[30DDC] -- Favorite Animated Character

Hahaha.

This is Day 8 of the 30 Day Drawing Challenge.  Yes, the one that I started in 2012.  I actually started this drawing sometime in October and I worked on it a little by little, when waiting in lines and during long lectures.  I decided to finish this recently because I wanted it to be part of The Ghibli Jam.

Nausicaa from Studio Ghibli's Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind is definitely my most favorite animated character of all times.  She's a good walking contradiction. She is both strong and vulnerable. She is kind and tolerant, but can be vicious and be blinded by fury. She values life and takes care to protect all forms of life but also is an exceptional warrior.  I also like that she doesn't fall in love with her romantic interest at first sight, nor does she really need his help to save the day, which is a bit uncharacteristic of Ghibli heroines.  

[30DDC]Day 7 -- Favorite Word

Ever since middle school, I've been using the phrase, "I'm Peachy."

I've tried other fruits like Grapey.  It just didn't ring as well.

I also like the word Skidattle.  Not sure if it's an actual word, but it's really fun to say.

Done in FW ink and pen, Tombow pens, and color pencils.

[30 DDC] Day 6 --Favorite Book Character

The complete assignment was "Favorite character from a book that is not a movie"

All my favorite characters are from books that have been turned into a movie. 

What does that say about me?  Do I lack intelligence?

Anyway, I cheated and chose Ender from Ender's Game, even though I know that they're making a movie.  "Making" is the operative.  It's not completed, so it's okay right?

Done in Pen, brush,  and black and white ink.  I finally understood how to properly do the splatter thing with  the brush. I got ink all over my hands.  It was wonderful.

I had a hard time drawing the body...hence, I went "screw you. Black it all out and I will draw big ol' open space" and that is what I did.

[30DDC] Day 5 -- Best Friend

So, yes, it appears that I've fallen behind on the 30 day drawing challenge.  Let's just say that I've been on hiatus.

Anyway, my "best friend" is my Right Hand.

Yes, I live a sadly lonely and pathetic life.

But if you think about it, my right hand has all the qualities of a best friend:

1. It doesn't judge me
2. It's there for me in both the good and bad times. 
3. It helps me study.
4. It entertains/draws for me.
5. It helps create worlds for me.
6. It listens to me...if I ever, er, want to talk to it.

Makes sense, right?

I found drawings that I did when I was a youngster and they were all mermaids. Lots and lots of mermaids. With Red Hair.  I suspect that I was a fan of Disney's Little Mermaid. So I did kind of a Before and After type drawing to represent my "evolution."

Done in Prismacolor Fine liners (various sizes), Tombow Dual Brush Pens, and a little bit of grey Copic markers.

PS --I went a little overboard with this drawing because I was listening to lab safety rules for a really long time and I got bored.  My imagination just ran with it.

[30DDC] Day 4 - Favorite Place

I like empty campuses.

I'm weird like that and I'm a loner, basically.

But that's not what I drew.

UCLA  is unofficially separated into 2 campuses: North Campus (liberal arts) and South Campus (science).  North Campus is very beautiful, with sculpture gardens and pretty architecture; while South Campus is a confusing cluster of concrete buildings.  Because I was a biology major, I spent most of my time in South Campus, which I nicknamed Concrete City.   In this Concrete City there is a botanical garden that is apparently used for research.  I loved this botanical garden because no one went there and I love the irony of a botanical garden hidden in the middle of a "concrete city."  It reminded me of Secret Garden, a place no one knows.  I spent my lunches and breaks here between classes rather often.  I had some pictures of this garden but I don't have a shot from my favorite spot so I had to do it from memory.

I feel like the quality of my drawings is going down as the days go by for this challenge. Oh well.

[30 DDC] Day Three - Draw Favorite Food

I don't know why they make these challenges so difficult.  WHY DO THEY MAKE ME PICK ONLY ONE ?!

I think my favorite is Katsudon because I order it whenever I enter a Japanese restaurant, but Katsudon is really hard to draw...interestingly. So, I drew alternatives instead

Yes, I like cake.  It's not really my favorite, though. Vons has these Friday $5 sales.  This weekend they had the Boston Cream Cake and it was specially decorated for Labor Day Weekend.  I thought it was cute and it was delicious.

Today when I woke up I smelled camp/barbecue fire and it reminded me of s'mores.  I like s'mores for more sentimental reasons because I used to make s'mores on the last night of band camp at the HUGE campfire while most people attended the dance.  I loved the solace of the camp fire.  Besides, the band moms kept on giving me materials to make s'mores.  I think I ate 10 s'mores in one night once.  Unfortunately, I haven't had camp fire s'mores since high school, which was way too long ago.

I used pen and ink and Tombow Dual Brush Pens again.  I'm really having a blast with the Tombow Dual Brush pens.

[30 DDC] Day Two -- Draw Favorite Animal

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 2 -- Draw Favorite Animal 

I do not really have a favorite animal but I often reference gorilla, kittens, and chinchilla in my conversations.

I had a little obsession with the great apes since I took physical anthropology. Koko, the talking gorilla, is by far my favorite celebrity gorilla.

How can you not like kittens anyway?!?!

My dad often informs  me "chinchilla ears are the best for ear dissections."  My dad studied sound.  This is a fact I grew up with. And I think their movements are funny and cute.

Done with Pen and Brush.  'CUZ I LIKE THE BOLDY LINES.

[30DDC] Day One -- Draw Yourself

This is my drawing for the 30 Day Drawing Challenge: Day 1 -- Draw Yourself

I christen this self-portrait Portrait of Lies!!!

Why?

Well, because there are more lies in this portrait than truths.

Here are the lies:

1. I'm NOT that skinny.
2. My moles are on the wrong sides.
3. I have yet to actually join a Coffeaholic Anonymous (if it exists).
4. I don't hold a pen/pencil that way.
5. We were given  homework to practice drawing confident lines with different media for the weekend so we won't go out to party, get drunk, and accidently drive over our art instructor.  Hahaha, yes, I have NOT done yet that.
6. I'm not sure if my skin color is accurate.  I might not be that dark because I stopped using references when I started coloring.
7. The DATE.  I didn't finish the drawing on September 1, though I did start it on that day.  I actually finished this on September 2.

Now, here are the truths:

1. I do have that hat.  I made it for my illustration class.  It is highly uncomfortable to wear.
2. I do wear a "SPAM" shirt.  Quite often in fact.
3. I do squint weird.

I wanted to do this challenge so I will continue drawing with so-so quality and not just ending with pencil sketches.  I used Pen and ink, then I colored with Tombow Dual Brush Pens.  Tombow brush pens are so much fun.