REstart - New Banner and look!

For a long while I had shifted by base of operations to my Facebook Page and Instagram. I had considered retiring this blog but never got around to doing it. I guess I have some sentimentality especially when it comes to posts documenting my creative process - it reminds me of how far I've come and how much further I can go. More than a year has passed since my last post, I've graduated with my MA, moved back to Malaysia, and am seriously building my career as a professional artist! So I'm glad I kept this blog, perhaps it may inspire some who also intend to pursue their dreams despite practical advice on how life should be lived. Somehow it is working out for me, so I'll continue to share my journey here!

So first things first, is to change the design from the clunky flipcard template to this simpler one. It looks better to me! Second is to update the banner! The previous banner was a funky neon design, which I still love but does not fit with the current theme.

Banner from 2011-2014

The new banner!

Hope you like the new design! I've managed to keep the rainbow colours but toned them down a bit. I'm beginning to use colours more and more in my art, especially watercolours!

New badges for Behance, Facebook and Society6

In addition I've also created new badges that link to my galleries on Behance, Facebook and Society6! Go to Behance for large, scrumptious views of my black and white drawings, while my Facebook is catered to my custom papercutting and illustration commissions. I've also got a few art prints for sale on Society6! Go check them out!

The Adventure, Pixie Storytime and The Dreaming Treehouse

It's been a long while since the last update... I was caught up with completing my thesis on painting style in Brunei. Now that the writing's been done, I've finally got the time to reconnect with my drawings once more!!! It's the most beautiful feeling ever :)

'The Adventure' is based on how I'm feeling with my life becoming more of an adventure than being stuck in drudgery. Though I'd love for my life to be like my drawings, I've learned to accept this reality for what it is and still carry that spark of the other place within my heart constantly. This is what keeps me enthusiastic and inspired for the next day!

I've always wanted to draw a scene where you are led from a hill in the foreground to the wide ocean in the distance. The possibilities are out there!

Closer look at the girl and the jaguar. These characters are inspired by the people I meet in my life :)

'Pixie Storytime' is a small watercolour piece in progress. A peaceful moment in time.

Lastly it's 'The Dreaming Treehouse'! Drew this a while ago, finally getting on with the colouring! Sometimes I'd find this one colour, texture of background that can get a drawing rolling and it feels awesome when things fall into place :)

Colour My World :)

I've been discovering the joys of watercolours hehe! I've felt the need to begin experimenting with colour more and more, it's simply the next stage in the evolution of my drawings. So here we GO!!! :D

'Eva' is the one that started it off way back in July this year. It's an A5-sized drawing, I'd wanted to try out some new markers on a base of watercolour. Had some issues controlling  the intensity of the markers, but it was a fun exercise!

Everything seemed too strong, especially on the giant, blue cat. Well, try and learn! It is still unfinished at this point.

The 'Melancholy Dragon Hut', or 'Eric's Home', with markers hehe :) That's pretty much it for colour in this piece. I want it to be kind of a bleeding effect, the lines and black and white still takes precedence over colour.

Detail from 'House of Masks'. Similar concept as Eric's Home, where colour just highlights certain elements of the drawing. When I first conceived the drawing I never intended for colour to be part of it and I think it kind of shows.

'House of Masks', detail of the Rubik's Pyramid and blue door.

Onward to the watercolour pieces! Drew this in Penang in June and began colouring in July.

The Peaceful Bonsai - in progress. Colouring had stalled from July, but I believe things are going to move now! I was frustrated by the dullness of the watercolours I had, it was a very old set :/ Also the colour range was quite limited.

 Detail of sleeping child in the 'Peaceful Bonsai'. A4-sized drawing.

The newest one, 'The Cat Tree' for CAS's art exhibition at Rainforest Gallery in November. I bought a new set of colours that gave me the range I needed. I really had fun here! :D What's left is to colour in the cats and kids!

Learning colour is a big shift for my drawings. I have a huge backlog of line drawings that are crying out for colour and I believe now I can go and finish them! :) One that comes immediately to mind is Birds of a Feather and The Girl and the Monster. And there are a few more new drawings that I haven't uploaded yet!!! Hahahaha!

Melancholy Dragon Hut

After looking back and re-evaluating where my drawings could go, I realized that what I''ve been drawing so far were imaginary landscapes and well...I've been imposing how I feel on these external views. Not sure how to say it but what I really want to explore now are my insides, my thoughts, emotions and spirit.

I really love doll houses and models, so I was inspired one day to 'hey, let's draw interiors!'. So this is the first of my foray inside my inside lol! Not a very happy one, then again that's how I was feeling. But it was fun to work with the depth and the surface patterning of the clouds to convey a sense of oppression. I was feeling trapped in my head and my little apartment.

I hope later drawings will be more fun with imagination types but the common theme would be exposing truths about family and relationships to me. Thank you for staying with me on my journey so far and I hope you enjoy this new phase of my travels! :D

...and I've also resolved to talk less and let my drawings do the talking! :p

Neptune - Completed

Finished this piece a while ago but didn't get to post it till now. I liked how the dark, swirly water looked at the upper left corner! I was a bit worried how it was going to be because I don't want it to be too dark to upset the balance of the whole piece. So, IMHO, it matches the swirly patterns on the sea-gods body quite well :)

Overall, really enjoyed the lines and darks as usual hehe! Not sure if this might end up being coloured, but I'm brushing up on my digital painting skills so this might be next! Or maybe I'll finish 'The Girl and the Monster' first...waaaah such a backlog!!! XD