Cherryblossom. Kinda screechy girl feel at first ,but the chorus kinda caught me.



Looking back at the sketch, it does felt more happening than the final painting. Enjoyed drawing this one and was pretty much anticipating the painting process. At some point, I was very tempted to bring the painting under the tap as I always do to those I had a hard time with, but heck, just finish it. It seems like the feel that I wanted couldn't be achieve after it's weathered with water... Might be re-doing it someday soon.



Not so messy table. Guess that happens when I get de-motivated. I start cleaning up everything...

Log: Tsuna VS Hibari

Yea, I was supposed to be studying for tomorrow's exam. But just didn't feel like it. Working on a new piece of painting the past few days, itching to get it done.



Sketch of the picture. Aye, Tsuna vs Hibari during Tsuna's training in the future story arc. Wanted to try my hand on battle scenes and playing with perspective.



Inked sketch. Felt the orientation of the sketch was too stagnant, so decided to give it a tilt. Redrawn Hibari, although it gets no better... That angle was challenging for me.



Having known the exact colors I wanted for Tsuna, I painted it by segments this time, instead of my usual method of splashing the entire picture with paint.



Mixed the paints when wet as I went on, but stuck to 3 primary paints and sometimes, dipping into some dark browns. Tsuna's hand was not inked to give the impression of it being in the fire. Somehow, forgot about that when I inked Hibari's weapon.... ughh...



Got a bit idea-less when it comes to the background color. I wanted the glowy feel, but somehow, I guess I took it the wrong way.



Aye, turned out for the worse actually. The oranges are sticking out too glaringly. Sharp edges. Didn't like it.



Applied pastels. Kind of desperate move to save the picture, though I wanted some dusty smoke impression (like an aftermath of Hibari tring to whack Tsuna but end up cracking the ground after Tsuna dodged and is in the air thinking of the next strike.) Decided to stop the pastel and moved on to the highlights instead. Splatter splatter... got carried away. Saved the picture with the whites, but somehow, the harmony was forcefully made.



Aftermath of all the splatter was a messy table... hoho... got lots to clean up.

Somehow, this log thing kind of start forcing me to look back at the entire process. Halfway through, I began to wonder if I should have done up a color plan before going right into the painting. This randomness had been fun yet troublesome, giving myself problems to solve probably kept my brain active. However... this kind of approach gave my art a 'finished yet still rookie' look, probably what sets me far behind the professional portfolio. Kyah... gonna do more of this logging to see where I'm heading.

Easy Go man...

Lyrics and Chinese Translation

Aye, getting hooked on this song. Just can't get that image of Spanner flying in mid air with that lollipop in his mouth and typing away on the laptop... The undying will and determination of a passionate mechanic!! Fires up the artist sometimes, hahahahaha~ Maybe it's true that people just shine with confidence when they do what they are best at. Just throw away everything else and focus focus focus on the work at hand. Great that I'm now down with just the exams and stop motion work. Managed to hand in everything else, despite the extended deadlines... Very tempted.. but one must know when to stop yea?



After handing in Martin's assignment, somehow... just felt a big load down and out. Finally back at drawing... having watched till 14X eps, the Tsuna-in-Spanner-suit just shouts "DRAW ME!!!!" Used copics this time, neglected the box of markers for quite a long while. Somehow, I'm starting to mix the marker colors around instead of sticking to one hue range at a time. Didn't know how to render the fire though. Looks like a wierd doodle of flames, and a much older Tsuna..... Feels good to pick up the medium again.

Last lesson of animation history, and another life inspiring talk by Prof Heitor. Just love that old man's speech, like a grandpa sometimes, and at times like another random movie junkie teen. He talked about the narrowness of mind this time, not to close off all other options and look at only just one road. A danger of being too specific... seems like there are people complaining about the need for art history lessons and it's usefulness. The history lessons might not be directly useful, yet they have been very inspiring. I didn't enjoy the history lesson back in nyp, never found it useful to memorise hardcore facts. But can't deny that it brought new ideas and identified new styles to explore. The lesson was never a direct, technical module, but one that really expands one's mind and sight to new ideas and discoveries. Same for Mr Sabapathy's history lessons. Haha, the old man tried to fight for an abolishment of examinations, he said, as it was unnecessary, but being in NTU, he was unsuccessful. Guess both profs knows that it isn't about the memorising of facts and stuff, but their students responsibility of absorbing all they can from what they've shown, an expansion. Must say... probably it was because of them that it's really 'Easy Go' for me this semester. Busy immersed in school work, but not forgetting that it is not necessary for me to live that way too.